Category: Blogging

How much to read, what to read- To be able to write well!

Blogging Insights

This week Tanya has asked our opinion about this quote;

TODAY’S QUOTE 

“Reading is the finest teacher of how to write.”

Annie Proulx

She also asks our advice;

As an aspiring writer, I would like you to tell me what to read and how to read ?

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Who can deny the truth of this quote! We learn by reading. From our very first alphabet book to big tomes of literature, it is all learning- words to express ourselves, correct use of grammar, and how to use different literary devices to our best advantage.

I’m no writer, but I love reading. I have no intention of publishing a story book/ novel, but I still love to read. Reading is not only educational but it’s also as an escape. We open the pages of a book and enter a new world/ universe.

How reading has helped me become a better writer?

It has expanded my vocabulary and I have learned how and when to use words so that they have the maximum impact. I’ve also subconsciously gathered many plots in my mind which peak out when I write a short/ very short story. I have also learned about human nature and how people behave under different circumstances. All these things are a valuable assets to anyone wishing to be an author.

I agree with this quote that the more we read the better we will write. As for what to read and how to read; I think one should read everything ( meaning all genres ) so that the reading experience is broad and balanced. Read whenever you can, not as a compulsory subject in school, but as an enjoyment that will add to your knowledge.

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In response to; Blogging Insights 3.0 # 12 — Reading, hosted by Tanya

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Learning by doing – Blogging and writing

” Learn to write by doing it. Read widely and wisely. Increase your word power. Find your individual voice through practising constantly. Go through the world with your eyes and ears open and learn to express that experience in words.”

P. D. James.

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The best way of learning how to do something is by doing it. Writing and reading are the best way to improve your writing skills.

When I started writing for my blog, I had very limited writing experience, having never written regularly except for what I needed to do for my academics. The more I wrote, the easier it became for me. The fact that I’m an avid reader helped me because I had words at my disposal.

In blogging, one needs new ideas for blog posts and life around us is a rich source of new ideas. For my Sunday poser, I harvest ideas from what’s going around me in real life and also from reading blogs of my friends. So keeping our eyes open and observing pays dividends when it comes to getting ideas of what to write about. In fact, most writers would agree that all the seeds of fiction are born out of real life situations and experiences.

I agree with this very wise quote; It’s all that we need to hone our skills as a writer- read, write, and observe the life around us! What are your thoughts about this quote?

In response to: Blogging Insights-3.0 # 11, hosted by Tanya

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Sunday Poser # 134 – Blog stats

Welcome back to another Sunday Poser

This week my question is;

How often you check your blog stats?

First off, my thanks to bloggers like Paula and Jim who gave me the idea for this week’s question.

I check my stats quite infrequently because now it doesn’t make much difference to me if people are viewing/ visiting my blog that much or not.

It’s been more than 4.5 years since I’ve been blogging, and I’ve written and shared around 7000 posts. I can’t check ( don’t know how) that which posts got the least or most likes or views. But as long as my readers are interacting with me on my blog via comments, I am happy that someone other than me is enjoying my writing too.

Do you check your blog stats often? And does it make a difference to you, if people are visiting your blog more or less?

Please share your thoughts in the comments section or you can write your own post and link it to this one so that I can find it.

As usual, thanks of visiting and reading.

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W3 # 56- Relaxing with blogging

W3

Suzette’s prompt guidelines

  • Write: A) a haiku, OR: B) a tanka on the theme of “a favorite way to relax / unwind”

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What else but blogging

It’s the best way to relax

Writing and reading

Posting stories and poems

Building a community

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I’ve written a Tanka for the first time ever. Hope it’s alright.

In response to W3 # 56, prompt provided by Suzette, hosted by David

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Who do I write my blog for?

Today, we are back to the ‘discussion of quote format’ :

TODAY’S QUOTE 

“Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.“

Cyril Connolly.

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I think that this quote is specifically more pertinent to bloggers.

A person who writes for public consumption seldom can do it to just satisfy their own selves. Any person who wants his books to be sold, wants to become a bestseller wouldn’t get there by just writing for themselves only.

When I started writing my blog, my objective was to just write. When I got a few people reading and commenting on my posts, I was motivated to write better and include more diverse topics in my writing.

