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!

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Books and Blogging ( #AtoZChallenge )



 Books and Blogging--of course!  What better words to use for my "B" entry...  



#AtoZChallenge 2019 Tenth Anniversary blogging from A to Z challenge letter




       
        Since my early childhood I have always been fascinated with books.  Reading was one of my primary activities when I was growing up.  After I started high school I began thinking about writing books of my own. I started a few and jotted down ideas for others.  Other than a couple of almost-finished books, I haven't completed anything yet.

         My discovery of blogging was a great find for me as far as blowing off writing steam.  Once I actively started blogging I began to think of making money from the activity.  Not much happened for me on that angle.  But I didn't particularly pursue monetization of my blogs with any active vigor.  I began to turn my thoughts to books.

        Books and blogging.  I'm not the only one, you know.  Many of us are blogging about books or the like.  I mostly blog about music these days with my Battle of the Bands, which if you missed my Battle for the letter "A" you might scroll back a day to vote on it.

         The way I blog might change in the future, but for now I'll keep doing my Battles and monthly Insecure Writer's Support Group posts (there's one of those coming up in my next post).  Writing my own book and making my own music might become more my focus in coming months.  My blog is likely to evolve if things start looking productive in the realm of writing and music--or something else for that matter.

         I'm not planning to stop "tossing it out" to readers as long as readers remain with me and my heart and mind are still engrossed in the activity.  Let me say simply that if I manage to start making progress in reaching some of my current life dreams, then I'll blog about that if I keep blogging.

        That's the way I guess it has been all along and so it shall continue.  For now blogging is a part of my life.  Like books are a part of my life.

        Why did you start blogging?  What was your original focus for your blog?  How has your blogging changed since you first began?       









56 comments:

  1. I like the phrase 'blowing off writing steam.' Very apt. I started with the idea of creating a space for my poetry, and it's the same now too. I still blog poetry and occasional flash fiction. Except for the A-Z, where the blog moves away from poetry to something more general.

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    1. Nilanjana, I think a blog is a great place to put poetry and other writing out to the public. It's far easier than getting traditionally published, which is where most of us would rather be but it's difficult sometimes.

      Lee

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  2. Hello Lee.
    Wow 10 years have gone past since you began. well done.
    Joining you again this year and enjoying every blog post written in march preparing for this challenge. On "R" at the moment.
    Started blogging to promote a nature conservation project, haven't stopped yet. Sporadic occasionally but that is why I enjoy your April challenge so much.
    Blessings my old friend, Geoff.

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    1. Geoff, you're way ahead of me on writing posts. I've got to get busy! The blogging bug can hook a person once they've started.

      Lee

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  3. The Challenge is good for you then - got you back into the habit of writing and blogging.
    Started blogging to promote my books.
    Kept blogging for the friendships.

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    1. Alex, the Challenge is a mixed blessing I would say. At least I'm still writing something.

      Lee

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  4. I started blogging because a ex-chat room friend suggested it as a way to get around censorship rules. Originally started out with an emphasis on my adventures in writing but quickly morphed from there.

    Seven blogs later and two platforms later, I'mi still at it.

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    1. GB, I've done a few morphs in my blogging, but mostly have stayed pretty consistent.

      Lee

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  5. Hello, Lee
    I can relate. Life has it's own ideas, doesn't it? I'm only just getting back up and running so I have to relearn everything.
    See you tomorrow. :)

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    1. Fe, plans are made to be broken I guess. I feel like I'm always relearning things and forgetting other things.

      Lee

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  6. After publishing a few books, I couldn't muster the energy to do another one... but blogging was... well, a more manageable option.

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    1. Beth, at least with blogging you're on your own schedule and you have some flexibility for experimentation.

      Lee

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  7. I started blogging as a part of a digital marketing course I was doing but ended up falling in love with writing instead. I started off with opinion pieces but somewhere along the way poetry hhappened and has overtaken everything else...

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    1. Namratha, I can relate well to your blogging experience. My blog has evolved over the years.

      Lee

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  8. I started blogging originally to get back into writing so I could start writing books (it was something I'd always wanted to do). Here I am four years later with 11 books and 2 blogs
    Debbie

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    1. Debbie, the 11 books are especially impressive to me. I never seem to be able to finish writing one let alone eleven.

      Lee

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  9. I started blogging because of my love of writing- I did my first as challenge because of my daughter in law encouraging me- now she is a serious writer-- thanks for keeping this going!

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    1. Lynn, pursuing love of writing is limitless with a blog since no posts are rejected by editors and we can write as many posts as we care to. Thanks to you and your daughter-in-law.

      Lee

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  10. I started blogging so I could do the A to Z Challenge. Well, not exactly: I started it becauseeveryone kept telling me "If ya wanna be a fiction writer, ya gotta have a blog!" and I wanted to be a fiction writer. That was the original focus, which changed when I decided I don't even like to read fiction, so I decided to blog just for the hell of it. I've ended up being a sort of disc jockey, which was one of my dream careers...

