First, I want to thank Jay Pines, the blogger behind Scribbled To Paper, for nominating me for the Blogger Recognition Award!  His mix of poetry, prose, and photography creates engaging content for readers of all tastes.  Be sure to check out his work, and comment freely.  Jay is active in his responses, and overall, a nice guy to chat with!

Rules For This Award

• Thank the blogger who nominated you and link to their blog.
• Write a post to show your award.
• Give a brief story of how your blog started.
• Give 2 pieces of advice to new bloggers.
• Select 5 other bloggers you want to give this award to, and comment on each blog to let them know with a link to your award post.

How Armed With A Keyboard Got Started

Ever since my first run through college in the mid-90’s, I wanted to be a writer, even though English was not my major until 2017.  Despite that, I kept on writing, for purely personal reasons, not sharing my thoughts or work with anyone.  I wrote in total isolation.  After obtaining my Masters in English earlier this year, I bounced the idea of writing a blog off my loved ones.  My husband (the truest fan a woman could ever have) told me to go for it.  So I did it, and Armed With A Keyboard was born on the internet!  Six weeks later, here I am, writing this post because another human being recognized and enjoyed my work!

Two Gems of Advice for New Bloggers

I’m still a newbie to blogging, but the two things that I think that are important to a successful blog are the following:

First, write from the heart, and write often.  Write what you enjoy writing.  Don’t hold back because someone somewhere told you what you have written wasn’t good enough.  This approach to writing your blog will bring not only personal success, but a great sense of happiness.  Go for it.

Second, read other blogs on a regular basis.  But don’t just read them, comment on the work that speaks to you.  Engage your fellow bloggers.  Remember, they are putting in an effort to write, just like you.  So read and comment frequently.  You just might find some great friends and kindred spirits in the process

My 5 Nominees:

L. A. Vockins

Pitch Black Poesy

Booleanlogically

Stoner On A Roller Coaster

The Pensive Dreamer