Bloggers

The Lessons of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta

Well folks, did you learn anything THIS week?!?!  Of coooourse you didn’t!  Why?  Because that ish isn’t reaaal (hee hee)!  Regardless of the fakery, once again, I was able to snag some lessons that we could all learn from.  Check them out:

1.  If you name your kid “Stevie J,” #2 and #3 will more than likely define their path and they’ll look like this:

Aaaaaaand like this:

And bite you like THIS:

2.  If you got to therapy with your baby daddy and his side chic, you’ll have to watch him wipe sweat off of her nose.

3.  If your baby daddy’s side chic finds out he hasn’t been faithful to her either, your a$$ better bob and weave because she’s going to start swinging (something you should have done already)!

4.  If you do vagina exercises now, you will have that snapper in your 40’s that will cause a man to buy you diamonds after less than a month of dating (and all you have to buy him is a fake metal puzzle piece to carry around his neck)!

5.  Don’t ever be surprised when your ex drops a mixtape, has a release party, doesn’t invite you and instead brings his new jumpoff (after all, he did take his couches back when he moved out!).

6.  Being on a show called, “Love & Hip Hop” when you’re an R&B singer may offer some insight as to why you aren’t further along in your career (but we thank you for being such a great friend to everyone!).

7. Going to see a therapist that says, “WHAT THE HELLLL WAS THAT?!?!” or “Look at the bottom of your shoe…you’ve stepped in something again” may not be the best life choice lol.

***

The foolery has us entertained if nothing else…who knows why I subject myself to this madness.  Oh, wait…I know why…because it makes my life look somewhat normal lol!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

B.B.M.: Grammar is YOUR Friend!

Welcome back for another installment of, Become a Blogger Mondays!  It’s amazing that you’ve found your site and are starting to pick which topics to blog about.  This is a very exciting time; trust me, I know!  However it’s always important to stick with the basics when it comes to writing.  A little grammar can go a long way *wink*…again, trust me…I know!

There are certain pet peeves I secretly contain within my mind and it is NOT easy turning the other way when I see poorly written posts (remember my interview with blogger, Jasmine the Brand?).  Ever go to a site that has the BEST design, great topics of discussion, great interviews, etc., but when you get into the “meat” of the post, you can barely comprehend it?  You feel my pain (I know you do!).  It’s like looking at a pretty car that’s all scratched up; you have to ask yourself, “why even bother buying that piece of crap?”  Well, that’s how I feel about improper grammar on blogs!  In this day and age, there is no reason for poorly written sentences, lack of punctuation, horrible spelling…you get the picture.  Look, we ALL make mistakes, but eventually you need to be proud of the work you put out to the world and bad grammar should NOT be a consistent mishap when writing.  So, rather than slap your hand with a ruler and take recess away from you offenders, I’m going to give you some pointers that have helped me in doing a pretty good job with proper grammar!

1.  Always, always, always PROOF your work before publishing it.

It only takes a few minutes to go back and re-read your post; it’s really not that bad.  I’m actually obsessed with going over my work before you lovely people get a chance to read it (maybe that’s the English major in me).

2.  Have a friend read your post for you.

I have the luxury of being able to send my work to a close friend (who is also a grammar Nazi…worse than me!) before I publish a post.  Another set of eyes can never hurt and they may also be able to catch things that you missed as a result of staring at the same screen for a long period of time.

3.  Always use spell check as a FINAL step.

I say “FINAL” because proofing is still the most effective way to catch major grammatical errors.  Spell check is just the easy way out!

4.  Make sure your computer is set up to highlight incorrect words, punctuation, fragments, etc.

This is self explanatory…just do it!

5.  Read more!

Most people might not think to do this, but reading more can actually help you in a lot of ways.  It will not only increase your vocabulary, but it will also provide repetition in reading proper sentence formations.  Of course, this all depends on what you choose to read, but you get what I’m trying to say.

***

I hope you’ve learned something useful today!  Remember, it’s very important to pay attention to GRAMMAR!  Take pride in your work because there’s no quicker way to lose credibility than to sound like a 3rd grader through your writing.  If I see nothing but typos on a site, I won’t even finish reading the post.  I will automatically stop taking the blogger/writer seriously.

Come back next week for, Become a Blogger Mondays…not sure what I’m going to discuss yet, but that’s the beauty of having my own site!  I get to do what I want, BIATCH!  Did you catch me spell that cuss word wrong?  Good!  You’re learning already!  But, there are effective ways to use improper grammar after all…did I just confuse you?  GOOD!  Adios, Dreamers!

