PoojaG

5 Things bloggers wish they could say — Growing With Spawn

February 17, 2021by PoojaG15 Comments

With over 500 million blogs on the web to date, it seems as though everyone and their dog has a blog. There are just so many sites to peruse through that very little thought is actually given to what goes… 15 more words
5 Things bloggers wish they could say — Growing With Spawn

This was so funny and relatable I had to share it with you guys!!

Six Word Stories

Six Word Story #81

February 16, 2021February 16, 2021by PoojaG121 Comments

Love turns to hate surprisingly quickly.

Don’t forget to leave your six word reply in the comments because I really love reading them or simply stop by and say hi!

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Interviews

Blogger Interview With Shiloh

February 15, 2021February 15, 2021by PoojaG34 Comments

I hope you guys enjoy this interview with Shiloh– she’s a fantastic blogger and writer- and if you do enjoy the interview don’t forget to stop by and check out her blog which will be linked below.

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your blog.

My name is Shiloh Carozza, and I am a chronic overthinker. While this can lead to needless stress in my personal life, I find this trait is the lifeblood of my creative existence. Many of my best ideas come from noticing a pattern in the outside world or in my own thought process, and then asking why. Why is this a pattern? Why do people keep coming back to a particular issue? Why does my mind return again and again to a particular interaction with someone? Why does this scene from a particular book or movie haunt me?

You will find that my books explore these questions through the eyes of my characters, in a narrative approach. My blog, however, takes a more conversational approach to this exploration. The Inquisitive Inkpot is my platform for three basic activities:

1) raising questions about particular stories

2) drawing connections between storytelling and real life

3) giving my reades an inside look at my own creative works and journey as an author.

Other fun facts about me include the fact that I play the banjo, was featured on America’s Funniest Videos for falling into a bathtub (fully clothed, mind you), and I have the unusual talent of being able to pick up very large rocks off the bottom of lakes using my toes.

2. When did you create your blog and what pushed you to start blogging?

Creating a blog was something I had long avoided, because in my heart of hearts, I am a storyteller and not a conventional blogger. What I didn’t realize, though, was that author blogs are actually some of the most interesting ones out there, and that blogging and storytelling are quite compatible (case in point, Pooja’s “six word stories”). The Inquisitive Inkpot began in the summer of 2019 as my platform for sharing bits of historical research and background information about my historical fiction novel, The Exile. It didn’t take long to realize that there was so much more I wanted to write about, so it quickly became the online hub for sharing all things related to my creative projects, lessons I’ve learned in the writing/publishing process, and commentaries on the connections between life and storytelling.

3. I think you’re the first children’s author I’ve interviewed on this blog which is so awesome. Tell us a little bit about what inspired you to write children’s books.

In all honesty, it’s a bittersweet story. I had never intended to write children’s books– in fact, I had such little exposure to kids that the idea was rather terrifying. But a dear friend, who knew me perhaps better than I knew myself, told me I should try writing one. And so the adventure began! I wrote the story, we revised it together, we storyboarded it together, and a matter of months later we were no longer in each other’s lives. The birth of the story and the loss of this friend were so closely interwoven that I found it hard to move forward with the publishing process, but meeting the right illustrator changed everything. The artwork breathed new life into the project, and I knew this story had to reach children. Since publishing The Misadventures of Melvin the Missing Sock, this book has actually built new bridges with some of the dearest little friends in my life right now– and seeing kids enjoy the book has shown me that my friend was right all along. I needed to write children’s books. And if that friend could see me now, I know they would be proud.

4. What is the most difficult part about writing for children?

This is a great question. As a writer who usually prefers to imply things, I have to remind myself that children are not able to make sophisticated inferences in the same way adults can. This means I have to work to make the themes of the story more obvious than I normally would– and yet if they are too obvious, then the book feels preachy and overwritten. It’s about finding balance. I want to challenge kids by strengthening their reading and critical thinking skills, without important elements of the story going straight over their heads.

I would add that one of the most rewarding parts of writing for children is seeing them learn. A recurring pattern in my first series of children’s books is the use of alliteration (i.e. using consecutive words that begin with the same letter). I use this particular literary device to introduce new words to kids in a fun way, which means they are more likely to remember the word and use it themselves. For example, in The Misadventures of Melvin the Missing Sock, the story begins with Melvin the sock feeling “mediocre” because he is just a plain, white sock who lives in the middle drawer. Later on, when he is separated from his match, he feels “melancholy.” It’s always a blast seeing kids light up when they realize what these words mean, and then hearing them use the words later on!