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    1. John, so funny--I've always enjoyed fiction, but less so as I get older. A blog has no limits other than limitations we place on ourselves.

      Lee

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  11. I like your "tossing it out" and hope you keep at it until it's no longer enjoyable for you. I'm not really sure I remember why I started blogging anymore. I think I just felt I had things to say, and blogging seemed like a perfect format.

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    1. Deborah, a blog is one of the easiest ways to say stuff and have a potentially huge audience around the world. I've made contacts that would have been very difficult without access to the blog audience. Glad you've found your outlet as well.

      Lee

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  12. Oh, please don't stop 'tossing it out', Lee! I used to imagine the day I'd have the discipline to pen a book - but realize I'm far too self-critical. Why did I begin blogging? In spite of being surrounded by people, I think I was desperately lonely. This way and that; the early years were, in a word, pathetic. It's taken me a long time to discover my authentic voice, but there you go.

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    1. Myra, isolation from active thinkers with similar interests led me to blogging as well. Hopefully I'll still get around to writing a book, but for the time being blogging makes for a fine creative outlet.

      Lee

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  13. My blog sure changed over the course of about 8 years (I started in 2011!). It was mostly for writing and then kind of evolved from there. I'm still blogging but I didn't end up doing with my blog (money-wise) like I thought but I think I enjoy it more now not doing that. :)

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    1. Nicole, we're of a similar blogging arc I think.

      Lee

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  14. It's fun to be back here reading your writing. I've been super slack in the blog reading department but life has been crazy and something had to give. I love your theme and will look forward to following along. I started blogging ten years ago. I was living in the UK and people told me I should blog. I didn't know what a blog was so I guess I've come a long way. Still blogging about a 'slice of life' and still loving it. Still having grand ideas about turning it into something more, but still having fun with it as it is. I haven't participated the past two years, but decided to jump in again this year. My daughter is getting married in three weeks so we'll see how the alphabet goes.

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    1. Joyce, we started about the same time I guess. So glad you decided to try the Challenge again. Hang in there!

      Lee

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  15. Originally, I started blogging to connect with far away friends. Mainly, to give them fodder to mock me. Actually, we were all a bunch of clowns and wanted to keep that vibe going.

    Then, I picked up new friends along the way. I like to stay connected. I went through a period of time where I could barely get a post going for a while there, and I can say that if I'm posting, life is good.

    Books are my best pals. I've always been a reader.

    Thanks!
    Cherdo
    Cherdo on the Flipside
    Blogging from A-to-Z April Challenge

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    1. Cherdo, I've never convinced any of my friends to read my posts regularly. They won't even vote on my BOTB posts. But I guess everyone is busy with their own life stuff.

      I've been having to push myself into posting in the past couple of years. But I still like blogging.

      Lee

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  16. I love books!
    I started blogging so I'd have a space to say the things I can't say on Facebook because too many family members and certain friends are on there... yeah. And really, April is the only time my blog has direction.

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    1. Jamie, I understand what you're saying. I post notices about my blog posts on FB, but rarely has anyone on FB come to read my posts. They probably aren't noticing my posts on FB either.

      Glad A to Z has provided you with some blog focus.

      Lee

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  17. Looking back I probably started my blog to promote what articles I was writing mixed with random things, personal thoughts. It has changed a bit depending on what I was writing about. Funny now the blog is the only place I write.

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    1. Mike, a blog can be a great place to say just whatever. I think blogs have been a boon to those of us who want to write, but can't seem to break into writing in the way we'd like. Keep at the blogging and who knows what inspiration you'll find.

      Lee

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  18. I´ve always been a bookworm, maybe most writers were, although not every reader dreams of once writing something...
    I started blogging a couple of years ago, after I finally made up my mind to become a writer. I got the suggestion from other writers, who already had blogs to write about their personal thoughts and book promos...
    I tried it but it really was until last year´s aprilAtoZ when I created my blog and started filling it. Although, I had too many projects last april and couldn´t properly participate.
    This year I´m ready!
    Hannie.
    https://steampunkcowunicorn.wordpress.com/

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    1. Hannie, this is a great testimonial for A to Z. Thanks for sharing.

      Lee

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  19. I love books and actually have. Library which was a dream of mine since I was a kid. I do love sitting in there and enjoying my books. I started blogging in 2009 that a friend of mine showed me and I liked it. I started because of card making and that I still do. One blogger I followed not only made cards but gave her regular snark, I remember her name was Marlene. She also answered 5 questions per week which I thought was fun so I started doing those questions that led me to Alex and others. From there I started the A to Z and met all these other people which brought me to film that, you know I love.

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    1. Birgit, it's cool how the blogging journey happens for each of us and how we cross paths. It's a virtual world made up of real people in scattered places.

      Lee

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  20. My first job was as a page in the local library. I love books too, as my husband will tell you every time he has to move a box full of them! Started blogging in hopes of getting people to notice my crafts for sale but I think I secretly wanted to be a writer so that's what I do most of the time. Hoping my little linky thing works!