4 CommentsLeave a comment

B.B.M…What the HECK Should I Blog About?!

Welcome back for another week of, “BECOME A BLOGGER MONDAYS”!!!

By now you’ve decided that blogging is for you and you have chosen which site is best for you as well.  Ok, so now comes the FUN part!  You get to write about ANYthing!  When I first started writing I didn’t know exactly what I’d be sharing with the world, but I knew the message I wanted to get across.  Here are some helpful tips on HOW to decide what to write about:

1. Know the reason WHY you want to blog.

For me, the reason was simple…I wanted to inspire others.  Just tap into what motivates you and that’s the first step to your success.

2.  Figure out what you want your end result to be.

Some people blog for their business, others want to make money on the side and some just do it for the fun of it all.  So, whether you want to use your “stage” as a means to an end or to simply document an online journal, you must decipher what you ultimately want to see happen with your blog.  Knowing this will allow you to further hone in on what you want to focus on.

3.  Make it FUN!

When I say this, it’s more for you, rather than your readers.  Of course, you want to captivate your audience, but if you don’t enjoy what you’re writing about then no one will. 

4. Be diverse in your topics.

Starting out, you’re going to want to be consistent in your topics; this will help form your target audience.  BUT! BUT! BUT! Every once in a while, it will be nice for your readers to see a different side of you, i.e. if you’re serious then make it funny, if you’re funny then maybe write about a more serious/personal topic.  Diversity will help expand past your target audience!  One thing that I do often is reach out to my readers.  I ask them what they want to read about, I ask them their thoughts on my topics of discussion and most importantly, I open myself up for constructive criticism.

Whatever you choose to share with the world, is all up to you!  Remain true to what you know and the rest will fall into place.  Happy BLOGGING everyone!  Make sure to come back next Monday when I discuss, “Grammar is YOUR Friend!!!”

2 CommentsLeave a comment

B.B.M. (Become a Blogger Mondays) Which Site is Right for You?!

Welcome back to B.B.M.!  Last week I discussed how to decide if blogging was right for you and seeing as though you’ve come back for a second week, that means you’re ready to begin your blogging journey (which makes me so happy).  So, let’s jump right in and get down to business!

Of course the next big step is to find a site to call home.  Now, if you are anything like I was, you will have no clue how to make this decision.  Here are the steps that I took in finding a site that was just right for me:

1. I opened my mouth to ask questions.

Sometimes it can be intimidating to ask the most basic questions, but you will find that it is often the best option.  Ask around and see what other bloggers are doing.  You may even find it helpful to ask people with a tech background (which is what I did) to see which sites are user-friendly and offer the best features.

2. Google became my friend!

Pretty much anything that you need to research can be found online…information is right at your fingertips.  Any and everything that I could think of, I researched, i.e. types of blogs, did I like blogs with or without a lot of pictures?, did I skip over sites with a lot of writing?, colors, etc.  By looking at what others are doing, you can really begin to shape ideas for your site, which means you can target one that is right for you.

3. I was honest about my likes and dislikes.

While you continue your research, pay attention to what catches your eye (and not just the obvious details).  It may make sense to ask a friend if you can take a “tour” of their site to see how it works “behind the scenes”.  There are certain features that I like about my site, that I didn’t find elsewhere.  For example, I love that WordPress is really “professional” and up-to-date.  They take the time to help new users and they constantly update layout themes, add-ons, widgets, etc. for the regulars who want something new.  If I have any questions, I can always ask a WordPress staff member and I can also search through forums for answers to ALL of my questions.  Of course, other sites offer things that I don’t get with WordPress, but when I weigh the pros and cons, I know I’ve chosen wisely.  So, before you go signing up, make sure you are critical of your options!

4. Just make a choice…I did!

If after all of this, you still aren’t sure which site is best for you, then just pick ONE!  What’s the worse that can happen? You don’t like it?  TIP: When I first signed up with WordPress, I didn’t make my site live right away.  I played around with different layout themes and I practiced writing new posts.  I learned how to do the simple things like loading an image or creating tags (something you’ll learn more about).  Have fun with the decision-making process!

I hope you’ve found this helpful and be sure to come back next Monday when I discuss: What the Heck Should I Blog About?

0 CommentsLeave a comment

B.B.M.= Become a Blogger Mondays!!!

