A Cup of Comfort for the Grieving Heart (Adams Media, January 2010)

A Cup of Comfort for Mothers (Adams Media, February 2010)

A Cup of Comfort for a Better World (Adams Media, March 2010)

A Cup of Comfort for Fathers (Adams Media, April 2010)

One of the many reasons I’m so tickled with these books is that they provide a rare opportunity for readers to enjoy and for writers to publish (and actually get paid for publishing) personal essays. As the anthologist/editor of 34 editions of the bestselling Cup of Comfort book series, I couldn’t be more pleased or proud to have played a part in the publication of 1,700 personal essays of such superior quality. To the authors of those essays, I am eternally grateful, as I’m sure Cup of Comfort readers are as well. Bravo, friends.

“Each of us wants our life to matter, to be of consequence, to send out ripples of cause and effect that will leave a positive residue after we die.”

Copthorne Macdonald, Matters of Consequence: Creating a Meaningful Life and a World that Works (which I had the honor of editing)

Hmmm … that is definitely something to contemplate as I go about my work. Does it matter? Is it of consequence? Will this book, or article, or essay, or web content, or newsletter, or blog, or whatever make a positive impact on the world, on other lives, on mine? Will yours?

Over the last several years—while I’ve been preoccupied with being the anthologist and “front woman” of the bestselling Cup of Comfort book series—I let my website go to seed. And put my other pet projects on the back burner. And gave short shrift to my freelance writing and editing biz.

Now that Cup of Comfort has come to a screeching “slow down” and I’m kinda over the whiplash from that, I’ve had the chance to breathe and think, to recharge and restrategize, to pull myself together and start putting myself back out there—in the wide open frontier of wordsinging for a living. I’ve always been a writing bird of many colored feathers, so I’m actually excited at the opportunity to fully spread my wordsinging wings again.

To that end, I’m developing a few new books (check out what’s Up & Coming on my new site) and a few magazine articles as well as a series of classes and lectures for writers. I’m also offering a wide range of editorial services and seeking new writing, editing, content development, and editorial consulting opportunities.

The truth is, I’m recovering from one of the biggest, dumbest mistakes an independent contractor can make …

… putting all (or most) of my eggs in one basket. Sure, during my wild, mostly wonderful, and ongoing ride as the Cup of Comfort series editor, I also managed to write a book, ghostwrite two books, edit several books, proofread a few books, write a few magazine articles, and generate some marketing copy.

But for a long while, Cup of Comfort sucked up 90% of my time … and generated 90% of my income. Now, suddenly, it takes up 10-15% of my time. And so I finally have real time to devote to other clients and projects, which is fabulous. I love variety, and I love working on different projects with different people. But suddenly losing 90% of my income during the worst economic bust since the Great Depression has knocked me for a loop. Knocked the wind out of me. Knocked me on my ass.

But you can’t keep a good woman, and a good writer, down.

So in short order, I’ve picked myself up, dusted myself off, and put myself to work finding and creating work.

One important step in that direction was to create my new website here on WordPress: thewordsinger.com (or colleensell.wordpress.com). Why WordPress? Because it’s easy, quick, and economical (especially when you use a WP theme and DIY, like I did). Because later, if I want, my WordPress pages can be smoothly converted to a fancier website. And because WordPress offers superior blog-hosting. 

Now that my new website, thewordsinger.com (colleensell.worpress.com), is up and running, I’m reaching out with my brand new Blah-Blah-Blog—and with every other means of communication available to me—to let the world know that I’m back back in the saddle … ready, willing, and able to work with you, or for you, to create words that sing and sell. 

So if you’re in the market for a writer, editor, ghostwriter, book doctor, proofreader, journalist, columnist, copywriter, web writer, tech writer, or writing coach … or for someone to critique your manuscript or story … please drop me a line. 

Looking ever forward, 

Colleen Sell
A wordsinging bird of many colored feathers