    Janet’s Smiles

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    1. Janet, keep on writing, but keep doing the craft stuff too. It's all pretty cool.

      Lee

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  21. Blogging began for me as an outlet from the stress of being a caregiver for my mom. It started out as everything about me except my caregiving experience. Then it happened. One day I just had to write about her and it came bubbling out - my readers responded immediately. Apparently there are lots of caregivers out there and they all struggled. After she died the blog became all about me again. This blog holds so much of me now - and I have so many friendships from it, it is almost a living thing.

    Books - love them but have mostly audible and kindle. Trying to keep the number of personal possessions limited now - downsizing, decluttering, minimizing as I get older. I still love the actual book and own a few specially loved ones, but too much stuff causes me stress. Not going down that path of overwhelming clutter again.

    Thanks to you and your team for this Challenge (my 3rd time around).

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    1. Knitter, blogging is great for anyone who has to be relatively confined for long periods like in a caregiver situation. My mother loved reading my blog until up to her last months when she was just trying to hang on from day to day.

      Blogging is good for establishing community.

      Lee

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  22. Blogging is tough if you don't have a specific theme, so I'm trying to come up with the right idea to use as I move forward with my blog. Lately, my posts have been random and inconsistent, which does not attract an audience. As much as I've been reading lately, I'm thinking I might focus on book reviews. Maybe.

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    1. Patricia, I've tried many things on my blog though if I were to pinpoint any specific theme then I'd have to say it was eclecticism.

      Lee

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  23. I started my current blog in March 2011, about six months after my Angelfire site (which I put almost a decade of work and love into) was deleted without warning or explanation. One of my posts came to the attention of a mentally imbalanced blogger, and as usual when she discovered people discussing her blog, she ranted about it and got her sycophantic friends all whipped up. I know they must've reported my entire website, since some of them sent me nasty e-mails. I learnt a really important lesson from that, not to use strangers' real names, nor to mention their blogs even as a jumping-off point to discuss a wider issue. Thankfully, I was able to recover a lot of files through cache and archive searches (and some were transcribed from my own journal entries, so they were never in danger of being lost), but I did fail to recover a lot of important posts.

    My blog's focus was originally writing, both my own writing in particular and the craft of writing in general. Over time, I branched out to discuss books, films, albums, and historical topics, since so many other writers have branched out with their blogs too, and I didn't want to have yet another writing blog that could've been interchanged with anyone else's.

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    1. Carrie-Anne, what a hassle! I've been trying to be very careful with what I say anymore on my blog as a lot of people get so offended about things that are in disagreement with them. All I ever wanted was to toss out ideas to readers and have an intelligent debate about them. Too many people get upset these days rather than have rational discourse. It's kind of sad.

      You cover some unique topics that I haven't seen discussed on any other blogs.

      Lee

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  24. Love that you know where you are and are continuing on that road. I like your Battle of the Band posts, and pretty much anything you choose to "Toss out" here!

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    1. Lisa, sometimes I feel lost, but I keep trying to get back on my course which hopefully has meaning as I go along.

      Thanks for being a loyal follower.

      Lee

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  25. Why did I start blogging? A lot like you, to "blow off steam". It has become so much more since then. I look at early posts and wonder how anyone read them. And actually, outside of my son and spammers, not many did...

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    1. CW, not many people read my first posts. I had to work at getting readers.

      Lee

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  26. Arlee,Great Blog! Your right; it's like blowing off literary steam!I know I probably benefit more from writing the blog more than most people get from reading my blog. My blog is an act of defiance, and self-defense, or as one writer wrote on the inside cover;"To anyone who ever noticed!" Zulu Delta
    https://zuludelta45.net/2019/04/02/letter-b-belting-out-the-bible/

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    1. Zulu, if at least a few people didn't read my posts I'd like stop writing them. Then again when the steam builds it is a great outlet. Before blogging I wrote things down in notebooks and very few people ever saw what I wrote.

      Lee

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  27. Lee,

    I started blogging in 2010 for self-marketing my first and only children's book. That didn't blow over too well but I did discover a wonderful community among bloggers and decided to stick around. I'm so glad that I did. Some things have changed but I wouldn't say a lot. I try to keep my blogging life low-key and fun for the most part while occasionally throwing something education in the mix just because it interests. I guess the biggest change has been adding my art sketches. It was this challenge that spurred me to take a leap of faith to try my hand at it after years of doing nothing and wishing. :) Happy A2Zing!

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    1. Cathy, blogging gets a bit addicting in a sense--or at least intellectually compelling.

      Lee

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  28. I started my blog as a place for my 52 ancestor stories in a challenge in 2014 I undertook! After that first whirlwind of a year I set up another blog to continue writing. While I still write stories on my ancestors, I write for myself and I’ve enjoyed participating in the April A to Z since 2016. My favorite A to Z was writing about Nancy Drew as I began recollecting my childhood books back

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    1. Jeanne, yes, I remember the Nancy Drew series. My sister had the entire set of books when she was a kid, but I guess she gave most of them away. I have one of the books.

      Lee

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Lee