I’ve been invited to participate in a “writing process blog tour”. Many bloggers are participating, and inviting others to join in order to create a chain effect. We have three questions about our writing to answer and pass along to others.
I was invited by Jenna Drady, who writes the blog “Love is Being Owned by a Husky”. Jenna lives in Ontario, Canada and is still fairly new to the blogging world (she’s been blogging for less than a year). She has become popular and successful very quickly, probably partly because she is such a nice person who is always doing thoughtful things for others, like making cards for everyone’s special occasions. She is one busy lady with 2 daughters, 2 stepsons, 3 dogs and 3 cats! Jenna’s goal for her blog is to “keep it real” and she does just that. She shares training tips (I’ve used her tips myself with success), recipes, adoptable pets, and many interesting stories. Her passion is huskies, so if you want to learn more about this breed, her blog is the place to go! You can click here to be taken to her post on the tour.
On to the questions:
What am I working on? I usually have more than one blog post in the works, even though much of it is often only inside my head! I’ve had a big project in the making since last fall, a memorial garden for our pets that we have lost. I’ve been taking photos of the whole process from the beginning, and am finally getting ready to share the completed project. I’m excited to share it because it’s been so important to me to create this special garden in memory of our many beloved pets that are now gone.
I’m also writing a “Summer Safety” series this month, for BlogPaws‘ Pet Safety Month and have lots of ideas stewing for that. My first post of the series was about 4th of July safety, and I also plan to cover topics such as heat related issues, swimming safety, and possibly a little more about fighting off insects, which I’ve been writing a lot about this spring and summer.
Why do I write what I do? In short, because I love animals and I enjoy writing about them. I started the blog after closing a part time pet sitting business, and I was in need of a little extra income and something to do. I wanted to continue something in the pet field and be able to work from home so I had more time with the animals. Writing about pets has been the perfect solution. In the beginning, I honestly expected the blog to be more about generic pet issues, but have found that sharing stories and photos of my own pets is what really makes me happy. I try to do a variety of personal posts as well as informative posts.
How does my writing process work? It works pretty well, considering I am mostly disorganized! I have a notebook for jotting down ideas, but they often end up on a piece of scrap paper next to my computer instead, or on my post it program on my computer. So far, coming on almost 2 years of blogging, I have not run out of ideas. Since I write some product reviews and like to join campaigns through BlogPaws, I usually have something like that on my schedule. I always have one or two cameras close by to capture unplanned photos of the pets. I plan most of my posts only about a week ahead of time.
Occasionally I will be caught up on my current ideas, and find myself at loose ends as to what to write next. That’s when I hook up one of the dogs to a leash, and head out for a walk. I have a voice recorder on my cell phone and when something comes to mind I’ll start recording notes as I walk. I’d love to be more organized, and maybe one day I’ll get back to that point. For now, my haphazard way of doing things is mostly working! The one thing I’d really like to work at is getting more of my posts done ahead of time and scheduled to go for early morning. Right now they pretty much go up when I’m done writing them, which can be any time of day!
As part of this tour, we are asked to invite three other bloggers to join in. I was only able to find two that could participate, and I’d like to tell you just a little about them:
Meet Ann who writes the blog “Pawsitively Pets”. Ann is trained as a Veterinary Technician and has worked in that field, though right now she is a stay at home Mom and a successful blogger! Ann lives in Texas with her two adorable daughters, her dog Shiner, and her two new additions to her family, dumbo- eared rats named Gus and Jack. Ann writes many informative posts about pet health, using her experience as a vet tech. She also writes product reviews and does a lot of great giveaways (I’ve won a few times on her blog). Ann has a strong interest in exotic pets and her blog is the place to go to learn more about many varieties of pets, not just dogs and cats. Click here to visit her wonderful blog!
Meet Gina and Oz who write the blog “Oz the Terrier”. Gina and I have become friends through co-hosting the WOOF (Working Out Our Fears) blog hop, sharing our stories and ideas for helping our reactive dogs. Oz is a cairn terrier mix and he lives in Florida with his Mom and his Daddy-dog (as he calls him). Oz and Gina are very active, love the outdoors, and share their adventures hiking, biking, camping and boating. Oz is also a poet, and shares some very funny limericks on the blog. Please click here to visit them!
Loved hearing about your writing. You do such a great job and I love following along with you and your gang. Can’t wait to see your finished project of your memory garden. What a lovely idea.
Thank you so much! My post on the garden is ready to go for tomorrow!
Look I’m here Bawahwhahhhaaw we need to write notes down as we are so dizorganized 🙂 We never have blog pozt’z done in advance like a lot of people. xxxoxxxxx
Mollie and Alfie
I knew you’d make it…and bright and early too (at least it was early here… 🙂
I’m glad I’m not alone in never getting ahead, and with writing lots of notes!
We’ll be over to visit you soon too!
xxxooo
Thanks again for the nomination and letting us join in! Sorry I’m late to the pawty. I don’t usually run out of ideas either, and have a whole list of things to write about. My problem is more with actually feeling in the mood to write about that particular subject at any given time. I really need to get my posts pre-scheduled too. A very long time ago, I was scheduled out a week at least in advance. Summer has really kept me busy, because I haven’t done that in quite some time now.
I do have some posts on my agenda that I keep putting off, because the subject matter is tougher, or just a bit too close to home.
A week in advance…that would be awesome! It’s definitely easier to get things done or get ahead during the winter.
I’m looking forward to your post, and I’m glad you accepted the invite to join in.
I love your idea of putting ideas and notes on your phone recorder. I just might have to steal that! Love your blog. You do a great job with it. I can’t wait to see the finished garden.
Thank you so much! My garden post is planned for Friday for the See Beautiful hop.
I don’t remember when the idea of the phone recorder came to me, but it really has come in handy….please do steal it if it helps you out too!
Glad I’m not the only disorganized one when it comes to writing my blog posts 😉 Loved reading about your process!
Thank you! And I’m glad to hear that I’m not alone being disorganized too!
Wow!!! What a wonderful write up!! Thanks so much!
I loved hearing more about your writing process! I am glad i’m not the only disorganized one!!! I have a ton of ideas in my brain all of the time as well. But if I don’t write them down, I forget a lot of them, and find myself trying desperately to recall what the heck my “great” post idea was!
Thanks so much for joining the tour, great post!!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Thank you, Jenna! I’m so glad you invited me, it was a fun post to write. One other thing I didn’t mention was all the thoughts that I have when I’m trying to fall asleep, or I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep! I should write those down too….but don’t want to turn on the light and disturb my hubby and the dogs!
I’m glad to know that its not just me with a bunch of laptop post-it notes filling my screen! I’m excited to see your Memorial garden completed! Thanks for sharing more about you. I love Ann and Gina so I can’t wait to read theirs. Mine will be posted on Friday. Please stop by for a visit. ♥
I will definitely be stopping by to read your post, Melissa! I’m hoping you are more organized than I am, and I can get some tips! 🙂
Oh…and here I thought you were super organized. BOL There is inspiration all around us which is why I love writing about camping, hiking and biking with your dog…we always come upon something new to write about when we are out and about! Now….I must start thinking about what I will write and who I will ask to join in!
I used to be far more organized when I was younger…I’m not sure what happened!
I wish I had had my blog back when we did more camping, hiking, and biking. We used to do all of those things with the dogs….also when we were younger! Now it’s mostly walks with occasional hikes. Maybe we’ll get back into it more one day.
I’m looking forward to your post and seeing who you invite!
Of course we find inspiration form our pets. We can’t wait to share our post. We were invited to join by MK 🙂 Golden Woofs
Looking forward to your post too!!
loved learning about your process!!!! Stick with what you’re doing cause it is working! “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
Thanks, Caren! I never thought of it that way, I just always thought I should be more organized. Maybe not!
Great post! You get your ideas just like Mom and I…on the road!
Thanks, Emma! There’s something about getting out in the fresh air moving that brings out our creativity I guess!
sounds like a fun tour!! I love reading how other people’s writing process work and like you some of my ideas come to me while walking my pets!
There’s just nothing like a good walk to clear the brain, right?