5. You also write a number of other things like historical fiction which as a history major is one of my favourite genres. What inspired you to write historical fiction?

I have always been fascinated by what life in different time periods was like, and the gradual development of ideas that we take for granted today. But more than that, I love exploring the more obscure parts of history where there is a lack of recorded events. For instance, I was drawn to early medieval Scandinavia as the setting for The Exile because of the mystery surrounding the pre-Viking time period. Before the Vikings, there is actually very little recorded about the Nordic people and their clans. While we can assume that the way of life was very similar to their more famous (or infamous) successors, most of the land’s early history is mingled with legend and shrouded in uncertainty. I see this type of ambiguity as a goldmine for creativity. Where known facts end, imagination begins.

I also believe historical fiction is a beautiful way of connecting with peoples of the past. While the characters may be fictional, thorough research enables you to create a very believable world in which the reader feels for the characters and identifies with their struggles. Each era and culture certainly has its own challenges, societal expectations, and worldviews– but at the end of the day, every person who ever lived has had to face some of the same questions and struggles that define what it means to be human.

6. What are some of your future goals for your writing and your blog?

While I plan to continue writing both historical fiction and novels, I plan to take my writing into film production as well. I had the privilege of writing, directing, and producing some stageplays as well as small-scale films while in college, and ever since have been infected with “the bug” of scriptwriting. Success in connecting with professional producers depends largely on having a visible body of work that you can point to, which speaks to your versatility and quality of writing. This is not to say, of course, that writing books translates easily into writing scripts (they are very different). You will need to submit complete, properly formatted scripts to any film producer you are contacting. But, as with unpublished manuscripts, you don’t leave your scripts hanging out in public view on the internet– you only send them in as solicited by an agent or producer.

Yet having an entire library of content that you have developed over the years (i.e. your blog) can help make a professional impression on anyone who is considering the work you have submitted.

My current emphasis with The Inquisitive Inkpot is to continue sharing with my readers the valuable insights I have learned firsthand in the writing and submission/publication process. I have repeatedly found that some of the best advice and practical pointers I have received came from authors who take the time to share their experiences with readers. If I can be that sort of a resource to someone else, it is well worth it to me.

7. What is one thing you love about blogging?

Stumbling across a perspective I haven’t encountered before! In the blogosphere, you encounter plenty of people who echo the same concepts and principles– which can be a helpful reminder that what they’re saying is true, but it can also grow monotonous. I like running across an article or blogger who evaluates something from an unconventional angle– not for the purpose of being nonconformist, but for the purpose of raising important questions that many of us overlook. Two bloggers who consistently do this well are Sam Kirk and Saania Saxena.

8. What is one thing you hate about blogging?

Staring at a computer screen! I already do a lot of digital work for my full-time job, so by the end of my work day, spending more time in front of a screen is not exactly Number 1 on my list of preferred activities.

I also have to laugh at the times when an article that I thought was a knock-out doesn’t receive the response I thought it would… while one of my more “lame” posts generates tons of likes and feedback. Your audience can keep you on your toes!

9. What is your favourite food?

This is probably the easiest question: Italian. I’m probably biased because I am Italian, but it is a core belief of mine that garlic can improve just about anything (except for desserts).

10. As a historical fiction writer what is one century/period of time you wish you could experience?

Although none of my stories (yet) have taken place in this setting, I would love to have experienced the golden age of Rome. The level of technological advancement, art, and education this society reached is truly astounding, when you think of how long ago this was. Granted, you would only have benefited from these aspects if you were of some means. Slaves didn’t have the best of lives, but the standard of living for the common man was still much higher than it was for peasants of subsequent centuries.

For all the attention that the Middle Ages and the more “rugged” time periods receive, I think we forget that life back then would have been very harsh, dangerous, and full of disease. We are still dealing with the effects of a pandemic today– imagine what it was like for those trapped inside cities during the Bubonic Plague!

The plunge from Rome’s pinnacle also fascinates me because it reminds me how civilizations are capable of regressing as well as progressing.

If you enjoyed this interview don’t forget to stop by Shiloh’s blog by clicking here.

If you would like to be interviewed please send me your name (optional), the name of your blog and a link to your blog via email to insomniacwithanaccent@gmail.com

I’m a little busy at the moment and have quite a few interviews ready to post so please don’t worry if I don’t respond immediately. I will definitely respond as soon as possible.

If you enjoyed this post don’t forget to like, follow, share and comment!

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Life

Happy Valentines Day!

