Blogging journey
How to write away writer’s block:Inspiring Quotes to help
I have blogged for 2 years.Off and on.Mostly off.I was reading a lot .But writing a lot less.
Thinking about writing.Talking about writing.Then I ย always had something coming up.In this writing and exercising was in the same boat.I spent the entire day thinking about doing one or the other.But always had an excuse.Definitely ย important ones.
4 months back I wrote 2 posts a month on my blog. That too after thinking for days.
I didn’t think of writers block. Because I didn’t think I was a writer.
But I am a Bengali ,and all Bengali’s love to think they have a few untold stories in them.
Frankly speaking I started writing because my daughter was too young to understand the chatter in my brain.Plus I wanted to give myย darling hubby
a break from my rants.
Yes I rant when I don’t have stimulating book,company,events or any thing which my brain can feed on.That’s why I absolutely ย fell in love with ย my ย Blogchatter BFFs .ย
When you are all looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow , it’s fun to have some company.Sharing the gold is good too.Because it actually multiplies infinitely every time you share.
That’s the same with writing.The more I write ,the more I want to write.
It’s not easy.But now I know it’s not easy for anyone.
The best ย part bloggers always have fun .Because whatever happens it’s a story right!
Like the time on Nabami, when I was standing in a crowded ย waiting room at the Sealdah station ย and writing a blog post on my ย phone. It’s not my best .But I did it.
It helped drown out the noise ,dirt ,and the two-hour wait standing!Luckily( for me ),my daughter napped on her father’s lap.
Me tapping away on the phone.Rai sleeping.My hubby looking shocked (and a tad irritated ) that I was writing standing in the middle of a crowded room.That’s mad . But you need a little madness to want to share your thoughts with random ย strangers right?
Once upon a time I read Perry Mason ย everywhere . I wanted to moonlight as a criminal lawyer.
But decided it was easier to do it in the next lifetime.Law books are something I have never attempted reading.And I read everything.
Maybe one day.The same was with writing.One day.
Then in July I did a Blogchatter half marathon daily chatter for 2 weeks.
#MyFriendAlexa challenge for 1 month in September where I wrote 15 posts in 1 month.Definitely more than what I wrote the entire year last
year.
I am doing a #Dailychatter challenge with Blogchatter again .The best part of this is , I am actually able to write everyday.The 500 word thing everyday is a good habit.Try it.
Whenever I read anything on writing it’s like eves dropping inside famous writers head.
I think of myself as work in progress .The following are a few famous quotes which help ย me ,when ย myย ย writing brain needs a little push or maybe a shove and some inspiration .ย
24 Favourite quotes on Writing by writers
“What a writer brings to any story is an attitudeโฆ” John Gregory Dunne
Why you must write everyday?
You must write every single day of your lifeโฆYou must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfumes and wear
books like hats upon your crazy headsโฆ.may you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days. And out of that love, remake a world.” Ray
Bradbury
About writer’s block…
Planning to write is not writing. Outliningโฆresearchingโฆtalking to people about what you’re doing, none of that is writing. Writing is
writing.” E.L. Doctorow
You only learn to be a better writer by actually writing.” Doris Lessing
If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.
Stephen King
Write. Rewrite. When not writing or rewriting, read. I know of no shortcuts.โ
โLarry L. King, WD
You canโt think yourself out of a writing block; you have to write yourself out of a thinking block.
ย John Rogers
If you want to be a writer, you must do two things about all others: read a lot and write a lotโฆreading is the creative center of a writerโs
lifeโฆyou cannot hope to sweep someone else away by the force of your writing until it has been done to you.
Stephen King
Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens.
– Ray Bradbury
There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. Ernest Hemingway
Writing is like sex; you donโt have to wait until youโre an expert to begin doing it. ~ Anonymous
A professional writer is an amateur who didnโt quit.
Richard Bach
The great advantage of being a writer is that you can spy on people. Youโre there, listening to every word, but part of you is observing.
Everything is useful to a writer, you seeโevery scrap, even the longest and most boring of luncheon parties.
Graham Greene
If you wait for inspiration to write; youโre not a writer, youโre a waiter. ~ Dan Poynter
Confused about ย what to write?
Write what you know. Write what you want to know more about. Write what youโre afraid to write about.
ย Cec Murphy
When do you fail as a writer
You fail only if you stop writing. ~Ray Bradbury
Why you should write?
If you can’t annoy somebody, there’s little point in writing.
