This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Friday, April 3, 2015

Creativity (Elements of Blogging A to Z)



        Blogging is a creative process that can serve well in highlighting the creativity of the blogger.  Whether it be writing, visual arts, crafts, or music, a blog can be an excellent way to showcase ones creative talents.

         Many of the authors who blog entertain us with book excerpts as well as original short pieces written especially for their blog readers.  What better place than a blog to show off writing in order to entice readers to seek out books that an author has written.

         A number of photography and art blogs are to be found exhibiting work that is worthy of magazine or book publication or display in a gallery show.   I'm frequently amazed by the creative talents of many of these types of bloggers.

         Craft blogs can be found in abundance with how-to posts as well as photos depicting some of the fine work these kinds of bloggers do.

          For anyone who has a creative talent, blogging can provide a way to show others what they can do.  Whether your ability is what you do for a living or just a hobby that you enjoy, a blog can put you in connection with a wide world with which you could not easily access otherwise.

          If you've got a talent, share it with others.   Blogging is one of the best ways to let others know about what you can do.

         What creative talents do you share on your blog?    Do you use your blog for business?    Are there any creative bloggers that you would like to introduce to us?


I think of all blogs to be creative, but here are some that focus on creativity:

Tahoma Beadworks and Photograpy

Lots of Stitches

77 comments:

  1. Hello Lee.
    Not taking part in your A to z challenge this year, way too busy. The one post of mine that has received the most page views is one where I wrote about building a geodesic dome. A how to post. You are right, creativity is something others are interested in.
    Blessings from Johannesburg South Africa, Geoff.

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    1. Good to hear from you, Geoff. I've often used how-to help posts when they show up in a Google search. If they don' t show up then it's unlikely to find them so it's important that your blog posts are search engine friendly. That must have been the case for yours.

      Lee

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  2. Very good post Lee, most people can be creative yet not know it,
    how sad for them for they don't know what they're missing.
    Some good advice here, thank you Lee.
    Yvonne.

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    1. You've done plenty of creative work, Yvonne.

      Lee

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  3. Is making friends a creative art? lol Actually, I use my limited creative ability on my blog. I like to share my photography passion. I consider myself a navice. I WOULD love to be a great photographer, but I lack nature tendencies to capture what I or others see. But...I do it all in the spirit of enjoyment. I also like sharing the rubber stamp art that I create. What I do with ink and paper is not extraordinary. It's really rather simple compared to many fine, beautiful projects I've seen on the net, but again I make hand-stamped cards because I want to give of myself to others. I have fun doing it. Occasionally, I like telling my readers about a new recipe that inspired me. Of course, as you know, I use my blog to display music that moves me and that's creative expression. Creativity...now that's an awesome "C" (so is Curious as a Cathy~haha!) word for #AprilA2Z! Thanks for hosting the fun, Lee!

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    1. Cathy, you are plenty creative on your blog and it comes across in a way that attracts friends. All creative I'd say and that list you've added in your comment shows a wealth of creativity coming from your blog. Keep it going!

      Lee

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  4. Ironically, I don't share any of my writing on my blog, at least not what appears in my books. Although I'm in two anthologies that were blog posts put together, so I guess I showed my writing then. And I played my guitar once in a video clip. But otherwise, epic fail there.

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    1. Well, Alex, through your creatively assembled blog posts we learn about your creativity and people are lured to your books and interested in you as a person. Creative I'd say and coming across your blog page.

      Lee

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  5. Hi Lee - good post. Taking up the challenge, I am finding blogging increasingly interesting - it really can take you to all sorts of places can't it?

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    1. Stuart, you are so right. I've been pleasantly surprised to find where blogging has taken me since I started and encouraged with pursuits that I had not engaged in for many years. Good luck with your future blogging!

      Lee

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  6. Hi Lee - I think blogging in of itself is creative - you have a certain set of materials - in this case digital - images and words, sound if you like - and you tell a story with them. You have limitations just like a sonnet does and it informs what you will be able to do. I just went to a site that was so rococo that I couldn't visit. I like something in between zen and cozy - too cluttered I get confused and have to go without leaving a comment! I have different blogs for different sorts of creativity I want to share - a writing blog to share that, a blog about my adventure in moving to Labrador where I do leave a lot of photos and a blog on living the good life where I might post photos of artwork and crafts I do.

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    1. Jan, I agree that the very act of operating a blog is creative. If you have talents that you want to share you can start a blog for each. It's like having an art show or some other demonstration on line where visitors from all over the world can easily come to view your works.

      Lee

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  7. I love creating blog posts, and I sometimes write about my sewing and crocheting projects in my blog.

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    1. Thank you, Romi, for stopping by. Keep your readers informed about what you do.

      Lee

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  8. Great topic. I think doing cover reveals and review and sharing information about books lets us see how creative writers are.

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    1. Beverly, not only do the cover reveals and book info posts show off creativity, but they are an accessible marketing tool. The key here is to not saturate with mundane repetitive posting, but to get creative about it so a book stands out from all the rest.

      Lee

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  9. Well you've seen my blog so you are acquainted with my plethora of crafts and photos. lol I don't post tutorials though because I am usually following a tutorial so I try to always include the link. Unless it's just a super easy craft that's self explanatory. I do get annoyed when I go to recipe blogs and they write so much text before posting the recipe at the bottom. I am a very much 'cut to the chase' kind of person.

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    1. JoJo, I had you partly in mind when I wrote this post! You do some beautiful work and I enjoy seeing those photos and all the other photos you share on your blog. On a longer post you can always scroll through, but sometimes the text can be enjoyable to read.

      Lee

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  10. I'd say everyone is creative in their own way. All blogs are creations, yes? Each one a reflection of the blogger's personality.It's absolutely the outlet I've been missing and reawakened my muse, which lay dormant for decades. What will you find there? As the tagline says: Eclectic Musings, Memoirs, Music and More - the "more" being articles (and photos) about my travels, dogs, ageing, health, song parodies, other creative writing pieces, some blogging tutorials... Basically, wherever the muse takes me. ☺ So far it's a hobby, but am open to doing it professionally in future. Might generate a little post-retirement income.

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    1. WE each have a special talent though sometimes people have to gain awareness as to what that talent is and then put it to good use.

      Lee

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  11. I blog about some fiction, short stories, random thoughts, Book reviews and some of my paintings. I agree with you that blog is a showcase of talent... :)
    I also think that one can express her thoughts, emotions through blog... :)
    Visit mine blog http://shinningappy.blogspot.in/

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  12. Thank you so much for the A to Z Challenge, although I am now my husband's carer, I still manage to find time to join in, Arlee.

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  13. I share my art/design... something I was for a time afraid to, afraid people wouldn't get me or my thoughts. I use my site to gather donations if possible.

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    1. Your talents are much used and appreciated by A to Z and we thank you for all you do.

      Lee

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  14. I'm a fiction writer, but in a former life I was a math prof. This month I'm posting math tidbits, a hard sell indeed, but at least it's different.

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  15. I love craft blogs. They always give me ideas... that I don't need because I already have to many creative ideas. LOL

    ~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

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  16. I love creative people! I've seen some amazingly creative blogs out there. I've used my blog a few times to showcase some jewelry that I've made but I really ought to do it more...
    Michele at Angels Bark

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    1. Maybe you should actually have a second blog devoted to your jewelry.

      Lee

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    2. That is definitely a possibility in the very near future!

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  17. I agree, blogging is a creative activity in itself; though much more personal than the fiction I write. I think it's a wonderful way of getting you - and your talents - out there for the world to see :-)

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  18. I'm not a creative person so I don't share any creativity on my blog, though did feature a few songs that hubby and his brother had written and recorded.

    betty

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    1. You are a creative person! Don't sell yourself short. Perhaps you need to look more closely to find your God-given talents and use them to greatest advantage to yourself and others. In fact there's a good possibility that you are already doing this and just don't realize it.

      Lee

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  19. I want to thank you for creating the structure upon which so many others can build. This is the best kind of creativity. Building a web, literally, of creative connections, is something I am attempting to do with my new site that I am launching with 26 articles on the A to Z of Legacy. Thank you!

