I’d like to introduce you to Vikki Thompson – she is a prolific blogger and enthusiastic writer – someone I’ve been following for a few months. She writes a post almost everyday and she has some great ideas and prompts for writing. Today, we’ve decided to do a blog-swap, so if you want to find out more about me, you’ll have to visit Vikki’s place. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this interview with Vikki.
When did you start blogging and why?
I started blogging last year on my Blogspot Blog, as a form of communication with my tutor on a Creative Writing course. I already had the WordPress Blog set up as I’d dabbled a bit whilst doing National Write a Novel Month (Nano for short) in November. I started blogging at The View Outside every day at the beginning of January this year. It was a personal challenge as I was also embarking on a prompt a day (from Judy Reeves’ book A Writer’s Book of Days) and I wanted a record of my writing journey.
How many followers do you have and how did you acquire them?
As of today I have 168 followers, which I’m really pleased about, and thankful for. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but I’d rather have 150 followers who make lots of comments, than 500 followers who don’t comment, if that makes sense 😉 I’m not sure how I acquired them lol, I was, and am shocked, that people want to read what I have to say. I couldn’t have wished for more really 🙂
How much time do you spend working on your posts and how does this affect your writing projects?
I used to do my posts daily, but now, I always work a couple of days in advance. I use the scheduling feature, which I discovered whilst doing the A-Z Challenge (I wrote a blog each day of April creating characters with names from A-Z). When I get an idea for a blog post I write a little outline on my iPad and save it to the drafts (I use the WordPress App) and come back to it later. On average I spend about 2 hours a day, just doing blog orientated stuff. Oh gawd yeah! Lol….I find myself blogging instead of writing lol, but, I love blogging, I love the interaction and communication with other bloggers, so that makes it worth it.
How does your interest in visual arts impact on your writing?
A couple of years ago I started doing collages (you can see a selection on my Flickr page which included words, so it was kind of a natural progression to take up writing. I’ve always been inspired by photography and take a lot of photos which I use to inspire stories and scenes in my writing. I love the connection between words and images, so visual art has a huge impact on my writing. Even in my note books I write with different colour pens so that visually, it’s more interesting when I flick back through them searching for ideas 🙂You attend courses and read widely about strategies to improve your writing. What are the best tips you’ve learnt?
I sure do! Lol…..oooo, now that’s a question. I have three top tips on how to be a better writer.
1. Practice practice practice! Write every day, even if it’s only for 10 minutes. Use prompts, pictures, songs, anything, just get something down on paper every day.
2. Carry a note book everywhere. Write down snippets of overheard conversations, descriptions of interesting people, details of places that you find inspiring and free writing.
3. Don’t give up! There is no such thing as failure, there is no such thing as terrible writing. Even the worst piece of writing you’ve ever written can be beneficial, something you can learn from, and something you can return to again and again to improve 🙂
Which blogs would you recommend to anyone interested in reading or writing?
I love all the blogs that I follow, for different reasons, but, the two I would definitely recommend to writers who want to learn are:
- Roger Colby’s blog Writing Is Hard Work
- William Stadler at Stadler Style
Both of these guys provide great tips and interesting content for writers.
How do you see your writing developing in the future?
I have two novels that need editing and revising, which I’d like to do and then it’s just a case of writing a new one each year….roll on Nano, that’s what I say 🙂
Thank you, Vikki.
Do you find blogging a distraction or an aid to your writing journey?
the writer is a lonely hunter 
Thanks for the swap honey, it’s been great fun! 🙂
Xx
You’re looking good over here, Vikki
I agree with your tips, especially the keep writing and not giving up.
So true!
Great idea and an enjoyable read! I’m quite new to blogging so still trying to get the balance right. I don’t blog every day but I do write every day (in my notebook). I try to wait until I have something to say that might interest, or be of use, to other people before I blog. I also use my blog as a way of recording and sharing what I’m doing, writing-wise.
Hi Josephine – thank you for commenting. I post once a week and do a #fridayflash once a month. That’s enough to keep me busy!
Thanks Josephine 🙂
That’s why I started blogging, to record my writing journey 🙂
It’s been a great first 6 months, I LOVE it 🙂
Xx
Thanks Gail and Vikki for a great interview! I loved learning more about Vikki as she is blogging buddy of mine and we’re swapping sometime in July. I am so glad I made a mistake and reblogged this blog causing me to click on it to see what I had done. lol. Maybe you’ll get more traffic from it. I hope so. 🙂
Thank you for visiting – I look forward to your swap with Vikki in July.
Awwwww, thanks Clar 🙂
Xx
Thank you!
I also find scheduling things a few days in advance helps tune the quality. Glad you folks are enjoying the swap!
Thanks John 🙂
Oh, I don’t know what I’d do without scheduling lol
Xx