Are You Kidding? 2012 Blog of the Year?

Tags

2012 Blog of the Year, blogging, Blogging Awards, writers, writing

Hello folks . . .

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It is official; the holidays are here. They were heralded in by 5,000 calories on a plate, Uncle Joe sleeping it off in front of the football game, and crazy people shopping door-buster deals at 3:00 am. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a fist fight over a flat-screen TV.

All jokes aside, I received an early Christmas gift from my friend Maggie Myklebust at Fly Away Home Books. Granted, she was in a post-virtual-cocktail-party-stupor when she gave it to me, but I am thankful nonetheless.

In all her foggy-headed wisdom, she bestowed this blog with the 2012 Blog of the Year award. I can hear Maggie saying right now, “I did whaaaaaa? Someone hand me the Pepto.”

Who, me?

The timing of her misguided generosity in naming this humble blog as a 2012 Blog of the Year is in sync with a post rattling around in my head. I recently asked in an unscientific study:

Why did you start a blog?

Why do you keep blogging?

What do you want/get out of blogging?

Price Waterhouse analyzed the answers and reported the results to me in an envelope sealed with a cool gold sticker. Just like at the Academy Awards.

To a man, woman, and child, we started blogging for different reasons, but we KEEP blogging for the same reason  . . . the wonderful community spirit and fellowship we’ve found in the blogosphere. Ella Dee said it best when she described it as a “WordPress Community Garden.”

We talk about the aura, feel, and appeal of blogging. It is mysterious and hard to name. However, I have concrete examples of the magic that has happened to me because of my blog. I bet you have similar stories.

In a comment conversation with Mike Allegra on his blog Hey Look a Writer Fellow, I jokingly asked him to do one of his cute doodles for my daughter in the Army. Bam . . . two days later this was in my mailbox.

BCGs are Birth Control Glasses. No need for Birth Control when you wear these!

Mike did this doodle even though he was busy swimming upstream in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy’s deluge. While doing the backstroke, he made sure it arrived in time for Veteran’s Day. How is that for community spirit?

While I was in the throes of my dad in critical condition in the hospital, Unfettered BS, T.W. Dittmer, All Things Boys Blog, and Maddie Cochere at Breezy Books, sent emails to check in on me. (My apologies if I am forgetting anyone.) Paula Acton sent me a letter in the mail from jolly old England. These folks don’t know my dad or me. But their kind and caring spirit shined through their words. Their notes came at opportune times for me . . . when I was at my lowest point.

All Thing Boys Blog and Corey, M.P. became beta readers of my novel after I bribed them with chocolate. I’m kidding. They volunteered. Like they don’t have enough on their plate. Their comments and suggestions were invaluable.

Carrie Rubin at The Write Transition mentioned my Strong vs Weak Word series in the acknowledgements of her freshly published novel Seneca Scourge. If that wasn’t enough to make my button burst, she sent me an autographed copy of her book. She didn’t need to do that; even though it may be the only time I see my name in print.

On a similar note, Maddie at Breezy Books gifted me a copy of her book after she stumbled upon my Strong vs Weak Word series. I suspect it was a bribe to keep me from doing any further posts in the series.

Pete Denton was smart crazy enough to give this blog its first award. Pete’s kindness gave me the confidence to keep going at a time when I thought, “Why the heck am I doing this?” and was ready to toss in the towel and keyboard.

A happy-go-lucky and witty blogger started a private blog as a place to share the darker side of her life story. I was one of the first people she invited to her private blog. I am touched that she feels safe in sharing her world with me.

Over the summer I posted the letters our daughter Amanda sent us from Army Basic Training and your heartfelt support of her commitment to our country made me cry more than once. Let’s not forget the dozens of letters my bloggy friends sent to her platoon. No one needed to do that, but you did.

Then, there are the faithful followers, likers, and commenters who play along with me even when my post is lame-o.

There are many more examples of “the magic,” but I’ll leave it at that for now.

