The Blogger Recognition Award//TAG

Hello, all! I'm going to be doing something today that I have not done since the dark ages....

Okay, it hasn't been that long. But honestly, I can't remember the last time that I did a tag. Let's see if I remember how this works. :)

I want to thank the beautiful and talented Paige from Sunday Best and All the Rest  for nominating me. (If you don't read her blog, you should! It's a lovely little corner of the Web.)

How Did I Start Blogging?

I started blogging about two and half years ago. At that time I had just recently become a published author and I was looking for new ways to express my writing creativity as well as build an author brand and market my books. One of my brothers told me to try a blog, so I did. And I absolutely loved it! At first, my blog had absolutely no direction. I just wrote about random stuff (which is kind of still the case, honestly). But over the years I have steered most of my posts toward writing and my books. I still blog about other random happenings in my life. But literature is the main focus.

What Are Two Pieces of Advice that I have for New Bloggers?

1. Give your blog a theme. Do you want to blog about fashion? Review books? Talk about your personal struggles and victories? Now, to be fair, my blog is not the most focused blog out there. I jump around toward all sorts of topics some days. But I try to keep most of my posts within the realm of either a personal tidbit about my life or writing. I chose a fairly broad theme in the form of writing since I blog about books I've read, books I'm selling, books I'm writing, as well as new techniques I'm learning in the writing business and all sorts of other stuff. I find blogs with themes much more enjoyable to read (and read regularly). Your theme can be whatever interests you. Why are starting a blog in the first place? That should probably be your theme. And you can make it as narrow or broad as you like, but having a theme will give a focus to your blog so it isn't completely random. It's easier to build a following if your posts have similar content. People who like that sort of content will continue to come back to your blog.

2. Don't worry if it's not focused. Now, I know I just said to give your blog a theme. But my second piece of advice is definitely, "don't sweat it." If your blog is random and has no theme at all, that's okay. Just keep writing. Keep working at it. Don't give up because you don't have a theme or because no one is following your blog or for whatever reason. (Now, if blogging becomes tiresome and NOT enjoyable, then definitely give it up or find ways to make it fun again). But don't quit. And don't worry. You'll figure out how this world of blogging works before too long if you stick at it! :) (I'm definitely still learning as I go!). 

Now, to nominate other bloggers for this lovely award!

I don't have that many blogging connections yet (I'm not that great at connecting since I don't take the time to follow other blogs very often. So there's a third piece of advice for you...follow other blogs. Comment on other blogs. Build some connections and friendships.)

Candace of the blog Radiant

.......

That is one sad list right there. Like I said, make connections. That is something I'll certainly try to work on myself.

It was fun to do another tag after such a long break from them, so thanks, Paige, for nominating me. It was enjoyable to look back at my journey as a blogger and consider what advice I might have for newer bloggers. It was also very illuminating in the sense that I realized I don't have many blogging connections. It's always nice to have something to work on though, a goal to accomplish. :)

The rules of the tag are as follows:

Thank the blogger who nominated you.
Tell a little bit about how you started blogging.
Give two pieces of advice for new bloggers.
Nominate other bloggers. (15 being the specified number, but obviously you can do less....like I did...seriously, I need to work on that...)

Tag aside, there is someone else I also want to highlight, but as she is a brand-new blogger this tag/award hardly seemed appropriate for her specifically. At any rate, I'd love it if you all went over to Own It and checked out my sister's new blog! :)

Have a lovely day, everybody! :)