This is the first blog on my new website and the last blog on my old website. It is necessary to post on my new site due to the lack of available space on my original book website www.randidward.com. The new website for those of you following me and reading my blogs now is http://world-gate.net/randi. This new site was generously created for me by my dear Egyptian friend Sameh Khaled.
First of all, I want to express my deepest and most sincere appreciation to those of you who have sent such wonderful comments about many of my blogs. You truly touched my heart. Thank you so much. I hope and pray you will continue to enjoy and to learn new things from reading my future blogs. I spend much time creating them and trying to make them worth reading.
I will briefly discuss the history of my previous blogs. The first twenty were about my book Because I Believed in Me (My Egyptian Fantasy Came True). I wanted to explain in detail how teaching in Egypt during the revolutionary period in 2011 and 2012 and living among incredible Egyptian people transformed my life. I was reborn in many ways. I then decided to vary my topics—some were written about my family and my home but many were written to inspire and to teach. I included topics about writing and publishing a book for want-to-be new authors, about international travel and other cultures, about little known information about some international holidays, etc. Some of my blogs even included my poems. Where possible and necessary, I included the links to my Youtube videos and/or websites related to the topic of the blog. I love photography so I always included photos and pictures to enhance the blog. Many of the photos were ones that were actually taken by me.
Some of the responses from my blog readers included questions about setting up a blog site. First, many sites are available. Just google free blog sites, and you will discover this. I have been using Word Press because my publisher Author House created my first website. I will admit that I have not always been pleased with trying to use it. It would take me sometimes one hour to insert one picture because of issues the company has had since it was hacked months ago. It took much patience on my part, but I just kept persevering until I got each blog created to my satisfaction. I always write the text in Microsoft Word, and then just copy and paste it on the blog. However, the photos have to be inserted on the blog itself.
Secondly, I spend hours brainstorming for topics of interest to me that I also feel will interest readers. As a retired Language Arts/English teacher, I know exactly how to find additional information if needed and do some research on topics that need this before I write my blogs. When I write about things that are of interest to me, writing is a joy—not difficult work. So be sure you pick topics that you will enjoy. Researching and writing good blogs takes much time to do. Therefore, if you are not willing to devote the time essential to writing a good blog, then maybe other forms of writing should be considered. I was previously writing two blogs a week but now will most likely only do one. I am currently writing a new book and have other projects that require much of my time now.
Third, even though writing a blog is considered to be a less formal style of writing, I still think it is essential to use good writing skills. Check your grammar, your spelling, your sentence structure, and your choice of words. Your blogs are a reflection of you and your credibility as a reliable and honest blogger. I personally always strive to make my blogs appropriate reading for everyone. I never want to offend or upset anyone with anything vulgar, rude, or indecent. Thus, choose your words carefully and wisely. It is also important to be as concise as you can be. If your blog is too long, your reader may not be willing to read all of it. Be sure to use tags to draw readers to your blogs. I usually have eight to twelve as a general rule. Also make your blog’s overall appearance as attractive as possible. Finally, just relax and have fun, and eventually blogging will become easier and more and more enjoyable. I love to blog.
This website would not permit me to insert photos so go to http://world_gate.net/randi to see this blog with photos. The next blogs will be on this new website.
Randi D. Ward
March 24, 2014
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