Wordpress – By Alanna Pass

Why I am Still Blogging After Four Years

My WordPress account just renewed. Here it is- my fourth year and I am still at it. My first post was on Jan. 4, 2017. I started blogging during the aftermath of the 2016 election. At that time, I thought I could not survive the chaos, but here I am, bruised by events but not defeated. I am thankful for the companionship of my pen which has acted as a lightning rod, keeping me grounded during difficult times.

When I write down the bits of my life the unremarkable becomes remarkable. Those bits become a pathway back to myself when I get lost. Writing combs the tangled strands of my thoughts back into an orderly fashion. When I share my writing with others in a blog post it’s like leaving footprints in the universe to perhaps help others on their journey.I have shared poetry, personal stories, opinions, artwork and photography. It’s been a hodgepodge of myself.

For the most part, my blogging is a weekly practice, a Sunday morning ritual that affirms my existence. I have no master plan or theme as is advised. During the week I try to pay attention to what pops into my mind worthy to blog about. It’s an intuitive process. I don’t fret about topics. I write for myself but I’ve noticed that the posts where I stay truest to my own sensibilities get the most readers.

If you are reading this post, I am grateful for your time and attention. It’s gratifying to have readers from all over the world, sometimes from countries that I have never heard from. Today I have had readers from India, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Indonesia, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mauritius, and Malaysia. I have met some great blog friends and hope to connect with them in person some day in the non-Covid future!

If you are not a writer, I encourage you to write a few words a day. It doesn’t have to be good- but if you make it a daily practice, you will improve. It’s a journey worth pursuing. If you choose to blog- go for it. It’s much more meaningful than Facebook Meanwhile, see you on the blogosphere!

Alanna also blogs about sustainablility on onesweetearth.com

3rd Blogaversary

The Creative Process, Uncategorized

why-i-started-to-write Three years ago I started this blog to promote my artwork because that’s what “everybody” said you should do. (See “I was supposed to be Blogging About my Artwork”) I had no idea how to start a blog, nor post, and what do I write about?? I started anyway and when I got a “Like” and a “follow” on my first post I was stunned that someone actually enjoyed what I wrote!

Three years in writing a blog post is a weekly ritual. In the process, I’ve developed a love of writing and have gotten several pieces published along the way. It’s become a meditation of sorts, thinking about what’s been important to me in the week to share. The practice of blogging keeps me grounded. Some posts are better than others. Showing up is the important part. Originally I thought it would be more of a show and tell of my visual art process. My intuition told me to do otherwise and as a result, my artwork has taken a more back seat. This really is just a blog about me on the creative journey we call life.

Then there’s the takeaway from reading the blogs of others. I’ve gained a lot of perspectives just from reading about the experience of fellow bloggers and commenting on their posts.

Putting up this blog was a creative risk. Every time I post is a creative risk. But it’s with those risks we take we grow so much! Ultimately the most important thing is that my personal expression satisfies myself. I still don’t know exactly what I am doing but that is what makes it such an adventure. If you have been toying with the idea of starting your own blog, just do it. There are so many tutorials right on WordPress to help you on your way.

Soon to come this year is a second blog dedicated to tips on sustainable living. Also, I will be including some of my artwork on the bottom of posts just in case anyone is interested. Stay tuned….

“Tea Time” Ink, watercolor, & colored pencil

I was Supposed to be Blogging About My Artwork

The Creative Process, Uncategorized

Two weeks ago I received a message from WordPress…..

“Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com. You registered with WordPress.com two years ago. Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging.”

This gave me pause on the passage of time and where I’ve come since I originally set up my blog. Having failed to embrace other social media-Instagram and Facebook with enthusiasm to promote my art, the advice out there said: “you need to blog about your artwork.” Okay, I thought, let’s give that a go.