The rules of accepting this award aren’t fair. One of the rules is to NOT alter the rules, to which I say:

Dear Thinker-Upper-of This-Award:

You ask the impossible in telling me to single out blogs for this award. Ergo, I won’t. The list of my nominees would too long and the post would set a world’s record for “Most Links in one Post.”

Respectfully,

Robin “The Rule Breaker” Coyle

Thank you Maggie for this honor. I am blessed to have you, and all my other blogging friends as, well . . . friends.

What magic has happened to you because of your blog?

P. S. My dad is back in the hospital. I’ll be in and out of blogging and reading blogs once again.

Why Do You Blog?

Tags

blogging, Why do you blog?, writers, writing

Today is the first installment of an unscientific study that is sure to rock the blogging world.

Today’s Question

Why do you blog?

Life forced me to take an extended break from regular blogging and reading blogs and it got me thinking about it’s mysterious appeal. While not attending to the care and feeding of my blog, I’ve had scads more time to attend to more pressing matters. Blogging is a time vacuum. But I miss it. How odd.

These questions were inspired by an off-blog email sent to me from Unfettered BS (a delightful read). She read about my dad’s health problems and sent a note to say she was thinking of me and wanted me to know she cared. One of the things she asked was “Why did you start blogging?” Hmmm . . . good question.

Really. I am curious.

Why did you start blogging?

Why to you keep blogging?

What do you want out of blogging?

What do you get out of blogging?

Why do I blog? How kind of you to ask.

I started a blog because my daughter nagged me. She was a terrier at my ankle. She said, “Mom, you are a great writer, you need to blog about your book and writing, and people will love what you have to say.”

I ignored her for two years.

Who the hell would want to read my drivel? But, my daughter is a sweet and relentless tormentor. So, last January, I thought what the heck. Let’s give this a try.

I’ll never forget my first non-family comment. I about fell over. My reply to Linda was “How did you find me? And why?”

At first, I blogged because my daughter is in contention for Best in Show in the bulldog category at the Westminster dog show. (No, honey. I am not calling you a dog.)

Next, I blogged because as a writer who wants to be published, I was told I should build my mysterious “platform.”

And finally, I now blog because I have met the most amazing, smart, and funny people ever! I care about them and they seem to care about me. I’ve talked about this before, but I have blogging friends I consider REAL friends. Who knew that would happen? I know it has happened to you too. But, did you expect it?

I also enjoy blogging because it keeps me at the craft of writing. I think I am a better writer because of it. This quote sums it up for me. “The desire to write grows with writing.” ~ Desiderius Erasmus

I thought about doing a poll, but I want to hear your words, and not confine you to canned responses.

Again, I ask . . .

Why did you start blogging?

Why to you keep blogging?

What do you want out of blogging?

What do you get out of blogging?

I can’t wait to hear what you have to say.

That is me in front of my blog. (Photo credit: digitalrob70)

Roll Out The Red Carpet Please . . .

Tags

blogging, Blogging Awards, writers, writing

~Actual photograph of Robin Coyle. My what a big mouth you have Grandma.

I am remiss in not acknowledging a fair few blogging awards.  My apologies go to the lovely (and astute, I might add) fellow-bloggers who deemed me worthy.

Because I need to remedy this situation, I am accepting all the awards at once. I know, I know. I’m breaking the rules.  But I like to think I am bending, not breaking.  My mother wouldn’t approve if I broke them.

The awards’ rules are similar so I am mushing them together.

1. Add the award to your blog. To be done.

2. Thank the bloggers who gave them to you and include a link to their blog. Check.

3. Mention random things about yourself. See below.

4. List the rules. You are reading my mushed version of them.

5. Give the award to more bloggers. See below.

Random Things you ask?

• I hate bringing in the garbage cans. Random enough?

• My uncle was a stage manager, actor, and director on Broadway. As a result, love the theater and know the words to the songs of every Broadway musical ever made. Except for the production of Spring Awakening from three years ago. I hated it.

