1. This isn't my first blog. In high school, I had a blog that was probably quite different from what one might normally think of when one thinks of high school blogs. It wasn't emo at all and had very little writing. Mostly, I just posted photos from our little daily adventures for far-distant family and friends on the other side of the globe to see. This was obviously pre-Facebook.
2. The Random Writings is named after the book I self-published after my freshman year of college. It's still available as an ebook, and I even have a few spare leftover copies from the printing in my cupboard here.
3. I absolutely love my header, it was made by my blog friend Angi who doesn't currently blog (as far as I know). What my readers may not realize is that each of the funny little symbols at the top is clickable and leads to a corresponding label of my blog. So, for example, if you're ever in the mood to peruse all past "Bear With Me" photos, just click on the bear's head. The tiny angel with a halo links to all posts marked "Angelisms," and so on.
4. This blog is not the only place I write, though it's probably the most consistent place I write. Unfortunately, my story-telling talent is not nearly as marketable as, say, a talent for actual practical informational writing. In addition to randomly contributing articles to online or print magazines, I've written 4 manuscripts for children's picture books...and sent out countless queries, but have never yet managed to convince agent or publisher that my stories are as funny as I think they are...so I just read them to kids I'm teaching. Tentative titles: 10,000 Bananas; Goodbye, Toes!; The Royal Wedding; and Fred, the Frog who Blinked. They are all awesome and all the kids who I read them to agree with me. (One could argue that they have a vested interest in agreeing with me since they'll never get rid of me but never mind that). Let me know if you happen to love my style of writing and also happen to own your own children's book publishing company. That would be an awesome coincidence.
5. Only once have I been 'recognized' in public by a blog reader--that was at one of Angel's races and I might have been wearing a stereotypically Rachel-ish outfit, making myself easier to recognize.
6. This blog is heavily influenced in the background by my family. I probably wouldn't have kept blogging so consistently for so long if it weren't for their complaints when I neglect to post or when I dare to consider stopping, and they regularly suggest blog post ideas--some of which I use and some of which never quite seem like the perfect fit.
7. I love reading my own blog and when people ask what I 'do' in life, blogging is almost always part of the answer. It's fairly well-known among my 'real-life' community that I'm a blogger.
8. I'm an outfit repeater. Actually, if you've read this blog for any length of time, you almost certainly know that. My wardrobe is very colorful but not very large and you'll see the same pieces come up again and again, usually in slightly different combos, though. Last time I wore this tablecloth-turned-shirt (through the magic of a sewing machine and a self-made pattern), it was with green skinny jeans.
What's something I don't know about your blog?
That's a tablecloth?! Wow. Only Rachel would look at a tablecloth and think it needs to be a shirt! It's so colorful I love it. Something you don't know about my blog...ummmhm....it survived 3 boyfriends and one husband so far?
I like your sense of humor (and your writing style)! Your children's book ideas sound awesome, and I hope you become published someday soon. That's awesome about your ebook! I wrote a self-published ebook too, entitled "Discovering Your Purpose." I released it Thanksgiving Week of 2014. Love your blog! Please do keep it up. I'd like to come back and read again sometime!
-Mattanah from This Same Purpose blog
I have a (secret) dream of writing children's books too! Kid's books are so fun! I love the titles of your books too. Hmmm...something you don't know about my blog: Whenever I post something new, I tell myself that it is going to be my last post because I'm going to start a new, non-anonymous blog. Still hasn't happened though!
I love the outfit repeater comment. I Have never posted any 'what I'm wearing posts' so my readers don't know that I am an outfit repeater sometimes!!! That's an idea for the future. I also say that blogging is part of my life cause I have 2 blogs! A lifestyle one and an edu-blog ( I am a teacher).
I am so happy to hear that your family supports me, I also have support from my Husband and it means a world to me! Love reading your blog
www.siniciliya.com
That's really cool that you want to write children's books. It takes time sometimes to find the right publisher, but that's a great dream to have. Love your blog! :)
Keep writing! One day those children's book ideas will be picked up, so don't give up!!!
That would be awesome if a reader has their own publishing house : ) My fingers are crossed for you.
I have in the past written and illustrated a cook-book and part of a children's book, and like you haven't published them. I blame that on myself though as I didn't actually show them to anyone. Typical.
I've been blogging for over 9 years now, which most people don't know. In the beginning though it was strictly about marketing my business.
bisous
Suzanne
You're amazing. Have you ever been told that? I also really admire your blog, and am definitely going to download that ebook soon!!! I love how your labels are actually little symbols. I discovered that by accident one day. :)
I love your hair! Also, you're amazing. I love reading your posts!
Greta | www.gretahollar.com
That's a tablecloth? Very cool!! I like that your a self published author! Your blog is nice and i love the header your friend made.
This was a really fun post! I've always loved that the little icons in your header are clickable. I'm always impressed when someone is confident enough to share their blog with 'the real world', it's something I've never done and I'm not sure I ever will. 10,000 Bananas is a wonderful name for a children's book, I hope that one day I stroll into the book store and see it on display with your name underneath!
I think something most people don't know about my blog is I'm pretty firmly hidden in the blogging closet! A couple of my friends know that I blog but none of them know the name and most just have no idea!
I love this so much! I had a blog when I was in college to keep up with my family and friends, too. We had facebook but it was only for college folk, so my family needed to keep tabs on me!
I'm so glad you're still blogging :) Awesome!
The second fact knocked me out. How tough is it to self publish??? To me that's a feat I will never be able to accomplish. I struggle with finishing a post, how can I finish a book (several drafts started but never completed).
I like your header too! It's really nice for what you write about and for just being uniquely you. I've never been recognized (thank god because I'm such a nervous nelly over my blog), but I cannot believe that you've been recognized, that's an accomplishment :)
I'm an outift repeater too, but not on my blog since I don't always take pictures of myself on the blog.
liz @ j for joiner
You are so incredibly talented and I loooove that you can look at a tablecloth and think it would be better suited as a top :) That's adorable on you (and love it with the skinny green jeans, too!).
That's awesome you were recognized in public once... I'm not sure anyone has ever recognized me yet, but I do have friends who tell me they share my words with their friends often and that always means so much. It's nice to know we're not just typing away to crickets, right?
XOXO and hope you're having a great week!
You are so endearing. Wonderful post, love your style of writing. I have four daughters and all of your titles for children's books sound very catchy! Hope you get them published, keep pursing it.
I never realized the header was clickable!!! Interesting! Also, I've never been recognized from my blog. That's going to be an interesting day if it ever happens! hahaha
*pursuing
yeees! i love posts like this because i'm nosy and like to know little details like this! look at you with a non-emo blog in high school! go you...i was totally the emo/apathetic one :)
Such a great post! I learned so much about you and your blog! I didn't know the icons on the top of your blog actually led somewhere - SO cool!! It's also so amazing that you were recognized in public, you're practically a celebrity now ;)
~Mattie
www.mattiesmakings.com
I love reading my own blog, too! There's no point in writing something you wouldn't want to read :) I have no doubt your children's books are as awesome as you say they are.
I love your top, it's so pretty! Congrats on publishing the ebook! I hope to one day as well.
That's so fun that you've been "recognized" in public for your blog! That would be a fun and random thing :) I love that your family is so supportive too. My parents are really supportive too and it's so encouraging!
There is nothing wrong with being an outfit repeater! I always am finding new ways to style the same pieces in my closet because no one has money to buy new things all the time!
xo, Chelsie @ Hey There, Chelsie
I loved this to get to know you a little bit better! I've always liked the name of your blog, cool to know it's a book you wrote too! And I think that's so cool someone recognized you in real life. It would make my day if that happened to me, I would feel like a celebrity!
#6 is so true for me too! I can't tell you how many times I've gone a while without posting and my mom/dad/sister say "Hey, it's time for a new blog post!" Gotta love that family encouragement! I love your header too!
This is a cute post! My family doesn't read my blog, but I love the encouragement I get from IRL friends. I think your header's site mapping is very cute!
I love your blog, such an inspiration!!
I would ahem never guessed that is a table cloth turned into Tshirt, you have some talent!! Haha blogging is almost always a part of my intro too ever since I launched my blog in December.
xx, Kusum | www.sveeteskapes.com
Such fun little notes about your blog. Love that your header is so interactive with all the click-able links to various parts of your site! - Katy
I really admire your ability to post so often and to always have something (not just fluff) to say! You are an excellent writer. I'm glad your family is so supportive!
I love this post, Rachel! I have always admired your header, and I think it is so cool that you were recognized as a blogger in public. So neat!!
I still love that shirt so much! And I still wish you could make all my clothes.
P.S. Not only were you wearing green skinny jeans the last time you wore that shirt, but also when you met a reader in real life. Both of which you talked about in and linked to this post! What a coincidence! :)
I had a blog in high school to keep up with friends & family across the globe as well! Mine was a good mix of emotional lyrics, stories from life in China, and photos. ;)
I had no idea your header was clickable! That's SO cool! She did a great job designing it!
I hope all of your children's books get published! I bet they are fabulous!
I didn't know a lot of these, but you lead such an interesting life! :] I think it's awesome that your family follows your blog and suggests blog post ideas! In my family, only my brother knows of its existence. :P
So cool that youve written so much!! I had taken a break from blogging and its my sister who nagged about me not posting that got me back! ha! I love this - oh and Im about to click on your icons (I have always loved your header)
Dont give up on trying to get those books published :)
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