Things I Learned
Way back when, when I first started this blog, I had zero clue. I wrote whatever fluttered through my brain each week, and I had fun with it. Then I became a writer. I thought about my posts. Should they be more writer-like, advice-filled and smart-sounding? Maybe. Probably?
Then came publication and the need for marketing. Scary word, marketing. Just typing it fills me with dread. My throat is drying up and my fingertips are suddenly cold. I hate going to a fast food counter and asking for a refill, so imagine how much I enjoy telling readers to buy my book. If you guessed not one iota, you've guessed correctly!
Soon the blog became marketing and books became work. I'd taken what I loved and monetized it. My heart was quick to realize the mistake. Writing would never be my work. It's my treat, not my duty. I freed myself from the obligation to succeed and went back to writing for fun and it's been wonderful.
This morning I had the same thought about blogging. Prior to my laborious overthinking, I had a "My Blog, My Rules" attitude. I did whatever I wanted, and I loved blogging. So, guess what? I'm done thinking. Welcome to my world where you can expect half-baked thoughts and unsolicited, unverified advice, tips and wonderings from my wanderings. You may not enjoy it, but I will. 🤣
First up...
Frozen fish oil. As a fifty-something, I now have joint pain, so I saw a physical therapist who suggested I take fish oil.
Ugh. Awful stuff.
Pain vs. fishy burps...which do I choose???
My daughter-in-law, a genius nurse practitioner, suggested I store my fish oil in the fridge to lessen the fishy after taste. So, me being me, I put those bad boys in the freezer, froze them solid as little rocks, and it worked like a charm! I texted my DIL and told her that her advice to freeze the fish oil was spot on. She texted back that she said to refrigerate, not freeze but maybe freezing would be also be all right...
Fridge-freezer...they're side by side...practically the same thing.
Now, let's add a Bookish update...
What I'm reading!
On kindle:
Geller's Find by Sandra Cox. Sassy gal and a time-traveled hero, what's not to love?
In print...
Boy #3 and I have a mother-son book club and we've started with Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. I'm ahead of him word-wise, but he can beat the hell out of me in a mile run, so I don't brag on my superiority too much. Am I loving it? We shall see. I'm only a few chapters in.
Word Count!
You can't be a writer if you're not writing words, my brain always says.
This month's word count so far: 6,634 words.
Don't you get fish oil capsules in the US? My mum used to be given it at school in the 50s, along with neat orange cordial to take away the taste.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good word count for the month. And, yep, your blog, write what you wanna write. I try to do that, and then forget to write the posts...
PS. I'm emailing you today x
It is a capsule. Even as a capsule, it tastes awful once it settles into the tummy. I don't know why. I've been freezing the capsules.
DeleteThanks for the head's up. I'm behind in my email check-ins.
Fun post, Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteAnd excellent word count! I'm working on my novella/novel, but I'm still organizing, planning, and trying to figure out what that note I scrawled actually says.... :)
Thanks, Madeline!
DeleteI do that too. I'll find notes all over the place and wonder what in the heck was I planning with this? LOL
Good on you for finding your way back to what you love. And huge thanks for the shout out of Geller's Find. Luke and I appreciate it;) YOU have a wondrous day, my friend.
ReplyDeleteI'm at the place where the horse throws him. Funny lady!
DeleteYou're right. If it ain't fun, it's not worth doing.
ReplyDeleteIf I could only find a way to make exercise fun...
DeleteFish oil is only good in Oriental dishes.
ReplyDeleteBlob about whatever you want! I do. I love music and movies, so that's what my followers get.
Ever since I stopped thinking about what what to post, I have all kinds of ideas for posts. LOL
DeleteI'm not sure it would be good, even in my food. I always stick with the broccoli and beef and General Tso's...probably not even Asian dishes...
I so agree with you that it's important to stay in the moment and enjoy it. I hope you enjoy your new way of blogging. I enjoyed reading your post.
ReplyDeleteIt's so much easier to just be me and not try to be smart.
DeleteWhatever you do on your blog, Elizabeth, I'm happy to see you. I tend to write about whatever pops into my head, and it makes me happy. I read Madame Bovary about a million years ago and still remember it, but I don't remember if I liked it.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I always enjoy your blog as well. I think I enjoy the blogs with that add the personal touch.
DeleteFunny, I will forget plots, characters, etc and only be left with whether I liked the book or not. Sometimes, I will revisit something I thought I loved and think...wth did I like about this?
I like your attitude. It's similar to what I've decided to do with my writing. Try to enjoy the ride.
ReplyDeleteWe can take turns driving and riding shotgun.
DeleteYou’ll soon have fish oil secreting from your glands and you won’t even notice the taste any longer.
ReplyDeleteI take all my marketing advice from the wise Cosmo Kramer who once said, “You don’t sell the steak, you sell the sizzle.” As soon as I figure out what that means, I’ll share it with you.
If I ever tried to sell my sizzle, humans the world over would be traumatized. LOL
DeleteBut yeah, you learn any secrets, do share!
'Fluttered through my brain'. Love it:)
ReplyDeleteYeah, it would be nice if they came like bolts of lightning and energized me.
DeleteI totally get the fish oil. Even taken as tablets they give you a fishy taste if your burb.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for: half-baked thoughts and unsolicited, unverified advice, tips and wonderings from my wanderings.
Best. Stuff. EVER!
I take the capsules, but yeah, awful stuff. Maybe I'm eating too much with them? Who knows and who cares because freezing does work.
DeleteIf you agree that much with random thoughts, then random thoughts it is.
Bolts of lightning. That would be grand. YOU have a wondrous weekend. Hugs
ReplyDeleteSame to you!
Delete