Friday, June 19, 2015

What I Learned about Blogging From the Hunger Game's Katniss Everdeen


A while back, I got to visit Katniss Everdeen country.

I had the opportunity to spend the weekend with my BCGE crit partners on a writing retreat. (Waving to Charity Tinnin, Amanda Stevens, Jess Keller Koschnitzky, and Erynn Newman.) We were tucked away in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains where part of the Hunger Games was filmed.

The weather was brisk and beautiful, perfect for snapping pictures of the mill village that served as the set of her home in District 12. While I clicked happily away, I got to thinking about Katniss and how she’d played the game.

I realized I could learn a lot by applying some of her principles. Today I want to share what I learned about blogging from Katniss Everdeen.
  • Use What You Know: We each have a knowledge base to work from. Instead of re-inventing yourself, start with what you know and work outward from there.
  • Focus on Your Strengths: Again, we all have things we do well. Don’t discount something just because you can do it. Let those strengths become your foundation.
  • Never Stop Learning: My grandmother had a saying, when you’re green you’re growing, and when you’re ripe you rot. And she was right. Once we stop growing we die, especially in this industry. Things change day to day and sometimes minute to minute.
  • Look for Allies in Unexpected Places: I don’t know anyone who wasn’t thrilled when Katniss befriended little Rue. It was an alliance that didn’t appear to benefit Katniss at all, but that friendship saved her life. Don’t discount a blog ally just because they aren’t at your level. As I mentioned earlier, things change quickly in social media.
  • Be Willing to Put Others Ahead of Yourself: This is the truth I’ve build my career on. People don’t follow me because I’m all that. They follow me because I’ll point you to the experts.
  • Play the Game, but NOT by Their Rules: There are certain things we need to do to get noticed in the blog world and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is one of them. But there are lots of things we can choose not to participate in and directions we can go to set ourselves out from the crowd.
  • Do What Your Heart Tells You, No Matter What: Follow your gut when it comes to social media. Passion can be seen, especially in the world of blogging and writing about something that touches your heart will gain you more than a million well executed posts that lack that emotion.

I believe that when we apply these truths, the odds truly will be ever in our favor!

I’d love for you to share some insights you gained (about life, blogging or just fun facts) from watching the Hunger Games, or from another movie that has inspired you.

Be sure to leave your thoughts in the  comments section below.

Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,

9 comments:

  1. Loved the analogies in this article.. Great advice. I have"Allies" who read my blog and comment; I do the same for them. We promote each other's message for the Glory of God. Blogging is hard work and a sacrifice. Katniss sacrificed her own freedom for her sister's freedom. As bloggers we sacrifice time and energy to empower and help others.

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    1. Cheerilynn, I love the way you're just exploding with energy and going after the path God has for you! Your engagement and encouragement mean so much to me! Blessings, E

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  2. This is such a fun and informative post. And I love your grandmother's saying: when you’re green you’re growing, and when you’re ripe you rot.

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    1. Johnnie, thank you! I appreciate you taking time to comment, blessings, E

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  3. You Said: Don’t discount something just because you can do it. Let those strengths become your foundation.

    Carrie Says: Wow! That hits very close to where I live because I have a tendency to discount the very things I'm good at. My attitude seems to be, "If I can do it, it's not that special." I don't think it's a conscious decision; it's just something that happens. Like breathing.

    I have no idea where it came from, either, but I do battle with it on a regular--sometimes daily!--basis.

    You mentioned passion.

    I hear a lot of people talk about passion and for most people, that message resonates.They can point to something in their own lives and say, "That's my passion."

    What I'd like to see (or hear or read) is someone writing to the people like me, who can't identify a "passion that burns a hole in our soul". We may feel compelled to do something, but is that the same as passion?

    How does one identify a passion? What are the markers?

    That's a post I'd love to read!

    Anyway, off my soapbox.

    I've never seen the Hunger Games or read the books, but your points are well-taken. Thank you for sharing them.

    Best wishes,

    Carrie

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    1. Carrie, you always challenge me and share such great insights. Thank you so much for being part of this community! I love your idea, but I think that might be a series of posts. I'll definitely be working on it! Thanks and blessings, E

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    2. Edie,

      I'm glad I'm good for something! Grins.

      The idea of following your passion is something I've wrestled with for years. Maybe it's just me, but even with my art, I've never really felt the kind of passion other creative people talk about and I wonder if I'm missing the boat on it.

      You're right. It could very easily turn into a series of posts, but that's okay with me. I love your series on social media every Monday. I'm good with another series!.

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  4. I've been following your blog for a while now, and I appreciate your practical wisdom and gentle encouragement. I'd like to say that, in regards to today's post, those are the very things I see you practicing in your blog posts and it's what draws so many here!

    I've been blogging just over a year now, and one of the things you mentioned that resonated strongly with me is "use what you know". I am a homeschool mom of over ten years now - that's what I "know" very well, especially the struggles and need for encouragement. So that's what I humbly seek to offer on my blog - compassionate understanding from someone who is treading the same path, often in the form of laughing at ourselves together or being transparent with the struggles we face. It's a very small, target audience but they regularly visit my site. I've also been able to submit some of my posts, slightly rewritten, for publication in my state's homeschool magazine. It's a small start but I'm getting out there by just being me and being honest.

    Thank you for sharing of yourself and your time with us! You are a blessing to so many.

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  5. Thank you for the good advice (again). One thing I want to Never Stop Learning: What is BCGE?

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