1. Turning Writing Research into a Blog
by Gale Martin, founder
Operatoonity.com

2. Why blog? Visibility Increased followers across platforms
Opportunities
Rewards/Fun
Prestige
Who wrote the opera Don Giovanni?

3. About those rewards… Review tickets to 60+ operas in 6 years
Valued at $7,500
Show talks
VIP receptions and VIP status
Cultural edification

4. So, what’s in it for you?
You will never know until you try.
I didn’t.

5. The Operatoonity.com story…

6. Where do I begin? Doing research for this novel
Republished by Northampton House Press in 2016
Doing research for this novel
Wilkes program presenter on social media
Conceived of theme, approach
Atomize content (present research bits)
In the Wilkes Creative Writing program, you must do a semester of research to include secondary and primary while writing your capstone project.

7. The birth of Operatoonity.com
Madame Butterfly , 2014 photo courtesy of Glimmerglass Festival

8. What assets did I bring to the project?
Blogging experience
Theatrical experience
Body of knowledge about opera
Desire to succeed

9. LUCK! La bohème, 2016 Photo courtesy of Glimmerglass Festival
What did the opera universe bring to the project? Who wrote  La bohème?
 La bohème, 2016
Photo courtesy of Glimmerglass Festival

10. In firsts …
First post on site February 10, 2010; 186 posts thru Dec. 31, 2010
First live performance review July 11, 2010
First place in Washington National Opera songwriting contest August 10, 2010
First Metropolitan Opera review posted February 2, 2011
First Metropolitan Opera press conference February 18, 2011
First star interview posted July 14, 2011

11. In firsts (continued)
First interview with a major house exec posted August 10, 2011
First press release received in December 2011
First classical CD review 2013
First book review request 2014
First Broadway review request April 2015
143 press releases in 2016
What’s the name of the one-act opera by Leoncavallo featuring a homicidal clown?

12. The value of social media?
Inestimable
The Elixir of Love, 2011
Photo courtesy of New York City Opera

13. Simultaneously created Twitter account:
The community of opera heads loves Twitter. It is an international community, and I quickly met and learned from a lot of people on Twitter about opera.

14. And Facebook page for content distribution
What opera premiered in 2010 featuring baritone Jonathan Lemalu as Queequeg?

15. My very first post…

16. Learning moment! Cold Mountain, 2016
Photo courtesy of Opera Philadelphia

17. Opera people LOVE to talk opera

18. I mentioned fun, didn’t I?
Who was the third of the Three Tenors (Pavarotti, Carreras, and ?)

19. Even rude entertains!

20. Most memorable moments!
Who wrote La Traviata?
La Traviata, 2015
Photoo courtesy of Opera Philadelphia

21. Proudest moment?

22. Also proud of…
What male voice part is equivalent to a mezzo soprano?

23. Worst moment?

24. Most engaging moment! #Operaplot Contest on Twitter 140 characters only #operaplot

25. “Where do I begin?” Manon, 2014
Photo courtesy of Academy of Vocal Arts

26. My process Create a blog on Wordpress (free at wordpress.com)
Post A LOT of quality content to start (increases organic search rankings)
Cultivate engage friends/followers on social media
Go with the flow

27. How to carry on! Be flexible Seize the day! Don’t be bashful
Be grateful
What’s the name of the world-famous opera house in Milan?

28. What’s next Nonfiction book? Monetize?
Sequel to DON JUAN IN HANKEY, PA!

29. Questions? Ariadne auf Naxos, 2011
Anyone know who wrote Ariadne?
Ariadne auf Naxos, 2011
Photo courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera