Wearing My Tag With Pride

Hello Everyone

My fellow blogger Alastair from kattermonran.com has tagged me. This means he has taken the time to ask 11 questions to some bloggers and I am am one of his chosen few. I feel so privileged. It is great when other bloggers choose to want to know more about me because I feel special and appreciated. Thanks so much Alastair, I will wear my tag with pride.

I need to answer the 11 questions set by him and then ask 11 more questions to 11 others.

My answers to the Alastair’s questions are here:

1. Do you prefer ridged crisps (potato chips) or flat ones? I can only eat plain salted crisps because of my various food allergies but I don’t mind either plain or ridged as I enjoy both. The last ones I ate were ridged.

2. What was the last music band you went to see live? I haven’t see one particular band. The last time I saw various bands was at a party in the park, it was years ago. One of the groups were Steps and although a lot of people may find their music a bit too poppy or cheesy, I thought in real life they were great, at both singing and at getting the audience jumping and dancing on the spot.

3. Do you prefer tea, coffee, hot chocolate or something stronger? None of those as I don’t drink alcohol and I only drink herbal tea, peppermint is my favourite.

4. How many siblings do you have? None. I am an only child.

5. What was the last film you saw at the movies? A Thriller called Side Effects on Saturday 30th of March. It was slow to begin with but had a couple of great twists at the end.

6. Is there any sports that you like to participate in? None. I don’t like sports. There is an exception, I like finger pumping. This consists of clenching the fingers of my hand into a fist shape and releasing them with a flicking motion, back and forth quickly. I love it because it symbolises that I have written so much my hand needs to be exercised. (Oh! And if writing is a sport, then I love, love, love it.)

7. What is your favourite flower? A red rose. I am a romantic.

8. Is there anything you like to collect? Besides collecting erasers I like collecting Eeyore things from Winnie The Pooh.

9. Have you visited another country? I have visited Spain, Jersey and France but hated flying.

10. Do you have any pets? Yes, 4 guinea pigs. Snuggles, Peaches, Daisy and Cinnamon. They are all one year old but Cinnamon and Daisy are just under 3 months younger as Snuggles was pregnant with them when she came from the pet shop and I couldn’t give them up.

11. What is your favourite food? I have lots of food allergies. My favourite snack food is sugar free, dairy free, gluten free, yeast free chocolate from the health shop. I have to be very careful what I eat out but I like Thai food, a Chinese meal or Nandos.

Now to announce my 11 questions:

Have you ever been made redundant from your job and how did you feel about it?
If you were interviewing someone for a writing job, what 3 qualities would you look for and why?
What is your favourite board game and why?
When you look at the stars, what do you see?
When you look at the ocean, what does it remind you of?
How do you overcome writer’s block?
If you could say 3 encouraging things to another person, what would they be?
Do you prefer to write your stories/books/poetry/prose/articles on paper first, then type them up and edit them, or do you like to type them straight into your computer to edit?
Do you like writing in one genre or more?
As a writer, do you think actions speak louder than words?
What is your favourite quote and why?

My nominations are:

To all of my 11 chosen ones, I look forward to learning more about you.

I am fortunate enough to have been awarded a second Best Moment Award so I will post my nominations for that soon.

Write soon

Sandra

Never take your writing for granted

Hi Everyone

My apologies for not blogging for a while. I have been very poorly and although I did make it to London for Valentine’s Day, I had to cut my holiday short due to illness.

I have to say that this has been one of the worst periods of illness in my life to date and I have been so weak that at the worst peak of my infection I couldn’t:

Write many texts
Write any Facebook messages
Write any LinkedIn updates
Write any tweets
Write any blog posts
Write any web content
Write any of my book content
Write any notes
Read my emails
Respond to emails
Read any books

Sometimes it’s hard to realise just how much of my life is spent writing and doing things related to my writing, such as reading books. I have learnt during this time to always count my writing blessings twice and to never take my writing for granted.

Although I am still off work sick I am able to write again and it is a fantastic feeling.

I would encourage you all to make a list of the writing activities that you do and take time out to appreciate each one of them. Think what your life would be like without writing in it and never take your writing for granted.

Until next time, keep writing and enjoying it.

Write soon

Sandra

Quirky Shine On Award

Hi Everyone

I was recently nominated for the Shine On award by Sharla from http://catnipoflife.wordpress.com

As always, with any award, there are rules to follow, so here they are:

1.) Show appreciation of the blogger who nominated you and link back to them in your post. Done.

2.) Add the award logo to your blog. Done.

3.) Share 7 things about yourself.

Besides writing, I love going to the cinema.
My favourite type of movies are dance, action or thriller. I also like Disney/Pixar movies.
I prefer writing to reading.
I have an Apple Imac computer that I use loads and I adore.
I hold a PTTLS Level 4 Teacher/Trainer qualification that I got this year.
I have an IAG Diploma (Information, Advice and Guidance) Level 4 that I achieved this year.
I believe dreams can come true.

4.) Nominate 5 – 10 or so bloggers you admire. Here I go:

http://ohshineon.com

http://liveblissful.wordpress.com

http://kattermonran.com

http://utesmile.wordpress.com

http://inspire1life.com

http://motivatingdaily.com

http://russelrayphotos2.com

http://searchingforthehappiness.wordpress.com

http://hutchagoodlife.wordpress.com

http://hamsterdiaries.wordpress.com

5.) Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know. Will do.

6.) Optional questions – Here are my 7.

Do you prefer art or literature?
What is your favourite film and why?
Would you prefer to read to a child or for them to read to you?
What makes you happy?
What are your wisest words?
What is your favourite insect and why?
If you could choose any words to be your last, what would they be?

