Tag Archives: blogging

Thursday, 21 September, 2017
1

Why I Stopped Blogging For Two Years

journalism, New York Times, why I stopped blogging

#DailyWings: “Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and seeing what happens.”
-Louise L. Hay

Hi everyone. It’s taken a long time for me to come back to this website and have the courage to hit “publish” on this blog post. I’ve missed writing here. A lot has happened since I last blogged in 2015, and I feel like I owe you all — my readers — an explanation for why I stopped blogging, which was once a sacred part of my life as a writer.

Those of you who’ve been around for a while know that I started a blog for the first time on Blogspot in January 2010. It was my safe haven for many years, with a short break in the middle so that I could migrate to a new location — this website. Back then, I didn’t know things like SEO existed that could drive or inform my editorial content. My blog was simply a creative outlet for me to share my writing journey and my hobbies outside of journalism with the outside world. That was it.
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Monday, 09 March, 2015
4

One Lovely Blog Hop: 7 Interesting Facts About Me

Blog hop, blogging, travel

#DailyWings: “Spring was moving in the air above and in the earth below and around him, penetrating even his dark and lowly little house with its spirit of divine discontent and longing.” -Kenneth Grahame

For those of you who are finally getting warmer weather, welcome to spring! I live in North Carolina and it’s been absolutely lovely the past couple days. At one point, the temperature dared to reach 71 degrees, with the sun’s rays peeking out from in between the clouds as if to ask permission. I took a walk.

If the area where you’re located is still trapped in cold winter, hang in there! I read that even the snow in Boston is starting to melt (finally). The good news is that Daylight Savings set our clocks forward on Sunday morning, which means many of us get to come home from work while it’s still bright outside.The time change has also seemed to (hopefully) kick me back into regular blog scheduling mode; the loss of a single hour’s worth of sleep this morning has reminded me of all the time that’s passed by since my last blog post.

What with the snow days, UNC’s spring break and the NC Fellows Final Interview Day, I’ve had to put my site updates on hold. I’m hoping to become more consistent with my blogging in the future, even if that means fewer blog posts per week (as opposed to week-long hiatuses). Thank you all for sticking with me during this weird transition between seasons!

I’ve got a fun blog hop for you all today. My good friend Sara Letourneau, who blogs regularly and writes fantasy, tagged me for the One Lovely Blog Hop. Here are the details for this hop:
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Tuesday, 17 February, 2015
2

Want to Join an Online Writing Community or Initiative? Here Are 5 Opportunities to Check Out!

#1000speak, blogging, community, writing, blog, compassion, social justice, human connectivity

#DailyWings: “What is so marvelous about living today is that it is possible to extend, like a flower, spreading petals in all directions.” -Carolyn Kizer

One of my main goals for the year is to branch out as a blogger and participate in multiple writing initiatives within the blogging community. This month, I’ve extended my Internet “feelers” out and, after mustering up quite a bit of courage and swallowing my anxiety, joined a few blogfests and social media writing groups.

A couple of these writing communities are widely known among hundreds of bloggers, while others are newer or comprise a close-knit group of people who know each other very well. Joining them has been a little nerve-wracking. It’s like you’re back in high school and approaching the different social groups during lunch for the first time; you introduce yourself and wait for a response, unsure of whether or not you’ll be welcomed.

The difference between high school and these online writing communities, though, is that you will almost never be met with rejection from the writers (unless, of course, you’re a troll who just shares personal promotions everywhere). I’m incredibly excited – not just because I get to make new writer friends, but also because this is a chance for my blog to be a part of something that’s bigger than itself.
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Tuesday, 03 February, 2015
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Blog Update: Email Newsletter, Bloglovin & Exclusive Content!

#DailyWings: ʺBooks are the carriers of civilization…They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind. Books are humanity in print.ʺ -Barbara W. Tuchman

I want to say “Welcome back, dears!,” but it’s really me who’s been gone since late January. A lot of both personal and work-related deadlines piled up on me at the last minute, so I had to take care of those. I’ve missed blogging, but I have planned out a busy editorial calendar this month so you can expect lots of great content coming soon! Thanks so much for your patience.

Believe it or not, even though I haven’t posted in a while, there have been several behind-the-scenes changes to the blog over the past couple of weeks. As the blog continues to grow, one of my main goals is to foster a community where we – you and I – can interact and keep in touch with each other in a myriad of ways. In addition to my contact form and social media networks, I’ve set up a few additional services to help you to stay up-to-date with the blog, with just a few easy action items:
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Wednesday, 19 November, 2014
2

Welcome to Wendy Lu Writes!

Welcome! Whether you’re a newcomer or one of the original readers of my previous blog, The Red Angel, I’m so excited to have you visiting my new writer website! Earlier this year, many of my friends started asking me, “I haven’t seen a post from you in forever. How come you stopped blogging?”