February 14, 2021February 14, 2021by PoojaG61 Comments

Happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope you have an amazing day and I hope you remember to treat yourself! What am I doing for Valentines Day you ask? Well I will be eating an insane amount of fettucine while re-watching Knocked Up so it’s gonna be a pretty crazy night haha! I know I’m just 23- almost 24 yikes- but I sometimes feel like I’m probably never going to be in a serious relationship because I can be super picky and I’m also awful at relationships. But I’m like okay with it because I actually really like being on my own and doing my own thing. Not sure why I felt the need to share that but I guess what I’m trying to say is- will you be my Valentine? We can be alone together lol!

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Blogging, Life

Ask Me Something

February 13, 2021February 13, 2021by PoojaG26 Comments

What Is This?

In March, I did my first “ASK ME SOMETHING” post and it was so much fun. I know a lot of you enjoy these kinds of interactive posts and when I first started again back in January, Zainab a fellow blogger suggested I should do another Q&A post to catch up with everyone and answer your questions and I thought that was an amazing idea. I had been meaning to do one of these posts since then but to be honest I just got super busy with university and knew I would not have enough time to reply to everyone’s questions so I decided to wait till I had a bit more free time.

So, How Does This Work?

In case you hadn’t participated in the last Ask Me Something post or have forgotten how it works I thought I would leave the instructions here again. So, I got the idea for this from how people have that “ask me anything” box on Instagram and thought it would be a lot of fun to do on WordPress too because I have a larger following here and people are a lot more interested in connecting with one another rather than just playing the following/unfollowing. And on that note follow me on Instagram by clicking here- I promise I won’t follow/unfollow you! 😂

I thought it would be particularly fun as some of us are stuck at home and don’t have a lot going on (I’m some of us…). I thought this would be a fun way to connect, start some fun conversations, get to know one another better and just have a nice little virtual get together in the comments section!
Okay so back to how it works. All you have to do is leave a question/questions in the comments section.

After about a week I will publish a post tagging you along with your question and will give an answer to the question on the post.

Thank you!

I want to thank everyone in advance for your comment and for being a part of this! Honestly, it’s just so great that we have this awesome platform on which we can connect with each other. I always enjoy talking to you guys and you always come up with some really interesting questions.

Interviews

Blogger Interview With Esha

February 12, 2021February 12, 2021by PoojaG34 Comments

I want to thank Esha for stopping by and she has an amazing blog so don’t forget to stop by her blog and check it out. I hope you enjoy the interview!

Thanks so much for being a part of this interview. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your blog.

Hello and Namaste! 🙏

Thanks for letting me be a part of this. I am a 25-year-old girl, based in India. I completed my postgraduate degree in English Literature back in 2019. My hobbies include reading, writing, photography and swimming.

My blog came to fruition in 2017, when I made it with the help of a friend. My aim was to use it as a creative outlet. However, over the last year, it has grown into something more than what I had hoped for. Now, I write about productivity, book review and mental clarity – things that I took an interest in and trying to inculcate in my life in order to live more meaningfully.

When did you start blogging and what pushed you to do so?

I had a blog before this. I started my first blog when I was 18 (that is, 2014 for me) and was fresh out of high school. The reason was simple – I loved writing. However, I only wrote a few posts on that blog before I abandoned it with the excuse that I was too busy for it. I decided to get back to blogging in 2017 when I was 21. I made a new site since I thought that the previous blog was too juvenile for a 21-year-old. I still love writing and this blog is the little corner on the internet where I can furnish my thoughts and beliefs.

What is your favourite post that you’ve written on your blog so far?

I don’t know if it’s weird but I do not have any favourite post? Everything on this blog is a result of the things I’m passionate about. However, I must admit that the post – How to get over a reading slump? – is one of the posts that resonate with me a lot. Especially since I have gone through a long period of reader’s block for years before I reconnected with reading again.

How has your blog evolved since you first started blogging?

Very much! As stated earlier, I started this blog to post creative stories and articles. However, now, it has turned into so much more. I write book reviews, topics about productivity and mental clarity. These are the things that I am trying to inculcate in my life too. I have suffered from the uncertainty of putting myself out there but with time, I have managed to put that behind me. I also started doing requested book reviews recently – which is something that I never thought would happen until I actually got contacted by authors. I feel like writing about topics like productivity, books and mental clarity is actually a great way to hold myself accountable and try out the things that I am preaching about. I never really thought that I could write non-fiction for a long period of time. Now, the majority of content on my blog is non-fiction.

