blogging – The Writer's Grab-Bag

Blog-Loving

Several posts on this site have been about blogging—starting one, maintaining one, promoting one. Then the odd one has been about the plans to enhance my own blog and develop services, which hasn’t yet happened due to personal life challenges. Today, I thought I’d just write about the self-satisfaction of being a blogger.

Your website is where you submit and disclose things/information that are important to you. You express—share—ideas, thoughts, emotions, worries, beliefs. Your blog makes a statement . . . it conveys your identity. Content aside, informational or entertaining, there’s a certain sharing of self; your material and voice are reflections of you. In essence, you’re putting a wee bit of yourself into every post.

But there’s nothing better than the sheer pleasure—pride—that comes with a completed [scheduled] post. And whether you’re edifying or inspiring/motivating readers and followers, or attracting individuals who share your interests, you’re drawing similar-minded people together.

The other great thing about blogging is development, professional and personal. The more you write, the more skilled you become. (I’m constantly reviewing my writing and, sometimes, I’ll even re-check definitions, spelling, grammar and punctuation rules—and lo and behold, I’ve found that I’ve flubbed up.) And whether you’re providing professional or business information, or providing guidance, chances are you’re researching; as such, more development, more growth. A very good thing indeed.

As you progress and post, you learn who you are, what your true voice is. I tend to have a fairly flat voice, I believe, but when I write as Rey (one of the three private eyes from the Triple Threat Investigation Agency), I have an opportunity to be more “free”, because that’s who she is—a gal who doesn’t necessarily follow the rules and norms. It’s fun taking on a role/persona and saying to <bleep> with the rules.

What’s also fun? When you can look back three, five, ten years and re-read your posts. Maybe you’ll cringe. Maybe you’ll laugh. Maybe you’ll pat yourself on the back and smile. I, myself, wish I’d never deleted my Typepad blog. Even if I only had one follower, I had some great posts (this I proudly state). Alas, I’ll never be able to access them. But such is life.

Lastly, you learn a few things about the technical and social sides. If I’d never become a blogger, I’d have remained uninformed of so many things; I believe I’d rather have stagnated. Fortunately, that didn’t happen. Some things I’d taught myself, some I’d learned from others. And while I will readily admit I could certainly acquire more knowledge, this is not the time [for me] to do so.

All this to say that I love being a blogger. If you haven’t yet given blogging a try, do. It’s an enriching experience. And while it’s nice to make sales and have 10K followers—in my dreams, LOL—it’s great to commit to personal and professional growth.

Blog, if only for yourself.

Insta-Laughter?

We all have our idiosyncrasies and quirks, skills and strengths . . . failings and weaknesses. Mine? Technology.

I’ve come a long way, though. I don’t cringe or sprint away when a new challenge or task comes my way. Groaning and moaning, well, that’s another thing, er, things.

Facebook I feel fairly calm with. Can’t tag worth <bleep>, but I can post! Pat on back to moi. Twitter I no longer have panic attacks about. Can’t Tweet to save my life, however. What am I supposed to—expected to—convey? I’m not a poet or photographer with regular “product” to show. I’m not a disgruntled person with a bone to pick. LinkedIn serves its purpose without a doubt but, personally, it leaves me cold; as such, it receives a visit maybe twice a year.

My last/latest “adventure” was with Instagram. I signed up at the end of 2017. Couldn’t figure out how to post anything—no laughing, please. Didn’t return until a week ago. Dang (as Linda would say)—double dang with an expletive (as Rey would shout)—I couldn’t remember or find my password. Had to sign up again. Then, of course, I found my old user name, but the new account won’t recognize the old one. It’s a bit of a mess. Do I erupt with tears or burst into laughter at the insanity of it all?

I always like to provide a little background re the focus of my post, so-o . . . did you know Instagram, which has been around nearly a decade, is owned by Facebook? Among other things, “Insta” has messaging features, the ability to follow other users’ feeds, and you can add a whack of pics and vids in one post. Kind of cool . . . if you’re into pics and vids. One day, I suspect I might be but, at the moment, uh-uh, can’t/won’t happen. That’s okay; everything in its time.

Project for the weekend: figure out how to get the accounts de-mucked.

. . . I do believe I feel a few ROTFLs coming on.

Back to the Beginning

. . . re starting a blog when you’re in a fog . . . about what to do.

<LMAO> I’d actually thought of a cute little poem while lying in bed last night and—dang!—gone it was come the morning. Goes to prove, when an idea pops into your head, write it down or lose it.

I digress [again]. Anyway, someone who readily admits to being non-blog-savvy, had asked me to check out an old blog, provide opinions and tweak, if necessary. . . . Realization upon doing so: creating a new one would be the better option.

