Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Why Art Matters

My favourite writing spot. On the whole of Earth.
 
It's been more than a year since last I've blogged. In that time, my third book has sold well, I've visited schools across Ontario and Manitoba, celebrated the first I Read Canadian Day, and I'm now writing through a world-wide pandemic. Like so many, my life has been upended. Any publishing interest is currently on pause, waiting for the economic fallout as a result of closed schools, shuttered economies, and sick fellow human beings. 

Like many writers, I'm often overcome with the thoughts of, "What am I doing here? Why does it matter? There is so much at stake far greater than the words I write or don't write. People are dying. People are losing everything. Does my work, really matter?" 

Those are some pretty big thoughts. And I have worked them round and round in my head and heart. I've finally settled on the fact that art in all its form unites, supports, inspires, and encourages. It reminds us that we are connected to others, that living is a shared experience. That life must and will go on, although changed either temporarily or perhaps permanently. So, I will go on and write. I'll take this time to build my portfolio of stories. Fine tune and edit completed manuscripts. Work with my fellow critique partners and assist with their novels. Immerse myself in words and stories and continue to improve my craft. In doing so, I hope in some small way to help soothe the anxious worries of the children and teens who read my novels. Letting them know, that they are not alone in their struggles, even now when everything seems strange and often scary.

I wish you all good health, peace of mind, and hope for better days to come.
The simple joy of a sunrise.


Monday, 5 November 2012

Changes are a Comin'!


www.taniaboutin.com

You can’t avoid change – it surrounds us.

How we bank has changed, how we buy books has changed and now my blog design has changed. Not quite in the same, "impacting society" category, but still, it counts.

The world of book tours has changed as well. Long gone are the days of jetting from city to city, holding book signings and readings, all at a hefty price tag. Now authors take part in Blog Book Tours.

A Blog Book, what?

A Blog Book Tour is an online book tour that stops at various blog sites, where a review of the book is posted by an incredibly talented blogger and a lively discussion follows.

So, I am currently taking an exciting online course from blog guru, Dani Greer, on how to run a successful Blog Book Tour or a BBT, to those in the know. Apparently I will become one of those smartie-pants by the end of this course. That would be this Friday. No pressure. The course is called, none too surprisingly, the Blog Book Tour Course.

Dani, or Sarge; as her students like to call her, is an expert at coordinating BBT’s and chaperons all the Little Pickle Press tours. In January when I’m travelling the digital world for 2 weeks promoting, Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food and Other Life Lessons, Dani will be firmly at the helm.

Now its full blog ahead.

My mission: to become a world class blogger

My strategy: to whip my blog into shape

My plan: to change my template and layout so they’re clean, easy to follow, dynamic and fun

My back-up plan: to look sad, pathetic, and even desperate so my computer genius husband will take pity and fix all my “oopsies” and “uh-oh, that wasn’t supposed to happens.”
Oh yeah, and I have 28 days to become a pro. Wish me luck.
(Or send Chardonnay.)

Tuesday, 28 August 2012

Happy 1st Birthday, Blog!

sarakorbi.blogspot.com
Over the past 12 months, I've learned a lot about the art of blogging. I’ve read numerous articles stating that effective blogs focus on a specific theme, so your audience knows what to expect when logging on. 

This makes a lot of sense.

If only that was how my brain worked, this would be an easy-peasy rule to follow. But my brain is not an orderly, itemized storage vessel of information. My brain does not operate like a library, all neat and tidy, with easy to locate novels sitting perfectly square on well dusted shelves.


No, my brain resembles more of a typical teenage bedroom. Everything is everywhere, with seemingly no logical order; however, somehow whatever you’re looking for is easily found. You just need to look behind the dresser, or under the throw rug. (Try not to trip over the pile of folded clothes sitting in the middle of the floor.)  

Here is my list of blog topics I’ve covered this past year:  

·        Writing Retreats
·        Disturbing Childhood Nic-names
·        Multi-tasking
·        Open Mike Nights, twice
·        Thanksgiving
·        Awesome Manitoba Books
·        Awesome Manitoba 
·        Writing for Kids
·        The Anita Factor Writing Group
·        The Arts and Why They Matter
·        Submitting Manuscripts
·        Receiving the First Writing Cheque
·        Cabin Fever
·        Writing Tips
·        My Kids, a multitude of times
·        Getting Published
·        Excuses for Not Blogging
·        Chocolate, of course
·        Friend Deja-Vu
·        Gratitude, possibly thrice
·        Grammar
·        Childhood Firsts
·        Kids Growing up Too Fast
·        My Possible Writing Addiction
·        Type A Personality, in Remission
·        Family Traditions
·        Santa & Lego
·        Being Barely Foreign
·        The SCBWI          

Should such a diverse list of topics be a warning? Should I change my tactic? Narrow my focus?

I suppose that would be the practical, logical approach.

mathwire.com
Logical. Ick. Practical. Meh. Thankfully, no one has ever accused me of being either.
 
Therefore, I must conclude, (after doing zero analysis, research, or contemplation), that I shall carry on delving into new topics as they catch my interest. Think of a Blue Jay chasing shiny objects. 

Hmmm.  What to write about next?

Life’s foibles? More writing news? Book reviews? Parenting pitfalls?
 
Let me know what you’d like to read. 
I’d love to hear from you.
funny-pix.co