Sharing Is Inspiring

Creating,

Writing,

Connecting

Blogging and writing has burst my bubble and blown my world a little more wide open! I enjoy sharing my experiences with my readers, especially life experiences. Plus I gain NEW! perspectives when my readers share back with me their experiences. I am learning more about myself and my whole being through this experience!

1. I enjoy the sharing and the inspiration.
2. I enjoy the motivation and the engagement.
3. I enjoy the growing and the empowering.
4. I enjoy the love and the happiness.
5. I enjoy the emotional and the spiritual.
6. I enjoy the joy and the celebration.
7. I enjoy the teachable moments and the lessons.
8. I enjoy the growth and the change.
9. I enjoy the experiences and stories of adventure.
10. I enjoy the journey and the creating of our stories.

When I first started blogging I felt vulnerable and was unsure just how to put myself out there! I am glad I did it though and learned humility and humor along the way. I take it in stride and have fun with it and laugh. I love being creative and expressing my passions!

I am supportive and share myself and my experiences! I am willing to learn and gain knowledge. I am open to developing and experiencing growth. I am all for inspiring and being a positive force!

I love that my writing connects and that I am not alone in what I am experiencing! Sometimes I need a new perception or perspective. Sometimes I need those teachable moments to learn from. Sometimes I discover that I am communicating and discussing the same thing that someone else has been thinking about. It is so relatable at times!

I love reading and getting lost in a great story! I enjoy reading other blogs due to the connection and the support as well as the inspiration and making me think. For me reading, writing and photographing is so transformative to me! There is that exchange of connecting and experiencing with myself and with other people.

(Photos by RSheridan)

Why Do You Share? What Do You Experience From That Sharing? Love to Hear Your Thoughts, Please Share!

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The Writing Process

One Word At A Time . . .

I LOVE writing, especially creative writing! I receive so much pleasure from authoring my blog, Craves Adventure. My blog gives me lots of practice in writing. Who knows all that writing may produce that book I dream about one day!

The two hardest and greatest aspects of writing are . . .

1. It takes hard work to write, especially creatively.
2. It takes courage to put myself out there as a writer.

The Writing Process

First and foremost identify what you are passionate about!

Traveling

Adventuring – Hang On!

Exploring

I am passionate about traveling, adventuring and exploring. I wanted to write about my travel experiences and share those experiences with other people.

1. Prewriting
2. Writing
3. Responding
4. Revising
5. Editing
6. Publishing and/or Sharing

#1 – Prewriting

I have two favorite parts of the prewriting process. I find that inspiration that sparks my creativity and speaks to me on pretty much every level. I enjoy doing the research on a subject. Prewriting helps you identify the purpose, form and audience.

Then comes the brain dump. I dump the data and start the writing and creative process to formulate a post. I find this method most helpful in minimizing writer’s block. I find the creating part more free flowing.

#2 – Writing

The actual writing is where the organization of the post comes together. I also find my voice along with the fluency of the post.

#3 – Responding

I do a self review and evaluation of the post. I usually read through the post and then set it aside for a day or two before reading again.

#4 – Revising

Then I start the revising process of the post. I think I spend too much time in the revising process. I like to refine and reorganize the post multiple times. However, this gives the post clarification in that it reads well.

#5 – Editing

I am pretty good when it comes to the editing of post. This is when I pull the post together and add photos that help tell the story of the post.

#6 – Publishing/Sharing

I enjoy the sharing of my writing now. When I first started I struggled in putting myself out there, especially my true self. I like to take the time to create and develop my website as well as add in the social media aspects to share and reach a boarder audience of readers.

Thank You WordPress!

I love that I can schedule my posts. It really helps me in having a writing schedule to determine how many posts a week I want to publish and share.

Please Share Your Writing Process, Love to Hear!

Sharing The Wealth

Of Knowledge

I was recently asked, “Why do you blog and use social media?”. My first thought was I love blogging. My second thought was I enjoy socializing, interacting and connecting with people in general. Then I paused and realized that I like sharing with people too (within reason of course, No! TMI!!!).