– Kingsley Amis
After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.
– Philip Pullman
The pen is mightier than the sword and considerably easier to write with.
– Marty Feldman
The beautiful part of writing is that you donโt have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon.
– Robert Cormier
We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.
– Ernest Hemingway
What is writing?
Writing is a socially acceptable form of getting naked in public.
– Paulo Coelho
When I was a little boy, they called me a liar, but now that I am a grown up they call me a writer.
– Isaac Bashevis Singer
On Editing
The first draft of anything is shit.
– Ernest Hemingway
10 lessons I taught ย myself to write away writers blockย
#1 Write everyday,everywhere .Sitting standing.Whatever works. No excuses.
#2 It’s a habit and you can do it .
#3 Find friends who write .Not just want to write.
#4 Avoid editing while writing the first time.Write what ever comes to mind.
#5 Your life is your story . It can help someone.
#6 It takes guts to write . So even if no one says so ,you are brave.Don’t stop believing.
#7 Exercise .Somehow it helps me write.
#8 Read ,read read.Then read some more.
#9 Writing is therapy for me.I feel better after getting my thoughts written down.
#10ย Writing is a way to keep a little ย piece of me for my daughter to find even when I am no more
Do you write?
How do you find inspiration . Write in the comments below .
I am taking part in the #ubc #blogboost .This is day 12 post
ย Ultimate blogging ย challenge withย Blogchatterย #DailyChatter
Mompreneur biz focus:Upasana and Life through my bioscope
When I started writing
aboutย mompreneursย blogging
journey it was to share what I learned
as a blogger.
But the best way to learn is probably
from other bloggers.That’s when I
decided to bug my blogger friends for
tips .
All of us have different strengths and
different ย responsibilities.
Our struggles too ย are different ย .
What unites us, is our want to do
something more.
Maybe this is a chance to make a bit
of us, digitally immortal.
When I look back I want to be happy
that at least I tried.
Tried writing, tried blogging,tried
making time and place ,non factors
in a struggling life.
Aren’t we all fighting our own battles.
I found Upasana in the now famous
#MyFriendAlexa campaign.ย
She is an IT professional and is a full time working blogger mom.
Plus she loves DIY ย projects.ย
Let’s learn from Upasana today
Tell me ย the story behind your blog
I always loved to write my
experiences but never thought of
sharing it. After my son was born, I
started reading parenting and other
inspiring articles online.
That is when Blog writing idea got a spark.
Being a new mother, I started sharing
my parenting experiences. My
writings are not limited to parenting
but other Life experiences related to
Travel, Career, Blogging and more.
Problems at the personal front
helped me to grow as a person. I am
continuously working on self-
improvement and sharing my stories
along with.
Who fo you write for ?
Being a multi-niche Blogger, my
audience would be anyone who love
to read the experiences and stories.
I write what I learn and love to share
my learnings in easy and friendly ย way.
I write for other new parents who
seek ย help online providing honest
and true information based on my
experience.
I write for people who believe
โLearning never stopsโ.
Your inspiration
My inspiration are people ย close to
me who appreciate my writings and
other Bloggers who read, comment
and never fail to amaze me with their
words.
Worth mentioning, Strong and
determined women always boost me
up.
Your favourite quote
There are many favorites but yes, one line that I believe in:
“Itโs better to start early and itโs never too late.”
3 tips ย & Your message for struggling mompreneurs
-
Make everyday worthwhile. Learn something everyday which can take you near to your goals.
-
Be Patient. Do not let others to knock you downย .Be persistent and you will definitely gather the appreciation one day.
-
Do something to leave a Legacy. There is something unique about each one of us. Embrace it and polish it so that when it’s time to bid farewell to this world, there is something good you are leaving behind.
Checkout my DIY activities and other
tales. You can subscribe here.
What’s your future plan?
I have started a series of posts on
the daily lives of Bloggers. Its
interesting to know each other better.
I have few plans for next year where I
will engage in more DIY/Crafts.So
ย stay tuned!
Are you involved ย in any charitable causesย
Yes, but charity does not need a name. I do it at least twice a year.ย
Tell us a little ย bit about your family.Who is your biggest support?
I have a younger Brother who is
always loving and smiling. Loving
parents and In-laws who supports
me through all thick and thin. Caring
husband and a loving kid makes me
feel blessed. ย My biggest support is
my mother who gives wings to my
dreams and most importantly,
believe in me.
