This marks another addition to the regular feature here at little Indiana: Indiana Blogs! If you are an Indiana Blogger, please use the contact form and send me an email. You may be featured right here on little Indiana.
Indiana Blogs: Marian Allen
Marian Allen is an Indiana blog but this time, she’s not only a blogger, she’s a writer who writes!
Humorous and insightful, I’m always drawn into her blog and especially the character prompts at the end of each one–and I don’t ever write anything with characters! See? That’s just how clever Marian is.
For aspiring writers or those who are already knee deep into their first (or fifteenth) novel, poem, or short story, this is for you! For those who like to begin their day with a giggle and a sometimes-peek into small town life, this is for you, too.
Indiana Blogs: Marian Allen
Why did you start Marian Allen the Blog?
I started blogging January 11, 2008 on a free WordPress site as a way to introduce myself to the experience. In July of 2010, I started my self-hosted blog (my current one) as a way to showcase my writing.
What about that name? Why Marian Allen?
Marian Allen is my name;
Writing fiction is my game.
My blog’s about my interests, see,
And so I named it after me.
What are three of your most favorite posts?
- Always Working is one of my first posts on my current blog. It makes a statement I still stand by: A writer is ALWAYS WORKING.
- I’ve done several interviews with my characters, but Bud Blossom is probably the one I enjoy most. Don’t tell Bud; he’s too full of himself as it is.
- A couple of years ago, the Louisville Fandom Fest added a Literary Track and I was lucky enough to get into it. On the downside, the venue left a lot to be desired. Nevertheless, we persevered, and this post came out of it.
What keeps you ready and raring to post? Why do you blog?
I think I’m OCD.
No, seriously, if I don’t post EVERY DAY, I start forgetting to post at all. So I’ve formed a sort of friendship with posting. Every morning, I get up and say hello to the world. Sometimes people say hello back, and that makes me SO HAPPY!
The discipline of blogging every day has boosted my productivity in my fiction writing. And I’ve met so many wonderful people through blogging and blog-hopping. It’s been beneficial in every way for me.
You write–a lot! Have you always been a writer or is it something you just fell into?
I’ve always loved being read to. When I was little, I thought everything printed was handed down to us like the Bible. When I found out people write things NOW, that was all I wanted to do.
You know the old “deserted island” game. If you could only choose five books to bring with you, what would they be?
1. How To Survive On A Deserted Island
2. Big fat blank book with never-ending pen
3. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
4. Three Men In A Boat (To Say Nothing Of The Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome
5. Gormenghast Trilogy (or just Gormenghast) by Mervyn Peake
You run a lot of regular features on Marian Allen–what can folks expect on different days of the week?
Monday: Writers and writing
Wednesday: Food
Friday: Recommendations
Saturday: Caturday
Sunday: Samples (flash fiction, poetry, excerpts)
That leaves Tuesdays and Thursdays open for nonsense. 🙂
Is there anything else that you would like little Indiana readers to know about you or your blog?
I love where I live: in the country outside a small town.
Sometimes I visit and post about country life or small town life, or about my visits to other small towns — or visits to big towns. Little Indiana is just the kind of web site I like! I’m so glad Leslea Tash introduced us!
Slice of Life
See what I mean? She’s so funny! Thanks to Marian for taking time out from her writing to share her world with us today!
Small Towns: Destinations, not Drive-Thrus! I’m Jessica Nunemaker and THIS is little Indiana!
Find pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream or on the new little Indiana Tumblr blog.
Just don’t forget to tell ’em that little Indiana sent you!
Don’t miss a moment. Subscribe to little Indiana and receive instant updates to stay on top of everything “little.”
little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.
Targeted. Relevant. Affordable! little Indiana advertising.
