Blogging Lessons from My Dogs
By Edie Melson
Most of you know I’m
an animal lover. We have one cat, Emily Dickinson, and our son’s dog, Cosmo. I don’t know what I’d do without my four-legged friends cheering me on
as I work every day.
But they’re
more than just great companions; they’ve got a lot to teach me. So today I’d like to pass along some of the
wisdom I’ve gleaned from my dogs.
9 Blogging Lessons from My Dogs
1. Go all in. When you play, play. When you
work, work. And when you rest, rest. My dogs are 100 percent involved in
whatever they’re doing. Beyond that,
I’ve discovered there’s no such thing as a multi-tasking dog. The same should
be true for bloggers. Focus on the task at hand by setting aside time to blog. Don’t think of it as work you do in
the spaces.
2. Chasing squirrels never ends well. It may be fun, but it rarely brings value to what you’re doing. When our boys were young,
they had the great
idea of tying our dog’s leash to the handlebars of a
scooter so he could pull them down the street. It went well until a squirrel
darted in front of them. The dog took off in one direction, the son on the
scooter went another way. There was definitely collateral damage, although none
of it permanent. The same thing can happen with blogging. Leave the squirrel-chasing
for play time, stay focused on where you’re
going in your post, and avoid the collateral damage.
3. Loyalty is everything. My dogs are friendly with almost everyone, but their loyalty is to
me. As bloggers, we have to have that same kind of loyalty toward our readers.
4. 50 new smells a day. For a dog, going outside is more than exercise; it’s the ability to gather
information about the world around them. As bloggers, we can’t
become so immersed in our own corner of the world and especially only our point
of view.
5. Keep digging until you have what you need. All of our dogs have had favorite toys. But our pooch’s
favorite pastime would appear to be getting his stuck under things. He’s
learning though, to not just rely on us to get what he needs. He’s learning how
to work and dig until he gets them back. As bloggers, we can’t just rely on the information
others provide. We have to be willing to learn, grow, and dig out what we need
to be the best we can be.
6. Wag more, bark less. When my dog comes up to me, he’s grinning and his tail is wagging. He doesn’t approach me barking and growling. We
need to make sure we interact with people online by wagging, not barking. Think
before you post and keep it positive. You’ll
never regret being nice.
7. Puppy treats make the worst job easier. Through the years, all our dogs have loved treats, but training our
newest dog is giving us a new appreciation about how valuable they are. Treats
are also a good way to get me to finish a job I’m dreading.
8. Be ready for an adventure and travel light. My dogs are always ready to go for an adventure. Don’t be too tied to home base. As bloggers
(and writers) we can pick up and go at the drop of a hat.
9. Always on guard. My dogs are always aware of
what’s going on around them.
They may appear to be sleeping soundly or playing hard, but if someone comes to
the door, they are
the first to alert. Because blogging is an online activity, we also need to
always be alert. We shouldn’t
be fearful, but we do need to be smart and stay aware.
These are some of the lessons I’ve learned, what has your pet taught you about blogging, writing, or even life?
Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
(Photos courtesy of author, pixabay.com. freedigitalphotos.net, and Stuart Miles.)
TWEETABLE
Find your voice, live your story…is the foundation of Edie
Melson’s message, no matter if she’s writing for fiction readers,
parents, military families, or writers. As an author, blogger, and speaker
she’s encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the
world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others
develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them to their lives.
She’s a leading professional within
the publishing industry and travels to numerous conferences as a popular
keynote, writing instructor, and mentor. Her blog for writers, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month and is a
Writer’s Digest Top 101
Websites for Writers. She’s the Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and the Mountainside Marketing Conference, as well as Vice President of the Advanced Writers and Speakers
Association and the Social Media Director for Southern Writers Magazine. In addition, she's a regular
columnist for Guideposts.org, Just18Summers.com and PuttingOnTheNew.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.
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