Posted in Blogging

Invitation for Guest Posts

This is an invitation to all blog writers. If you love to write, or live to write, or write to live, or write for a living, please be my guest.

Working alone can get lonely sometimes.

I love company. Be my partner in crime.

My offer: My site gets 500+ views per month and a variety of readership from around 40+ countries, majorly from India, Australia, UK, Ireland, USA, Spain, Nigeria, Malta and Pakistan. The story with a link to your site is a chance to woo my 150+ followers to check and follow your site. 

Challenge: Write an engaging post:

  • In English.
  • In around 100 words (10 lines) and/or one picture.
  • In one of the following genres: Poetry; Story; Memoir; Random thought.

Rules:

  • The final verdict on whether the post will be published on my site lies with me. I am not very picky but I share only what I enjoy.
  • The piece must be something you wrote.
  • It could be fresh or already published on your site or another.
  • I will not edit it.
  • Do not share a graphic post. Using obscene language or theme is a strict “No”.

Modus Operandi:

  • Do not send a link to the post.
  • Write/Paste it on the email and send it to shailygrwl@gmail.com
  • Attach pics separately. Do not send more than 1 image.
  • Send the link to your website, if you wish.

Since I am a working mother, I may take around a week to respond. I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.

So, put on your writing cap. See you around, Partner.

Posted in Random Thoughts

150+ Followers, 250+ Stories

I just wanted to celebrate a moment of small victories. Fish in the trees now has 150+ WordPress followers! ๐Ÿ˜

Wooohoooooo!

I also crossed the mark of 250 stories a couple of weeks back. ๐Ÿ˜Ž (My ‘poetry’ is simply ‘stories with rhytm’.)

To think that I had never written stories before, except for English language assignment, I would have considered this feat impossible 10 months back when I started this blog. ๐Ÿ˜Š

It calls for a celebration. In the spirit of the worldwide lockdown, I am sharing food online (Vegetarian only). ๐Ÿ˜‡

Take your pick.

๐Ÿง€๐Ÿ”๐ŸŸ๐Ÿ•๐ŸŒฎ๐ŸŒฏ๐Ÿฅ™๐Ÿฅ˜๐Ÿฒ๐Ÿฅ—๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿฑ

๐Ÿจ๐Ÿฉ๐ŸŽ‚๐Ÿฐ๐Ÿซ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿญ๐Ÿง๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿฎ

Enjoy!

Posted in Random Thoughts

1000 Likes…Woohoo!

New Year just got better! I was just notified that this blog has received 1000 likes!

I had never dreamt of reaching this goal when I started off. I had just hoped that someone somewhere might read it someday.

The best part is that there is a small but steady stream of people who read it, which is beautiful in itself.

I have also found some great friends, on WordPress and outside because of this blog. We critique each other’s work, share daily tales. I thank Almighty for bringing it all to me.

Thank you all for making it possible.

Posted in Random Thoughts

100 WordPress Followers!

WOOHOOOOOO! ๐Ÿฅณ

100 followers on WordPress! What a wonderful New Year present! I want to thank all my WordPress followers. ๐Ÿค—

Our current stats stand at 2700+ views, 1100+ visitors, 197 posts, 19000+ words (average 97 words per post), 918 Likes, and 280 Commentsโ€”all in 7 months! Which is AWESOME! I bow down to you, O Mighty Reader! ๐Ÿ™‡โ€โ™‚๏ธ

Why having you around means so much? Because you are not following me out of the obligation of being family or friends. You genuinely liked my post and decided that I was worth your time. So, thank you! ๐Ÿค—

Just so that you know, my only follower at home is my two-year-old daughter. ๐Ÿ˜‹

I also want to thank anyone who chose to read my posts, even if they decided that they were not good enough to follow. You give me a reason to improve. Feel free to critique my writing on comments section. You can challenge or discuss the issues I raise through my stories. Let me know if you don’t agree, and we can agree to disagree. ๐Ÿ˜‰

I love hearing from you! ๐Ÿฅฐ

Thank God it’s Friday, so I am celebrating tonight! Wish to join? ๐Ÿฅ‚ There is Pizza ๐Ÿ•, Tacos ๐ŸŒฎ, Noodles ๐Ÿœ, and Donuts ๐Ÿฉ on the menu (so that I can cover several continents in one go, just like my readership ๐Ÿ˜‰).

WOOHOO again!

Posted in Blogging

Free images on Unsplash

I wanted to thank the team of Unsplash.com for the free images I have been using recently. They have turned the look of my posts around and I am forever grateful.

For all bloggers out there, please check out the site. It is free, effective and easy to use. Crediting is also not mandatory but helps show your appreciation for the wonderful photo artists out there.