• My dog William sits on the chair behind me while I write.  On MY chair, not another chair. His choice, not mine.

• Most of my education comes from crossword puzzles. I know more about history, the bible, Shakespeare, etc. from the Wall Street Journal and New York Times’ crossword puzzles rather than from university.

• I’ve solved several world problems while puttering in the garden. Best productive thinking time ever. Mr. Obama should call me.

• I call myself a book-lover, but don’t allow myself much time to read. What is up with that?

• I make a mean guacamole. Wanna come over for margaritas and chips for my award ceremony?

My nominees you ask with bated breath? The lovely people who nominated me for the awards!

Shian Writes  – Versatile Blogger award. Shian is a writer, poet, and movie buff, but she is keeping the rest a secret.  Shhh . . .

Before I Forget – Liebster Award. You never know what you are going to get here – music, cartoons, writing, thoughts about her classroom, etc. – but she always amuses.

Fly Away Home Book – Liebster Award. Maggie is a Jersey Shore girl (no, not the TV show) transplanted in Norway and a published author. Oh, and she is delightful.

All Things Boys – Kreativ Blogger Award. The title of Arnel’s blog is misleading. She shares her humorous take on LIFE.

C.B. Wentworth – Kreativ Blogger Award (Hey, shouldn’t it be “Kreativ Speller Award?”). Here you will find essays, poetry, music, travel, and a potpourri of other fun or interesting reads. Or both.

Sara Flower’s Blog – Beautiful Blogger Award. Sara is a fellow writer and inspiration. Plus, she described me as beauty with brains so I think I am in love with her.

Mike is Happy. Relatively. – Beautiful Blogger Award. I laugh out loud at every one of Mike’s posts. Roll on the floor laughter.

Ella Dee – Thank You Award and ABC Award. Ella Dee’s blog tag line is “I like words. My favourite word is happy.” Gotta love someone like her.

Fear No Weebles – Sunshine and Beautiful Blogger Award. Another fellow writer and her blog is just plain fun. Watch for her “Hot Dead Guy” contests.

Fashion and Style Guru – Very Inspiring Blogger Award and One Lovely Blog Award. They blog about, well . . . fashion and style, but it is more than an issue of Glamour Magazine. By the way, the photo at the top of their blog is me.

The View Outside – Reader Appreciation Award. Vikki makes me think about writing and the process of writing. Always a good thing.

Wanton Creation – Reader Appreciation Award. As per his “About” page, “I read, write, teach, love, fly, timetravel…ahem…and I live in Australia. Sometimes I like to travel by kangaroo (this is a lie, nobody actually does this).”

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the awards. I’m blushing.

Note to the nominees ~ don’t feel you need to accept and nominate others again, unless you want to!

Heady Blog Milestones

Tags

Blog Milestones, blogging, writers, writing

I am channeling Peter Pan, Mary Martin, Sandy Duncan, and Cathy Rigby when I say, “I gotta crow.”

I hit over 11,500 all-time visits today and this is my 100^th post. I also recently passed the 200 follower mark. My buttons are busting.

Some of you are yawning and saying, “That was so four years ago for me.” But for this new-blogger-on-the-block, they are heady milestones.

You, my faithful and most intelligent followers/commenters make this unpaid job a joy.  I love what you write on your blogs, I love your comments on mine, and I love you.

Okay, enough of the sappy-pull-out-the-Kleenex moment. You know what I mean though, right?

Blogging surprises for me?

1. What a GIGANTIC tiny community we are.

2. Bloggers are a supportive and positive lot.

3. I didn’t expect to meet people who I now consider friends.

4. How much I would learn from fellow bloggers.

5. How much I would learn while writing my blog.

6. The downside . . . how much time it takes.

What were your surprises?

Thank you all. Let’s sing along with Jerry Garcia . . . “Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it’s been.”