Do you have a favourite topic to write about on your blog?

I have a bunch. Also, everything on my blog is something I love and is passionate about. My two favourite topics here would be books and organisation & productivity. I am really passionate about those things and I believe that it shows.

You have a lot of great book reviews- what has been your favourite book to review so far?

The books I review on my blog (apart from the ones that are requested) are all about the books I liked. I think that it is better to write reviews for the books I enjoyed and would recommend rather than the ones I don’t. Among the requested ones, I only posted 3 of them till now and I have been lucky enough to get the good ones. However, the last 5-stars review from me was Lucia’s War by Susan Lanigan. Although it is historical fiction, set in the times of early to mid-1900s, it features some relevant topics that are prevalent even to this day and age – like race, sexuality and gender. I really liked it and would recommend it to the people looking for book recommendations.

What are some of your blogging goals for 2021?

After experimenting with different schedules, I found out that I am better off with set routines. I do not have number goals in case of followers. That is not something I can control so I try not to dwell on it so much. What I can control is the number of posts I can churn out every week. So, nowadays, I am looking to post twice a week – on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I started 2020 with one post a week and ended up loving blogging so much that I ending up writing multiple times a week. So, this year, my goal is to post twice a week. I also want to touch on newer topics like minimalism and stoicism – something that I have been experimenting for quite some time. I am still very amateur in terms of these topics but would love to explore them more in future.

What is your favourite genre to read?

I am normally a crime and thrillers fan – my favourite crime fiction author being Agatha Christie. I also love John Grisham. I also love self-help books that would help me become a better version of myself. Recently, I have started liking contemporary/modern fiction too.

What is your favourite food?

Garlic Chicken – been so for over a decade now and nothing really topped it.

Which Hogwarts house do you belong to?

I am a Pottermore-certified Hufflepuff. Go Badgers!

If you could go to Hogwarts for a day what would you do there?

Become a student, attend classes, learn magic, and go to the quidditch tryouts! I believe that I’d be an excellent Chaser. I am really good at catching and throwing stuff. How hard can it be with a Quaffle?

Who are some of the people that inspire you to write?

I do not have a specific name for this question. I believe it is a cumulative effect of many people I came across in my life. I have been interested in writing ever since I wrote my first essay – “Myself” – back in kindergarten. I also sent a Facebook message to an Indian author named Priya Kumar after reading one of her novels. She mentioned my writing skills and encouraged me to continue writing. I guess that incident crystallised the idea of me writing more and publishing it online. It was around the same time I started my first blog.

Thanks again and please feel free to add anything you want to share with the readers.

Hey there! If you have managed to read till here, then thanks for sticking by! If you are interested in topics like productivity, books and mental clarity, then feel free to check out my blog – Felix Felicitated. I hope you’d find something valuable there.

Stay safe and healthy! 👋🏾

If you enjoyed this interview don’t forget to stop by Esha’s blog by clicking here.

If you would like to be interviewed please send me your name (optional), the name of your blog and a link to your blog via email to insomniacwithanaccent@gmail.com

I’m a little busy at the moment and have quite a few interviews ready to post so please don’t worry if I don’t respond immediately. I will definitely respond as soon as possible.

If you enjoyed this post don’t forget to like, follow, share and comment!

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Email me on(guest posts welcome!): insomniacwithanaccent@gmail.com

Life

Hey!

February 11, 2021February 11, 2021by PoojaG117 Comments

I didn’t have much time today to write a post so I decided to catch up with you guys! What have you been up to? Have you seen any good shows or movies lately? Try anything new? Let me know in the comments below because I would love to find out what’s going on with you!

I’ve been watching The Office again and apparently so has everyone else right now 😂 It’s comforting since it’s so wholesome and I’ve already seen it so I know what episodes I like. I watched Scrubs for a while and it was pretty good. It probably isn’t my favourite show ever but it’s pretty funny.

I’ve also made a lot of new recipes which has been fun and I’m excited to share more recipes with you guys! I’ve also been trying to finish my essay proposals which has been a little difficult but at least I found topics.

Oh and I wanted to let everyone know that I am avoiding Instagram for a few days because of all the school work I need to deal with and Instagram/social media can be kind of distracting. But I will be back on Instagram in a few days and I will reply to everyone and respond to the comments and stuff. I have a lot of exciting stuff I want to share and a lot of makeup looks/reviews I enjoyed trying out. If you’re interested in makeup, fashion and food/recipe posts on Instagram feel free to follow me by clicking here.