I see technology as a medium to learn from each other and share with each other too! I contribute to that medium through my blog and connecting my blog to various social media applications. Every one of us learns differently and with technology there is usually a medium available for every one to learn from. Every one of us is sharing through that medium by putting information out there, reading it and/or sharing it with others.

Sit and Share Awhile

I know some great bloggers out there sharing their wealth of knowledge with others! I think about how many people watch videos online (i.e. funny, music, exercise, DIY, etc.). I think about how many people conduct internet searches to find information. I think about how many people use technology for traveling, exploring and adventuring (i.e. reservations, maps, tourist and local 411, sharing experiences, etc.).

Adventuring . . .

Just Imagine . . .

• What You Do Know?
• What You Don’t Know?
• What You Can Learn?
• What You Can Share?
• What You Can Experience
• What Makes You Dream BIG?

BIG Dreams DO Come True (Photos By RSheridan)

My ULTIMATE Favorite is Arm Chair Traveling! I love the photography that is out there to see and soak in. I enjoy a good balance between reading and visual when learning and sharing. It makes me WANT to EXPAND my world and EXPLORE and EXPERIENCE LIFE!

What Do Your Learn and Share Using Technology? Please Share, Love to Hear!!!

2013 Review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for CravesAdventure.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 10,000 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

I SOLD OUT 4 Performances – WOW WEE!!! Thanks so much to my readers, followers and commenters – Giving, Sharing and Receiving the LOVE People!!!

Of Course My MOST Popular Post was Love My Readers.

My Top 3 Attractions in 2013

1. “Isle of Chickens”
2. Travel Confessions
3. Firestone Walker Brewing Company

My Top 5 Commenters

1. Audrey – Minnesota Prairie Roots
2. Vanessa – Rant and Roll
3. Darcie – Belle of the Carnival
4. Donna – Garden Walk Garden Talk
5. Emily – Hoof Beats and Foot Prints

Please Check These Bloggers Out!!!

Happy Blogging in 2014 – Happy Adventuring EVERYONE!!!

New Series: Writing

Blogging Inspiration

What Inspires You to Blog?

My Top 3 Inspirations

1. Traveling, Exploring & Adventuring
2. Checking out other blogs and reading posts
3. Receiving feedback and kudos from my readers and followers

#1 Traveling, Exploring & Adventuring

Just getting out there and living life is INSPIRING to me! I love blogging to share my adventures with my readers and followers. I enjoy creative writing and using my photos to create a story.

#2 Checking Out Other Blogs & Reading Posts

I enjoy checking out other blogs and reading posts. It is FUN & INSPIRING! I love checking out what is NEW!

#3 Receiving Feedback

My readers and followers are GREAT! They give me feedback, kudos and support. I am AMAZED at how supportive the blogging community is and so welcoming too! Thanks to my readers and followers I continue to grow as a blogger and expand my blog to new levels.

Your feedback INSPIRES me! This feedback gives me the opportunity to expand categories as well as pages on my blog. This feedback tells me what you like and want more of as well as the creation of spin off posts. This feedback allows me to change what is not working and make it better. When I started out blogging I did it for myself and NOW I do it for my readers and followers too!

Here’s to Finding Inspiration in Every Day!!!

A Passion to Write Creatively

Started With a Desire to Read

I had a desire to read at a very young age. I wanted to soak up the words and explore the meaning behind the words. I was a very imaginative child and books let my imagaination go wild! I remember being so excited when the time came to transition from picture books to chaper books. Plus do not get me started on obtaining my very own library card for the 1st time!

I always have a book or two with me with my place marked ready to read when I have a free minute or two! I usually have a book or two in the waiting, so I am not without a book to read. Otherwise I will be reading just about anything and everything I can get my hands on. I am very much a book junkie!

