The Sunday Roast #4

It's Time To Go All Misty-Eyed

This week's interview is with Misty Dawn,
who writes the blog My Dogs Keep me Sane.

The first of the standard weekly questions: Why do you blog?

When I first created my blog and started writing on it, the purpose was to help me adjust to a 750 mile move to a new state, which also moved me 750 miles away from my family and friends. Now, however, as I continue to blog, there are many new reasons. Some of those reasons are: to share my photography and writing and give myself a way to expand on my abilities and talents; to have an outlet for expressing feelings, emotions, and ideas; and, of course, to continue to interact with and build upon the friendships I have developed through blogging.

What's the story behind your blog name?

Well, My Dogs Keep Me Sane - that pretty much explains itself. I love all dogs and wish I could someday run a dog rescue. The three Border Collies that now own me are the lights of my life. They provide me with unconditional love and devotion. My dogs give me something to focus on when other things in life get too hectic or stressful.

Misty's Words - was originally started to share my creative writing - hence the name, Misty's Words. However, I have found that I am most happy sharing my photography the most, but I do still post some of my writing and ideas there.

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

Definitely the relationships you develop. I have made so many friendships throughout the world, which I hold very close to my heart. These friendships are made without the initial judgments which sometimes cloud face-to-face interactions and meetings.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Don't get discouraged. You are not going to start a blog and instantly have readers and comments. You must visit other blogs and make comments before people will even know your blog exists. Also, build networks - visit other blogs, join networking sites, get your name out there ... as they say in Field of Dreams: "If you build it, they will come".

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

Oh wow, there is no way I could narrow it down to one significant blog post I have read. Each post I read has some kind of significance, whether it be that person needed advice or support or simply just someone to talk to; maybe it's a post I'm reading because I'm trying to learn how to do something; possibly it's a post I have read that made me laugh out loud when I was having a horrible day... I just simply cannot give any one post that title of the most significant I have ever read, because they are all significant to me.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

Well, I've written some posts for the purpose of making my blog friends laugh, some for the purpose of sharing my grandparents' story, and some because I needed support. I guess the most significant to me were the two I wrote about my grandparents, because they were the most significant people in my life.

Ironically, each of these posts were paid posts, but they still remain the most significant posts to me (So there Google! Paid posts can be very well-thought-out and important!). My post about my grandparents on My Dogs Keep Me Sane is It's Long But Please Read This. My post about my grandparents on Misty's Words is For One You Love. I have other posts, funny posts or photography posts which people would enjoy more. However, those are the two posts which were most significant to me.

Today's Sunday Roast with Misty Dawn is the fourth in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.