Saturday, April 9, 2011

Substance - Personal Post

Cat at Musings and Confessions has passed on the following award:
My favorite postings from Cat tend to be her Sunday ponderings, which always get me thinking and feeling. Thank you, Cat, for the award, for being an inspiration and for thinking me worthy of recognition.

I wasn't clear on the rules, but I found an old post or two (Cat combined reqs from her 2 awards :) which said to sum up one's blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience in 5 words (hey! it's a flash!) and then pass it on to 10 other blogs with real substance.

Observation, empathy, curiosity, compulsion, loss
(It isn't necessary, but I've chosen to explain a bit.)
1. Observation - I've always been a people watcher, partly because I have always hovered on the fringes and felt like an "outsider". Many of my stories stem from people I happen to see or read about. I can, however, assure you that the characters, places and events are all fictional unless otherwise noted in the title of the post (photo, non-fiction, personal post). Which is, BTW, why I do use those cumbersome tags in the post title.

2. Empathy - Although I haven't experienced certain events or emotions which I write about, I do spend a great deal of time listening to others, and my job/volunteering brings me into contact with individuals who have. As I have noted elsewhere, I describe my writing sometimes as "telling other people's truths".

3. Curiosity - I'm an avid reader of just about anything, from poetry to philosophy to medical reports and wedding notices. (Also the back of the cereal box, the scary enclosures that accompany prescriptions, and the bibliographies of books I read.)

4. Compulsion - I feel compelled to write. Sometimes because I feel something needs telling, sometimes because I'm anxious and/or bored, often because I can't sleep, and occasionally to exorcise a particular demon.

5. Loss - I've experienced my share of losses, as we all do. 'Nuff said.

Now comes the hard part. I'm always reluctant to single out blogs because, in all fairness, I really don't follow anyone unless their blog has substance, style, creativity, etc. (And I often screw up links.) So, I'll pass this on to a few new blogs I've recently found that I REALLY think deserve a look by new followers. Doesn't mean that I don't consider everyone worthy in some way.

Joe Nation at his blog Window really gorgeous prose, pics, and thoughts. One of my new faves.

Marcus at Writing Investigated if you didn't know, Marcus is responsible for creating the cool buttons (Next Blog/Surprise Me) for the A to Z Challenge. He also does a funny set of interviews with fictional characters, as well as more serious and thoughtful posts.

Royce Ratterman at Upper Streams Royce writes flash, short stories, plays, you name it.

The Blog of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks Has to be my favorite site. Period. An unending series of photos illustrating the subject, accompanied by terribly funny commentary. My "go-to" on dreary days. :)

Leovi at La Fotografia Efectista Abstracta sublime abstract photography. You've got to have a look.

I know, I know, it's only 5, but I'm backlogged with work, so another 5, in another post...on another day. Happy blogging and have a great weekend, everyone :))






6 comments:

  1. Good post to read.
    You too have a happy blogging time.
    Yvonne.

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  2. Thank you very much for your appreciation, the truth that I have been pleasantly surprised, I'm glad you like my photos from your blog that you put a link to recommend to your visitors. Greetings

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  3. Congratulations on the award. :)

    I will have to visit the blogs you mentioned!

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  4. Hi Li - congratulations on a very well deserved award! I'm off to visit those sites - I only know Leovi's, so looking to forward to new treats in store. Have a fab weekend - and thanks for your comments over on Daily Dodo - you always give me a big smile
    Lx

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  5. A well deserved award, many congratulations. I must check out the sites you mention!

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  6. Congrats on your award! Great summary of your blog.


    Gregg Metcalf
    Colossians 1:28-29

    Gospel-driven Disciples

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