Don't Drop the Ball

Fumble!!! If you're a football fan, you've heard that cry before. We're an enthusiastic football family and it's an easy game to compare to other things in life and that includes blogging.

When you're a running back and a hole opens in the line, you have to go for it and quickly. The same with blogging. When you have an opportunity to guest on another blog or exchange links with them, take advantage of it. Opportunities can disappear in the blink of an eye if you don't react as soon as you see it.

Be a team player. A successful blog is one with lots of friends and followers. Those wonderful people leaving comments are your team. They help you and you help them back. Promote others as they promote you. Link to them when they share something you really enjoyed and they'll have your back at some later opportunity.

Pick up your teammates when they get down. If they're not blogging as often as they used to or express discouragement in their posts, tell them how much you'd miss them if they stopped. Remind them of the fun things about blogging.

Keep your eye on the ball. Why did you start blogging? What did you enjoy about it? Make sure you're don't stray from what works for you. Eye on the target.

Play with heart. Blogging is work even when you love it. Put your heart into it and enjoy this wonderful network of like-minded people.

Don't be afraid to try something different if what you're doing isn't working. Adjust and blog on!

Hope you football haters didn't cringe at the comparisons. Or the football lovers. And as an extra, I should point out that it's easy to visit blogs while you're watching football. There's always time in between plays.

If you want more football goofiness, visit my blog, Susan Says, as I use football terms for some writing motivation. On another note, there is a big announcement coming to IWSG this Wednesday. If you're a writer, you should be part of that group.

Are you ready for some football?

Art and Labor Day

First post here this summer from me and I wanted to do it before Labor Day Weekend. Why? Because the celebration of Labor Day, even though we do it at another time from almost everyone else in the world, is an important event, something we should all celebrate, because A LOT of people worked/sacrificed for all workers/us to have this recognition. Here is a little history as to why…

Labor Day in the United States is a holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It is a celebration of the American labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country.

Labor Day was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, who organized the first parade in New York City. After the Haymarket Massacre (this is worth reading about), which occurred in Chicago on May 4, 1886, U.S. President Grover Cleveland feared that commemorating Labor Day on May 1 could become an opportunity to commemorate the affair. Thus, in 1887, it was established as an official holiday in September to support the Labor Day that the Knights favored.^[1]
The equivalent holiday in Canada, Labour Day, is also celebrated on the first Monday of September. In many other countries (more than 80 worldwide), "Labour Day" is synonymous with, or linked with, International Workers' Day, which is observed on May 1.  (From Wikipedia)

 

What does this have to do with us as writers/artists? We are a part of this labor force, a part of what makes our economy tick, through all our trials and successes, we should acknowledge our part and celebrate with eager anticipation all that being a part of our country/economy means. Go Labor Day!!!!

And just for laughs...!

 Images from:

smilingwallpapers.blogspot.com 

nawabzade.com

www.ashland-ohio.com 

athebeach.blogspot.com 

jennysnoodle.blogspot.com

The Leisure of Summer Road Trip Visits

As I've said before, I have the hardest time choosing which bloggers to visit during the AtoZ Challenge. So many entice me with their interesting, informative or entertaining themes that I run out of time to make it to all of the ones I enjoy. 

That's why I decided to do a bit of touring this summer on the Road Trip and take a look at some I'll be sure to visit come April 2016. I'm still trying to go from Z to A on my visits (that was the plan I posted earlier this summer). Progress, however, has been slow, but Mario keeps egging me on. Wind him up and you can't slow him down. I call him my Muse on Steroids. Well, just look at his hair. Says it all, doesn't it?

Wild and Ready to Roll 

Here are bloggers I've visited recently and hope they'll sign up for AtoZ Challenge in 2016 because they post good stuff!

MainelyWrite

EcoCatLady

AndysCorner

Are you doing a more leisurely tour during these summer months? Any special plan to wrap up this beautiful last month of heat and lemonade and hammocks? How's the AtoZ Tour treated you this summer of 2015?