#Bloggers Bash Blog Post Competition 2017 #FlashFiction: Connections

This is my entry for the Annual Bloggers Bash Competition 2017.

I’m including a 100-word Flash and a brief account of why being connected to other bloggers has made me a better writer.

Making Connections

‘You need to stop this nonsense.’

‘Which nonsense?’

‘They’re not real.’

‘You think I’m imagining people?’

‘You don’t know what they look like.’

‘I’ve seen pictures.’

‘How do you know it’s true?’

‘It isn’t all true. We share some fiction, but our feelings and opinions are real.’

‘They’ll steal your ideas.’

‘We don’t steal, we share.’

‘Why do you do it?’

‘Bloggers need to make connections.’

‘What kind of connections?’

‘Connections with the world.’

‘You can’t even touch them!’

‘I might be touching a few at the Bloggers Bash.’

‘If they’re real…’

‘Why don’t you join us and find out?’

*****

Blogging Lessons Learned

Lesson 1: Less is More.

One of the most important things I’ve learned since I started blogging is the power of Flash Fiction. I’ve taken part in many flash fiction challenges and blog hops during the three years I’ve been blogging, and reading and writing short fiction has helped me improve my style. There’s a link to an earlier post on this topic on the picture below.

Clean, sharp, concise and precise prose is valued by readers, who are no longer patient enough to read long and detailed accounts, which may be beautiful, but are often wordy.

**Link to a post about how Flash Fiction has improved my writing**

Lesson 2: Worldwide Connection is Essential

I personally know people who blog, write and read occasionally, others are knowledgeable in specific areas, but this interaction is so limited, compared to the whole world, that it covers a very small percentage of my needs.

I need to be connected to other international bloggers by sharing information about books and reading, writing, publishing, travelling, art, and anything else that crops up on their blogs, from cooking to medieval history, because when I’m connected, I feel like I’m growing.

As a blogger, I’m not alone as a reader, writer, thinker, blogger, teacher, or person. I can find out what other people know, think, have done, can see, or like. I can share what I know, think, do, see, or like, too.

I can do so much more with the help, opinions, advice, experience, knowledge, and motivation of other bloggers, and I’m part of something much bigger than I could ever be on my own.

Lesson 3: Gratitude

Bloggers are part of a huge community, which needs to be nurtured in order to grow.

It’s vital to show appreciation and gratitude to other bloggers by liking, commenting and sharing their posts on social media.

Thank you all for being there, for reading, commenting, giving your opinions, sharing your thoughts, ideas and knowledge, answering my questions, and being connected with me.

Thank you for motivating me to be a better blogger and a better writer.

If I am a better writer in 2017 than I was when I started writing in 2014, it’s because of you.

As a plus, I never feel alone. There’s always someone to read and write to, and something to write about, which someone will read, like and comment on … I hope 🙂