Author: marandarussell

The Most Successful Blogs on WordPress

| marandarussell

Have you ever noticed that some of the biggest blogs on WordPress focus mostly on telling other bloggers how to “make it as a blogger” and “grow your blog quickly”? I noticed this a while ago myself. It makes sense, people are most likely to read a blog that posts information they find useful and practical, and since many WP readers are also bloggers who dream of huge followings and internet stardom, it makes sense that the blogs that promise that or try to help you achieve that would be most popular.

It is human nature to want what helps us to succeed. At times I have been tempted to follow the example of these large blogs and focus on commercialization, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I’m just not interested in focusing on follower numbers, views, and marketing strategies. I understand those things and think I could easily follow the “formula” to try to make it happen, but my passion just isn’t there.

What makes me feel alive is sharing my art, my poetry, my experiences and lessons learned from this whole crazy experience called life. I like to share my pain, my joy, my sadness, my hopes, my dreams, and my heart. I like to read other blogs that focus mostly on the same types of things. It may mean I never become a superstar, and neither will my WP friends, but I enjoy our communication and heart-to-heart connection so much more than large numbers ♥

Horrible ER Experience

| marandarussell

Yesterday was kind of hellish. My migraines were worsening and I had already reached my limit of medicine I’m supposed to take in a week for them, so I ended up going to the ER. There they gave me what they call the “migraine cocktail”, which includes Toradol, Benedryl, and a nausea medicine.

Unfortunately, I had a horrible reaction to the Benedryl. It is really weird because I take it all the time at home, but I guess the IV version doesn’t agree with me. As soon as they started giving it to me, I could already feel chest pain around my heart area and the room started spinning, but figured it was just my anxiety. However, within a few minutes, my resting heart rate had jumped from below 100 to over 165!

I felt like I was dying. It was a horrible feeling. My body was trying to throw up the offending agent, but of course it couldn’t, as it was administered by IV. It was at least a half hour to an hour before I didn’t feel like screaming and stopped thrashing around in incredible discomfort.

I ended up having to stay in the ER longer so they could do an EKG and blood work, which they hadn’t originally intended to do, but with the heart rate spike they wanted to make sure nothing else was going on. Luckily, that stuff came back ok (although I was deficient in potassium and had to drink a nasty concoction to help that).

On the plus side, the migraine is better, but still not feeling great. Going to try to take it easy all weekend.

3+ Days of Migraines

| marandarussell

Three days straight of migraines that won’t go away. They’ll ease up a bit when I take migraine medicine, but then they come back. Sadly, my migraine medicine (Sumatriptan) is one that you aren’t supposed to take more than 4 pills a week, so I don’t know what I’m going to do if they keep coming back. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. If I’m not very active on WP, you’ll understand why.

Ready for Halloween – 2 Artworks

| marandarussell

I’m ready for Halloween! My favorite time/holiday of the year! All the stores already have their Halloween stuff out, so I can share my Halloween art, right? Here are a couple pieces I made last Halloween. I’m sure I’ll have more Halloween art for this year soon!

If you like my art, make sure to check out the pieces I have for sale on Ebay!

Looking Despair in the Eye: A Review of Maranda Russell’s Can’t Keep Me Down

| marandarussell

Such a great review of my newest poetry ebook! This made me feel proud 🙂

EARWORMS & OBSESSIONS

For those among you who’re looking for quick answers, long story short, I can’t recommend this book enough! 

Before I Begin: A Caveat

Having said that, I must also say that my review of Maranda Russell’s book of poems and short prose, Can’t Keep Me Down, is most likely a somewhat biased one, for I could relate to Maranda’s work so much that I wish I had written half the poems in the collection.

On Themes and Style

Dealing with themes both personal and universal, political and not, Maranda cuts through the clutter and goes straight to the heart of the issue, mincing no words. The result is a series of poems peppered with short prose pieces, as moving as they are succinct.

From relationships and privilege to difficult emotions and states of mind, such as grief and suicidal ideation, Maranda paints her words on a palette that is…

View original post 431 more words

“Can’t Keep Me Down” Kindle Book Giveaway! (Contest Still Open)

| marandarussell
Win a free Kindle copy!

Hi everyone! I would like to gift a few copies of my newest Kindle poetry chapbook, “Can’t Keep Me Down” to interested readers! The book comes with no strings attached, although if you would like to leave an honest review on Amazon after reading it, I would love that ♥

The fairest way to choose the winners would be randomly, so I’ll choose a few who submit the registration form below (completely confidential, so your info won’t be shared with anyone else). The form might not be visible on WP Reader, but is located here on my website. You only need to fill out the name and email fields so I can contact you and gift you the Kindle book from Amazon. This contest will be open until further notice. When all copies have been given out, I will update this post!