Why Do So Many Keywords Visit My Blog?
June 30, 2010 by Lillie
As anyone who has looked around this blog knows, I love comments and commenters. Leave a comment, and you will get a PR4 DoFollow link. You can include keywords along with your name using KeywordLuv. Your last blog post will be shown by CommentLuv. And at the end of the month, you’ll get another link in the monthly thank-you to commenters.
All I ask in return, as spelled out in my comment policy, is that you leave a relevant comment, link to a site that is appropriate for my audience, and leave a name or nickname.
Yet every day, I send several otherwise legitimate comments to spam because there is only a keyword phrase rather than a name in the name field. Obvious spam doesn’t bother me as much as relevant comments left by keywords.
The commenters can read and write. They read the posts and respond appropriately. Why won’t they read the comment policy, which is not only spelled out on the comment page but also both above and below the name field in the comment box?
Any suggestions on what else I can do so I can approve more comments rather than sending them to spam?
Added as a result of comments: Be sure to read the comments. Here are a couple of highlights:
- People may be missing the comment policy because of “selective attention,” explained by Dave in a comment with a link to a fascinating demonstration in a video.
- Commenters may not understand how KeywordLuv works. They may think their name appears in the link, and they want a keyword link only. What they don’t realize is if they leave their name and keywords as instructed, they will get a link of the keywords only. Of course, trying to get by with doing what they want rather than what I ask shows they don’t have much respect for my policy, so I don’t hesitate to mark their comment spam.
There is a great conversation taking place in comments. Join in!
Writing, Health, and Well-Being
June 28, 2010 by Lillie
Joanna Paterson at Confident Writing asked the question, “Can writing keep us well?” She’s running a group writing project through the month of July and invites bloggers to post about writing, health, and well-being.
As I described in a post about my love affair with writing, I always dreamed of writing “someday,” but it took a stroke to motivate me to actually start. While I was still recovering, I started a romance novel—about a woman who had a stroke. Although the story was fiction, many of the heroine’s experiences were things that had happened to me.
I owned an interior landscape company with more than a dozen employees. My brother and my sister worked for me as department managers, and with the help of my husband Jack, they kept the business functioning during the time I was hospitalized. Since I was the only salesperson, however, no new business came in while I was out. As we lost accounts through normal attrition, income was down, but expenses were up.
After I was released from the rehabilitation hospital, I returned to work immediately though I was still going through therapy several days a week. I was still in a wheelchair and had little stamina. My doctor said, “Normally I would never allow a patient who had suffered a stroke as severe as yours to go back to work so soon. But in your case, working will be be better for you than staying idle.”
The combination of the financial situation of the company and my physical condition made me wonder if I could rebuild the business. Of course, I had to appear confident in front of my employees and customers. If I had shown my doubts, they would have lost confidence—workers would have looked for more secure jobs and clients would have looked for a more reliable vendor.
My husband was supportive, but he never took my doubts seriously because he always knew both the business and I would recover.
So all my doubts and worries and frustrations went into my story. As I wrote about Debbie finding it difficult to muster enough energy to supervise employees, call on customers, and solicit new business, I seemed to gain strength to do those tasks. As I shared Debbie’s fear that she would fail, I became more confident that I would succeed. As I wrote the happy ending to Debbie’s story, I envisioned my own happy ending.
Most of my employees were avid romance readers—even the tough-looking mountain man who was our installer. We had been sharing books for years, so when my novel was published, everyone was eager to read it.
When they did, they all expressed surprise in statements such as:
- “Were you really that worried that the business would fail?’
- “I never realized how hard it was for you in those early days.”
- “You mean you really went through all that?”
It amused me when they couldn’t tell which events in the story were my real experiences and which were ones I invented.
I am profoundly grateful for the therapy of writing, which hastened my emotional recovery and quite possibly my physical recovery. Several times, I have re-read parts of Stroke of Luck and thought I should really revise it. I’m a much better writer now—at least I hope so!—and I can see much room for improvement. But the book came from my heart and filled a need in my life when I wrote it. Revising it would be like negating its healing experience.
So, in answer to Joanna’s question, I say: Yes, writing can not only keep us well—it can even bring healing.
My Reviews at Goodreads
June 25, 2010 by Lillie
Not only do I enjoy helping authors promote their work, but I like to introduce readers to authors and books they may not know about. One way I do both of these things is writing book reviews. Primarily, I review self-published books or books from small press publishers here on my blog. However, I share many more reviews at Goodreads.
If you’re a member of Goodreads, I hope you’ll add me to your friends. Whether you’re a member or not, you can see all the books I’ve reviewed by clicking on my “read” bookshelf on my Goodreads profile. Although I haven’t reviewed every book on the shelf, I have rated them all and have reviewed (at least briefly) everything I’ve read since I joined Goodreads. Hope you enjoy discovering my favorite books.
Resources for Writers
June 22, 2010 by Lillie
Recently, I have come across several blog posts listing resources for writers. Although I may not agree with every item on all the lists, I promise you will find some useful resources in the posts.