Are you in the same boat, non-blog-savvy, but considering becoming a blogger? Quash the anxiety, my friend. Move beyond the how-do-I-do-this daze. You can and will be a boffo blogger. Just believe and do.

You’re thinking: yeah, I could wrap my head around getting a blog going and belonging to the ever-increasing, ever-exciting blogging community. But what do I blog about?!

Easy-peasy. Blog about what: ♥ you know ♥ floats your boat—your passion.

Maybe you want to make extra money via a blog? Totally doable. Go for it; the WWW world is your oyster. But let’s focus on the elementary steps: the beginning of the beginning blog. Something like that.

Concentrate on creating a blog that features you—your writing, recipes, photos, travels, family adventures, whatever it is you want to share. Utilize an approach that’s “you”. Look at other bloggers to get a taste of what’s visually appealing and well presented. But remember: your blog should incorporate your unique voice (style, slant). Sing out loud, sing out strong.

You’ll want to think of a blog name—something catchy, memorable. Google. See what others with your interest have named their blogs. Look at items, people and/or products related to your interest; maybe they’ll inspire you.

Ensure that whatever the blog focus is, it’s incorporated into the name. If the blog is about you, use your name or a version thereof. Once you’ve selected the perfect blog name, see if it’s available. (If it already exists, you can vary it or use a different extension—like .net instead of .com.)

Once the aforementioned is all set, get that blog going. Pick a platform and webhost—software and services used to publish your blog content on the Internet (I’m partial to WordPress, of course, but there are many others to choose from). Register it.

Just for the record, to be clear, a domain name is your website address that people would type into the URL bar of a browser when they’re looking to visit your blog. A webhost serves as your file storage/service location. When folks enter your domain name into a browser, that name is converted into the IP address of your webhost. (Oof. Anything technical and I feel a headache coming on. <LOL>)

A webhost is pretty much a must, or you really won’t have much of a blog. Yes, you can go for self-hosting, but there are limitations, such as not having your own domain name, not being able to access free themes or upload an abundance of vids/pics and the like. Nothing wrong with that, though. It depends on what you’re looking to do. Investigate the pros and cons of self-hosting, and determine what’s best for you.

Use a template (theme) for the blog design/layout that speaks to you and tailor it accordingly. Remember: you don’t have to stick with it forever. The beauty of having a blog is that you can change the look anytime you like.

Once it’s designed and up and running, go for it—write that first post. How exciting is that!?

Happy blogging! . . . And, on that note, I’d better take a gander at that blog to be.

L’amour du Fromage or The Love of Cheese . . . y

Love cheese. It’s nummy, as P.I. Rey would say, and full of calcium and protein, which is a good thing (we’ll overlook the cholesterol component).

Love cheesiness. Not in a vulgar or crummy way, but as in silly and fun.

This blog certainly leans toward cheesy. Many of the photos are stock and are “manipulated” by yours truly. I’ll readily admit that they lean toward amateurish, which is fairly evident, but I’m okay with that . . . ‘cause I love cheese-y.

Sure, I’d like this blog to look professional, but that would require paid-for services, which equals $$$, which I simply don’t possess [at this time].

But what’s wrong with a blog looking homemade? Muffins and cookies prepared by a loving hand are 10X better than store-made bought.

I’m off on a bit of a tangent today and, therefore, not offering any bona fide advice, observations, or findings. Merely having a bit of fun, doffing my layperson hat, and patting myself on the back for having gotten this far.

As I grow and develop, gain knowledge from other blogs, and learn through [a lot of] trial and error, A Writer’s Grab-Bag will undergo some tweaking.

In the meanwhile, I’ll stick with cheesy, because as a lover of le fromage, I’m fine with that.

Don’t take life [and blogging] too seriously. Our time on this planet is incredibly short, my friends. Have / poke some fun now and again, in an entertaining harmless way of course. What’s meant to be, will happen . . . in its sweet, blessed time.

Who Wants a Review or Two? I Do, I Do (Yes-sir-ree-Dooooo)!

No question. This is the era of reviews. We need them and we certainly want them. (Because this blog revolves around writing/blogging, that’ll be the focus but, truly, the basics here could hold true for any business.)

I’ve had a couple of good ones for the first Triple Investigation Agency ebook, The Connecticut Corpse Caper. My goal was to get several for it, as well as the subsequent mis-adventures of my P.I. trio. Shame on me. I’ve not actively/avidly pursued this (due to circumstances not quite in my control), but I will—that, my friends, is a wholehearted, determined, steadfast, unwavering promise.

I touched upon Google Reviews several days ago, but there are numerous online review websites—some are free, some not (know what you’re getting into before you commit). Strive for independent reviews; they tend to be truthful.

