Day 81 - Give a tip for new bloggers

This blog prompt is kind-of interesting, because I'm a new blogger :)

I read about different tips for starting a blog, and writing regularly, and so forth, and I joined this summer blog challenge to get into the habit of writing regularly and to meet other bloggers.

Part of me feels like I jumped off the deep end of a dock.  There is so much language that I'm not familiar with, there are computer things that I just don't know how to do (yay for Google!), and there are SO many people blogging!

I originally started my blog because I needed an outlet.  I've been so busy with my daughter (now seven months old) and so involved in her care and development, that I realized I've not been giving myself any 'grown-up' time.

In the past few months since starting my blog, I discovered that there are some things I wish I'd done differently.

- I wish I'd had a handful of topics I wanted to write about, because then I wouldn't have felt so 'guilty' for not writing anything for several days or weeks.

- I wish I'd scheduled time to write, either a little time set aside every day, or an hour or two a week.  What happens is that I'll think I've written just a couple days ago, and when I go to write again, it's been a week or two!

- I wish I'd had a more concrete idea of what I wanted to write about; whether it be a journal of our life, or summarizing research I've done, or talking about experiences, or discussing products or items I've discovered and love to use!

I don't really regret any choices I've made so far, but I know that my blog will be going through a bit of an overhaul.  I don't care if it becomes 'popular' or if it ends up like one of the really neat blogs I follow that do tons of reviews and giveaways and things.  I don't know if I'm that kind of person.

What I am is a researcher.  And an observer.  And a mum :)  I don't want to 'limit' myself to writing about certain things; I'd rather write about my life!

Number One Tip for New Bloggers?  Know what - and why - you want to write.

Day 67 - Do you have a favourite author?

It's a little sad when I feel like a few days have gone by, and then notice that the last time I blogged was before my birthday!!  *slap* BAD Hannah!

I adore reading, and adore books, and have sooo many in my collection that get read every 6 months or so.

One of my all-time favourite authors, however, has to be Robin McKinley.  I've loved her writing since I was around 13.  Have you ever read her re-telling of Beauty and the Beast?

It's simply called, "Beauty", and on my 'read every 4 to 6 months' list.  It's also on my list to read to my daughter when she gets a little older.

I have read many books by Robin McKinley, and her forté  is fairy tales and legends (like Robin Hood).  But telling them in a wholly different way, a way that lets you inside the character's mind, and into their life.

I read all kinds of genres, and in fiction, my tastes run from fantasy to mystery to a good laugh.  My hang-up is finding an author I like, whose writing style I appreciate.

While Robin's books might feel slow at the beginning and hard to get in to, it doesn't take long before you're immersed in the world that she has woven around you.

Give her a try!

And tell me, who is your favourite author?