Tag Archives: Blogging 101

Blog 101 Day 11

Today’s assignment: publish a post based on your own, personalized take on a blogging prompt.

I must say I really enjoy reading the prompts that abound in the blogging world. I rarely do them but I love to read them. And I enjoy the many different interpretations. I have always thought of a prompt as a gentle forceful application of a lower appendage to a rear mid-level protuberance. K now say that four times quickly! It’s a kick up the backside!

Seriously! It’s somebody thinking about how to get you to write something. And that’s a good thing! The reason I rarely do prompts is that I have way too many ideas and I am woefully adequate when it comes to focusing. By the time I have organized my thoughts and sat down to write this magnificent opus, it’s three days later and I’m four prompts behind.

I am not an organized person nor am I a disciplined writer. I’ve always thought of myself as a guerrilla writer. I have flashes of ideas, write for a few hours and then walk away until the next time I get a flash. I do write snippets every day. That I can’t stop. I do love the one-liner! One of my favourite things to do is to read other peoples interpretation of the prompt.

Maybe one day I would appreciate that forceful application of a lower appendage and do a proper prompt. Don’t hold your breath, but maybe.

Blogging 101, Day Five

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Day Five: Love Your Theme

Today’s assignment: try out at least three other themes — even if you’re happy with the one you first chose. Try one you’re drawn to, and one you would never use.

Today’s assignment was intriguing and yes terrifying! I tend to be one of those people that I stop looking when I’m happy. There were things about my blog that I wasn’t perfectly happy about but all in all I was quite satisfied. I must admit I thought I might skip this assignment. But then I realized I need to get out of my comfort zone. We all do.

I guess that’s pretty much the same in life as well. At least in mine. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. However, isn’t there always an ‘however’? However, there is always room for improvement. It couldn’t hurt to look. So I looked.

I experienced information overload! There are some beautiful sites, there are some that are too simple and some that are too elaborate. I am a simple girl with simple tastes. I decided that I would change to one that I liked and live with it for a couple of days. Change is hard. But it can be the impetus necessary to open your eyes to something new.

What do you think of the new look? And yes you can be politely brutal. Ha ha ha ha! But I do want honesty. Thanks for looking, thanks for reading, thanks for being you!

Blogging 101, Day Four

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Day Four: Identify your audience

Today’s Assignment: Publish a post you’d like your ideal audience member to read.

Now this is an interesting assignment. Who is my ideal audience? Who is the reader that I write for? Well I guess simply put it’s anybody who reads and has a pulse! Seriously! I love the fact that I have readers from all over the world. I have been to only a handful of places on this planet and to read the words of someone in a country half a world away is fascinating. To know that they’re reading my words back is titillating.

Originally I started writing on the advice of my father. It was to help me understand the changes going on in my world. I had had a major MS attack and was forced to leave work. Everyone knew I wasn’t going back but it took me two years to figure it out. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by people that allowed me to come to the realization myself.

I guess when I write I think of my father. He always believed in honesty and integrity. I hope I do his memory justice.

I also write for my mother who always had such an incredible faith in me no matter what I did. She also had no qualms about telling me didn’t like something but I must admit that was pretty rare. She encouraged me and I wrote mostly for her. When she died I didn’t want to write anymore.

Now I write for my readers. I get excited when I see that someone has liked something I have written. I get a huge smile when I get a comment from someone. These people have become friends and they are important to me. They inspire me and they make me want to be a better person. I know that sounds a little sappy but then I’m a little sappy!

I am having fun and I make no excuses for that. My goal is not to offend anyone… much and to share whatever tidbits reside in my mind.

This blogging 101 really is a wonderful way to take stock of ourselves. I hope you enjoy my submission.

Blogging 101

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Today’s assignment: who I am and why I’m here

You would think having spent 56 years with someone you would know who they were. I’m not sure I know who I am! I am a woman, I am right handed, I’m a redhead turning blonde. The list could go on and on but at the heart of things I am curious.

Right now I am suffering through the cold of a Canadian winter. At least today is cold. Last time I checked it was -21c with the wind chill (-5.8F) brrrrr. I am about to retire and I’m okay with that. I’ve only been blogging for three years. It started as an outlet for my writing. And then I got hooked. I started to read what others had written and almost immediately I became enamoured of the rest of the world. There are some incredible people writing out there!

I keep forgetting to mention that I have multiple sclerosis. I view the world from the seat of a wheelchair. I think of it as an accoutrement not the essence of who I am. I may have an itty-bitty incurable disease but I also have attitude and panache! There’re a few things that do become hindrances but I usually find a way around them. Like I said I have attitude!

Almost 10 years ago I was asked if I would write a newsletter for the apartment building I live in. I did that for nine years and I loved it. When my mother moved into a retirement residence they also had a newsletter and I started writing short stories for them. That went on for about four years. I stopped writing shortly after my mother died. Several months later my brother and sister went to great pains to explain to me that I was an idiot. I should not stop writing! They told me about blogging and convinced me to give it a shot. I was hesitant at first but now I cannot imagine my life without it. It’s the first thing I do in the morning and the last thing I do at night.

I will always be the child who was afraid of her shadow and of the horrors that were other peoples’ opinions. That little girl may still be inside me but she grew up. I like what I do, no, I love what I do! And I hope others we’ll find some enjoyment in my words.

What do I blog about? Whatever the wind sends my way. I do not have a mandate or a manifesto I simply write whatever pops into my mind. I love the one-liners. Those few words that paint a picture or make me laugh. I started doing them several decades ago and quite frankly I can’t stop! I also write poetry and short stories. I even share some of my artwork. Every now and then I get serious and rant about something that is annoying me. I dredge up memories of my childhood and share them. I’m one of those annoying people that had a wondrous childhood. I guess I am an anomaly. At the moment I’m about to publish my first book. I’m scared and proud in equal measures. But one thing is for sure: I’m having fun!