I had my “ah-ha” moment reading Little Women! I wanted to be Jo so badly. First, she was a tomboy like me. Second, she was full of joy, spoke her mind and was not the most graceful. She had a bit of a wild streak that caused a little trouble in her trying to fight for her individuality, especially a girl growing into a woman in a man’s world. I could totally relate! Third, Jo loved literature, both reading and writing. Fourth, Jo pursued a literary career in New York City. I so wanted to head to the “big city” to find that studio apartment where I could spend my days reading and writing!

My desire to read turned into a passion to write creatively! If Jo could do both, so could I. I wanted more pencils and notebooks than I could use! I wanted to learn everything about writing, especially creative writing. I had a natural attraction to the written word!

Throughout the years my intensity to read has ebbed and flowed. Life was knocking the book out of my hand and hurting my nose in the process. My creative writing was put on simmer or reverted to the back burner. Life was telling my brain to engage in living life, so I could write and share about my many adventures.

Then I discovered blogging and talk about unleashing that passion to write creatively once again. I found my “big city” studio apartment where I could spend time reading and writing! I found an outlet that opened my world up. I found that place where I could let me creative imagination flow into words and posts and stories of adventure!

Living It One Word At a Time!!!

Love My Readers

At This Little Blog Called CravesAdventure

Victoria over at The Blurred Line nominated me for the Wonderful Team Member Readership Award. Check Out Her Blog – It will draw you in as well as make you think, smile and laugh! As Victoria stated “CravesAdventure. Who keeps coming back.”, however; I am like a Good Penny that shares love and luck. Thanks Victoria!

I know my readers know this, but I know I do not say it enough. Love My Readers! Thanks for reading, commenting, supporting, cheering, believing, inspiring . . . My Readers Truly Feed Me & My Little Blog!!!

Rules:

1. Display the logo on your page. (I am not self-hosted, so check out My Kudos Page.)

2. Finish the sentence:  A great reader is . . .

3. Nominate 14 readers I appreciate. Really 14!

4. Inform the readers with either comments or pingbacks.

A Great Reader is . . .

Love this – brings out the kid in me and writing essays in school!

I learned a valuable lesson from a blogger pertaining to readers when I first started my adventure in the blogging world. Let your readers know you are real (be true to yourself) and to share a little bit about you personally (give your blog a real name & face). That resonated with me on so many levels! I love letting my readers in to arm chair travel as well as just give a shot of motivation and inspiration to this crazy thing called LIFE. It is about bursting your bubble a bit and exploring and adventuring someone’s elses world!

My Nominations are . . .

I am nominating the Top 5 Commenters on My Blog!

Audrey at Minnesota Prairie Roots

Audrey brings me back to my Midwest roots with a trip down memory lane.

Emily at Hoof Beats and Foot Prints (Bella Remy Photography)

Emily inspires me and motivates me as a photographer.

Vanessa at Rant and Roll All Night

Vanessa is a HOOT and you just want to hang with her because she makes you laugh.

Donna at Garden Walk Garden Talk

Donna lets me arm chair explore gardens and admire AMAZEBalls garden photography.

Andy at My Story to You

Andy is My Blog’s “Who Keeps Coming Back!”

Maggie at Maggie Moose Tracks

Maggie is my virtual furry friend of sunshine that loves her TWIGS.

EVERYONE . . . Go!!!

Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn’t you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same You wanna be where everybody knows Your name.

You wanna go where people know, people are all the same, You wanna go where everybody knows your name.

~ Cheers Theme Song

New Series: Writing

Keeping IT Going!

I have thought about doing this series for a while now. Here is the premise behind this series and basically in a nutshell it is learning about writing from the bloggers who write on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. This will be a 4 part series.

To Keep At It or Not

The ultimate decision is yours in keeping a blog going or not!

I know I am not ready to give it up and continue to make updates to my blog to keep it fresh and happening. I recently added a few more pages to my blog as well as updated the “categories” area because the content was taking over and hard for my readers to find. I have my moments with my blog and it usually stems from the content and the quality of content I put out there to my readers.