Feel free to ask followers for reviews and check to see if it’s okay to post them online. Also, take a look at blogs and sites that offer free ones. Be aware, though, many reviewers (if not most) are inundated with requests. It could prove tricky getting someone to agree to provide one, but persistence and perseverance do bring rewards.

Don’t pay for reviews, tempting as it may be (in earlier days, when none the wiser, I certainly considered it). Many would view this as unethical . . . and really . . . how much faith could you put into something you shelled out money (or bartered) for?

Never generate fake reviews. You don’t want to sully your reputation. As an FYI: they’re also illegal and [often] pretty easy to recognize by readers; a great one amid oodles of so-so ones is going to stand out like the idiomatic sore thumb. If most folks are anything like me—doing that due-diligence thang—they’ll scrutinize a number of reviews to get the broader picture.

Recognize (accept) that you might receive negative reviews. People have different tastes and what one person may have found “amazing”, another may find “mediocre”. Hopefully, those that aren’t as keen, will state so in a professional manner.

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Less positive reviews needn’t be a bad thing, though. Use the assessment to your advantage. What’s being said? How can you use that information to boost or better your writing or blog, service or product?

And if a review does lean toward the negative, don’t be contentious and write a seething response; respect the reviewer’s right to state how he/she feels. If an erroneous statement or interpretation has been made, provide an [impartial] explanation or clarification. Above all, if the review isn’t what you were expecting, don’t let it upset you. Learn from it and move on.

Don’t hesitate to respond to reviews. Reviewers will appreciate that (we all like to be acknowledged). And who knows how the “relationship” will play out over time (I’ve made a few wonderful blogging buddies over the last year)?

To get you started—and to circle back to the first post re reviews—check out this YouTube vid re Google Reviews.

Here’s to an abundance of encouraging ones.

#1 . . . One . . . Won

#1 = single = first/firstly = one = sole = singular

The title, oddly, came in a dream. What does/did it mean? No idea! But I felt a need to play with it. Given this blog is related to writing/blogging and the gals (JJ, Rey and Linda) at the Triple Threat Investigation Agency, I’m simply going to type whatever pops into the ol’ noggin’. Why not do one post without a pre-set plan in mind?

The first action I’m taking this (very early) morning is penning this post. The second-first is taking a breather while enjoying a hot coffee (it’s really cold here right now) and a few cookies (orange-cranberry, in case you’re curious).

My single thought/objective re A Writer’s Grab-Bag: learn how to make and get the most out of it. Utilize all the bells and whistles. Make it happen. That’s the #1 intention for the year.

My sole aim re the Triple Threat Investigation Agency series: get ”Forever Poi” completed and ready for Amazon, etc. My one dream re the TTA P.I.s? <LMAO> Get a film/TV deal.

Maybe you’re new to this blog or blogs in general, or are thinking of starting your own. That’s awesome! You’ve got your #1 on the list nailed.

The #1 question on some folks’ minds perhaps: why create a blog? We-ell, besides the fact it’s fun, blogging’s become a prevalent means of communication. It’s an excellent way to share information. Did you know money could be made at blogging? T’is true. It takes time, however, and commitment . . . and, as the saying goes, don’t quit your day job (at least not right away).

So, first and foremost, determine your niche/focus. Who will you blog for? Make it a sole priority to become familiar with “Blogging 101”. Don’t be daunted by the plethora of information out there; embrace it.

WPone1

It’s been on your mind, on your tongue, and in your heart—so, commit to it. And Day One: set up that blog (it’s neither difficult nor time-consuming). It’s Establish goals. Get a domain name and blog host, install a free blogging platform, add an opt-in form to collect subscribers/followers, start posting (take a look at last year’s posts). And after you’ve got that marvelous eye-catching blog up and running, one thing you’ll want to do: keep it interesting, keep it fresh/current.

We all have it within us to do well. You (and I) can be top bloggers—#1s! It’s merely a matter of applying ourselves and managing each objective as if it were the first and foremost one.

We’ve won when even one (no matter how small the goal is) is done, because—kudos to us—we made a decision and saw it through to fruition.

Ones have run into some, but they’re still single units in the grand scheme of it all. And now, the single thing I’m going to do is give thought to the weekend post while munching more of the aforementioned cookies. Nummmmm.

Have one heckuva day, my friends!

WPone4

Huh? Can’t Hear Ya

Okay, audio probably isn’t that important when it comes to a blog post—but then it depends on what your blog’s about, doesn’t it?

I got so stoked about succeeding with video embedding last time, I felt a need to attempt the audio counterpart . . . and now sweat beads are beginning to trickle.

One day, when The Triple Threat Investigation Agency series becomes a full-time blogging-writing-promoting venture, the plan is to utilize auditory effects. The crucial phrase: one day. <LOL> Everything in its time.

The reasoning behind the plan to use audio: to make my private-eye gals come alive . . . share Hawaiian sounds (coz JJ, Rey and Linda would love for you to hear “aloha” as much as see it) . . . for me to talk to you as a blogger/writer. Maybe I’ll even include a P.I. playlist. The sky’s the limit. It’s easy to envision; it’s merely a question of finding the time. That crucial phrase again: one day.

Evidently, adding an audio file or music to a blog post is super easy. They’d said that about video, and they were right (relatively). I won’t list the steps here, but there’s a quick vid at the end of the post on how to accomplish this [another pat on back to moi].

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So, that doesn’t look too appealing, does it? Poop. . . . Ah, okay. Looks fine in Preview. Whew. Awesome! Yeah, the sky’s the limit. I’m loving this.

Ya know . . . maybe I’m not so technically challenged, after all.

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If a Picture Paints a 1000 Words, then a Vid Must Paint a Mill

Eye candy’s everything when it comes to viewers/followers sticking with a post and site. If it ain’t pretty or “fetching”, you’ll likely lose that potential follower.

A Writer’s Grab-Bag aims to be neat and organized, but from a purely personal perspective, I’d bet dollars to donuts many would claim it’s not overly professional. That’s okay. Blogs are often personal spaces—spheres filled with subjective thoughts or objective info, or maybe a combination of both, depending on the blogger’s focus/purpose.

Without repeating that photos, fonts, whitespace and other types of visuals make for an appealing site—oopsy, guess I just did—another effective tool to utilize is a video. I’ve seen a few blogs that use them well—professionally, instructionally, and humorously (as it roll-on-the-floor funny). It’s one thing I’ve longed to do, but haven’t yet [don’t ask].

For those of you who are new to blogging or technically challenged [intimidated] like me, Google “how to embed a video”. The steps sound easy enough. Let’s see if they indeedy-do are.

In my how-to-embed-a-vid voyage through the Google cosmos, I discovered that it’s not a great idea to host your own video. Hey, I’m pleased as punch to get someone else’s uploaded. I don’t need to attempt my own; that would mean I’d have to create one. Yikes! <LOL> But if you’re interested in doing so, go for it: instructions abound. As an FYI: Blogger, powered by our friend Google, is a handy tool for doing this.

Given the focus of this post is embedding a video and I’ve proven successful (it’s unfortunate you can’t see me doing cartwheels as I continue to shriek for joy) here’s a video on how to do just that.

Happy embedding.

Authoring an Author Blog . . . or . . . Whadya Wanna Write About?

We’ve touched upon blogging, landing pages, editing, proofing, and the list goes on. What we (okay, I) haven’t yet “discussed” is an author blog—like the one I’m attempting to master.

You’re an author/writer and you want to blog about it . . . share your projects and output with the world . . . make some $$$ at it (I know I would). So, let’s center on that, shall we?

What makes for a good author blog? One that’s constantly updated—it’s fresh, factual, and maybe even fun. Success will be contingent upon three main factors:

frequency (of posting/updating)
interest component, and
what and how well you write (how you convey thoughts/ideas).

The writing world’s changed big-time since I first set out to become a published (successful/prosperous) writer. That, obviously, has not [yet] occurred. <LMAO> The methods/mediums have transformed drastically. Change is good; stagnation is not. Self-promotion is a necessity while sitting back, hoping for the best, is a cop-out (unless making sales or attracting followers is neither here nor there).

I digress. What type of author blog should you go for? That’s entirely up to you. Consider how much time you want (can) devote. Can you post daily? If not, then weekly? How often are you able to update your blog? Truly, you don’t want to be inactive for too long; you want to generate—and keep—interest.

Whether you post daily or weekly, make sure to write from your heart about what you love and know, and do so with sincerity and confidence. Maybe you’re not Ernest Hemingway or Voltaire, but you are you: a unique entity with a unique voice. Take pride in that.

What’s the focus of the author blog, besides selling yourself? Will you keep a personal blog journal? Discuss world events? Start a writing community—maybe a genre-specific one? Maybe you’d like to do reviews? The sky’s the limit . . . to a point. You want to stay on point and not diversify too much.

Take a look at what others are doing; you’ll surely acquire a notion or two that will get the gray matter percolating. You may get so excited, you’ll decide to get involved in a blog tour (kinda like a book tour and equally fun).

The one thing that’s sure to come out of all this is that—besides perfecting the art of writing/posting—you’ll gain a whack-load of blogging knowledge.

. . . It really is all good, fellow author. Now, get out there and show us your stuff!

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