Words Matter...

 

Words Matter…

By John W. Vander Velden

June 28, 2025

Some year ago, as I began to take my writing seriously, I was told that I needed some sort of internet presence. That a few posts on Facebook and Twitter just wasn’t going to cut it. That was early 2012 and though I had no idea what I was doing I began blogging. I honestly did not know what a blog was, when I set up my google blogger site. It was a time for experimenting.

But I did have a mental picture of what I intended my blog to be…something literary.

After much thought and preparation, I started Ramblings…Essays and Such…in March of 2012, and for years I generated new content each week. It had been my hope to offer something of merit and if I was fortunate a bit of name recognition would come of it. And though other writing demands have kept me from adding many new posts these last years, the Blog has, at present, 447 posts, most under 500 words.

There are among them a few that have gotten a steady number of page visits, such as Misty Morning and Hot Summer Afternoon, but most have only received fifty to sixty page views over the 13+ years. But there is an exception. Broken Teacup, first published December 31^st, 2015.

Yesterday, Broken Teacup surpassed 75,000 pageviews.

Even as I watched the view count approach that magic number, I found myself amazed at how those particular words have touched so many. I have received comments from all around the globe, and have been deeply touched by those kind words sent in my direction.

So today, I celebrate, that the gift God has given this often broken and mended man, Broken Teacups’ success. That the words within that blog post has achieved notice far beyond my expectations.

It is proof, you see, that words matter.

(320 Words) 6-28-2025

Perhaps It's Time

Perhaps It’s Time                     

By John W. Vander Velden

 

Things change.  Now that’s an understatement.  On March first, this Blogging experiment will celebrate another anniversary.  I was bold and foolish when I took on the task of weekly posting literary tidbits.  I committed myself to a minimum of six months, now I approach six years.

Fact is I have learned a great deal during these years…not only about writing.  Google has helped me learn about internet templets for example, and other mechanical aspects of making a presence.  I also gathered a bit of skill in graphic arts.  But I also did learn a great deal about writing.

Consistency is the key to Blogging.  I believe it is the key to much in life.  But consistency demands discipline.  To be motivated week in and week out and take the time necessary to build a post demands a dedication to the pursuit.  But it also requires fresh ideas…constantly.

Perhaps that is the area that grows more arid.  That and setting aside the time necessary.  Now with Misty Creek published, and working on a hard revise of the sequel, once again I wonder if Blogging is the best use of my time.  Perhaps it is time for a change.

So I do not know what the future holds about…anything…but I should direct more of my time in other directions.  Does this mean that Ramblings…Essays and Such…will vanish?  Yes and no.  Certainly there will come a day when even my faithful followers will forget about my Blog, but not quite yet.  But weekly new posts, they will be ending.  I will post something new when an idea demands to be shared.  Between I will reach into the archives to re-post something.  I also plan to use the site as a message port for my book.

I thank all of you that have taken the time out of busy lives to visit Ramblings.  I hope over the years I have provided stuff that made those visits worth your time.  Thank you one and all!    

(335 Words)  2-20-2018 

Here We Are

Here We Are                        

By John W. Vander Velden

I must take a bit of time to acknowledge this Blogs birthday, if such things have birthdays.  Wednesday, March 1 will mark five years that I have managed to keep “Ramblings” alive.  Hard to imagine that 260 weeks I have posted at least once a week.  It is far beyond what I imagined in 2012.  I wondered then…I still do…if I will have another idea for the weeks ahead.  Ideas aren’t infinite are they?  But even now I have a few already written…rough perhaps but waiting.  To be honest I had no idea what I was getting into when I began.  My research…we should all do research, don’t you think…gave me a few guidelines.  But I did not follow all the rules, like posting three times a week.  That would be exhausting.  But I understood that I had to post on some sort of schedule.  Over time I have found a system that works…sorta’.  Those that have been following “Ramblings” have noticed….I hope.

Each week I wonder if the time I spend on my Blog should not be spent on other writing endeavors.  But I have learned a great deal from this weekly grind, and it doesn’t take as long to create a post as it once did.  But what did I hope to accomplish by this experiment?  An internet presence…  Whatever that might mean.  But it is part of the “author’s” requirements.  Again whatever that means.

But writing a Blog is only part of the program…promotion the other part.  Social media helps there.  But social media on its own won’t cut it.  The fact is I have to write something that people will want to read.  I have to offer something that is worth the time to access and view, and I have to offer it each week.  That has been the biggest part of this learning curve.  To determine what words might matter to my followers.  It is a responsibility I take seriously.

So I beg your pardon as I speak today about something as inconsequential as a blog.  But it is a milestone of sorts, and I wish to thank all of you for making it possible.  I thank those that come often, those that come rarely, those that have come only once.  I hope that you find something worth your while…something uplifting…that is the ultimate purpose of “Ramblings…Essays and Such”. 

So after five years…here we are…and time will tell where we go…

  

2-22-2017  (415 Words)