I love to write.  I love to share stories about people who are on their grind and fighting to make their dreams come true.  I even share my own stories of personal triumph (because I know you really care)!  After speaking with a friend, I realized that a lot of what I talk about—although very uplifting—can sometimes be so serious that you don’t get to see my lighthearted side.  So, in LIGHT of my fame and success (haha), I’ve decided to begin a series (Become a Blogger Mondays) that highlights exactly what I do, how I got here, the things that have helped me along the way, tips I’ve gathered from other bloggers and anything else I can think of to help YOU become a blogger!

This week’s topic: “How Do You Decide to Start Blogging?”

1. Be honest with yourself. Can you even write?

-I believe in putting your mind to anything, but you must also be realistic with yourself.  A major part of any blog site is, in fact, WRITING!  Of course, there’s interactive portions and pictures and whatnot, but at some point…you will have to express what’s in your mind through words and unless you plan to have a ghost writer (which some bloggers have), you should decide whether this is right for you and if it is, then put your best foot forward.  

2. Do you have anything to blog about?

-There are SO many types of blogs out there! You have travelers, crafters, advice columnists, financial advisers, chefs, fashion gurus, etc.  You can pretty much BLOG about anything, but I suggest making sure it’s something you can stick with and obtain longevity in.  If you don’t enjoy what you are sharing with the world, how can you expect others to buy into what you’re talking about?

3. Is this something you are going to be able to keep up with?

-The idea of starting something new is [almost] always fun and exciting at first, but as we know, starting something for the first time is often like a relationship.  You get butterflies, you hang out, you talk all the time, etc. and then after the honeymoon period, you’re sometimes bored!  Think of your new venture like a marriage…am I in this for the long haul?  Of course it’s your choice to start something new and not finish it, but what about your readers/followers who enjoy reading what you write about? Are you just going to leave them hanging when you decide you’ve had enough? No bueno!

4. Are you ready for the world to see YOU?

-No matter how personal or impersonal your blog site may be, you must always realize…it is for the world to see (of course once you’ve decided to make your site public).  You must also realize, as with anything in life, you cannot please everyone.  There will be negative feedback, naysayers and even people who may directly tell you what they don’t like!  This comes along with the territory, so having thick skin is key.  Getting past this realization was easy for me because I love what I do and I learn something new everyday.

Example: I had someone tell me that my blog needed to be more controversial and I needed to talk about the juicy/dirty stuff with celebrities in order for me to see success.  How did I handle this feedback?  Well, for starters it was hard to take their words seriously since they weren’t offering an educated opinion.  They rarely read my site.  Secondly, everyone is entitled to their opinion!  I believe in what I do and I’m confident in my work.  Take the good with the bad and keep it moving!


Tidbit: This all started by acknowledging my talents! I thought there was a special formula to discovering what I was good at, but I soon realized that my dream/passion was staring me DEAD in the face for years!  Sometimes we often overlook the thing we have been seeking the most because it is the simplest option (message!).

I hope I’ve helped in some way!  If you have questions, leave a comment below and I also welcome other bloggers to offer their ideas on how they decided that blogging was for them!  HAPPY WRITING and join me next week when I discuss
“Which Blog Site is Right for You?”!!!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

ILLUMINATING Blogger Award!

I had the honor of receiving another award for my blog, YIPPEE!!!  It completely caught me by surprise, being as though I didn’t know the person who nominated me.  That just goes to show, PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO ME and I LOOOOVE attention.  I am the recipient of the Illuminating Blogger Award and it came with this lovely message:

I love reading your site so I’ve nominated you for the Illuminating Blogger Award for illuminating, informative blog content. You can check out the details at my site …

What an amazing surprise, especially since I work SO hard on my site! This really supports the old adage that hard work truly pays off.  So, what now?  The rules are simple:

1. The nominee should visit the award site (http://foodstoriesblog.com/illuminating-blogger-award/) and leave a comment indicating that they have been nominated and by whom. (This step is so important because it’s the only way that we can create a blogroll of award winners).
2. The Nominee should thank the person that nominated them by posting & including a link to their blog.
3. Share one random thing about yourself in your blog post.
4. Select at least five other bloggers that you enjoy reading their illuminating, informative posts and nominate them for the award.
5. Notify your  nominees by leaving a comment on their blog, including a link to the award site (http://foodstoriesblog.com/illuminating-blogger-award/).



If you are one of the lucky bloggers that I nominate for this nifty award, be sure to follow the above list.  Congrats to all fellow recipients and happy blogging!  Feel free to snag this image for your post as well!

2 CommentsLeave a comment