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poetry

Please

February 10, 2021February 10, 2021by PoojaG51 Comments

Please don’t tell me you still love me

Please don’t ask me to forgive you

Please stop saying you’ll change

Please stop trying to win me back

Please let me experience the pain of losing you

Because that’s the only way I’ll ever move on

Six Word Stories

Six Word Story #80

February 9, 2021February 9, 2021by PoojaG68 Comments

Drowsy, occasionally bored and permanently exhausted.

This is my little recap of my semester so far lol!

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Interviews

Blogger Interview With Chidinma

February 8, 2021February 8, 2021by PoojaG31 Comments

I am so happy to finally post this interview with Chidinma– she is such a lovely person and has been so supportive of my blog. I truly hope you enjoy this interview and take the time to check out her wonderful blog.

1.Thanks so much for being a part of this interview. Please tell us a little about yourself and what your blog is about.

Thank you so much for having me on your blog. My name is Chidinma Precious Obiaor. I am from Nigeria and I am a freshman in college studying to be a nurse. I am a goal-oriented and highly organized person. My blog is all about inspiring and uplifting people through written words, and sometimes poetry.

2. When and why did you start blogging?

I started blogging on the 24th of April 2020 during the lockdown. Before then I loved writing and I did most of my writing in my diary. But the pandemic helped me realize that I needed to do something more since I had a lot of free time and also since there was a lot going on in the world. I thought that it would be the perfect time to inspire people and give them hope. So I looked up the best website for blogging, WP came up and that was it.

3. On your blog you write about a number of different topics- do you have a favourite topic to write about and if so which topic is it?

Yes, I do have a favorite topic.The topic that I love to write more about on my blog is motivational quotes because I love spreading positivity and I think that sharing some inspiring and motivating quotes from time to time would encourage other people and give them strength to keep going no matter the situation. Personally, I love motivational quotes a lot because they really help me to accomplish a lot.

4. You migrated from Nigeria to the US as a teenager. What is one thing you miss about Nigeria and one thing that you love about living in the US?

One thing I miss about Nigeria is the traditional festivals and one thing I love about America is how easily people get to express their rights unlike other places in the world where freedom of speech does not even exist.

5. You mention on your blog that you love to cook- what are some of your favourite dishes to make?

I haven’t had the opportunity to learn how to prepare meals from other cultures. But some of my favorite dishes that I love to make are: Beef stew with white rice, melon soup, fried and jollof rice, plantain porridge and African salad.

6. Has blogging changed your life in any way and if so how?

Blogging gives me a sense of accomplishment. Because, once I was writing in my diary and now I have to write what the world is going to read. It makes me nervous sometimes but remembering why I started blogging in the first place keeps me focused.

7. What are your future plans for your blog?

I don’t really plan to make money through my blog. All I just want is to build a community where people uplift and encourage each other.

8. What do you enjoy most about blogging?

What I enjoy most about blogging is that it allows me to express myself and my ideas in a way that I might not be able to through dialogue, create something beautiful and show what’s inside to those outside.

9. What is your favourite food?

My favorite food is pasta, precisely spaghetti anyday.

10. What is the craziest thing you believed as a child?

One time, I swallowed the seed of a fruit. My brother made me believe that the seed was going to grow from my stomach out to my head. He also said that the tree was going to stay on top of my head and start bearing fruit. I really believed his crazy story then. But remembering it now makes me laugh out loud.

11. Who inspires you the most?

My elder sister inspires me the most because she has this way of handling whatever life throws at her. She is a very strong lady.

12. What is your favourite song?

My favorite song is “YOU SAY” By Lauren Daigle. It is a pretty good song, you can check it out.

13. If you could travel to any place where would it be?

I would love to travel to Dubai. It’s a very beautiful place. I have been there once but I didn’t really see anything.

14. Thanks again and please feel free to add anything you would like to tell the readers.

Thanks very much, pooja! For taking the time to interview me. I had fun answering all the questions. If you would love to know more about me please feel free to click this link.

If you enjoyed this interview don’t forget to stop by Chidinma’s blog by clicking here.

If you would like to be interviewed please send me your name (optional), the name of your blog and a link to your blog via email to insomniacwithanaccent@gmail.com

I’m a little busy at the moment and have quite a few interviews ready to post so please don’t worry if I don’t respond immediately. I will definitely respond as soon as possible.

If you enjoyed this post don’t forget to like, follow, share and comment!

Enjoyed this post? Then follow me on social media:

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Email me on(guest posts welcome!): insomniacwithanaccent@gmail.com