Blogger Recognition Award

I’m thrilled to have my blog nominated by Sadje of Keep It Alive for the Blogger Recognition Award! Thank you ever so much for your kind shoutout! Please visit her website; she’s an incredible blogger who writes from the heart and is passionate about encouraging new bloggers to embrace their inner creativity. Her boundless talent for stories and poetry is sure to thrive! 🙂

Award Rules:

• Thank your nominator and provide a link back to their blog in your post.
• Give a brief story of how your blog started.
• Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
• Nominate 10-15 other bloggers for this award, and inform them of their nomination.

How I started Slumdog Soldier:

I had this niggling idea bouncing around in my head, like a fly aimlessly bumping against a window. A story of brotherhood among the rats and gutters of London, of righteous vengeance against cruelty; the plight of fallen soldiers in a country that no longer valued them; of trust-building, violent justice against the wicked and standing up for the little guys on the grimy margins of society. And my brain just whispered:

Start writing. Now.

The alliteration of it sounded neat (deep down I’m very shallow and easily pleased 😀 ), plus the story features a war veteran adapting to an unfamiliar city, rats, grime and all, so: Slumdog Soldier. Since late January, I began republishing my historical action thriller once a week. I was definitely inspired by the Mad Max movies and the Jack Reacher series – these gruff loners who are reluctant about emotionally investing in others, yet nonetheless have a soft spot for people in need and won’t betray their better nature to turn down a plea for help. Publishing on a consistent weekly basis has really helped my writing blossom and improve in a huge way – I’ve been continuously floored at the overwhelmingly positive reception it’s received & deeply humbled that it resonates with so many people from all walks of life. I’m truly grateful for everyone who’s taken time to read through it and leave such great constructive feedback. ❤ Having my stories read and commented on by fellow writers has truly been invaluable for improving my creative writing and gaining confidence to share my stories with a wider audience.

After a nine-month slog brief hiccup of erratic blogging, from September last year I began practicing consistent weekly blogging. One decent post each and every week, covering different blogging tips that I’d found helpful. Then another the next week. (Disney gifs helped a TON: people like pretty images. Don’t be afraid to use them.) My first lucky break was How to Handle Writer’s Block. Then the following week – How to Be a Better Blogger, some key self-help tips that I felt useful about what worked and what didn’t.

And…it took off. It really resonated with people. So I published more ‘How to…’ posts every week, and those snowballed as well. Here’s the thing: since I’ve started scheduling regular posts every single Monday (and stuck to it), my readership’s taken off in a big way. Not a huge audience, true, but it’s regular & reliable. I hope you enjoy my stories, anyhow.

Two tips for new bloggers:

1. Trust in yourself and your own abilities. You have something unique to offer, that you should be proud to share. Being your own cheerleader and sales rep is a massive undertaking, but it’s totally worth it – if you blog about something you truly love and are passionate about, that shines through in the content of your writing, which readers will love for its genuine honesty and sincere enthusiasm!
2.  Choose a schedule that suits you best, stick to it, and keep going. The more you write, the better it will get. Be consistent, be regular – if it means scaling back your blogging to once a week, once a fortnight, once a month, do it. But let your readers know. Keep your promises to your readers to blog regularly, and they will know when to revisit your blog to enjoy brand new content. So that’s awesome 🙂

My Nominees:

These are some brilliant bloggers I’ve had the privilege to get to know better this year. Please check their websites out; they’re amazing bloggers who’ve been incredibly kind and encouraging throughout my blogging journey!

Cynical Souls – Ket Cage has written some deeply insightful posts on relationships, childhood memories, and timeless life advice. His astute observations of human nature are very thought-provoking, finishing with uplifting messages of hope that are lovely to read! Two of his excellent articles are Love is just that and Don’t Give Up.

Fictive Finesse – Rashi is a lyrical wordsmith who’s been a huge encouragement throughout my blogging journey; her supportive comments keep me going! 😀 She has an innate talent for expressing herself through powerful imagery. Two of her lovely poems are Open and Falcon; she has also written some captivating short stories too, such as The Truth. Please show her some love by visiting her fantastic blog!

