31 things I learned after 31 posts in 31 days

Jul 31, 2011

31 Things I learned by Completing 31 posts in 31 days:

1. I am not a quitter. I can actually finish something!
2. It’s not as scary as I thought it would be if someone else reads what I write.
3. Personal stories/experiences are fodder for a blog post.
4. I can go to bed thinking about blogging.
5. I can dream about blogging.
6. I can get up in the morning thinking about blogging.
7. Family is fodder for a blog post.
8. My husband likes helping me think up topics to write about.
9. There aren’t enough hours in my day to read & comment on all the great blog posts in the UBC. 🙁 
10. I like connecting using twitter.
11. I learned how to use a “search” on twitter so I could check up on all the #blogboost tweets
12. I like challenges.
13. I found out how to put a sign-up box using Feedburner
14. I found out how to put in useful “share” buttons at the bottom of a post.
15. Be very careful spelling people’s names.
16. I write best in the morning.
17. I fall asleep trying to write a blog post after 11:00 pm.
18. I can’t spell when I’m tired. 
19. I must break myself of the habit of using exclaimation points !!!! (!)
20. Never hit “publish” without using spell check.
21. I’m thrilled when people comment on a post.
22. I love commenting on other people’s posts.
23. Quiet is my friend.  I can’t write when people are in the room – chatting, chatting, chatting. 
24. I need to read my posts out loud, so they make more sense.
25. Quotes from wise people are a great starting point for a blog post.
26. A thesaurus is my friend.  I must find other descriptors to use than:  great, wonderful, & awesome.
27. My husband is proud of me.
28. The more you write, the faster your brain works.
29. Making lists is fun.
30. An outside source for blog post ideas is GOLDEN! (thanks Michele & Michelle!)
31. I’m looking forward to the next challenge!  Writing for 31 days in the company of great writers, is exhilerating! 

It was a great ride!

off topic – following an example

Jul 26, 2011

OK – it’s July 25th – 25 days into a 31 day blog writing challenge.  (yes- I’m still behind – but I’m determined to finish!) 

I just read a fun post from another of our Ultimate Blog Boost Challenge writers – Christine at Inspired Life.  She decided to take a writing break, and I’d like to try too… 

It starts by going to a site that generates a ‘first line’ for a short story.  I did.  Here’s mine:  Her foot slipped and she started to fall.  Then, you’re supposed to start with it and just write till you see where it’ll go!  (let’s see where the imagination takes me)

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Her foot slipped and she started to fall.  As she grabbed at the railing, for one split-second she thought it might hold. 

But no.  It was as rusty and unkempt as the rest of the building.  The echo of it’s final landing, two floors below, vied with her scream.  Her husband turned to catch her in his arms.  She put her hands on his broad shoulders to remain steady as they continued their precarious maneuvering down the rotted-out stairs.  

It had seemed like a good idea at the time – checking out the abandoned guest house.  It was their dream, their plan for retirement.  They loved the idea of running a bed and breakfast and the thought of grabbing a great deal on a former historic building seemed too good to be true.  It was.  This building had definitely seen better days.  A long time ago.  A really long time ago.

They made it to the first floor and walked out the massive front door into the early spring sunlight.  The grass was just beginning to peep through the line-art of cracks in the driveway, and a few daffodils were bravely standing where a flowerbed once had welcomed guests. 

She heaved a great sigh.  Thank the Lord they’d made it out alive!

Her husband turned with a huge smile and said, “That was awesome!  I can’t wait to start replacing the floorboards – it’s gonna look awesome.  Just awesome!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the bunny says… “that’s all, folks!” 

(back to the serious stuff)

Oh, to be productive!

Jul 12, 2011

I’m good at wasting time. Really, really good.  It’s the end of the day and I’m determined to write a blog post for the Ultimate Blog Challenge.  (31 posts in 31 days – yes, I’m behind.) 

I’ve wanted to write this post since early afternoon.  It’s evening now. 

So far,  instead of writing a blog post, I’ve:

• done 2 loads of laundry
• folded the laundry
• watched one TV show
• and another one
• eaten some licorice
• gone to see what Rob is doing in his office
• loaded the dishwasher

Now I’m back here at the computer.  Rambling.  Wasting time.  Again.

If I were to be productive, I’d start a Pomodoro.  

Do you know about Pomodoro?  I love the concept and I’ve used it successfully to accomplish lots of tasks.  Want to know more on how to boost your productivity?

Take a look:

Great concept, huh?

Maybe I’ll try it tomorrow!  😉

Completely off topic… (I just had to share)*

Sep 17, 2009

Boy, has the fur been flying here. There’s been yowling and frantic swipes with claws extended…

No, I’m not talking about Rob and I – it’s the cats we “inherited” when we moved into our rural house. (the young girl up the street started out with two cats, and they have… hmmmm…. increased in number)

They’re outdoor cats and take care of rodents, snakes, spiders and frogs for me! Over the last four years I’ve given in and begun feeding them and in gratitude they leave all sundry of “gifts” at the door – including gnawed-on (dead) frogs and a squirrel’s tail (just the tail). Those six cats have adopted Robert and I. Every now and again a new cat will show up, but be promptly chased away. By Garfield.

Five out the six cats tolerate me, but Garfield, the orange, male, alpha cat, loves me. He really does. Whenever I come out on the deck he emerges from whatever sheltered spot he’s been sleeping in and hops up where I can pet him. And does he purr… (it’s loud enough to hear through the sunroom glass)

If I’m writing outside, he’ll hop onto the table and the only way I can carry on working is if I push him off. If I’m looking out at the pasture, he’ll hop onto the deck railing and try to crawl into my arms to snuggle.

It’s odd. He’s quite stand-offish with the other cats, but with me, he shows his love.

Today and yesterday have been cool and drippy – not quite raining, but everything is soggy. I think the cats are a little out-of-sorts… This morning there was a a show down between Garfield and an interloper – his younger look-alike!

First I heard the yowling. I thought someone was in pain…

Then I saw Garfield had his look-alike cornered. They attacked each other with claws and teeth, rolling all over the deck in a fury of flying orange fur.

Here’s what’s left:

Finally the younger gave up and ran away – I caught a picture of him looking at Garfield from the safety of the pond:

 And Garfield just sat on the deck looking satisfied:

The other cats are keeping their distance:

*I know. This is completely off the topic of encouragement.

But I just felt like sharing what excitement rules my days as I’m working on my book. (Encourage Your Spouse).