By the way – My Peter Pan poster autographed by Cathy Rigby from her performance in San Francisco in 1990 hangs over my fireplace. It serves as quite a conversation piece, until that is, my guests run out the door with their purses firmly tucked under their arm. “Waaaaitttt . .  . I want to show you my signed program toooooooooo!”

Too late. They ran over my mailbox while pealing out of my driveway.

 

Spam I Am – NOT!

Tags

Askimet, blogging, WordPress Comment Spam, writers, writing

Hello folks! Miss me?

After a lovely visit with family and Mother’s Day in Boise with our youngest daughter, I am back to the world-o’blog.

I have been away from blogging at a most fortunate time. The craziness at WordPress has caused perfectly sane bloggers to tear out all their hair. Let’s see a show of hands.

In case you are wondering, I am now bald.

I can’t wait to get back to writing about stuff other than the WordPress problems and I promise to do so soon.

Before I return to normal posting and have grown a full head of hair again, I have one request for you.

WordPress and Askimet think I am “Spam I Am” and unless you have “not spammed” me, I am hurled straight to your spam folder.

Sigh. So many pithy comments lost in Never Never Land. I am reading your posts, I promise. I am commenting on your posts, I promise.   Askimet tech support tells me they are investigating my problem.

Please check your spam and un-spam me. I will forever be in your debt.

 

I’ll Be Back If/When the WordPress Issues Are Resolved

Tags

blogging, WordPress Bugs, WordPress Frustration, WordPress Problems, WordPress Spam, writers, writing

Oooh . . . dramatic blog title Robin.

The title isn’t exactly true. I am ready to throw WordPress and my computer out the window, but the real reason you haven’t see me around lately is I am in Portland visiting a gaggle of family members. Tomorrow I move on to Boise to spend four days with our youngest daughter. Can’t wait.

I thought I would be able to keep up with you all while on this trip, but HA! Blogging takes low priority when surrounded by family, food, and 90-year-old parents who can’t hear a darn thing.

What a wild ride the last week has been. Between the WordPress “comment-follow”  and other problems, and the world deciding I am nothing but mere Spam, my forced break from blogging is a welcome relief.

I’ll be back next week and catch up with you then. That is, if WordPress has cleaned up its act. Miss you all!

WordPress (Photo credit: Adriano Gasparri)

Related articles

• Anyone Else Sick of the WordPress Problems? (robincoyle.wordpress.com)
• Anyone Else Sick of the WordPress Problems? – Part 2 (robincoyle.wordpress.com)

Two Guardian Angels for Moi, a Writing Contest Loser

Tags

ABC Award, blogging, writers, writing

My bitter disappointment (ooh . . . look who is being dramatic) over not winning the writing contest (see previous post) was pacified when two guardian angels swooped down and handed me the ABC (Awesome Blog Content) Award. What a lovely consolation price. Don’t you just love it when guardian angels are all swoopy-?

My angels, Corey at Corey M.P. and Ms. Katykins at Come and Check This Out are delightful and I owe them a debt of gratitude.

The award asks the recipient to name 26 alphabetical things about themselves and then nominate other bloggers. Here we go!

Me from A to Z

A = Adaptable (I was tempted to say “Adorable” but decided I should remain humble lest you un-follow and delete me.)

B = Blonde (At least I used to be.)

C = Cheerleader-to-all (You guys rock!)

D = Dedicated (And Determined.)

E = Efficient (I am the Tasmanian Devil of the To-Do list.)

F = Feeding people (Come over for dinner!)

G = Germy (I have a cold . . . sniff.)

H = Humble (See Letter A above.)

I = Interesting (At least I strive to be.)

J = Joyful (Yup.)

K = Kind (Yup.)

L = Loving (Except when my mother-bear comes out.)

M = Mom (Three beautiful daughters.)

N = Nature-lover (Give me the mountains and I am happy.)

O = Organized (My husband and kids think I am the Google Maps app for locating everything in our house.)

P = Planner (I am in my element when I have something to plan.)

Q = Queen (Oops. Make that Quaint.)