I look forward to reading the answers to my 7 questions from the above nominees. Congratulations to all of you and may your blogs continue to Shine On.

Write soon

Sandra

The Liebster Award – Thanks And Nominations

Hi Everyone

On October 25th I was Nominated for the Liebster Award by Wendy from searchingforthehappiness.wordpress.com, thank you so much Wendy, you have an awesome blog and I love following it.

I have recently been away in London and wanted to take time to think about who to nominate before I went ahead and did so.

For this award I have received 11 questions to answer. Hope you find out a little more about me and if you have any questions, please fee free to ask away.

1. What has been the most rewarding part of blogging for you?

Writing a guest blog post for a HR company and it got a mention in The New York Times
Writing a blog post – Any opportunity to write and I am ecstatic
Communicating with some amazing people
Having Author and Writing Coach Rochelle Melander, guest blog on my blog
Having competitions for people to win a copy of Write-A-Thon
A blog post from my other blog, http://www.beatredundancyblues.wordpress.com being featured as a headline on Platform 3 online newspaper from Switzerland

2. What have friends and family said about you having a blog?

My mum can’t even text, bless her, let alone go on the internet but she is pleased when I win an award. My dad picks over grammar, punctuation and spelling and tells me if there is something wrong, bless him. My friends are happy that my blog is successful and are very encouraging.

3. Has your blog helped you professionally or is your blog just for fun?

My blog has certainly helped me professionally. It has boosted my status as a professional writer and I have other writers following my blog that I feel so honoured by.

4. How long have you been blogging?

I started this blog in November 2010.

5. What state or country do you live in?

I live in Exeter, in Devon, in the UK.

6. What is your favorite hobby?

Writing of course, I adore it from head to toe and back again.

7. What is your favorite type of food?

I like Thai food, if I can get the place serving it to cater for my allergies. East St Thai restaurant in London is good at doing this for me. I also like Chinese food and the same thing applies.

8. Do you have a pet? If so, what type?

I have four extremely beautiful guineapigs who live indoors with me. Snuggles, Peaches, Daisy and Cinnamon.

9. What is your favorite book?

Childrens’ – I like the Gruffalo and all Mr Men and Little Miss books
Writing – How to Write a How To book
Business – How to Start and Run Your Own Internet Business

10. What is your favorite movie?

I like the dance movie “You’ve Got Served”, Dirty Dancing and Grease.

11. What is your favorite thing to do when you have free time?

Write
Go to the cinema
Spend time cuddling my guineapigs
See family and friends

It’s now my turn to nominate 11 blogs to win the Liebster Award:

http://thewhyaboutthis.com

http://inspireyourbusiness.wordpress.com

http://suewestwood.wordpress.com

http://shras789.wordpress.com

http://inspire1life.com

http://storiesbyclairevioletthorpe.wordpress.com

http://jessicaschaubbooks.com

http://diedreblake.wordpress.com

http://bookmust.wordpress.com

http://mjwrightnz.wordpress.com

http://www.feelgoodtribe.com

I need to ask all the nominees above, to please tell me a bit more about yourselves by answering the 11 questions below:

What first inspired you to start writing a blog?
What is the biggest challenge you have ever had to face when writing your blog?
If you travelled through time, what time would you want to arrive at and why?
Do you prefer to eat chocolate or sweets (or neither)?
Do you prefer to read or to write?
What is your favourite genre of writing and why?
What is your favourite non-fiction topic to read about and why?
If you could buy one book that would help you to solve a problem in your life, what would it be and why?
Do you prefer to write at night or during the day?
If you could be any character out of any book, who would you be and why?
Do you prefer to read a printed book or an e-Book?

Congratulations to all the nominees, I can’t wait to see your answers and which 11 blogs you have chosen to nominate.

Write soon

Sandra

Write-A-Thon Winner?

Hi Everyone

We have had an amazing 57 entries to the win a signed copy of Write-A-Thon competition, written by Rochelle Melander. In order to select a winner fairly, I let Rafflecopter make the decision by choosing a winner at random.

And the winner is ———– Amy O. Who answered the question, “What does writing mean to you?”

Amy’s answer: “It means I get to say what I want, when I want, however I want, and as often as I want.”

I thought her answer was great because I could relate to it myself, although I would probably have added “and no one can tell me I can’t.”

Some of the other answers were:

“Writing is how I express ideas and opinions that come to me and communicate them to others, using my words to make them feel what I felt while writing.”

“Writing is my ticket to sanity after a long day of classes and work. It’s how I blow off steam and stay calm. It is my safe haven.”

“Writing is leaving a legacy.”

“It’s a way to talk back to the world, to express what I see and feel and understand in a way that can move others.”

“Everything! Without writing I’m not sure I could consider myself sane, there are plot lines and character quotes roaming around my head that keep telling me I must be written. ”

“A way to put my overactive brain to good use. In other words, everything. An enormous thanks to everyone who has taken part.”

All entries have been amazing and it has been wonderful to read your comments, see your Likes and to interact with all of you.”

Write soon

Sandra

A is for Appreciation of your reader (A-Z of writing)

Hi Everyone

Welcome to your A-Z of writing.

Over the coming weeks, I will be going through the A-Z of writing, giving hints, tips, information and advice on writing. Each post will start with a new alphabet letter, in sequence. I have just completed a Level 4 IAG Diploma. (Information, Advice and Guidance.) So lets see if I can put into practice, what I have learnt.

A is for appreciation of your reader. If it wasn’t for them, your audience, you would not be able to light up their life with your creative genius.

It is very important to: