Tag: Laptop

A Trophy For Little Old Me

Wordpress trophyI do love how WordPress sets these somewhat eclectic targets (for lack of a better word) which when reached by the blogger gives them an automatic trophy. The first thought that goes through my mind is ‘Wow, a trophy? For little old me?’ *By the by, a single quotation mark by some authors is meant to convey thought versus speech anyone disagree with this method? Just curious, answers on a postcard please or conversely you can tell me via the comment section below.* Anyway, as shown by the image above, I now have reached 1,337, with a “real” total of 1,339 followers on my blog.

Cue fireworks, confetti and cheering, even if it is only my hoarse voice you can hear, in wild celebration. I do celebrate these milestone events, albeit rather quietly, since these follower counts mean that slowly but surely, I am building up a core group that like my meandering messages.

Here is where I insist that you give yourself a pat on the back for having such great taste! Seriously, it does mean a lot that either some of you have come back or others have enjoyed my ramblings enough to pay me the ultimate compliment. Thanks to both types of folks and to those who fall into neither camp.

For those still “on the fence” about my writing, that is fine too. I’ve not published anything yet, but I will. In this day and age of self publishing if I cannot get picked up by a publisher when I’ve finished, I’ll do it on my own. I know this is now the norm and quite successful for some folks, like the Winner Twins who I have met, interviewed and still interact with now and then. *On a side note, two nicer young ladies you will never meet and their work is entertaining and good.*

For those who have been here for awhile, thanks for being patient. I’ve veered off the path, most notably working for the content mill and sweatshop GLV where I had no time to devote to my baby. (But I did manage to attend some geeky type cons and meet some dynamite actors and in that aspect had the time of my life.) Now I am back and casting my hook around to see what other writing opportunities are out there.

Thanks to you all; I know that regardless of where my laptop and I end up there are folks who like my writing and will stop by to read and comment. Even though I do not get out and about as much as I used to, and those of you with your own blogs will know what I mean, but as soon as the Internet issue is sorted and I learn to be more organized, I will be more visible at other blog sites. I promise.

Till then, I remain humbly overawed that there are that many people out there who like my work. I think you all are the best. Thanks and I raise my metaphorical glass to you. Cheers and all the best.

7 June 2015

Michael Knox-Smith

Why Blog at All

MSI laptop computer

On certain days, I find it a little difficult to make my tiny contribution to the world of letters and words. I sit down after having enough coffee and nicotine to get my heart started and turn on my laptop.

I then check my various networks to see what has happened in my little world throughout the night. I check to see if anyone has read my most recent posts and left any likes or comments.

Some mornings I am amazed at the amount of ‘hits’ my little blog has gotten. Other times I am a bit puzzled by the complete lack of activity. On the low ‘hits’ days I peruse other blogs to see what they have written about and see what sort of comments have been left on their blog.

I check the Freshly Pressed page every day. The diverseness of the blogs featured never ceases to impress me. It appears that photographic ‘essays’ are quite popular as well as ‘personal interest’ and travelogue blogs. I read many, leave comments on a few and ‘like’ almost every blog I read.

Sometimes before I finish my speculative blog reading, I will have an idea crop up in my mind. Sometimes it is an almost complete story or opinion that only needs my fingertips to caress my laptop’s keyboard to bring it out. Other times the ideas float around like so many dust motes. Difficult to pin down, let alone grab.

On the days that it is difficult to come up with something, I will gaze inwardly at the dust mote ideas and wait. Sometimes one of the motes will turn into a mental firefly. Flickering light that will blaze up and then disappear only to show up in another spot.

It is the fireflies that I rely on when my mind is stalled out on a subject of interest.

On the days where I have to play the part of firefly wrangler just to come up with something to post on my blog. I do think, why blog at all. The answer to that internal questions is always the same.

Why blog at all? The answer is to.

To communicate. To remember. To think. To show. To write. To live. To create.

I know that most of the additional “to’s” can and do fall under the umbrella of communicate. But I like to specify, especially in the areas of  ‘to live’ and ‘to create’ for they are perhaps the most important.

Lots of folks have to create to live and conversely a lot of folks live to create. I fall somewhere in the middle. I don’t feel alive unless I create.

So that’s why I blog.

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