Blogger Recognition Award

My friend, Rae has nominated me for the Blogger Recognition Award!  What is that, you ask?  Well, read the rules and you'll find out!  ;)

 

-Thank the blogger who nominated you.

-Tell a little bit about how you started blogging.

-Give two pieces of advice for new bloggers.

-Nominate 15 other bloggers.

 

First off, thank you so much, Rae!  It's always fun to be tagged! 

 

And now, the bit about how I started blogging:

Well, I'd been reading blogs for quite awhile, and had discovered this little community of Christian girls who liked to write about movies, and books, and stories, and basically some of my very favorite subjects.  And I said to myself, "It would be so cool if I could be a part of that, too."  This was a BIG deal, people.  Really.  The fact that I would even consider such a thing was totally "out there".  Because, you see, I'd never had a blog before.  Not one of my siblings had ever had a blog before!  It was not the normal thing for someone in our family to do.  And when something's not the norm, I tend to be very hesitant about trying it because, well, "what will my family think of me?"    But at last I did it.  And rather sneakily I admit.  Telling no one except my mom and one of my brothers.  (Well, I didn't want to talk it all up, just in case it all came to nothing, you know?)  I had grand plans to eventually show my siblings one of my posts (very casually, of course, and as if it were merely some random post written by some random person) and then when they'd finished reading it, cry proudly "I wrote that!"  Ta-da! *Dramatic and triumphant music*  Well, but I'm afraid I never got that satisfaction, as everyone in my family found out in a much lamer way.  (Which is typical.  Dramatic experiences being in the habit of avoiding me, I think.)  But anyhow...where was I going with all this?  Train of thought, off the track; disappeared, and can't come back!  (Hey.  That's a nice little jingle, don't you think?  And I made that up all by myself.)  'Hem.  To sum up.  I didn't have a blog, and now I do, and boy are we happy!

 

 

Advice Tidbit No. 1:  Make your blog your own

[This is the "Do as I say, not as I do" part.  Or in other words, the part where I find I'm giving advice to myself, and not just to new bloggers!]

Don't try to make your blog like someone else's, or feel bad because it isn't like someone else's.  That's a losing battle.  Yes, I know.  There are so many wonderful blogs out there.  And so many wonderful posts.  And it's only natural that you should like to write similarly to the posts that you so enjoy reading.  But well...sometimes that just isn't possible.  And that's okay.  You have a unique personality; unique interests, passions, and delights; a unique sense of humor and a unique style of writing.  (And if I say unique one more time it's going to stop sounding like a real word!  Just sayin'.)  No one else can blog the way you do.   The things you write are not going to appeal to every single person out there, but there are some who are going to love them!  So just write.  And don't bother with the idea that's there's a "proper" way to blog and that you're failing if your blog doesn't end up being like So-and-so's.  After all, So-and-so's blog isn't like that other So-and-so's over there, and who's saying which is best?  (Now I'm sick of the word, "so"...)

 

 

Advice Tidbit No. 2:  When you feel like no one is reading your posts...

This is probably no help at all, but for myself when I feel like no one enjoyed the post I just wrote (judging from the amount of comments I got on it or something--yes, I count comments, that's a bad idea, too) I like to remind myself that there just might be a silent reader out there.  Someone who never comments, but who greatly enjoys my posts and checks my blog frequently hoping for something new to read.  Because I was a silent reader myself once.  I would check the same blogs multiple times a day hoping, just hoping, there would be a new post to read.  And sometimes there was, and it would brighten up my day! 

So.  When you feel like no one is reading what you write, imagine that one silent reader who may just be waiting anxiously for a new post from you, and write for them.  Just that one person.  Because even if it's only one person who is blessed by your writing, that's enough.  Really.  That's success.

 

P.S. I'm afraid my advice may have turned out a bit lame, but that's only because certain friends of mine stole...ahem...came up with a lot of the really good advice before I had a chance to.  (coughcoughAbbyandRaecoughcough)  But at any rate, I hope you managed to get something out of this, and if you're still looking for more blogging advice, please head over to Rae's and Abby's blogs.  They had some really good things to say.

 

I tag:

Natalie

Morgan LuaAnn

Kayla Marie

Lexi

MovieCritic

Hamlette

Monica

Mary Horton

 

And I'm too lazy to tag anyone else.  (Besides, Rae and Abby already tagged some of the people I was going to tag...hem.  Sorry. I really shouldn't be blaming everything on you poor girls, should I?  That's not very nice of  me at all.  "Bad girl, Miss March!"  ;))

 

Okay, I have a feeling I missed someone I should have tagged.  If I did, please come and scold me.  I deserve it.  And just so you know, this tag is free for the taking. (I mean I have seven extra spots, right? 15 minus 8 equals 7?  Yeah, that's right.  I learned math in school.  I did!)  So if you'd like to complete this tag PLEASE DO!  And then let me know so I can read your post because...I need all the blogging advice I can get!!

 

Cheerio my friends! Have a wonderful day and don't forget to...I don't know.  Do that thing you were supposed to be doing, I guess.