In my writing, I aim to write positive posts/ poems, try to inspire people, and to amuse them. This all indicates that I do write for others as well as myself. When I’m happy it reflects in my writing and when I’m conflicted or sad, that too shows in my writing. I think you cannot separate the person writing from what they are penning down. It’s an expression of their self if they so desire.

To be very honest, though I don’t write to please others, I do want them to find my writing enjoyable. That’s why I refrain from writing similar stories or repeating myself too often. Does that mean that I’ve no self?

I think this quote doesn’t encompasses the whole spirit of writing. Maybe it is true for some aspects of writing, but not most of it.

What do you think?

In response to; Blogging Insights 3.0 # 10, hosted by Tanya

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What do I like to write?

Blogging Insights

TODAY’S QUESTION :

What type of writing do you enjoy the most?

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I like to write poetry best of all. It comes naturally to me. I don’t mean to say that I’m a very good poet. Far from it, but I find it easy to express myself in fewer words with a poem rather than long winded speeches.

Another thing I like to write is opinion pieces. It’s the same thing as a poem but with more words, more details. In this category, I like to opine about blogging, health-related topics, and life in general. I like to write positive and inspiring posts that people may find helpful.

Sometimes, I write fiction too. It’s usually in response to an image, or a phrase prompt. I’m not very good at writing fiction and it doesn’t comes to me easily; thinking of a plot, creating characters, and making them behave according to the storyline is not an easy task for me.

These are my preferences in writing. What sort of things you like to write?

Thank you Tanya for this very interesting question!

In response to; Blogging Insights 3.0 # 9 — Type of Writing, hosted by Tanya

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How I started my blog!

Blogging Insights

Blogging Insights 3.0 # 8 — Your Backstory

TODAY’S QUESTION

What is your Blogging Backstory? Why and how did you begin blogging?

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Dr. Tanya, a very good friend of mine, started her blog in February of 2018. She would send me the links to her posts, and though I could read her posts from the emails, I couldn’t comment on them as I wasn’t logged in on WP. To remedy this situation, I created an account on WordPress and started following her blog.

Initially, I was only following one blog, that of Tanya. Whenever I logged on to WP, it would urge me to write a post! So, I finally started my blog at the urging of Tanya, and at the prompting of WordPress.

In the beginning, I wanted to reach women of my age bracket and share with them my experiences and views, regarding how to look after our mental and physical health. I also wanted to share my medical knowledge about different health issues people over 50/60 years of age face. I also aimed to involve my readers in my efforts for weight reduction, and health improvement.

I published my first post on September 6th, 2018. Gradually I started following many bloggers whose writing impressed and inspired me.

With time my blog grew and I started to write on different topics and for different challenges too. I started a weekly photo prompt, “What do you see” in 2019, October. This has been well received. I also have started another series; Sunday poser, where I ask a question from my readers every week.

As a blogger, I’d describe myself as;

I see myself as a simplifier who wants to state things as they are. And at the same time, I try to be creative too. Writing stories on prompts, photos, and phrases has helped bring out my creativity.

I have learned to be a wordsmith and write stories and poems. I love to highlight my point of view through poetry and storytelling.

I love to share knowledge with others and help others with problems similar to mine.

I am a listener too as I interact with my fellow bloggers by reading their comments and replying to them. Listening is very important in our world. That’s how we get to know others and develop friendships here.

The last bit, is the writer, I think that all of us here in the blogging world are writers.

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Why do you blog? And what’s the story of your blog?

In response to Blogging Insights, hosted by Tanya

Share your thoughts in the comments

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Friday faithfuls- Blogging Challenges – Truthful Tuesday

Today Di has asked us this question for Truthful Tuesday

What kind of blogging challenges inspire you the most?

I am re-Sharing this post from September 2022 which I wrote in response to Jim’s Friday Faithfuls.

For the Friday Faithfuls challenge this week I would like to know your thoughts on blogging challenges, which ones you participate in.

I love participating in different types of blogging challenges. There are two month-long challenges that I try to do every year;

JusJoJan in January, and A to Z in April. Other than these I do many weekly challenges/ prompts. Which are too many to list.

If you do like to get involved with these things, why you decided to participate in them.