Up went my first post, The Artist Demystified” on June 4, 2017, not really about my art but it was a start. I was stunned to get one “Like” and then double stunned when I received a “follow.” Wow, somebody read and identified what I wrote. Then I found the WordPress Community Pool and the Weekly Photo & Writing Challenges (now extinct and sorely missed). Then I found other bloggers and that I really liked to write and share my writing. Then I found (again) that I really hate self-promotion just for self-promotion’s sake.

Now I’ve officially let go of the idea that my blog exists to promote my artwork since I really wasn’t doing that anyway. If someone wanders over to my Etsy shop and purchases something, fabulous, but that’s not why I’m here. Blogging has become a grounding force in my life

This is pretty much a blog about sharing my thoughts and experiences with others.

May my writing spark some resonance in my readers and bring forth some smiles through this process which I so enjoy.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BLOGGING ABOUT MY ARTWORK

You know, make a splash

With Google Analytics

Get followers

Boost sales on Etsy

I was supposed to be blogging about my artwork

But then I discovered blogging as an art form

Blogging just to blog

Sending my words out into the universe

To maybe catch hold on the edge

of some other celestial being

I was supposed to be blogging about my artwork

And then I discovered other bloggers

With their words that fed me

And then found a hold

In my celestial body

I was supposed to be blogging about my artwork

And then I discovered that I just liked to make art

…… not so much the selling

So I think I will continue to make

And I will continue to write

For no other reason than it feeds my soul

My Escape From Social Media

The Creative Process, Uncategorized

It all started with my decision to sell my artwork online. I spent hours setting up my shop on Etsy, learning how to photograph my artwork, figuring out shipping and then posting listings. Now I began the hard work of self-promotion so that my little enterprise could get found among the virtual soup that contained thousands of others.

My three new “how to” books on the subject all instructed me to start setting up social media accounts, get involved in forums, start posting, liking & commenting on a regular basis. This activity would eventually lure customers to my site, hopefully to buy.

Previous to this, as a Baby boomer I was quite happy with my life in the tangible world and saw no need to be a party to the social media craze. Nevertheless, trying to be open-minded, I set up the necessary Facebook & Instagram accounts to start and took the plunge. I started posting regularly. Unfortunately the prescribed practice of liking and commenting just to build a following seemed very sleazy to me so I dragged my feet on that. Then there were the apps that will like & share for you. Really? You can buy likes? No thanks.
Then suddenly, a Pandora’s Box of distractions was open to my brain. My somewhat ADD personality quickly became hostage to this mysterious world on the other side of the screen. I found myself constantly checking my posts & listings to see how many likes or comments they got. It was hard to tell myself from the other scrollers & tappers that were everywhere I looked. Who was this Pavlovian creature I had become?

Then recently, after over a year of this grand experiment, I realized that this whole exercise was sucking away too much time energy from my creative process. I had a few online sales but not enough to warrant all the effort. More so, my heart was just not into it & I wanted relief from the distraction.

It was an easy fix. I deleted the Facebook & Instagram apps off my phone & IPad. It took a couple of days for my mind to feel free of the social media sirens calling my name. I could be fully present again. My Instagram, Facebook & Etsy accounts are still active. The difference is that I manage them rather than them managing me. I peek in twice a week now either post &
then check for responses.

There was one social media platform that was left to me to try- blogging. About a month ago I put this blog up just to give it ago. The self- promotion goal I had for blogging instantly dissipated as I rekindled my love of self-expression through writing. What a nice surprise WordPress has been! Here is this great community of interesting people I can interact with. Now I am writing, reading, & commenting on others blogs because I want to, not because I should. This online experience continues to be meaningful in contrast to hollow exercises I had been pursuing on Facebook and Instagram.

My Etsy shop languishes as my desire for screen time has waned. Currently my internet store & social media accounts mostly serve as virtual portfolios for shows I enter. It appears that I am not cut out as an online entrepreneur. I’ve realized that selling my art in person offers me more financial & emotional rewards than the world of online commerce can offer. Back to the real world of face to face relationships & writing just for the love of writing. No regrets.

P.S. For what it’s worth, since you’re here, here are links to my social media accounts…..

Etsy

Instagram

Facebook

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