Short bioย
I am a ย full time working professional
who like to greet her loved ones by
handmade greeting cards. I believe in
hard work and love to learn
something new each day. I upcycle
things at Home and strongly
recommend DIY for all Mothers.
Fb page link
https://www.facebook.com/lifethroughmybioscope
I am taking part in the #ubc
#blogboost Ultimate blogging ย challenge with ย ย Blogchatter
#DailyChatter
#UBC Day 15
Biz focus series you will loveย
Jaibala Rao spellbinding storyteller :Mompreneurโs biz focusย
Biz focus :Mayuri ,sirimiri,blogger and tarot card reader
Mompreneurโs biz focus :Deepa the kreativemommy
Mompreneur Tina Basu :Bloggingjourney & biz
Mompreneur biz focus:Mayura Amarkant the soothsayer
Mompreneur Biz focus :Jewellery making & Basudhaโs Hoimonti
Mompreneur Biz focus:Nilanjana and Cue Math
Ashwini Dodani MBA cum poet: Blogging journey and entrepreneurship ย
Mompreneur’s blogging journey :7 Social media ย hacks to save time(part 8)
Tweet,pinned?
Stumbled,shared?
Did I miss something?ย
When you are a mom with 31 things to do in 24 hours (of which 6 you probably should be sleeping) being”social ” ย is hair tearingly difficult.ย
“Write and they will come ” is great if it’s a hobby.Not so if you are planning a biz around it.Also even for a hobby you would like to help people right?
ย
How will you help if your readers can’t find you?
The internet is with a shocking 1 billion (and more) websites .Do you want to leave it to chance,that your readers will find you.
Even if you have the whole day ย to spend on Facebook, do you want to?
What about blogging being fun?
What happens when you are travelling?
When there are festivals,can you tweet and pin throughout the day?
What about poor internet connectivity?
Maybe your server has some work being done.
If you can’t automate it .You are a slave to it.That’s the harsh truth!
If you are not an e-commerceย giant or don’t have a blogging Godfather, it’s unlikely that you are willing to spend money on ads just yet.
Now we have a problem!
Your wants :
- You want people to find and read what you write (totally change their lives)ย
- Don’t want to spend money on ads and VA’s?
- Don’t have hours to spend on social media.
But you want ย to become wildly successful .
Yes that’s what I want too. That’s why I have read every social media hacks I could over the past 2 years.Since I really hate repeatedly doing the same activity(except reading Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie) ,I love automation tools.
If you are a mom you are already an expert on the impossible.
If not,maybe the following tools could help you.
1)Buffer
Great tool to schedule your blog posts by date ย and time.
Plus it is linked to all the primary social channels.
Con:The free plan is a tad limited.
Solution?
This is buffer on jet fuel.
Create a content library of all your post links.
Don’t tick the box saying schedule till.
This will go on.New readers will find your awesome content.The best part.Once a post is tweeted /posted,it is automatically ย sent to the end of the queueand will only be posted after all the others.
Great right?
Easy to set up and you just update the library.
Con:Right now only 2 social channels integrated twitter and Facebook.ย
ย
3) IFTT
What IFTT can do ?
It can basically loop all your social media posts to make your life easier.
Check this post out.
The recipes I use:
- Instagram pics ย post to facebook and twitter.
- Tweets with specific hashtags to be collected in a seperate google spreadsheet.
- Make a spreadsheet of posts saved in pocket
- Backup starred Gmail automatically to Evernote ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
IFTT Favourite channels ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
ย
4)Evernoteย
Can anyone stop talking about this tool?
I save links,whole articles,images bills,my Lybrate answers,blog post drafts and ideas everything here.ย
The best part you can share a link to your doc over Gmail.
5)Google Drive. Back up everything.Use IFTT recipes to sync your tweets and social posts to Google spreadsheets.ย
Can be synced across devices .Plus you can share documents .You can make seperate folders for different things.Access them anywhere .
6)Goolgle Doc:
Quickly make ย PDF E-books as content upgrades to your posts.
Make the #blogchatter community a part of your social media campaign and watch how your blog stats change.
I first started taking part in blogging challenges in July 2016.
My Alexa ย rank, social media followers changed drastically after the ย #ย MyFriend Alexa campaign.
Pinterest ย and Stumbleupon are some of my favourite social media sites.I don’t use automation here.Since I enjoy the activity.Who doesn’t like”researching “on Pinterest.ย
Also stumbleupon is temperamental and I haven’t found reliable tips to automate it.
What are your favourite ย tips for automating social media?
Comment below to let me know.
Other posts you will love:
Mompreneur who inspires Part 1
Mompreneur who inspires and helps Part 2
SPI PRO Theme and Blog design:Mompreneurโs blogging journey and miracles(Part4)
Mompreneursย Blogging Journey(part 3)
7 Secrets to blogging as biz (for beginner mompreneurs)
Mompreneurโs blogging journey :Keyword hacks when you donโt have time(part 7)
Childhood obesity :What happens to your baby’s body(part 4)
When I write about children’s health issues my hubby (he is a Pediatrician and a pediatric nutritionist ) helps me with all the research.
This time while writing the #Daily chatter challenge ย he ย suggested I start writing about childhood obesity.ย
The last 10 days of festivities and good food made writing about healthy diet difficult.
But now when we are taking a break before ย Diwali it’s going to be easier to write healthy.
While eating during festivals ย if you don’t want to lose the results of all your hard work ,it’s important to practice ย moderation.
Now with Bijoya Dashami sweets ,Lakshmi pujo and Kali pujo/Diwali all coming up in line we need a game plan.ย
How to Practice healthy even while feasting.
- Enjoy the goodies but don’t go crazy.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Cucumbers throughout the day Lighter mealsย
- Avoid deep-fried .Opt for grilled ,pan-fried and tandoori itemsย
- Go light on the added cream,cheese and frills that all fast food restaurant offer.
- It’s better to avoid buffets because you always over eat.
- Eat ย a healthy breakfast
- Catch up on exercises.ย
- Meditateย
- While going for Bijoya carry a tiffin box .Shamelessly stuff it with all the extra sweets you would like to eat but is more than your daily limits.Take it home .Enjoy 1 treat each day.
If it was eat ,eat, eat and occasionally pray during the last few days.
Now before Diwali ย it should beย
Sleep,Pray ,exercise, eat in moderation.ย
Why discuss childhood ย obesity with festival ย food?
Because children learn from us ,adults. When they see us eating without control,they think it’s okay.
But it’s never a good idea to have bad food habits.
What they learn in childhood ,will affect their health as children and adults.ย
The saddest part is children ย can have the same health problems ย that adults do with obesity.
It’s important ย we know what the children have to undergo .That way we can make better choices for us and them.
So what are the symptoms ย that indicate excessive weight to be a medical problem?
Problems with breathing and respirationย
What doe the ย child complain?
*Snoring, gasping ,daytime sleepiness,morning headacheย
*Shortness of breath,night-time or exercise cough
Medical condition :Asthma,Obstructive sleep apnea
Gastrointestinal problems:
Complaints :Irregular bowel movementsย
Binge eating,night-time snackingย
Gall bladder ย diseases
Fatty liver
Eating disordersย
Hormonal or Endocrine problems:
Type 2 Diabetesย
Menstrual irregularities,Polycystic ovarian syndromeย
Others: joint pains ย involving ย knees ,feet ,skin changes
When children are overweight ,certain guidelines help detect whether their growth in height, ย will help control the problem.ย
System assessment ย is important ย for timely referral to specialists .
When I was a child the last thing in my ย mind, during ย Durga Pujo was ย controlled diet.ย
Nowadays everyone is ย more aware.
Teach your children healthy choices so,they can enjoy good food without feeling guilty .They are smart .They will understand.ย
As parents you have the power in your hand.
ย Did you make healthy choices while feasting?
Comment ย below ย to let me know .
From the Childhood obesity series:
If baby is a picky eater blame yourself:Healthy eating habits in children (part 1)
Picky eater : When you need to worry(part 2)
ย Childhood obesity :The control is in your hand(part 3)
ย Read myย Ultimate guide to feeding your preschoolerย
Jaibala Rao spellbinding storyteller :Mompreneurโs biz focusย
Jaibala Rao is one of the top bloggers in India.The stories she tells will touch your heart.With tears in your eyes you will become stronger.
She is a mom to a wonderful little boy and a guiding light for all of us.
Found her while making friends with #MyFriendAlexa, her writing says it all.She doesn’t ย preach .Just tells her story as it is.
Being the best example ย she can be, her blog is an example of emotional ย storytelling at its best.ย
I was sitting with her interview ย for the last few days and thinking how to introduce ย this wonderful womanย in a way, to do her justice.
It’s difficult ย to tell a story about a storyteller.But a story is important .
Ultimately ย we learn best through stories.
A blogger, mom , motivational ย speaker ,freelance writer and columnist.She juggles a lot ย with a smile.She is a microbiologist ย by education and a blogger by birth.Jaibala has been featuredย inย Sesame Street India Exchange, Huffington Post India and Women’s Web. She has also been amongย ย India’s top bloggers’ lists, twice in a row .Her posts are regularly picked as top posts. Jaibala is very passionate about writing and blogging and conducts workshops that help other writers find their voice.
I have one principle in life.
To learn.
Who better to learn about being a blogger and biz owner than Jaibala Rao ?
Read about her journey in her own words.
Tell us Jaibala ,your ย story behind ย blogging
Three years ago, I was dealing with an impending divorce and nothing to do but feel sorry for myself. That is when, I started writing. At first it was for the content mills that paid I remember somewhere around Rs.100 for 750 words, and I thought Oh Wow!ย I can get paid to write, but at that rate it can best be a hobby. I did make around 10,000 Rupees a month then.
But with a child and my own emotional upheaval, it got challenging to churn out that may articles in a month. Then in November of 2013, I got introduced to NaNoWriMo and my confidence in my writing improved. It’s not like I did not know about blogging before that, but I started my blog that November, with some wonderful friends who egged me to do so.
First it was just so that I could write and heal myself. But slowly it has grown and evolved into something more, something bigger and something I love and cannot live without. Now I write, inspire others to write, with my workshops and as a speaker.
Who do you write for?ย
I write in the categories of Fiction, Poetry, parenting, Lifestyle and usually just personal essays. As a creative writer, I think my target audience is anyone who enjoys anything well written. But if I get specific, most of my writing is high on emotions and issue based. I think it is for people stuck and unsure.
The workshops are for budding writers, looking to invest in their writing.
For me audience is also clients and brands that I want to associate and work with, Publications I want to write for.
So all content I create , is for being interesting, carry some thought, emotion or inspiration and be technically sound. I am a storyteller and what I write are stories. I donโt know any other thing to do it or any other way to do it.
What inspires you ?
I think we should all look at ourselves as our own inspiration. Each of us lives a life full of ups downs and in-between, but we live and that is what inspires โ Life. Having a reason to live is inspiration enough. I do owe a lot to the support I have had from people around me, and they inspire me every day. Basically any idea that appeals to me is an inspiration.
Give us your favourite quote
โIt is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all โ in which case, you fail by default.โ
J.K. Rowling
3 tipsย & Your message for struggling mompreneurs
Remember that you are going to die one day, if that doesnโt inspire you to live today, nothing else will.
Respect and remember everyone who stands by you, they donโt have to and still they do.
Value community. Everyone may not be as invested in it as you are, but they are your biggest assets.
Struggling means you are doing something. Donโt let the world get to you, do not under any circumstances be a “me too”. Reinvent, but stay true to you; brand but let it be real and honest branding โ a personal brand. Talk with people to get people talk back to you, value yourself to let others know your value and do not judge others easily.
Subscribe to my ย newsletter for a inside look on my life, my days and first digs on all upcoming events, books and all other news.ย
What’s your vision for your biz?ย
Like I said writing has slowly led to speaking and workshops. I see myself as making a positive difference, challenging the status Quo, Raising issues that need to be spoken about is whatever capacity I can.
Here is theย Fb page linkย where you can find Jaibalaย .
When you want to learn the best you have to learn from the best.Jaibala Rao is easily one of the top Pro Bloggers who are rocking the world .
When its effortless ,the stories draw you in.When you are drenched with the same emotions that the writer feels ,that’s great ย storytelling.
Head over to JaibalaRao.com for real stories ย .Stories to make you laugh and cry.
ย I
Biz focus series you will loveย
Jaibala Rao spellbinding storyteller :Mompreneurโs biz focusย
Biz focus :Mayuri ,sirimiri,blogger and tarot card reader
Mompreneurโs biz focus :Deepa the kreativemommy
Mompreneur Tina Basu :Bloggingjourney & biz
Mompreneur biz focus:Mayura Amarkant the soothsayer
Mompreneur Biz focus :Jewellery making & Basudhaโs Hoimonti
Mompreneur Biz focus:Nilanjana and Cue Math
Ashwini Dodani MBA cum poet: Blogging journey and entrepreneurship ย