Two For The Price of One

Kim of  I Tripped Over a Stone fame nominated me for two blogger awards. The Blogger Recognition Award and the Sunshine Blogger Award. I appreciate her thinking of me and gladly accept both awards from a individual whose perseverance and blog I admire. Please take the time to check out her blog

I will let the Blogger recognition questions stand as is, and I will answer 11 new questions for the Sunshine Blogger Award. The rules ask that I nominate 11 other bloggers to receive BOTH of these awards, but I am going to pass on that since many of the people I would nominate have already been nominated by Kim or other bloggers in my tribe.

AWARD RULES:

• Thank the nominator, and publish a post on your blog about receiving the Blogger Recognition Award. Make sure to provide a link to the nominator’s blog in your post.
• Give a brief story of how your blog started. 
• Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
• Nominate 10-15 other bloggers for this award, and inform them of their nomination (going to pass on this one, see my previous comment).

I. How I got started

I wrote a novel a two years ago, and my agent gave me a laundry list of social media items she recommended I undertake to develop more of an on-line presence and to perhaps develop a following that would help entice publishers. The least onerous of these duties was starting a blog. I have Multiple Sclerosis, and so does the main character of my book, although it is not autobiographical, so most of the posts when I started involved some aspect of my MS experience. The subject matter expanded from there, once I started running out of new things to talk about, and the rest is history.

II. Two pieces of advice for new bloggers

Two pieces of advice…hmmmmmm.

1. Be yourself and write what you feel. Writing from the heart is the easiest way to come up with ideas. This can be uncomfortable at times, but it can also be cathartic. It also helps develop a following. Be genuine, and don’t let the primary focus of your blog be for sales or self promotion. And no BS. Folks recognize that after a while, and it is a major turn-off.
2. Read and Support Other Bloggers. People, most of them your fellow bloggers, will read and “like” your posts. Take the opportunity to read what they have to say, then follow those whose subject and writing you enjoy. “Like” their pieces so they know you are paying attention, and write comments as often as you can. You’ll become part of a network, or tribe, of other writers and develop friendships along the way. You will also be amazed at how many brilliant writers exist in the world.

Award Rules:

• Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link back to their blog so that others can find them.
• Add the award logo to your blog.
• List the rules.
• Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
• Nominate 11 bloggers for the award and ask them 11 new questions.
• Notify the nominees about it by commenting on one of their blog posts.

 

Kim’s Questions:

1. Are you an early bird or a night owl?

An early bird all the way, although I don’t go to bed super early. The fact is I don’t get enough sleep.

2. What is your personal favorite post on your own blog that you’ve published up until today? (Link it!)

That’s a tough one as I have written over 100 pieces, and it is hard to claim a favorite. So the one I am going to mention is one I wrote about diets several months ago because this is the post that has received the most likes of all the ones I have written. I guess is struck a chord.

3. What time of day do you dread?

I really don’t “dread” any particular time of day. My least favorite is waking up at the ungodly hour of 4:30 every weekday morning to get ready for work (I’m an early bird, remember?). But at least it beats the alternative of not waking up.

4. Have you been on the vacation of your dreams or still planning it?

I am definitely the happy traveler. Have bag, will travel. Unfortunately, my spouse is the exact opposite, but I knew that going in. So my dream vacation will remain that way: a dream. Besides, travelling with MS has made travelling with much more complicated than ever. See this for details. I will add that that I have been to many major cities and most states within the continental US, and a few Caribbean islands. But the MS, as you can see if you read the link, has certainly curtailed my desire to explore. My favorite trip was to Anchorage, Alaska. They don’t call that state The Last Frontier for nothing, and I would highly recommend visiting it during the summer when it is light out most if not all of the time.

5. Name your dream car!

I’m not really a car guy, so I will channel my wife and name her dream car: A red 58 Corvette convertible.

6. If you see a penny on the ground, do you pick it up?

Sometimes.

7. If you could pick a book title (actual or fabricated) to describe your life over the past 10 years, what would it be?

Shit Happens.

8 What is the song title that best describes your life over the last 10 years?

Better Man, by Keb Mo. Look it up.

9. Ever thought of going vegan?

Never. I eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, beans and grains as it is, and don’t eat a lot of red meat. Maybe some day, but going completely vegan takes a lot of time I don’t currently have.

10. I have to know, do you still have a landline???

Yep, and probably always will. Call me a dinosaur.

11. BOUNS QUESTION: Do you always respond to these types of nominations.

Most of the time, but not always.