- 50 Books Every Writer Must Read
- 100 Free and Useful Web Apps for Writers
- Exploring: Web Resources for Writers
- The Most Helpful Resources Available for Proofreading, Grammar, and Writing
- Ultimate Style Guide Resources
And don’t forget my Resources for Writers and Reference Resources pages. Writers may also be interested in Resources for Readers, as many of the places for readers to find books and authors can be good places for authors to list their books.
Do you have any favorite resources that I haven’t included? Leave your suggestions in comments. I’m always eager to update my resource pages.
Memories of My Father
June 20, 2010 by Lillie
Today on Father’s Day, I’m remembering my father. He’s been in Heaven for 15 years now, but I still miss him.
He was born on a farm near the small town of Dilley, Texas, and lived there his entire life except for the time he served in the Army and the time he spent in a nursing home at the end of his life.
He met my mother when he was stationed in Utah during World War II. She followed him to Texas, far away from home and family, and gave up her Mormon religion to join him as a member of the Methodist Church. They raised six children with little money but plenty of love, faith, hard work, and commitment. Their lives revolved around their children, and they set excellent examples as Christian parents, friends, and neighbors.
Daddy had a great sense of humor, and I loved the mischievous grin he sported so often.
Although he had only a high school education, Daddy was one of the smartest people I’ve ever met and was a whiz at math. He could work any problem in his head, but he couldn’t tell you how he arrived at the answer. As a kid, I used to test him by asking him to solve a problem and checking his answer on a calculator. Daddy always answered before the calculator processed the problem, and his answer was always right. When I asked him how he knew the answer, he said, “That’s just what it is.”
He prided himself on being independent and self-sufficient. To provide for his family, he worked for the post office in addition to running the farm. He grew our food—produce from the garden and meat from the livestock—and could repair anything with a little baling wire or duct tape.
One Sunday morning, Mama found Daddy standing in front of the mirror in the bedroom holding his tie and looking confused. He couldn’t remember how to tie a tie, though he had worn a tie to church every Sunday for decades. Then he was presiding as commander of the American Legion and became lost and didn’t know what he was doing. Those were the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. After he suffered a heart attack on Father’s Day, the Alzheimer’s accelerated dramatically.
We watched this once bright, independent, and happy man deteriorate mentally and physically over the next seven years. My mother cared for him at home with the help of paid caregivers, my sisters, nieces and nephews, and me. Finally it reached the point that he required more care than could be provided at home, and he had to go to a nursing home. The nearest facility that could accommodate his needs was about an hour away For the last few months of his life, he lay in a bed—unable to control his bodily functions, unable to communicate, and unable to recognize loved ones.
He loved his farm and his cattle and had always wanted to die in the same place he was born. When the nursing staff notified us the end was near—probably within a few hours, my mother, sisters, and I rushed to the nursing home. One of my sisters and her husband had a van with a wheelchair lift for my niece. We strapped Daddy into a wheelchair and loaded him in the van to drive to the farm, praying all the way that he would live long enough to die on his beloved farm.
When we arrived at the farm, he fought my brother-in-law and nephews when they carried him into the house. He had the look in his eyes of a trapped animal, a look of fear that had been in his eyes for years. We got him into the house and into bed in my parents’ bedroom, which had windows all around the two outside walls.
My mother, sisters, nephews and nieces, and I took turns sitting with Daddy. We held his hand. We told him we loved him. We described what we saw outside the windows—the fields, the cattle, the sunshine. We let him know that he would never be alone. Gradually that trapped animal look left his eyes, and his eyes and face filled with a beautiful look of incredible peace.
We brought him home from the nursing home on a Tuesday morning, and he was still living Friday evening. The last time I sat with him, I said, “Daddy, we love you, and we’ll miss you when you go. But you’ve done your life’s work, and it’s time for you to go home to Heaven. You don’t have to worry about Mama. We’ll take good care of her just like you’ve taken good care of her and all of us. We’ll always miss you, and we’ll always love you.” I continued in that vein for quite a while.
In the very early hours of the next morning, he slipped away quietly and went home to the Lord.
Happy Father’s Day, Daddy. I miss you!
I shared memories of my mother on Mother’s Day and memories of both of my parents on the fifth anniversary of my mother’s death.
Thanks to May 2010 Commenters
June 18, 2010 by Lillie
Five Christian Writers Who Left Their Mark: Guest Post by Louise Baker
June 16, 2010 by Lillie
It is no coincidence that the first book printed after the development of the printing press was a copy of the Bible. Christian thought on a wide scale has long been influenced by key Christian writers. These authors have left their mark on Christian culture and philosophy through their published works.
1. C.S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis was a British professor and novelist known especially for his science fiction series, The Chronicles of Narnia. Lewis lived from 1989 to 1963, and many of his writing reflect the wartime era in which he wrote. Although he wrote in his own autobiography that he became an atheist at the age of 15, he was later turned to Christianity through the influence of his friend and Oxford colleague J.R.R Tolkien, as well as other famous Christian authors including George MacDonald and G.K. Chesterton. He left his mark on Christian literature with his books on Christian apologetics, including Mere Christianity, which offers a reasoned and logical case for the truth of his faith.
