Blogging | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 199

09 Dec 2018 34 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Maya Angelou, Positivity, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Nothing can dim the light that shines within you.” Maya Angelou

There are times in life when everything seems to be trying to beat your enthusiasm out of you.

At work, you are being confronted by problem after problem, at home the kids have all ganged up and decided to have massive tween/teen meltdowns at the same time, and your partner is not being supportive, or is having his or her own issues…

Nothing seems to be going your way.

But no matter what is happening, you have to hold tight to that flame of hope and positivity that shines within you.

Don’t allow it to be dimmed, as the great Maya Angelou says, or put out. It’s the one thing that will guide you to a better time and place.

So… tell me, how can you let your light shine brighter?

#Blogmas2018 Ritu’s Blog Tips #9

09 Dec 2018 41 Comments

by Ritu in Blogmas 2018 Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Blogmas, Blogmas 2018

Day 9!

Interaction is KEY!

You can’t go building a blog without other people.

You want to be read, but you kinda have to return the favour.

I’m not talking about follow for follow, but actually reading other blogger’s posts and interacting with them.

Liking and commenting on their posts opens a doorway for a genuine following.

And not just ‘Great Post!’ or ‘Love this!’ but meaningful comments that can start a conversation.

I know you can’t do that for every post you read, but if you make a point of commenting on a specific amount of post read in a day/week (target is up to you!) you are sure to see the return coming to your blog, and them doing the same.

These interactions will build the kind of following that is actually genuine, and not just numbers of people who click follow, but never read your posts.

#SoCS Dec. 8/18 – Musical

08 Dec 2018 28 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Linda G Hill, Musical, Socs, Stream Of Consciousness Saturday

Linda’s prompt for SoCS this week…

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “musical.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

I do love a good musical, don’t you?

From as long as I recall, shows and films filled with song and dance have been a huge part of my life.

It started as a youngster when the type of musical I was exposed to was of the Bollywood kind. a three-hour long extravaganza filled with story, and peppered, every ten minutes, with colourful songs and dancing.

That started my musical thirst.

As I started school, I took a great interest in anything drama based, and we were given the opportunity to go to several theatre musicals, such as Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, when it first started, Cats, The Phantom Of the Opera… I loved them all!

I would sing the tunes in my own way regularly (still do!)

And even now, though the opportunities are less, I try to get a chance to watch them. Last year we went to see 42nd Street for our anniversary, which was brilliant.

I’ve even seen Jerry Springer, The Musical!

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Dec. 8/18

#Blogmas2018 Ritu’s Blog Tips #8

08 Dec 2018 37 Comments

by Ritu in Blogmas 2018 Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Blogmas, Blogmas 2018

Day 8!

Don’t obsess over numbers!

This is a biggie!

I know how hard it is. I was a newbie once too, remember!

Numbers are important, to an extent, yes, but at the beginning, it is so easy to become so fixated over views/followers/likes, that you start to forget why you may have started the blog in the first place.

That place you created to enjoy writing, sharing your opinions/ creativity/product becomes a chore as you play the number game, following and liking others with the feint hope that they might return the favour, and up your figures.

Don’t.

Seriously.

Don’t compare yourselves with seasoned bloggers, who have hundreds of thousands of views/likes/shares/folllowers. They will have taken time to get there, just like you.

It is a lucky one in a million that goes viral, or writes something so profound that it, like Kim Kardashian’s bum, breaks the internet.

But hey, let’s be honest, we don’t want to break it, do we? How would the readers find us then?

Try and enjoy being you on your blog. Others will slowly discover you too, and love you, and the numbers will follow.

December 6: Flash Fiction Challenge #CarrotRanch – Graffiti

07 Dec 2018 24 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch, Fiction, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #CarrotRanch, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Charli Mills, Flash Fiction, Graffiti

Charli’s prompt this week:

December 6, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about graffiti. It can be an artist, art or the medium itself. Get out your can of spray paint and go where the prompt leads you.


Pure Art

Stepping back, he looked up to admire his work.
He inhaled the spray paint, fresh on the wall.
A huge mural filled with colour. 
It had taken him the best part of six hours, what with dodging 
oncoming traffic.
His tag proudly displayed at the bottom.
Sure, the wall wasn’t his property, and there was a slight chance that 
if he got caught, he’d end up at the police station again…
He pulled his hat down firmly and wrapped his scarf over his mouth, 
rendering himself unrecognisable.
Some might call it graffiti, but to him, it was pure art.