R = Reader (But not enough time.)

S = Sensible (Except for when it comes to shoes. I love a good pair of uncomfortable heels.)

T = Tenacious (Watch out when I latch on to a project.)

U = Unique (Don’t read that as weird please.)

V = Virtuous (I don’t know any other way to operate.)

W = Writer (My kids would have said “Worrier.”)

X = X-Ray-able (Sorry.)

Y = Yacky (Love a good conversation.)

Z = Zippy (Well, that sums it all up.)

And the nominees are . . .

Hover Craft Doggie is a treat for the eye. They are architects and post one stunning photo with a pithy title that draws you into their blog.

Dodging Commas is always fun and thought provoking.

Lime Is Better makes me want to be a part of their blog so I can ask, “Better than what?”

Sadie and Daisie posts three themed-photos and I am moved to comment every time they post.

Blurt is an irreverent and amusing blogger and takes me by surprise. Ask him about his job.

Ella Dee is a sweetheart and everyone should read her blog.

Wanderlust Gene shares insight, humor, and lovely photos from far away lands.

Thank you again for the ego-boosting award Corey and Katykins . . . aka my angels.

Blog Stats I Can’t Explain

Tags

Blog Statistics, Blog Visits, blogging, Curious Blogging Observations, writers, writing

Many of you commented on my post about Blogging is a Strange Thing. The observations seemed to have resonated with our fellow bloggers. Here is another “strange thing.”  Has this happened to you?

Writing Contest – “Just Do It Robin,” had a fair number of visits the day I posted it. Then, there was little or no activity for weeks. Starting five days ago the post has generated HUGE activity every day for no apparent reason. Why the sudden interest in it?

Why, why, why?

Can anyone explain this?

Blogging is a Curious Thing

Tags

blogging, Bog Statistics, Curious Blogging Observations, writers, writing

This blog is a few months old now and I have made these curious observations. What would you add to the list?

• At times it feels like I am talking (writing) into space, and I’m left to wonder if anyone is listening (reading). How fun it is when the comments come rolling in.
• Blog statistics are a cruel mistress. One day they are abysmal and the next, for no apparent reason, they soar. (Perhaps it is the writing you say?)
• Again, for reasons I can’t explain, I have had dozens of visits from Viet Nam, Malta, Mongolia, and many other far off places.
• I’ve made what I consider friends, even though we have never met.
• It helped me reconnect with people who found me because of my blog.
• More strangers follow and comment on my blog than do friends and family.
• There are a lot of smart people out there with cool things to share, which makes it next to impossible to keep up with reading blog posts.
• Bloggers are a friendly and supportive lot. At least they are in the blog circles I run in . . . maybe that wouldn’t be the case if I were reading/writing blogs on controversial subjects.
• Bloggers make up a GIGANTIC small community.

I’ve learned helpful things from my fellow bloggers, viewed cool images/videos, and laughed out loud more times than I can count.

Thanks for making me laugh, scratch my head, and teaching so much.

Blog Backlog

Tags

blogging, blogs, Managing Blogs, Reading Blogs, writers, writing

Thirty-four friends were waiting for me in my office this morning. They had barged in without bothering to give me time to have a cup of coffee or scan the newspaper’s headlines. I was still in my bathrobe and looked like a crumpled piece of paper. But they all had interesting things to show with me . . . advice, photos, videos, jokes, and creative writing samples. How could I ignore such an enthusiastic sharing of knowledge?

So instead of the newspaper, I read the thirty-four blog posts waiting in my computer’s in-box. I love reading my fellow bloggers’ posts. Heck, that is why I follow them. But when you have a self-imposed deadline of getting your query letter written by the end of the week, you should be writing the damn thing not reading blogs, right?

I need to find a system of letting my friends in and a way to expedite reading what they have written. Anyone have any tips for how to manage blog backlog? Maybe the “B” in blog stands for “back” as in “back”log.