Disclaimer: I am not getting anything for promoting this website except satisfaction.


Photo made available freely @unsplash by Fuu J 

Posted in Life and After

150 Posts Old!

Yeeeeeeeee! When I started, I wondered if I will hit the 50 stories mark. My only hope was that if I can create one crazy story a day for my daughter, I can do the same for my blog too. Now I have 150+ posts! And I have 15 stories lined up in the drafts! Whew!

Thank you all for reading!

Thank you all for liking and commenting!

I would invite you to provide more comments to let me know what could have been better. If you want to read something specific or provide any blog-related advice, write to me at shailygrwl@gmail.com.

Let’s party! Well… I am on healthy veggie diet this month, so… dig in!

Menu

Fruit salad:ย ๐ŸŽ ๐Ÿ ๐ŸŠย ย ๐ŸŒ ๐Ÿ‰ ๐Ÿ‡ ๐Ÿ“ ๐Ÿˆ ๐Ÿ’ ๐Ÿ‘ ๐Ÿ ๐Ÿฅญ ๐Ÿฅย with a sprinkling of ๐Ÿ‹

Baked vegetable:ย ๐Ÿ…ย ๐Ÿฅฆ ๐Ÿฅ’ ๐Ÿฅฌ ๐ŸŒถ ๐ŸŒฝ ๐Ÿฅ•ย with a sprinkling of ๐Ÿ‹

Two flavor of soups: ๐Ÿต ๐Ÿฅฃ

Bread:ย ๐Ÿ• ๐Ÿฅช ๐Ÿฅ™ ๐ŸŒฎ ๐ŸŒฏ ๐Ÿฅ—ย (because if a Pizza, sandwich, burritto, taco, roll or noodles are loaded with veggies, I consider it healthy too)ย 

Icecreams, cake, pastries and muffins:ย ๐Ÿง ๐Ÿจ ๐Ÿฆย ๐Ÿฐ ๐ŸŽ‚ ๐Ÿฎย (Come on! What’s a party without desserts?)

Again, let’s dig in! ๐Ÿ˜‹

Posted in Life and After

Hurrrray! 500+ Likes

It feels good to be liked for what I believe.

Thank you to all of you reading my posts. According to WordPress stats, I have 500+ Likes, 592 Visitors, 1600+ Views and 74 Followers.

Thank you to each one of you. Trust me, the fact that you visited my post is enough to make me happy. And letting me know that you liked it is a big deal for me.

I am unashamed to say that some of my posts did not get any Likes. But, it is all a process of learning. Honestly, until the month of June this year, I had 3 Likes in 8+ months and 0 Followers. So… The learning curve is definitely improving in the correct direction.

Let me know if there is anything I could do to improve further.

Now, where is that Pizza again! Cheers! ๐Ÿ•๐Ÿ•๐Ÿ•๐Ÿ•๐Ÿ•๐Ÿ•

Posted in Life and After

The Autumn Tag

I have taken it up on me to take up this challenge suggested by my favourite fiction serial writer, Pete at beetleypete.com. He didn’t name anyone but I love a chance to blabber.

1. Hot Chocolate โ€” what is your comfort book? โ˜•
Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome: The jokes are still so relevant that whenever I am down, I just open any page and laugh my pain away.

2. Pumpkin Carvingโ€“ what is your favorite creative outlet? ๐ŸŽƒ
My blog: It reminds me that I am more than what meets the eye.

3. Falling leavesโ€“ changes that appear bad but you secretly love? ๐Ÿ
My duties as a mother of a 2-year old have me cribbing non-stop but, secretly, I love the job!

4. Pumpkin Spiced Latteโ€“ something you love that others tend to judge? ๐Ÿน
My time on blog is something my family complains about as a waste of time (Seriously?!) but I love it.

5. Bonfire Nightโ€“ what makes you explode with joy? ๐ŸŽ†
When my daughter gives me a random kiss

6. Friday Nightโ€“ favorite scary book or film?๐Ÿ’—
I am not a scary story person… I would rather curl up with a romantic or comedy.

7. Halloween candyโ€“ favourite thing to eat? ๐Ÿญ
Rasgulla and Choorma laddoo ๐Ÿช, not sure any of you had tried it though.

8. Scarvesโ€“ your autumn must-have accessory?

My laptop and a book, nothing else is necessary.

9. Fireโ€“ a book or film that burns your soul? ๐Ÿ’ฅ
To Kill a Mockingbird: it talks about how people lower in social ladder are treated by higher ups, and unfortunately, how we all get used to it.

10. Toffee applesโ€“ a book or film that seems one thing but has a different inside?
The Lord of Flies: It seems like a survival story at first but turns out to be a political drama in an unrestrained society.

My question to you all, who will try this challenge next? I will love to know more about you.