What I have learned:

1. An afterthought for me after blogging for about 6 months was having some type of plan/strategy in regards to my blog (lifespan, content, updates, etc.).
2. Sometimes you feed your blog and other times your readers feed your blog
3. Remember content matters (get to know your readers/audience)

Your Turn to Share . . . GO!!!

Kick#%! Blog Award

Wow – Wee – What Fun!!!

Mark at Maleko’s Art nominated me for the Kick#%! Blog Award. Thanks so much! I love the motivation and inspiration that Mark shares with his readers in his posts. Click on the Link and Check Out His Blog!

The Blog Award Rules are . . .

1. Answer 7 random questions about yourself (asked by Mark).
2. State 7 random facts about yourself.
3. Nominate up to 7 bloggers who are KickArse!
4. Ask 7 random questions to those you nominate.

7 Random Questions About Me (asked by Mark)

Mark:  If a post (blog or Facebook) asks a question is it okay to “like” but not respond? Why or why not?

Me: I am guility of this! Sometimes I “like” because I like the question, but do not really have an answer or anything to add.

Mark:  What is your favorite book and author? Why?

Me:  Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Mark:  Would you rather fly, or drive, take a boat or train? Why?

Me:  Transporter, please – just kidding. I love to hit the open road and go on a road trip of adventure.

Mark:  Hang-gliding, sky-diving or bungee jumping? Again why?

Me:  Not into the extreme, so will pass. Mountain hiking is extreme enough for me.

Mark:  Cat, dog or some other pet? Please explain your answer.

Me:  I would love to have a dog again some day.

7 Random Facts About Me

1. I love adventuring through life with my greatest someone.
2. I love sweet treats, especially chocolate.
3. I have a natural attraction to nature, especially water and light.
4. I enjoy listening to Bob Marley, especially steel drums and other types of drums.
5. I would love to learn the drums.
6. I dream of a simpler life where I garden and have a few animals.
7. I have my healthy going on and love it.

My 5 to 7 Questions for the Nominees listed below

• Who is your favorite writer? Why?
• Are you an Indoor Dweller or a Lover of the Great Outdoors? Please explain.
• If you could travel for 6 weeks, where would you go?
• When you escape do you go for warmth or cold? Why?
• What makes you conquer the day? Please explain.

Bloggers Who I Think are KickArse

One Kool Kat over at Rant and Roll

Anita the Adventurer over at Travel Destination Bucket List

Ms. Just a Smidgen, Barbara, over at Just a Smidgen

Amber who married her Super Man and their pup, Cholula over at The Usual Bliss

M.G. the Traveler, Explorer & Adventurer over at World Adventurers

Diva Katie over at Healthy Diva Life

Man of Action & Adventure over at The Sophomore Slump

Your Turn . . . GO!!!

New Series: Writing

Gaining On You!

I have thought about doing this series for a while now. Here is the premise behind this series and basically in a nutshell it is learning about writing from the bloggers who write on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. This will be a 4 part series.

How To Gain An Audience

At first I thought 1) I can do this and then 2) is anyone out there and 3) if there is are they reading what I write. I am pretty stubborn, so if I become discouraged or frustrated it just motivates me even more to keep at this whole blogging thing. I really found a passion again with blogging and being able to write creatively. I take the time now to feed that passion and love creative writing.

The key for me in gaining an audience was to become a little more personal by sharing more of myself with my readers and that was tough for me! I thought being the Wizard behind CravesAdventure would work best for me and it really did not. Another blogger encouraged me to really show my personal side. Thanks Erin!

What I have learned:

1. Start reading other people’s blogs (Google Blog Search, WordPress, Internet Search on Specific Blogs, etc.)
2. Comment on other people’s blogs, start building a connection
3. Subscribe to other people’s blogs, start with a few and go from there
4. Utilize Social Media Applications to Get Your Blog Out There (connect your blog posts with Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
5. Share and share some much, start with baby steps and go from there (blog content, interests, etc.)

Your Turn to Share . . . GO!!!