Alphabetical

I’m sure you’ll be terribly disappointed, but there won’t an etymology post next week. I’m saving it all for next month, when I participate in the A-to-Z challenge.

This is the first year I’ve taken part in the challenge. Previous years I was too lazy busy to take part in it, but I have an idea for it (etymology, obviously) and I think I’ll actually have enough time to make the visits to other blogs.

So what can you expect next here next month? Luckily, words begin with letters, so I easily found a word to etymologize each day. Except for X. I mean, I found one, but man, it wasn’t easy. Not a lot of actual words begin with X. I ended up with a freaking prefix because it was either that or xylophone.

I also made sure that there was something interesting, like a weird connection between words that you didn’t realize. The posts are very brief, of course—I don’t totally bore my new A-to-Z friends! Most of them are of words I never would have done anyway because there wasn’t enough to blog about, so the challenge is the perfect time for them.

Anyway, that’s the plan for next month. Regular commenters who aren’t doing the challenge, don’t feel obligated to comment every day. Fellow A-to-Z-ers, good luck!

Two Year Blogiversary

Two years ago today, in hopes of getting more involved with the writing community, I took up blogging. And promptly proved I had no idea what I was doing. Maybe this is all in my head, but I think I’ve learned quite a bit over the years (yes! It’s plural now!) and while I’m no blog maven, I’m comfortable with the system. Here’s what I’ve picked up, in case someone who’s just started out stumbles into my blog and is as clueless as I was.

The top five things I learned about blogging:

1. Each and every post has to offer something. I often fall into this trap, usually posting long opinions about something that may be interesting to read, but don’t really give much except what I think. While it’s good to illustrate points with stories, if you want to interest people you have to engage with them. Sometimes this means teaching a lesson. Others it means sharing information or tips on a subject.

2. Just because you’re on the internet doesn’t mean communication isn’t a two-way street. If you want to make friends, you have to interact with people. Respond to their comments, visit their blogs/webpages.

3. There will always be people out there who disagree with you and are jerks about it. These may be people who wouldn’t say boo in real life but have no trouble belittling you when they’re enveloped in the supposed anonymity of the internet. It’s why most sites come with a “block” button.

4. It’s important to write posts that are both concise and well-written. Face it, the internet lowers attention spans, and if the writing isn’t interesting right off, people will probably jump on to the next post in their reader. Which is probably why my etymology posts don’t get more hits.

5. If you want an insta-hit post, put up cat pictures. In that vein…

Tell me that's not the cutest thing ever and I'll know you're lying.

She collapsed under the weight of her own stomach.

Cuuuuuuute!

I'm Back, and This Time I Mean It

"No TV and no beer make Homer something something."

Although in my case, it would be no TV and no internet. The hurricane didn't come within a hundred miles of here, but the winds were strong enough to knock out the freaking power! No wonder New Jersey is such a mess. I hope everyone down there is okay.

For me, two days with no television, computer or internet was soooooo boring. I couldn't even write (long hand is not my friend)! I read four books, though. That's good and all, but I missed having two thousand people read my every thought in less than one hundred and forty characters. Plus, you know, writing.

Fair warning: it's going to take me a few days to catch up with the rest of you. The yard is still a mess of leaves and the gutters are packed with dirt. So...yeah. Not exactly fun, but it has to be done. As for right now, I'll get to work visiting your blogs and such. I'm sure Friday's post will be more witty. Maybe a book review? Whatever I have in the pre-written section of my files.

Later, all! Hope you're safe!

Back. Well, Mostly.

See? I’m still here. Now that things have settled a bit, I’m going to be making new posts instead of cobbling together remnants of discarded posts and calling it good. Unfortunately, I won’t be posting at my usual seven-a-week pace. The future is a bit uncertain right now and there’s nothing that bothers me more than not knowing what’s going to happen. That’s why I’m a writer. I can make anything just how I like it.

So instead of returning to once a day and maybe having to jump out again for another undetermined amount of time, I’m going to post three days a week, Tuesday, Friday and (obviously) Sunday. If I can wing it, I’ll add a fourth post in there somewhere, too.

I’ll try to make Tuesday’s interesting with websites or distractions. Fridays will be etymology day because I’m obsessed with words. Sunday will be my rant day (you know what really grinds my gears?). I don’t know how long this is going to last, but I think it will be for a few months at least.

I hope this doesn’t disappoint anyone as much as it disappoints me. Talk to you later!

Keeping It Short

Okay, writing this is a little awkward. I mean the actual act. A cat insisted on jumping into my lap and now my laptop is balanced off of one knee. Why she is insisting upon having attention now, I don't know. Wait, yes I do. I'm doing something that does not involve cats.

Anyway, I'm here to talk to you (or write at you) about the importance of brevity. The First Crusader Challenge made me think of this because as most of you know, it's required to be under 300 words. When I saw that, I was all "No way! How am I supposed to keep it that short?"

And it really made me think about how a nice quick post tends to be easier to read. As someone who tends to spew words, I think showing a little more restraint might be helpful. I know it's a little late to add to my resolutions list, but I'm doing it anyway. From now on, no more than 300 words per post. And yes, that includes word nerd Wednesdays. I'm sure there will be exceptions, but I'm going to make sure they're only for good reasons.

Thoughts?