I haven’t participated in blogger awards for a very long time. But this time? Well, it’s Christmas… and both Roberta Eaton and Jim Webster included me in their lists, for which I am very grateful.
In the unlikely event that you haven’t come across these two writers, Robbie is an example to all new bloggers of how to build a blogging community, through consistent comments and regular, varied posts, while Jim gives us a regular dose of observant humour in the very real world of Port Naain, through the eyes of his alter-ego, the inimitable Tallis Steelyard.
Rules:
1. Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
2. Write a post to show your award.
3. Give a brief story of how your blog started.
4. Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
5. Select up to fifteen bloggers you want to give this award to.
6. Comment (or pingback) on each blog to let them know that you’ve nominated them and provide a link to the post you’ve created.
I started my blog back in 2011, just because I was curious… to see what blogging was all about…and to see if I could actually set up the software. I wrote two or three posts over the next year, got a whole six views that year… some of them from total strangers! And I was over the moon!
I started posting more regularly, telling a little of my son’s story. Then daily, when we launched the Silent Eye…and it grew from there to over a quarter of a million views every year. And I still get excited that total strangers read my stuff. 🙂
Which leads to the two pieces of advice for new bloggers:
1. Do it your way. Decide why you are blogging… if it is to make money, read all the advice out there and take on board what fits. If, like me, it is for personal reasons, blog because you enjoy it, whether that is for the chance to write, the interaction with the community, to showcase your work or simply because it is fun. Don’t feel pressured into writing every day if you only want to write once a week or month. Don’t follow thousands of blogs in the hope they will follow you back. Don’t make it the kind of hard work you will want to wriggle out of…make it fun and you will want to keep on blogging.
2. Learn just enough of the technical stuff to know what you are doing. Learn how to reblog if you want to share another writer’s work. How to create a pingback (and make sure you link to a post, not a home page or the recipient won’t know you pinged!) How to link your Gravatar to your current blog…and how to link your blog to your social media accounts if you want to share it. And if there is something you don’t know how to do… ask. Most experienced bloggers are happy to help.
Bonus advice to new bloggers: The bloggers mentioned in this post cover so many styles…take a look and see what speaks to you!
My list of blogs comes with no obligation to ‘accept’ and join in… it is a thank you for advice given, laughter and beauty shared, friendship extended and words enjoyed…and it could include so many more blogs than this…
Sally Cronin at Smorgasbord
Chris Graham, the Story Reading Ape
Mike Biles at A Bit About Britain
Kerfe Roig at K-Lines that Aim to Be
Willow Willers at willowdot21
Anne Copeland at All in a Day’s Breath
Alethea Kehas at The Light Behind the Story
Ken Gierke at rivrvlogr
Jennie Fitzkee at A Teacher’s Reflections
Trent P. McDonald at Trent’s World
Congrats Sue, well deserved!
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Thanks, Neha 🙂
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Thank you, Sue! I’m very honoured. I don’t do blog awards because I hate answering those questions and making up others, but I do like the idea of simply ‘recognition’. I’ll do my best to pass this one on.
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I stopped doing them ages ago too… but twice in one day? I had to respond 🙂
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It would have been churlish not to 🙂
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That’s what I thought 🙂
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🙂
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Many thanks for the shout out, Sue 🤗❤️❤️🤗
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My pleasure, Chris ❤
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Congrats!
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thank you 🙂
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Congratulations, Sue!! Well Deserved!! 🤗
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Thanks, Beckie 🙂
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This is so well deserved Sue, and what an honour for you to nominate me. Thank you so much.
I’ll get on it soonest. ❤
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You are very welcome, Di…and thank you 🙂
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🙂
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Congratulations, Sue. Well earned! I’ve been following your blog for some time, even when I’m unable to reply, and I’ve always enjoyed it, your poetry, and the small dog. 🙂 I’ll be so happy to be catching up soon on all my favorite blogs as I start to come back “online,” after my little tumble. YOURS included. And I love the list of bloggers you’ve chosen. I’m looking forward to checking them out, as well. 🙂 ❤
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Thank you, Marcia… I am as chuffed with that comment as you are with you review 😉
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Thank you, Sue, for including me in this list. I too tend to skip these…but, I will say how grateful I am for your blog and finding you through this virtual world. ❤
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It was a very long time ago that we first ‘met’… no idea how long! 🙂 ❤
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That is true… 🙂 ❤
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🙂 ❤
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This is my third nomination for this award in almost as many days, I think I had better be polite and join in , even though as a norm I am an award free blog. Thank you Sue 💜💜
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I am too, but I didn’t feel I could refuse either 😉
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Me too, funny isn’t it 💜
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❤
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💜
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Thanks so much Sue and congratulations! Your blog is so supportive and inspirational to writers, and just people in general.
I too don’t generally do awards, at least I don’t pass them on, but I do try to answer the questions. I can’t guarantee I’ll get to it right away, but soon. (K)
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Neither rush nor obligation, Kerfe… but I do love your work.
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Here’s my post Sue
I picked up Ani’s picture from one our your posts I reblogged. It’s perfect as I have one of Maggie in a similar pose!
Thanks so much!
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Those two are so alike. I came across a pic of Maggie from one of your posts that WP had filed in my media…and for a moment, I thought it was Ani 🙂 xx
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I know! I’ve had to do a double take on several occasions. Thanks again for the nomination.
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Me too 🙂
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😀
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Thank you so much Sue.. and I scheduled you in my nominations tomorrow with several that you have included too.. Just goes to show how close knit we have become.. It is appreciated thank you again. hugs xxx
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Thank you, Sally… I agree, out corner of the blogosphere has grown into a community over the past fe years. xx
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Well-deserved congratulations to you, Sue! Thanks for the mention. ❤
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Thanks, Bette…and you are welcome 🙂
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Congratulations Sue. Great advice.
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Thanks, Sadje.
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You’re most welcome 🙏
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Thanks, Sue! I’m pretty much “awards free”, but I may do a post but leave off the tagging people part… I’ve been away from the blog for the last two days and it might be a good transition back 🙂
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🙂
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Congratulations Sue❤
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Thanks, Anjali 🙂
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Congratulations Sue!❤
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Thank you 🙂
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Thank you, Sue. I’ve just finished writing mine, and I’ll have it up, shortly.
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Thanks, Ken… just read it… and that is excellent advice for new bloggers.
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🙂
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Thank you, Sue! I am honored to be among many wonderful bloggers. 😀
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A pleasure, Jennie 🙂
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😀
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Congrats on the nomination Sue, and I’m humbled to be on your list. I will add that note to my my recent Thank You post as I was blessed to me nominated 4 times. Thank you Sue and sooooo well deserved for you! Hugs xoxox
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That’s wonderful, Debby xxx
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❤
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Thank you for the shout out, Sue. You have given some great advice here, although I have always enjoyed blogging myself and love learning new things from people’s posts. I have been lucky with blogging. All great blogs that you have nominated. I cheated a bit and only nominated 10.
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The list could have been so much longer…
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