This Past Year: Looking Back on 2016

It's been one year.

And it's been a long year, at that.

2016 is over by midnight tonight. For a moment, I want to reflect back on the past year in three categories:

Writing

Blogging

Life

(Pictures from Pinterest)

Writing 

This has been a huge year writing for me. I've grown so much in skill and in figuring out where I want to go with it. Here are some notable times/things that happened:

January 2016: I finished typing the first draft of Survivor, the third book in my trilogy. That was the first time I'd gotten an entire series from notebook to Word-Doc.

Read More >>

The Christmas Post

Hey everyone! How had your month been so far? Mine has just flown by. I looked at the calendar the other day and thought "no way, Christmas is only a few days away?!?" 

And today is also the first day of winter! (Unless you're in a different part of the world, in which it's probably something different ;-) )

(Pictures from Pinterest)

Read More >>

Now Is The Time

 

What do you think of when the word gift comes to mind? Piles of wrapped packages? Multi-colored paper under a Christmas tree? A smile when you need it?

I think we all forget that we are given one of the greatest, most beautiful gifts of all time with every breath we take:

This moment.

(Pictures from Pinterest)

Read More >>

Dear Word-Doc: What We Wish We Could Tell Our Office-Writers

('Cause I've wanted to do one of these ever since I started blogging XD)

The holidays are nearing. Whether we're eagerly awaiting for relatives to arrive or writing letters to faraway ones, now is the time of year when family and friends are often on our mind. The end of the year is nearing, and even with Thanksgiving over, we still find time to thank them for all they've done in our lives and for just being here.

So I thought this would be the perfect time to give a shout-out to our best friends, our encouraging companions who are there through every writing project we do, whether we call ourselves a novelist or not.

Our Word-docs.

Whether you use LibreOffice or Microsoft-Office or something I can't name, almost all writers (unless you use Scrivener or something like that) spend hours every week using a program like this. They all have their issues, and now, after Nanowrimo, I thought it would be a good time to write our lovely Office-writers a letter.

So....

Dear Word-Doc.... 

(Pictures from Pinterest. Yes, I know what a typewriter is XD)

Read More >>

Blogging Updates

I know. Posts three days in a row :P This is more a news one though:

Blog Makeover

Yes! It's finally time! I've been having a lot of problems with this current theme, so I'm planning to upgrade to one I can customize. Meaning I'll be getting a new header and new fonts and change the entire look of my blog. *happiness*

I'm planning to make the big move between Monday and Thursday. So if you happen to stop by during that time and see strangely shaped pictures and random "this is a test" posts, know that I'm working away behind the scenes.

I'm also updating my pages with this makeover, so any comments on them won't be around any longer as I create new pages :( I wish I could transfer them, but I've been having a lot of problems with line spacing and formatting lately. Hopefully, this switch will help with that :)

Read More >>

The Rebelution

I am a rebelutionary.

What does that mean? You've seen me describe myself as that and probably wondered if I made the word up.

It is made up. Just not by me.

Years ago, two brothers named Alex and Brett Harris started blogging about young people rebelling against low expectations. That's what a rebelutionary is: a young person who goes above and beyond what is expected for the glory of God.

I don't label myself as this to brag. It's become such a big part of who I am and my writing. Today, I'm going to share that story with you.

(Pictures from Pinterest)(No, that's not me :P)

Read More >>

Follow Friday (1)

I just found out about something called Follow Friday. Check it out here and here. It's a wonderful way to get more followers and find new blogs!

I copied and pasted some of the rules onto this page, but you can get more on one of the hosts' websites


 

HOW DOES THE #FF WORK?

• The goal is to increase blog followers, make friends and have something to post.
• You create your own post using the post prompt.
• You leave your link and thumbnail in the linky list that links back to your post prompt.
• Once you have your post up and linked, visit other posts and tell them hi. The point is to FOLLOW them not just comment.
• If you see a post that just hit it to the moon, or just want to show appreciation to a fellow blogger friend, like their name on the linky list to show some appreciation.
• The person with the most likes gets chosen as the next Feature (you can be chosen every 90 days unless we are in need of features)
• It is required that if you participate that you have to follow the FEATURE. It is a big no-no to participate and ignore the feature. They are the special snowflake in this little blizzard.
• As a participant it is up to your discretion on how you want people to follow. Please post RSS, GFC etc if you have a follow of choice.

Specific RULES

• Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
• Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
• If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followedFollow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
• Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”

If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers

  
THIS WEEK'S POST PROMPT:

What is your favorite book with a "winter" world? 

MY ANSWER:

Wow, I haven't read any books with a completely winter world! I think the closest I can get is Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Picture from Amazon

 

 

<3

- Audrey Caylin