Blogging 101 │ 10 Years of Fun

This right here, Fernweh,
is why writers do what they do.

I went looking for a blog post I'd written years ago for a future article that I'm working on now.

And guess what? I went back to the beginning of all my blog posts and it looks like I've been blogging for ten years.

That sure went by fast.

August 6, 2009 ◄ was my first post and hey, I'm still here and still loving it.

While my random blogging is nothing special, I've got to say it's been a wonderful place to hone my writing skills.

And as a writer, it's a good idea to have a digital footprint that shows both a writing past and a potential writing future.

There are plenty of "real" bloggers who have tons of followers and loyal fans. They're super prolific and making six figures, and writing about their successes. And that's great.

But, this blog isn't that. I never wanted it to be that in the first place. Not to mention, it wasn't even a thing ten years ago.

So, what should blogging be about if you're not looking for that "social influencer" status?

Blogging should be about you. Your life, your lessons-learned, your special moments, and pearls of wisdom. It's heart and soul. Yours! And if you want to blog, and need to write because your blood runs with words, then I'd highly recommend it.

My blog is a simple snapshot of my life of random family and literary moments. I suppose ten years of just that is a long time by any standard of success, so I'm happy with the way the last decade has gone.

I'd call it successful ... in my own little world.

And if you've got just a small bit of encouragement from it all, then I'd say I've done my work here. Mission definitely accomplished.

Thanks for following along and here's to the next ten years. ♥

-HJS

Comments

Characters That Work

I’ve heard countless times that agents, when looking for the next great manuscript and readers, looking for the next great read, want compelling characters. But, what does this mean? Compelling? And why have I never thought of characters as compelling when I can’t put the book down? Sure, these characters are amazing, and sometimes I want to be in the middle of the stories as if they were my own experiences. But why? Compelling characters make me --force me-- to be in love with them as they find their way through trials or charge fearlessly down hidden hallways and dark forests. This makes for wonderful literature, and for fascinated readers. But how do we do this? How do authors create compelling characters -- ones that not only we want to read but others too -- and convince our readers that they should care about them? Here’s a tiny list by which I try to strive: Make them human: This is a given. And most writers would tell you this is. Give your character flaws that lots o

Increasing Your Vocabulary │ Overused Words

My husband and I have this running joke that if we played a drinking game for the first -- and only the first-- five minutes of any news segment, anywhere in America, we'd be under the table in two. Why? Because this drinking game is based on the repeated use of the word "impact." It's okay if you can hate me now. Because after this post, you will notice this word EVERYWHERE and how overused it is. I get it. The word is impactful. It makes a point. Pulls a punch. But ... it's beyond this, my friends. It's overwhelmingly beyond this now. I also understand that each decade has it's colloquial and trendy words. Totally understand that. I can dig that, yo. But, there's an all-out assault on this word. And most of the time, it's used incorrectly. Do you know what the word impact means? Per Merriam-Webster, it means 1. a.: to fix firmly by or as if my packing or wedging b.: to press together 2. a.: to have a direct effect or i

Make a List │ Getting Things Done

Like many of you, I am a list-maker. I find them to be one of the most rewarding things I can do in my little life. Well, that and drinking coffee and wearing vintage. But, I digress. List-making really only consists of three things: paper, a pen, and your brain. While there are myriad articles and books on tidying up and minimal living (both of which I fully embrace), living a simple and minimal life can also start just by making a list. So, why should you write a list? Three reasons: it's simple, it's in front of you, and anyone can be master of their world with one. Yes, dare I say master of your universe. Pretty amazing, right? That little list holds your sanity, order and clarity. And those are all we really need. Check out this list I wrote the other day: I listed the errands I had to run (go to post office, then to Salvation Army and Goodwill to find my vintage to sell). I listed the work I had to do (list two items items for sale on my vintage Etsy site,

A Work in Progress

Search This Blog