My #IWSG Post, Remembering #AtoZ and a #Book Teaser

Caution: This post is long. So proceed at your own risk. :-) Oh, in a bit, I’ll tell you why I’ve published a long post today. But, first, let’s talk about other things. Based on the title for this post, let's start off with the last one going to the first.

Teaser

I’d like to share this with you. I’m not sure if you’ve seen this, but I’d appreciate it if you would have time to check it out. It’s really short and—as I often love to do with most of my book trailers—I’ve composed the music that you’ll hear in this clip. This teaser’s for my first novel. I’ll upload a full book trailer soon. The book’s supposed to be out any time this year, but I’ll inform you if there would be any changes.

 If the clip above doesn’t work, you may view the teaser on YouTube at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87siEA5VSiM

Remembering A to Z

I’m afraid that I wasn’t able to post something last May 5 as I’ve informed Arlee Bird. If you’ve visited this Musings blog of mine on that day, and only found the last post for the A to Z Challenge, my apologies. I really wanted to join the others who would talk about the A to Z Challenge last May 5, but there was an emergency that day that I had to attend to. So, even if it’s a bit late, I’m adding something about my experiences for the challenge as part of this post today.

So, what am I going to share?

Well, the A to Z Challenge has opened doors for me, and showed me a bigger part of the blogging world of bits and bytes, and gigabytes. I was able to visit some of the blogs of the IWSG folks whom I’ve met, and I also discovered new blogs. With what limited time I often have when I’m at the Internet Café a few distance away from my home, I quickly scanned their posts and happily digested their words like candy – making my time at the net café really worthwhile.

Some posts put a smile to my lips or a pinch in my heart as I felt the blogger’s pain or joy. Other posts made me laugh so hard that I momentarily forgot that there were strangers sitting beside me at the Internet Café, who were, at that time, shooting daggers at me (with that kind of stare that stick to you like glue and make you feel uneasy), obviously disgruntled by my sudden squeal of joy. :-)  I also found other posts that were so informative—sharing things I wasn’t even aware of. It was like taking a serendipity bloghop and being gifted with veritable and pertinent information that the blogger has unselfishly shared. It was a lovely experience!

I really enjoyed visiting and meeting new people from all over the globe, who manage to stay connected—thanks to the invisible waves and electrical, pulsing rhythm of the Internet. I wasn’t able to visit everyone in the list, though. And, I have to admit, there were days when the Internet Café nearby (the only one I can trust because I don’t get worms or viruses whenever I use my USB at any of their computers unlike other Internet Cafés) was closed, and I wasn’t able to visit old and new blogger friends. But during those days when I was able to visit their blogs and read their posts, I must say that the experience has been a memorable one. Thank you so much! I’m so glad I joined it. I really loved it!

IWSG Post

While I was thinking of a topic to write for my IWSG post awhile ago, it occurred to me that some insecurities are born from a lack of knowledge of what one should do online when you have a blog. Things like how to get more visitors, meet new friends and share experiences because, I guess you’d agree with me, that there are—if we are to base it on the characters we create for a book—protagonists and antagonists, too, on the online world. In other words, there are safe grounds and not-so-safe grounds for you to play in. So, in effect, you may choose to be a bystander because you really do not know what to do. That has somehow nagged at me and plagued me, and made me feel alone.

Yes, I’m aware that the Internet carries a lot of information on what to do with your blog, how to get more visits and meet new people. These are often imparted to the online public in a Step-by-Step procedure.

But, sadly, I’ve noticed that the “knowledge” wouldn’t amount to anything if you don’t do it, share in it, and experience it. In other words, if you won’t “willingly jump” into its cool, comforting ripples of information, that sea of knowledge is worthless. 

It's groups like the Insecure Writer's Support Group and many others that make me feel “connected”. They had shown me where the good and safe spots are. And, I realized that in order to keep that “connection”, I also have to have the loving impulse to give that back. Not only back to its source (the blogger who has taken the time to visit your blog), but also to others whose blogs need a virtual *HUG* and an Internet smiley face to make them feel that they’re not alone.

Well, these are my musings for today. I’ll see you in a month, first Wednesday of the month for IWSG. Why in a month? Well, I’m adding some details for my workbook, doing outlines for a new story. I’ve recently submitted five manuscripts; four of them were sent to four different publishers and the other one was sent to a contest. It’ll be a few months before I receive any word about those manuscripts. But I’m focusing on a new story idea now so I don’t mind the long wait. :-) This is why I’ve written a long post for you to ponder on.

Oh, by the way, the hosts and other members of IWSG are HERE.

So, I’ll see you next post--next month. But, before I go, could you do one itty bitty favor for me? Could you answer any of these Qs below? Thanks! Sending you virtual *HUGS*! :-)

My Qs for you:

* What do you think of the teaser? Do you like book teasers? Which one's your favorite? Do share.

* Have you experienced that type of insecurity I’ve mentioned? What did you do?

* Did you join April’s A to Z Challenge, too? Are you going to join that again next year?