New Directions

A New Look for She Dwells

July is anniversary month here at She Dwells! July 2018 marks the start of my third year of writing this blog. I’ve had so much fun–I’ve met interesting people from around the country (and the world), and I’ve learned a lot (about blogging, social media, and the struggles so many women have in common.)

If you’re a regular reader of She Dwells, you may already have noticed a few changes around here.

A new tag line

I hope She Dwells will always serve as “A Fearless Guide for Women,” but my new tag line points to a slightly different focus. What do I mean by Bloom Where You Dwell? No doubt you’ve heard the phrase “Bloom where you’re planted.” Have you ever wondered why someone else gets to choose where you’re planted? Why not take charge of that decision?

Wherever you put your time and energy, that’s where you will grow. Bloom where you dwell simply encourages you to remember this, focus your attention, and grow in the places that matter most to you.

A slightly new color scheme

Still a signature blue, which I find to be the friendliest of all colors, but a different shade. After I chose this color, I discovered its name is “Curious Blue.” Could there be a more perfect color for a blog focused on personal growth?

The secondary colors have also been adjusted, just a smidge, to better coordinate with their Curious Blue leader. All in all, I hope the visual message of this blog is friendly and welcoming.

New graphics

The watercolor flowers you’ll see throughout She Dwells (in the header, in the sidebar, and elsewhere) were created by Torrie from Fox & Hazel. I just love her digital images. In fact, this set of graphics sparked my initial impulse to freshen up She Dwells and led to the new tag line.

I put her pieces together in my own way, of course. I really love how the flower in the header looks like it’s wearing a superhero cape in the shape of a leaf! (Let’s just be honest–sometimes, blooming is an act of sheer heroism.)

New monthly focus

You may have noticed that I featured a number of articles on travel in June. That’s because, moving forward, I’m going to focus my attention on a particular topic each month. My hope is that this will allow me to dig into each topic a little more deeply than I would otherwise and encourage readers of this blog to keep coming back, if the topic is of interest. For July, I’ll be focused on the topic of education–how to get young adults ready for college, how to understand why professors do what they do, and how to manage your time if you’re going back to school as an adult, among other things.

Not every post will be focused on that topic, of course, but at least one post per week. If there’s a topic you’re interested in hearing more about, be sure to leave a comment below and let me know what it is.

More changes to come

As I said earlier, I’ve learned a lot in the last two years. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that every woman has a story. I’d like to share more of those stories in this space. The “On Her Way” series has been devoted to stories of transformation, but I’m going to throw the doors open wide and welcome anyone who’d like to contribute to She Dwells, on any relevant topic, to get in touch with me. Click on the “Contact” link at the top of the page for more information about how we might work together!

And speaking of stories: this summer, I’ve been working on a book called Revising the Story: How to Find Your Voice and Claim Your Truth. That book begins with a simple premise: we are the stories we tell about ourselves. If you revise the story, you change your life.

By “revise,” I don’t mean lying about the facts. I mean choosing the words that feel exactly right. I mean telling the truth, no matter who says the story shouldn’t be told or isn’t yours to tell. Building on my work as a novelist, Revising the Story will guide you through the process of discovering and claiming your story.

I’m really excited about getting this book into the world. Once that happens, who knows? My hope is that I can take She Dwells on the road by hosting a series of writing workshops with Revising the Story at their core. But even if that doesn’t happen, the book will exist–and She Dwells will be here as a place to share those stories.

Thank you for coming along on the journey of these past two years–for helping me learn and grow so that, with any hope, I can help other women do the same.

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