Four Bloggers

 

If you enjoy reading blogs, I have three suggestions for you. Most deal with the writing world in some way but would also be of interest to those who love to read. Give them a try. You might find someone you'd like to follow. Each has a place for you to subscribe.

Annette Gendler is an author, blogger, and teacher in the writing world. I met Annette at my online writing group. Her blog covers her books, her life, and her teaching in workshops and online. Annette is originally from Germany but has lived in America for many years. She also enjoys photography, and her readers are often treated to photos taken on her world travels. Look for Annette Gendler's blog at  https://annettegendler.com/?s=Annette+Gendler+blog

Jim Potter is fascinated by Kansas history, which is quite apparent in his blog at Sandhenge Publications. Jim turns his research into easily readable stories about people in Kansas, many in the law profession. He also treats his readers to an occasional book review. I met Jim through the Kansas Authors Club.

Jim is a retired deputy sheriff. His books include Cop in the Classroom  which has multiple stories about his police career, Taking Back the Bullet is a novel, and Under the Radar, Race at School is a play used by schools. Jim's blog will educate and entertain. Find it at https://jimpotterauthor.com/author-blog/

I recently met another blogger named Kenneth Goetz. In January, he is going to be publishing chapters of his novel, which might be of interest to you. Subscribe to his blog at https://writerken.com I have found his posts both informative and interesting. Ken tells a bit about himself on the blog. See below:

A native of South Dakota, Kenneth Goetz studied at the University of Wisconsin (BS and PhD) and the University of Kansas (MD). His subsequent research focused on integrative physiology. For his investigation of the cardiovascular system he was awarded a German Humboldt Prize. He capped off his career by serving as a visiting professor at the University of Kuopio, Finland; the University of Munich, and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine near Cologne. In retirement Ken writes about whatever piques his interest, efforts to keep his diminishing population of neurons from dozing during the day.

Marlene Cullen writes and lives in California. She is the editor of a series of anthologies that deal with writing topics. Each one uses the main title of The Write Spot and then a subtitle.The short essays in each book would be of special interest to writers but also the everyday reader. Marlene's blog offers writing prompts, short posts, and book reviews. Find her at https://thewritespot.us/marlenecullenblog/ 

(NOTE: Some of the links will need to be copied and pasted. Not sure why they did not cooperate here. )

Ever Been To A Blog Hop?

I've been tagged! Yep, my writer friend, Annette Gendler, tagged me to participate in the #MyWriting Process Blog Hop. To be fair, she did ask my permission first. She's a considerate person as well as a fine teacher of memoir writing and excellent blogger. Annette credits Carole Malone for starting the Blog Hop several months ago.

To participate, a blogger answers four questions about her/his writing world and process, then tags two or three more bloggers. It's a good idea to provide a link to the tagger's blog somewhere within your post. I was intrigued while reading Annette Gendler's Blog Hop post yesterday. Four simple questions gave me a lot of insight as to Annette, the writer. Perhaps you'll feel the same after reading my answers.

Questions and Answers 

1. What is Nancy working on? 
     Only days ago, I mailed my entries to the annual Kansas Authors state contest. I sent in 4 to the Prose Contest and 2 for the Poetry Contest. Winners are announced on the final day of the convention held in October. So, it's time to move on. Right now, I'm working on a personal essay to give seniors some insight into making the decision to move into senior living accomodations. A middle grade novel is always in the back of my mind. It's one I wrote several years ago but am constantly revising, hoping to make it a published product one day. Will Jamison and The Black Dog Mine is based on childhood days of my maternal grandfather. He was taken from school at the tender age of 9 to work in a below-ground coal mine. His story hauned me for years and inspired the book.

2.  How does Nancy's work differ from others of its genre?
     I write a lot of creative nonfiction, concentrating on memoir and personal essays but I also write articles on the craft of writing and dabble in kidlit and poetry. I've been successful in having my stories appear in several anthologies, most of them qualify as memoir. For me, the past is what makes the present what it is, what makes me the person I am, and so I've concentrated on keeping the family stories alive through my writing and encourage others to do the same. As for the craft of writing articles (including my blog)--I taught middle grade kids for a mere five years way back, but somehow the joy of teaching others has never diminished for me. This way, I continue to teach through the written word.

