Blogging | But I Smile Anyway...

#Blogmas2018 Ritu’s Blog Tips #2

02 Dec 2018 48 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tips, Blogger, Blogging, Blogmas, Blogmas 2018

Day 2 of Blogmas… what gem of advice will my advent calendar or tips reveal today?

Make sure you have a fantastic About Me page.

Seriously, this is so important. Many bloggers will click onto your blog, and head there first, so they can get a feel of you as a blogger, or a person, or at least the reason why you are publishing blog posts.

And it’s not enough to just start with your About Me page, then leave it to do it’s own thing… no, you should revisit it, refre3sh it and update it. There may be news, or achievements you want to add to it. Possibly life developments that change the direction of your blog.

Keep it fresh. Keep it new. Keep it you!

November 29: #Carrot Ranch – Into The Dark…

01 Dec 2018 23 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch, Fiction Tags: #CarrotRanch, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Charli Mills, Flash Fiction, Into The Dark

Charli’s prompt this week:

November 29, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story using the phrase “into the dark.” What must a character face? Write about an encounter, journey, relationship, or quest. Follow the ship’s lights on gloomy seas. Go where the prompt leads you.

Into The Dark

Swaying slightly, she stumbled out into the dark.
It took Penny a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the dim light.
The door had slammed shut behind her.
Why had she decided to have that last drink?
She knew alcohol and her didn’t mix, yet all it took was the encouragement of a few mates, and she was knocking them back.
And with each drink, came confidence.
She danced, and smiled, and flirted.
But he took it too far.
The pushing to the toilets.
The clawing hands.
She shoved him and ran, fleeing via the fire exit.

November 29: Flash Fiction Challenge

#SoCS Dec. 1/18 – Ma

01 Dec 2018 22 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS Tags: #StreamofConsciousnessSaturday, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Christ-Mates, Christmas, Linda G Hill, Ma, Socs

Linda’s prompt for SoCS this week…
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ma.” Use it as a word or find a word with “ma” in it. Bonus points if you start your post with that word. Enjoy!

Maybe I’m a cheatin’, but I am writing this on Friday evening, scheduling it for the morning, as I am off out out!

My mamma friends (The Tootie Frooties) and I are off for our Christ-Mates meal tonight, and though I shan’t be hung over, I am pretty sure I won’t be thinking of posting as soon as I get up!

So, it’s a short and sweet one this time!

Have a great Saturday!

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Dec. 1/18

#Blogmas2018 Ritu’s Blog Tips #1

01 Dec 2018 51 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tips, Blogger, Blogging, Blogmas 2018

Well hello there! Can you believe it? December already! And I thought I would partcipate in Blogmas this yer, in my own way, with a set of blog tips. Consider my posts to be be a sort of advent calendar to open each day with a little nugget of advice, or tips to help you through your blogging journey!

My first tip will be this:

Start your blog with an eye-catching name.

Don’t sell out with one named [insert own name’s] Blog, or Poetry, or anything mundane like that. If you are blogging to a particular niche, then tailor it to that, if not, find something that will stick in people’s mind. It’s like choosing a title for a book, or a name for your child… The memorable names stick…

Rodeo #3: Travel with a Twist Winners « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

30 Nov 2018 12 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Carrot Ranch, Rodeo, Winners

Check out the winners of Rodeo #3!

By Sherri Matthews Well, we asked for travel stories with a twist, and we got ‘em. Thank you so much to all who entered, 29 in all. You’ve taken us around the world (twice), to Rome and through mo…

Source: Rodeo #3: Travel with a Twist Winners « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

In case you’re interested, my entry was this…

Always BE Prepared!

Travel light. That’s what mum always said.

Easy enough when you are off on holiday to a sun-soaked destination. What more do you need than a few swimsuits, some cheap sundresses, sunglasses and sun cream?

So, there I was, with my one bag, ready to be slung into the overhead locker.

And there was Jen.

With her huge suitcase.

“Jeez Jen! What’s in there? Your whole life?”

“Always be prepared,” she smirked.

***

The wind howled.

For the third day running the weathermen warned us to stay inside.

I sat, shivering.

Not Jen.

In her emergency thermals and gloves.