2. Billy Graham
Billy Graham is a Southern Baptist preacher who has been a spiritual adviser to 12 American presidents. He has authored dozens of books, including The Secret of Happiness, Angels: God’s Secret Agents, and his own autobiography. He has left his mark as a television preacher and prison crusader. He is a much-admired man who fought for civil rights and has the ability to transcend national politics.
3. Rick Warren
The pastor the California megachurch Saddleback Church hit it big in 2002 with The Purpose Driven Life. The book, which includes a 40-day personal devotional, had one of the longest runs for advice books in the history of the New York Times Best Seller list. The success of the book spurred a national movement in the United States among churches and Warren became one of the country’s most widely-recognized evangelist preachers. He even hosted a debate for the presidential candidates in 2008 on spiritual issues.
4. Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
Although these two authors have written works separately, it was their Left Behind series published in the late 1990’s that left an indelible mark on American culture. The series of 16 novels topped the bestselling lists and inspired several action films and computer games. The authors focused their writings on the “end times,” with a cast of characters left behind after the “rapture.” This stirred an interest in the study of the Bible’s eschatological writings.
5. James Dobson
This founder of the organization Focus on the Family has left his mark as an evangelical leader and Christian author. His views have become widespread through his writings on traditional marriage and child discipline. He has been an outspoken supporter of conservative politics.
Byline:
When she’s not rereading the Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis, Louise Baker is writing about online schools for Zen College Life, a directory of higher education. She most recently wrote about the best accredited online colleges.
Flag Day 2010
June 14, 2010 by Lillie
4 Years and 800 Posts!
June 11, 2010 by Lillie
Four years ago today, I wrote my first blog post. Actually I was so excited about blogging that I wrote half a dozen short posts that day.
Although I started out with the intention of blogging about writing, I soon discovered that I wanted my blog to be fun, so I write about whatever interests me at the moment. Writing, editing, and publishing advice are still major topics, and I’ve added book reviews and author interviews.
The most popular posts are listed in the sidebar, and you can check out posts by category in my category archives. I also like to write series of posts, which you can find on the series and related posts page. You can see the evolution of the blog through the years by reviewing the archives by month.
As I looked forward to the blog’s fourth birthday, I noticed that another milestone was also approaching. I was very close to 800 posts. So for the last three weeks, I’ve posted four times a week instead of three, and voila: post #800 appears four years after post #1.
I could quote other statistics, such as 14,000+ real comments and 285,000 spam comments. However, the most important highlights of four years of blogging can’t be measured. The friends I’ve made, the things I’ve learned, the fun I’ve had have made the past four years a delight. I look forward to the next four years and the next 800 posts.
To celebrate, I’ll draw four names from comments left on this post within the next week. The four winners will each win the e-book of their choice:
- romantic suspense novel Dream or Destiny
- contemporary romance novel Stroke of Luck
- contemporary romance novel Fern’s Fancies
- any one of my how-to guides: Finding Information, Preserving Memories: How to Write a Family History, or The Secrets of Fantastic Houseplants
Thanks to everyone who has visited—whether you’re a silent reader or a commenter, I appreciate you!
Leave a comment by the end of next week to be entered in the drawing for an e-book.
Added 6/19/10: At the end of one week after this was posted, there were comments from 26 commenters. Each commenter was entered only once in the drawing. The winners selected by generating random numbers at Random.org were commenters #2 (Deb), 26 (Rae), 4 (Matt), and 10 (Maggie May). The winners have been notified by e-mail. Thanks to everyone who commented!
Book Review: With God There Is Hope for Humanity
June 9, 2010 by Lillie
With God There Is Hope: Hope for Humanity
Ellen Chaksil
Tribute Books
Copyright 2007
ISBN: 978-0-979-5045-1-8
Paperback, 472 pages $17.95; Also available in electronic editions
Christian Nonfiction
I have procrastinated on this review for months, and I’m still having a hard time writing it because of my mixed reactions.
First, I greatly admire the author’s faith and her commitment to carrying out the mission she believes God gave her. She has worked on this mission for decades.
Her message about the power of prayer resonates with me, as I have experienced the power of prayer strongly in my own life as described in several posts.
On the other hand, I am confused about much of the book. She is calling the all believers to prayer, yet the focus of the book is strongly Roman Catholic. She prophesies that we need to pray for the salvation of humanity from an asteroid hitting the earth and destroying the planet. Yet her descriptions of the impending disaster are so vague that it didn’t rally me to pray about this, though others may react differently.
Much of the book describes her experiences in trying to carrying out the mission and get the book published by a New York publisher where her brother works, yet the book was self-published in the end with no explanation of what happened in the meantime. I found myself wanting to skip over the parts of the book about the journey to publication and focus on the message she was delivering.
Although I attempted to make contact with the author through her publicist, the author is apparently unavailable because of health or personal reasons so I was unable to interview her.
I was left with more questions than answers after reading this book. Others may find it more understandable than I did. In spite of not understanding much about the book, I came away with a respect for a woman who lives out her faith and promotes the power of prayer.
Disclosure: I received an electronic copy of the book from the publisher. I have not accepted any compensation for this review and made no commitment to give a favorable review. The links to Amazon.com and Smashwords are affiliate links.