. . . And the Envelope Please – Versatile Blogger Award

Tags

Bloggers, blogging, Versatile Blogger Award, writers, writing

What a lovely way to start my weekend. Pete Denton nominated me for The Versatile Blogger Award. I am honored and flattered. Thank you Pete!

Blogging can sometimes feel like you are writing in a vacuum so it is nice to know there are people out there reading it and affirmation is always good for one’s spirits.

The rules of accepting the nomination are as follows:

1. Thank the person who nominated me. Done.
2. Include a link to his/her blog. Done.
3. Nominate fifteen blogs I enjoy and follow. See below.
4. Lastly, tell you seven things about myself. Yikes. I hope I can come up with seven interesting things to say. You be the judge by reading on.

Seven things about me you ask?

1. I cried when I typed the last word in my novel In Search of Beef Stroganoff. Not sure why.
2. I’ve been married for thirty years and have three beautiful daughters.
3. Feeding people feeds my soul. Hence, food is a central theme in my book.
4. I love to travel and would hop on the next plane if you handed me the ticket. Especially if it is a ticket to Paris.
5. I hate people who are cheap with their time and their money.
6. I will look up a word in the dictionary with the least provocation.
7. I love The Beatles.

And now it is my honor to nominate other bloggers. Check them out by clicking on their links.

Steel City Writers

Corey M. P. 

Random Olio

Photobotos

Nail Your Novel

Dotty Headbanger – Notes from a She-Hermit

ChristieAdams23

The Ugly Moose

Kate Arms-Roberts

Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

The Blabbermouth

Persephone

Bucket List Publications

The Hyperteller

The (Writer’s) Waiting Room

Thank you again Pete!

Maybe I Should Write A Beer Blog

Tags

beer, blogging, Valentine's Day

My husband is the only person I know who can turn Valentine’s Day into a beer-drinking contest. We have three girls who are now all grown up. Ever since they were little, he treated them like princesses on Valentine’s Day. They would wake up to heart-shaped pancakes, balloons tied to their chairs, candy and flowers at each place, AND a classic book such as Of Mice and Men. When our oldest went off to college, she said with a wistful sigh, “I am going to miss Dad’s Valentine’s Days the most.” I tried to not take it personally.

This year he sent them each a Valentine’s card with a new $100 bill tucked inside. He wrote on the card, “The challenge is on. See who can find the coolest beer and the coolest place to drink it. Submit your photo to the judges.”

My husband is making a goofy face in our backyard. One kid is fishing on the Snake River is Boise, one is snowboarding in Vail, and the other is on the stage of a comedy club in Los Angeles. And no, she isn’t a stand-up comedian.

What a crack-up. Here is a collage of the photos:

Why am I telling you all this? Because . . . it is interesting that the beer-drinking collage got about a billion “Likes” on Facebook but some of my well-crafted, thought-provoking, and imaginative blog posts got six views. Go figure. Maybe I should blog about beer.

Blog Magic

Tags

blogging, blogs, writing

Something magical has happened twice since I started this blog.

Three years ago I worked at a non-profit agency with a man who never failed to make me laugh. He had a deliciously wicked and dry sense of humor . . . my favorite kind. We lost touch when we both left the agency. OUT OF THE BLUE, I got a comment on my blog post titled, “100 Beautiful Words” from “Chuck the Accountant.” At first it creeped me out because he made reference to my “lissome body.” I was about to delete the comment without approving it when “Chuck’s” email address caught my eye. It was my long lost friend! The crack about Chuck liking my body was reference to an inside joke from years ago. So, abracadabra, like magic I found my old friend, or rather, he found me.

Today I received a comment from a very distant cousin who lives in Sweden. We exchange Christmas cards every year, but that is it. I never mentioned my blog to her, so how did she find me!? Maybe I have a huge following in Sweden I am not aware of.

It got me thinking. I wonder how many of you have connected or reconnected with someone because of your blog? Or their blog? Who was it and how did you find each other? I’d love to know!