Foxes And Poems – April is a brilliant poet who crafts such evocative, mysterious and thought-provoking imagery through her memorable poetry. Three of her fabulous pieces that I loved reading are Ode to Selene, Invictus, and Retrofit. Please visit her website – if you love raw visceral poetry that touches your soul, you’re in for a treat!

Matthew Richardson is an exceptional storyteller, with fantastically vivid short stories that pull the reader in and surprise twist endings that are very entertaining! Three of his excellent flash fiction collection are Alone Amongst The Beasts, In Bad Taste and Customer Disservice – they’re really worth checking out!

Chris Hall is a fantastic author who’s already released her first novel through Amazon – You’ll Never Walk Alone. Like me, she’s currently working on publishing her next project:  A Nick in Time. Please visit her website for more gripping short stories such as The (Un)Dutiful Daughter and Trading Places. You’re in for a treat!

Tara Caribou paints incredibly heartfelt scenes through her elegant prose, powerful imagery and deeply emotional rollercoasters. Some fantastically moving poems of hers are Sunshine in my Pocket, Tide Pools, and Little Reminders. If you’re looking for some wonderfully soul-stirring poetry, she’s the ideal blogger for you!

Ellie Scott is one of the best storytellers I know. Her fabulous short stories immerse the reader in scenes that crackle with life and hilariously vivid characters, including Part of Something and An Ode to Sausages. Her latest anthology of short stories, Come What May Day, is now available from Amazon. Please show her some appreciation by checking her stories out!

Cadie’s Corner – Cadie has such a bubbly personality, and it’s been so fun getting to know her better. Her blog is a wonderful mix of delicious simple recipes, book reviews (both classics and newly published novels), and brilliant life advice for being a parent. A particular favourite of mine has been her 28 Things I’ve Learned in 28 Years.

H. L. Sailer is an inspiring wordsmith whose blend of horror, fantasy and real-world characters are a joy to read! Yet it’s her skill at portraying internal emotions and personal struggles that truly make her characters come to life on the page. Three excellent short stories of hers are Dark Horse, No Fool and Lone Wolf.

Fresh Hell – Sarah is a brilliant upcoming writer and poet who weaves powerful stories that sweep the reader along. Three of her stories you should definitely check out are Pancakes Only, Defenders and Still There. Her words will definitely stay with you!

Mark Ryan paints such incredible emotions in his beautifully-penned poetry. His poems are deeply inspiring, exploring such universal human experiences as wistful love, tenderness and grief, as well as the magical and supernatural through his vivid imagery. Three excellent poems of his are Wandering Star, Cold Murmur and Roam.

Echo Edition – Elizabeth has a deep-rooted passion for writing that shines through in her blog. One of my all-time favourite stories of hers is And Everyone is Necessary – it’s such an evocative depiction of a crumbling seaside town, with rich character imprints that make the scene feel alive and lived-in; a rare feat in storytelling. I’d highly recommend reading it!

Stella Bailey has a boundless talent for poetry, crafting beautifully poignant tributes to lost love, heartbreak, and hope for the future. Three fantastically vivid poems of her are Longing, Maroon and Picking Blades of Grass. She’s well worth your time!

Uzma is an inspirational blogger who writes from the heart; her passion for blogging shines through her terrific content, from beautiful poetry to inventive Word Prompts and some fascinating short stories! Two great uplifting posts of hers are All Friends On Board and one of her earliest pieces, My Broken Shell.

My Random Ramblings – Shweta is an excellent writer with an exceptional talent for short stories; her Tiny Tales series are brilliant microfiction well worth checking out!

I appreciate how writing Award posts can be very time-consuming, and that many bloggers aren’t always comfortable doing them or sharing personal details about themselves; that is completely okay. If you would prefer not to take part, no problem at all. If you would like to accept this Award and pay it forward to new bloggers who deserve wider appreciation, that’s great too!

And finally: Thank you. Each and every one of you lovely readers. For taking the time to read my stories and enjoy my blog. Your support keeps me going and your kindness, encouragement and inspiration has pulled me out of some truly rough patches. You all create such a fantastic online community here that means so much to a budding writer – I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to meet such great new friends and grow my blogging family. It’s so lovely getting to know you all!

Tom 😀