My Weekly Update – I’m Bloglovin

A heads up to all the amazing blogs I follow. I have unsubscribed to you all . . . and have begun to follow you on Bloglovin.  You will notice the cool little Bloglovin button to your right where can easily follow me.  I needed to consolidate to read blog and I love this option, especially the app which allows me to keep track of blogs in one neat and organized space that sync’s with all my devices.  Modern technology is great.

Anyone else use Bloglovin?  How do you like it? 

Post to Ponder

DFW Writer’s Conference – Memorable Moments by Tameri Etherton – more cool memories from the conference.
Virgin Atlantic Has Restored My Faith in Customer Service by Elise Fallson – I love this airline for the exact same reason.
Does Good News Make You Worry? by Jami Gold – I suffer from, to much good news means bad news is right around the corner.  Irrational, I know.
10 Questions Writers Must Ask Before Quitting Their Day Job by Jeff Yeager – I am not ready to ask the questions just yet, but soon.

Coolest Things

Saw the Musical FELA produced by Jay Z, Will & Jada Smith.  I thought it was just a musical with cool African dancing, but it was an amazing and touching story.  Read more about Fela Kuti a Nigerian singer and creator of Afro Beats.

 
New Followers
A.J. Sefton
Sreejit Poole
Joseph Henry Gaines – cool name
Renea Mason
Patinspire
Hunter’s Writing
Zany Zach
 
Next Week’s Schedule
Tuesday – Secondary Characters Blog Hop
Wednesday – SQM – Iron Man 3 – the many sides of Tony Stark (kind of forgot to post this from last week)
Friday – Flash Fiction – I need more practice

bloghop3

Tameri, Why do you blog?

My first 2nd year celebration post is from Tameri Etherton.  I meet Tameri on April 4, 2012. She commented on a blog post I wrote during the 2012 A to Z Challenge called H – History of Australia (Criminals & Drunks).  I’m sure the title had nothing to do with why she commented, but this is what she said, “I think ‘sculled’ is my new new favorite word (it was ‘goober’ until reading this). I’m assuming sculled means drank? If so, I’m totally using it in my next book!”
Thank you, Tameri, for all your support. So, Tameri, Who do you blog? 

That’s a tricky question. As writers, we’re told we need to blog, that we must find our readers and cultivate an audience, but to me, that seems trite. Dishonest, even.

I don’t blog to court fame, I do it for the simple reason that I like people and I always want to know their story.

Through blogging I’ve met some amazing people, like Sydney. People I wouldn’t normally have the chance to know if not through their presence online. Some of these people I’ve had the extraordinary pleasure of meeting offline. Whether I know them in person or just through cyber space, all of them have enriched my life in a multitude of ways that not only could I never count, but never repay.

That’s why I blog. As a thank you to those other bloggers out there and as a way to connect with people.

If my words can touch someone, then I’ve accomplished something remarkable.

If my words make someone laugh, then the world is a bit lighter for their laughter.

Words matter. Whether they be critical and harsh, or positive and full of hope, they influence the way we think, feel, speak, and live. I blog because my words are a connection from me to other humans out in the nether reaches of the Internet. They connect us.

And connections are what make my heart smile. Because in the end, a connection made is a friendship formed.

Friendships formed are stories shared. People are fascinating creatures with the most incredible stories to tell and I like hearing them.

What’s your story?

My Weekly Update – NaNoWriMo Won, but Far From Done

I wanted to start this update with my favorite post of the week.  I just love Tameri and if you haven’t visited her blog, here is your chance.

Be Amazing with a Little Swagger – I read a quote recently that said “You control the way the world perceives you.” (It was Dr. Phil, but a good quote nonetheless), which is how I am going to approach returning to America in 17 days, 21 hours and 36 minutes, but’s whose counting.  Not that I plan to create some persona that’s not me, but what I have learned most from my adventures in Asia is not be afraid to show people how cool, weird, happy, strange, passionate, funny, different and gorgeous (haha) I am.  This article speaks to that and so much more.

NaNoWriMo Daily Updates – The best of the week

This was a no brainer.

NaNo Notes

The Point of NaNo by Amanda Fanger
10 Tips to Help You Finish YourNovel and/or ‘Win’ NaNoWriMo by Jenny Hansen
When the Going Got Tough, I kept Going. And it Worked! by Misha at My First Book – I am so proud of Misha. If you remember her post from last week: NaNo Doubts, it is so great to see her back on track.
Must. Stop. The Voices. Nanowrimo Internal Dialog by Suddenly Jamie
I was featured in not one, but two NaNoWriMo related interviews, check them out at  Change the World with Words and Donna McNicol’s My Write Spot.
New Followers
Holly Elizabeth Music
Jaimie at Be the Spark
Ravena Guron
Sergio Bastante
And Then There Was One
Iniriba’s Blog
Kirsty at The Last Word From Me
Tracy Constantine
Thomas at OnTopic Reviews
C.T. Westing
Sage Doyle
Lleighh at Hello World!
The Living Notebook
Sean Sandulak
Ink and Page
 
Next Weeks Schedule – extended version
Monday, November 19th – The Fitzroy – come check it out with me. 
Tuesday, November 20th – Tattoo Tuesday – Ava Esterby
November 21st – 28th – Blog Break
Thursday – November 29th – SQM (Sydney Quotes the Movies) – Anna Karenina and my celebration of the Love Triangle
Friday – November 31th – Guest Post on My First Book
Sunday – December 2nd – My Weekly Update – December is going to be fun. 
 
*I may do some random post if time permits, but my goal is to finish my NaNoWriMo (20,000 words) novel, finish my Camp NaNo novel (15,000 words) and then prepare for my big move.

I would love to hear how everyone else is doing on NaNoWriMo. I want everyone to win.  So, keep writing. I will be, too.