3.  Why does Nancy write what she does?
     I've had a passion for writing since I was a child, but because of life circumstances, I didn't pursue my passion until I was in my mid-fifties. That makes me dance as fast as I can now in my senior years so I can catch up! I realized just the other day that the act of writing brings me true joy. When I'm tapping away on my keyboard, I'm happy. I've always been a service-oriented person and touching others through my writing is a continuation of that.

4.  How does Nancy's writing process work?
     Oh my, must I confess? I don't have a set routine in my writing process. It's more when the mood moves me and when I have time. Correct that last part to be 'when I create time.' I do try to write my blog post in the morning after breakfast while drinking my coffee every day. But the remainder of my writing is a 'whenever' kind of thing. While I may not be physically writing, my mind is frequently working out a new story or article. It's one reason I have trouble falling asleep! I am often working on a story mentally while doing household tasks or taking a walk. I do try to jot bits and pieces on paper so I don't lose the thought completely.

I am tagging two writer/blogger friends: 

Betty Roan Enigk, known to me as B.J., came into my writing world through Our Echo, a website for people to post their writing. It became a community of writers and B.J. and I chatted off and on and have read one another's blogs and other writing. Her blog is Rubbish by Roan, one that is well worth some of your time. She's been a faithful reader of my blog and leaves comments, too, which makes me happy. She lives in Toledo, IL. B.J. has agred to tag more bloggers to jump into the Blog Hop.

Tracy Million Simmons, author of  Tiger Hunting, is the second blogger I'm tagging. Her blog centers on both her writing life and her family life in Emporia, KS. I met Tracy through the Kansas Authors Club several years ago. At convention time, she's a dynamite photographer and helper to all. She's earned my admiration. Tracy has agreed to tag more bloggers to jump into the Blog Hop.

There are lots of links for you to click on in this post. I hope you'll take some time and visit these people and places.

Writers As Friends

I got to thinking last night about how many writers I know who have become my friends. The photo above was taken at the last conference my online critique group had in April of 2010. We spent several days together listening, learning, and socializing. Every one of the women are writers, but they're also the kind of people I am happy to have as friend. With the daily back and forth we do with subbing and critting and off-topic chatting, we know one another well.

I've met other writers at conferences but not all have become friends. Even so, many of them have reached out in one way or another, and a friendship grew. I post a lot of my work at an online community of writers and readers  called Our Echo. I've become a regular there and have gathered several friends who also post frequently and make comments. One no longer posts her work there, but she and I have kept in touch.

A few of my writer acquaintances have become bloggers. By reading and commenting on their blogs, our relationship has become a friendship.

Having friends who are in the writing world means you have someone who really understand when you whine about rejections. They are also great people to listen to your grandiose ideas for a new writing project. They are helpful in editing your work, if you ask nicely! And all that works in reverse, You have a lot in common with other writers which is a good base on which your friendship stands.

Take a few minutes today to list all the friends you have in your writing world. And then be thankful for them. You might even tell them that you value their friendship when an opportunity rises.

Bloggers

Since I've started blogging, I've become a regular reader of several other blogs. Like people, no two are alike. Some ramble through a myriad number of subjects, no particular theme to their blog. Others have a set theme such as restaurant reviews or reviewing books or quilting or caregiving.

But the one constant I've seen is that the blogger's personality comes through quite clearly. If you read a blog on a regular basis, you begin to feel that you know the person. You might even classify them among your friends.

This morning I read a new blog at http://littlehousesouthernprairie.wordpress.com/  The blogger, Emily Harris, wrote about finding a stray dog and what she did with it. I learned a lot about Emily even though the story was focused on the a poor, starving dog. Her easy style of writing drew me in, and I'm sure I'll return and read more of her postings.

Ellen Sackett's blog, http://www.goodtastebuds.com/ has me salivating more often than not, as she offers restaurant reviews. I've learned that she and I share much in our culinary outlook and that she appreciates good food and those who create it.

Jennie Helderman has many interests in her life, and her blog offers us views on any number of them. She is not a writer who stays with one subject, preferring to cover many things of interest to her readers. Find her blog at http://www.jenniehelderman.com/  Today, she offers one of her good fiction pieces.

http://www.lgurney.blogspot.com/ is a blog written by Lisa Gurney. She writes about living and caring for her 82 year old mother who has Alzheimer's disease. I've felt Lisa's frustration and admired her kindness and loyalty. Yes, her personality has definitely been on display in her blog, which is on hiatus right now.

These are only a few. You may follow several others, and I bet you have been able to discern a great deal about the blogger.