Tag Archives: blogging

It’s my 8th WordPress Blogiversary!

Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!
You registered on WordPress.com 8 years ago.
Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging!

That’s the message I received from WordPress this morning. Eight years I have been blogging here! 

Looking back at the post I wrote on my 7th anniversary with WordPress, I see my goals haven’t changed much from a year ago. I did make PROGRESS, which was my word for 2017, although it’s not apparent to most people yet.  

THIS IS MY 800TH POST!

As of the time of writing this 800th post, my little blog has received 58,906 hits, up from 50,000 a year ago. Thank you for coming to read what I have to share. My official following has increased to 601 with the addition of two new people just this morning. Welcome! Do remember you can go back through my many posts, and by using the search gadget under which I have the heading FIND A WORD OR TOPIC you can be specific in your search, or you can search by CATEGORY. If you’re a writer, I hope you have taken advantage of bestselling author Sue Harrison‘s writers workshop – Writing the Third Dimension – which she generously posted here on Polilla Writes in monthly segments for three years. For free! You can find it by looking in the top bar under the heading Writers’ quotes, helps & workshops. Excellent teaching!

Over the past year I added more quotes, an author/illustrator interviews drop down menu, another contact number under Suicide Crisis Lines, and a gadget so you can read my posts in other languages for if English is a little difficult for you or maybe you are trying to learn another language. I also keep adding to Books I Read This Year, Book Reviews, Buy the Book – because .. well, I’m pretty much focused on books here. 🙂 Reading them, writing them, sharing them. 

I also have been astonished to see my most viewed post is consistently one from March of 2013, The cut worm forgives the plow.

Thank you for making my blogging life enjoyable. 

Please tell me, what has been your favourite or most helpful post here? 

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂

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Out with 2017, In with 2018 – Happy New Year! & thank YOU

As I write this it’s not long before a new year begins. Personally, I’m a little excited about 2018. If you read my last post, dated December 29, you’ll know I have moved forward in my writing life. Yes, I have a huge distance to go yet, but I lived up to my word of 2017 and made PROGRESS – however small it may seem. That was my goal.

you are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. – c. s. lewis

I’m now thinking about what I want my goals to be in 2018. They won’t be unreasonable and unreachable, but they will challenge me and spur me on. 

I’m also waiting to know what my word for 2018 will be. I started focusing on a motivational/inspirational word for the year back in 2013. That year my word was GRATEFUL. Apparently I didn’t have a word for 2014; however, it was POSITIVITY for 2015, CHANGE for 2016, and PROGRESS for 2017. 

It’s been a tough year on a personal level, affecting my ability to write as much as I want to. As usual, I’m behind in my reading and yet I still managed to read over 600 books this year! That’s amazing to me – even if they are mostly picture books and therefore quicker to read. (My librarians are fantastic and I do my part to keep them busy. 🙂 )

Before I sign off I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your faithful following of my blog, for your comments and encouragement, for sharing about Polilla Writes, and for your friendship. That means so very much to me.

Even though I fell behind a few times I kept at the blogging when I could do it because I enjoy the connection with you, even if I hear from only a few. I am grateful you are there, reading my words and sometimes adding your thoughts. Please keep coming back in 2018 if what I have to share is worth your time. I appreciate you. Do you have any favourites among my 2017 posts? 

What has 2017 meant to you? Do you have goals (or resolutions) for the new year?

Thank you for helping to make 2017 a year of progress in my life. See you in 2018!

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂

 

 

Really?? More spam

I really appreciate how WordPress keeps out most of the spam mail that would constantly bombard our blogs if it weren’t for Akismet. There are a few that get put into my spam folder – for me to verify, I suppose. Occasionally, I find a funny one. 

In April of 2014 I shared one that was especially amusing. Today I am sharing one with you that came in last week. If I were … someone who is thin-skinned, for example, I would pop onto Twitter or even write a nasty post here in reply or try to write directly to them – as if it would actually get there. And what a mistake that would be if it did! Why bother stooping so low, though, right?

I often wonder what in the world do they think this is going to prove? Such a waste of one’s time and life. Some of these spam comments are so poorly written it’s hilarious.

Take a look at this one:

The the next occasion I read a weblog, I really hope so it doesnt disappoint me around brussels. Come on, man, Yes, it was my option to read, but I just thought youd have some thing intriguing to state. All I hear can be a lot of whining about something that you could fix should you werent too busy searching for attention.

Yes, I’m too busy searching for attention to spend any more time on this post. 

Have you received any particularly interesting ones lately?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative a-Musings!  😉

 

What it takes to be a “real writer” – a post by Kristen Lamb

I have a few questions for you today.

Are you a writer who keeps having doubts about your abilities, or the possibility of success? Do you struggle with seeing writing as your job or profession? Do you get discouraged and keep wondering what in the world are you doing?

I just read a very encouraging and eye-opening post by Kristen Lamb. I urge you to read it.  She addresses what it takes to be a “real” writer.

Click HERE to go THERE.  

Leave her a comment (bloggers love that, you know), and while you’re at it, perhaps you have time to come back here and share your thoughts about what she said? I very much enjoy reading what you have to say. 

Blessings on your day.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂

Fun Quiz: how long would you survive an alien invasion?

Hello, Everyone!

Today I thought you might enjoy another fun quiz. This one helps you find out if you would survive an extraterrestrial alien invasion. Of course, it is very important to know this. One must be ready at all times!  (snicker)

alien-spaceshipI have much to do on my week home, starting later this morning, which means my blogging could remain scanty for awhile. There are things I am trying to complete, change, and redirect in my life, and it all takes time when setting a new course. (nautical term)  I will be checking here every day, though, hoping for new comments from you. 🙂  Or you can always send me an email if you prefer. Go to contact page for that if you don’t know my email address.

I already wished a Happy Thanksgiving to my US friends and readers; what are your plans? That day I should have another installment of Writing the Third Dimension to share with you. I expect you’re all very busy getting ready to cook, travel to connect with others, eat a lot, and then shop a lot the next day. Be careful out there!

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? I only had a few things, then this week I managed to get out to a Christmas shopping party at which I found some nice items for all my daughters. It’s alarming how little time remains until December 25!

Enough chatter, did I hear you say? Okay, now for …

alien-spaceshipthe QUIZ  (click here)

Would you survive an extraterrestrial alien invasion? Do tell!

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂

 

 

 

 

It’s my WordPress anniversary!

I received a congratulatory reminder this evening from WordPress that …

Today, January 9, is my five-year anniversary!

On this date in 2010 I joined the WordPress blogging world and it’s one of the best things I’ve done for my writing.

Unfortunately, I am not off to a great start with anything in this new year, but I hope to improve soon.  I have to, don’t I? 🙂

How are you doing with your goals, aspirations, dreams so far this year?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂

Say what?? Tiresome blog spam

gives your eyelashes a capital way to commence when they travel into a pedigree job or change of integrity of your be. 

Say what??    The above is how a spam message began – a message waiting for my approval.  Funny, isn’t it? And I did laugh, but there are some days I am so fed up with spam it is no joke!

What gets me is … What are they thinking?! What kind of message is that? And who in their right mind would approve it?

There are some pretty legit-looking comments that are left, though, and a person has to be really on their toes to discern which ones are to be denied as spam. It does get tiresome.

I am thankful for Akismet used here by WordPress, but even then the spam messages pile up in my spam box. I’m very glad they don’t get through to my actual messages, though, so, thanks WordPress team!

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by spam? Has spam ever become more than an annoyance to you?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