I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in May. During the last two years of college, I changed not only as a person but also as a writer. My writing style became more flexible, my dreams and goals shifted, even parts of my personality were different. With my mind focused on potential careers for myself and a network of people close to me who taught me to be more confident in my abilities, it felt like my identity was no longer in sync with my blog. I felt lost.

I started toying with the idea of re-creating my blog. It never occurred to me that I would get tired of the layout of my last blog, but I was. I wanted to start fresh, to re-brand my social media presence and really invest in my personal writing career. Finally, at the end of my college graduation, I decided it was time for me to take a leap of faith and believe in myself enough to create what you now see in front of your eyes.
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Wednesday, 08 June, 2011
4

30-Day Challenge 23: The Secrets to a Hot Blog

Question of the Day: Today, I’d like to know what you think of my blog layout. I need your critique, your feedback! Should I stick with it? Is the foreground a little too narrow? What can I do to make my blog appearance more attractive to my readers’ eyes?

Day 23: Something you crave for a lot. Oh my!! I will definitely have to say my craving for Smartfood popcorn is rather alarming and sempiternal. This popcorn has been my #1 go-to snack since before my age had double digits.

Today I’d like to talk about what makes a hot blog…..hot. Look on your Blog Profile, scroll down to your List of Blogs. What about those blogs made you want to follow them in the first place? Was it the colorful layout, the sexy font, the helpful content in posts, or perhaps the unique blog name?

I wouldn’t call myself picky, but there are some absolute musts in my rulebook that, when I look at a blog, make me want to go ‘w-o-w-z-a gimme summa dat!’, and hit ‘Follow.’

Check out these tips I’ve gathered during my time as a blogger, think about what attracts you to a blog, and ask yourself:

Does your blog need a makeover? Or is it one of the hottest blogs on the block?

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Tuesday, 23 March, 2010
5

My First Blog Award

Question of the Day: What was the last accomplishment you made?

Today, I received my first nomination for a blog award from Cheryl Clarke! This really means a lot to me, so thank you very much, Cheryl! =]

Rules:

1. Thank the person that nominated you.
2. Copy the award and place it on your own blog.
3. Post a link to nominator.
4. Express seven things about yourself.
5. Nominate seven other bloggers.
6. Link them.
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Monday, 01 February, 2010
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The Red Angel

Last year, my friend Joseph and I failed an attempt at making a Rock band. Although that attempt completely went down the drain, it got my creative juices flowing and I began to imagine what it would be like to have my own real Rock band.

I pondered over the band name the most. What title would sound mysterious, meaningful, and “must-have” in a music lover’s collection all at the same time? I thought of quite a few good, solid names but none of them really meant anything to me. There was no symbolism.

I’m not sure how I came up with The Red Angel. As I recall, my first thoughts wandered towards Evanescence (even though that band is actually Metal, not Rock), and then their song Call Me When You’re Sober. I fantasized being the lead singer Amy Lee and having male guitarists surrounding me. Embarrassing, I know. Then somehow the idea of an Angel came to my mind; what if I had wings? And, somehow in my mind, one moment I was wearing Amy Lee’s gorgeous red-wine gown from CMWYS. Then next moment, the gown had started melting into blood instead. The idea of A Red Angel was born.
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Sunday, 31 January, 2010
1

Are You There, Audience? It’s Me, The Red Angel.

Hi everybody. My mind tends to wander around a lot. I often burst out into peals of laughter during random moments and I end up getting odd looks. Comfort foods include macaroni and cheese, Smartfood popcorn (White Cheddar), and potatoes. I’m a journalist.

I am a daughter, a sister, a lover, and a best friend.

My greatest fear is death. While the entire world is turning, I frantically wish for it to be turning the opposite direction. Having come too close with death’s embracing arms quite a few times, I have come to truly understand how valuable life is. Just imagining what it is like to truly be dead–no ability to move or even think–makes my face go white and my entire body shiver.

But I’m not really here to talk to you about the despondent characteristics of death. Quite the contrary, actually. I do have a purpose in creating this blog, though it is as hard to explain as it is for me to, say, bake lasagna. Now, I’m not exactly a good cook, so by my standards that’s pretty hard. Even I’m sort of unsure as to what my goals are…I suppose I’d like to share my knowledge and thoughts with the world through the experiences that I have had. My lifelong goal, in fact, is to use my writing to make the world a better place where people accept each other’s differences. Carpe diem. Live life to the fullest. Love. That’s the theme of this blog.

I’m thinking that this blog just may be a big step towards that ambition.

I thoroughly enjoy comments and other feedback. Follow me, if you wish. I take criticism pretty well and do my best to learn from my mistakes. This is not my first blog, but it is my first publicly-displayed blog. I am pretty excited about sharing my thoughts with you. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy blogging. =]

Oh yeah, and let me introduce myself. Hello there, you can call me The Red Angel.
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