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  20. I've been thinking of featuring more of my photography on my blog, as well as showing pictures of my cross-stitch work. A lot of those pictures were featured on my old Angelfire site, and thankfully are all on my Photobucket site and my old computer. I didn't lose them when my site was deleted without warning or real reason.

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  21. Absolutely! I love when bloggers share their talents on the blogs. I might even learn something new myself!

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  22. A must need for writers not to suck to their ownselves

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  23. The thing I love most about blogging is connecting with other writers. I love meeting new people through my blog and I've been fortunate enough to meet some great ones.

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  24. I love this encouraging post. My main talent is writing. I tried my hand at a craft blog for a short while, but it failed miserably. I agree 100% about the pwoer of blogging to showcase one's talent.

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    1. How much time did you give your craft blog? Sometimes success doesn't come right away!

      Lee

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  25. It's definitely fun to see all the creativity out there. I feel like this event, too, is pushing me to tap a type of creativity that is different from what I've done for a while and I think it's good for me.

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  26. I've made sure my blog is all about what I think, know, and feel! It certainly showcases all my talents through everything I do. Everybody has some or the other talent. For some it is complex like the talent of authoring books or being a pro musician. For others it is as simple and cool as being a great shopper, or a true friend!
    My blog is a little bit of this and a little bit of that and I am soon linking my most creative talent BAKING to it too!
    www.saraallie.blogspot.com
    www.sarasbakedcreations.com

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    1. Sara, you are so right! We each have a gift--usually many gifts--that we take for granted and don't maximize in our lives. Sometimes a careful self inventory is needed.

      Lee

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  27. I use my blog to post bits of things I am working on or getting ready to publish.

    Many things I have posted have later ended up in various books of mine.

    --
    Tim Brannan, The Other Side Blog
    2015 A to Z of Vampires
    http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/

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    1. That's putting your creativity to work, Tim, and getting a good benefit from doing so.

      Lee

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  28. Blogging is indeed a way to show your stuff. I enjoy reading excerpts and seeing how people craft cards or puppets or turn a mundane meal into something special. It's fun and it is CREATIVE. Happy C Day.

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  29. I often use my blog not so much to showcase creativity (though certainly that as well!) but also our adventures. My husband is good with his camera, so pairing his pictures with my words makes for powerful storytelling :)
    ~AJ Lauer
    an A-Z Cohost
    @ayjaylauer on Twitter

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  30. I began my blog in 2010, because I wanted to develop my family history writing skills and share my knowledge with fellow enthusiasts. I have never looked back! . I was so impressed by the way my vintage photographs showedi up on screen, that my own interest in photograph has been enhanced. I follow other family history blogs and also creative stitching ones - crochet, cross stitch, cards, patchwork etc. ,

    ScotSue at http://scotsue-familyhistoryfun.blogspot.com . .

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  31. I guess my talent is cooking so I find recipes I like the sound of or have already cooked and enjoyed.

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  32. I feel very untalented when I visit some of the blogs of photographers, artists and crafts' people.

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    1. We all have different talents. You have yours and they are special!

      Lee

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  33. Blogging is very creative for writers. I write for children 8 to 12 and I have created 27 different characters for this blogfest. It is indeed a great way to present what you do.

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  34. Without creativity we would all be lost creatures. Sometimes I read a post where the person states they are not creative yet they have just shorted themselves because writing is very creative even if it is about what happened to you that day. People can be so creative in cooking. I love creating cards and scrapbooks. I can cook but I am not creative like some people I have read through my blog travels. Some people are creative with people. They have a knack in how to deal with difficult people (thinking of a friend of mine). There is so much out there, people should not sell themselves short

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  35. I'm having fun wIth my heroine creating a painting a day getting ready for a one-person art show!

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  36. Even blogs that might not be what others would consider overly creative, ex. blogs that don't have a focus on creative writing/art/etc., can still be a great way to exercise your creativity! My main blog is a pet blog. It's not outwardly as creative as some of the amazing blogs I've seen by artists, crafters, etc. But I still have a lot of fun working on my blog design, images for posts, even coming up with new ideas for posts can be an exercise in creativity. I think bloggers in general are a pretty creative bunch!

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  37. I'm being creative on my blog right now- but I've got a lot to learn...

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  38. Sad to say I blog for FUN! For a long time I shared recipes, photos, a bit about my dogs and once in a while some writerly type stuff. Then in January I joined the Your Turn Challenge, to blog for thirty days. Somehow I decided I was blogging for ME and not a perceived audience. I blogged about what MATTERED to me, feminism, being bold, being happy no matter what. This A to Z is even more fun and I'm meeting some wonderful writes!

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  39. I am a newbie at this challenge stuff. I have never done the A-Z but one of the bloggers that I correspond with is in it... so I am following - a little like a puppy. I also blog for fun.... and I want to improve my creative writing skills. Right now, I am absorbed into historical flash fiction. Stop by, if you have the time. https://rogershipp.wordpress.com/

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  40. Well it's certainly worked for my crochet blog, Lee. But then I have a few others that lend themselves to my creative side too, and they seem to be doing fine. Wishing you lots of success with your Challenge this year :)

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  41. I blog for the joy of writing, for the enrichment of following other bloggers, stretching my imagination, and....well, so many other reasons.
    Thanks for all you have given to the blogging world, Lee.

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  42. Oddly enough, my blog tends to be the opposite of my writing. Most of my fiction is mystery/suspense. Darker stuff. But I love to use my blog to make people laugh. Split personality maybe?

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  43. Hi! I'm not too great at crafty stuff, but I love to share my writing, which I feel is my strong point. Even if no one views my blog, I'm happy just to write!

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  44. I'm not a typical crafter, in my mind, but I do have creative endeavors that I share on my blog. I restore furniture and give it new life, crochet, cross stitch, quilt and upcycle old clothes and other found objects. My goal has always been to share my "crafts' to show people what they can do to save money and keep good items from ending up in the landfill.

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  45. Lee,

    I love being creative and the A-Z really has me thinking my theme through. Thank you, again, for all of your encouragement!

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  46. I'm just starting my blog adventure. This challenge is helping me find my direction and voice. Your theme is PERFECT for us newbies :)

    P.S. All your awards and badges are awesome!

    You can find me here:
    ClarabelleRant

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  47. Good post. God bless the person who masterminded the blog and gave us all a platform for creative outlet. Thanks for dropping by my blog.

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  48. I have a craft blog that is currently going through dormancy. Hopefully, next year, I'll do an A to Z from it. Have seen some really great recipe blogs and art blogs. Even cartoon blogs. Yeah, blogging is an amazing way to showcase one's talents.

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  49. Sometimes it's hard to maintain a level of creativity for daily posts, but we need to hang in there. :)

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  50. Hi Lee - everyone's entered into your spirit of creativity and with 4 blogs and your background .. you're always being creative.

    I enjoy posting things that interest me and then adding those snippets of history, or bringing the post to life a little .. I try and always think of the reader ... cheers and thanks for all you've done setting this up for us .. Hilary

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  51. I try to live a creative life and to express that in a variety of ways on my blog. Sometimes I'm better at it than others! I'm enjoying all the creativity on the A to Z blogs...there is so much talent out there!

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  52. It's funny how you think you know a blogger, and suddenly their hidden talents are revealed during A to Z! I agree that this is perfect platform to let your creativity shine.

    Julie

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    1. I totally agree, Julie! A to Z is the time to blow away your regular readers and pull in new ones with creativity.

      Lee

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  53. Hello,

    Creativity is so much of an inspiration to all. I have been participating in this challenge for 3 yrs now. This platform has connected with so many bloggers which otherwise could not have been possible. So thanks to the A to Z Challenge Team.

    Cheers,
    POETICbug
    http://poeticbug.blogspot.com/

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  54. I love finding travel/photography blogs!
    I enjoy traveling through other people's eyes. It's cheaper!

    Heather

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    1. Stay tuned for my post for the letter "T", Heather.

      Lee

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