I started daily prompts way back when I started blogging, ( four years now) it was a challenge to combine many words to write a cohesive post. It was a way to challenge my creativity and imagination. I learned a lot by doing these prompts.

If you are a host of any blogging challenge, that would be wonderful if you could talk about your challenge.

Around 3 years ago I decided to do on a trial basis, the prompt hosted by a very dear blogger, Helene who had passed away that year. My blogging friends gave my idea a warm welcome and now it’s almost been 3 years since I’ve been hosting What do you see, an image prompt that I post every Monday. This has been a wonderful experience for me. In addition I ask a weekly question, Sunday poser, every Sunday.

Also, I would like to know if you feel that the host of a blogging challenge has any responsibility to the participants.

I don’t know if it’s an ethical responsibility, but I feel the host should at least acknowledge the posts in response to their challenge and visit or comment on them. Though many hosts just post the prompt and have no other interest in the responses.

If you would like to talk about Mr. Linky, or the Blue Frog, or when you encounter trouble because the host is not automatically approving your comments or pingbacks, that would also be appropriate.

I participate in many challenges which requires me to add my link to Mr Linky, the Six sentence story hosted by Denise, Moonwashed Musings hosted by Eugenia and a few dVerse poetics challenges. I’ve had no trouble with it yet! I think the idea is to have all responses in one place with their images. It makes visiting them convenient.

Initially Written for MLMM- Friday faithfuls, hosted by Jim

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A to Z- Challenge- For roundup- An abecedarian poem

My A to Z challenge in a nutshell

Actions are who we are not our empty words

Butterflies that flit from flower to flower or someone more enduring

Chocolate– the joy bringer to ever day even if a morsel

Day that starts with joy can become more productive

Encouragement keeps us going full steam ahead

Fear can make us stronger or weaker, the choice is ours

Giving of what we have makes us richer not poorer

Health is indeed a wealth, to be cherished not squandered

Ideas should be renewed and revised as we gain knowledge

Jokes make people laugh and lighten up their mood

Keeping it alive is essential for everyone for life is ever-changing

Liking is the first step in making a friend, be sure to smile too

Mindfulness is the key to living a happy, satisfying life

Note-takers are the one who never forget things when shopping

Objectivity of mind, views is vital if we want to get rid of bias

Prayers are our connection to our creator, our helpline

Question need to be asked, and answered to gain knowledge

Resolving tiffs is a difficult task but essential if we want cordial relationships

So many sides to each and everyone of us, like so many faces of a jewel

Types of bloggers I have met on my blogging journey, all have taught me something

Unburden–ing yourself to a stranger is easier for their view is unbiased

Value yourself and your time as much as you value others and their time

Waiting always takes a toll on our patience so engage in activities that make time go faster

X-out anxiety as it is like a worm eating our peace of mind from the inside

Yearn for a quiet time with family, a simple meal and sincere conversation

Zeal for life, enjoyment of every day makes our journey an adventure

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Why do A to Z challenge?

Blogging Insights

In today’s Blogging Insights post Tanya asks questions regarding A to Z challenge;

TODAY’S QUESTIONS:

1. Are you participating in this year’s A to Z Challenge? If not, have you participated in the past?

This is my fourth year participating in A to Z challenge held every year in April. It is such a fun challenge to do and when you’ve selected your theme, you can write and schedule your posts ahead of time.

2. What do you enjoy about this Challenge in particular, and what do you think about blogging challenges in general?

I really enjoy doing this challenge as it often takes me to topics and subjects that I haven’t explored yet in my writing.

I also enjoy reading the posts from people I follow on their chosen topics. It’s an overall an enjoyable experience with the opportunity to learn a lot too.

When I started my blog, I had no idea about the different prompts and challenges that were hosted by many people in WordPress. Gradually I became aware of them and started participating in them. Though many people have stopped blogging altogether or have stopped hosting their challenges, many new bloggers have taken up the baton and at times it’s hard to choose which ones to do and which ones to drop. I’ve made a rule for myself that I won’t be posting more than three posts a day so I have to choose between different prompts.

I am very grateful to all the people who host different challenges and prompts. They all provide a direction for our thoughts and an inspiration to write.

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In response to Blogging Insights- 3.0 # 7, hosted by Tanya

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