WQ #2 January 11: PIQUES INTEREST
“I really do think inspiration comes from day-to-day life. I think there’s things that pique our interest – not necessarily aha! moments – but things that just kinda make you raise your eyebrows. And those are often the moments that are the seeds of inspiration. Sometimes they’re in a great conversation with friends, sometimes they’re things you see live, something you read, a movie trailer you watch… I think inspiration is kind of laid out there. One thing we have to practice is recognizing when it happens, and recording that moment so we can come back to it.”
~ Phil Kay
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I am super grateful for all of you who visit and post each week. You bring me joy, I learn about the world far and near, and feel close to you and what you are doing in your lives.
- EKLASTIC – SOARING RESOLUTIONS TOO FUNNY!
- KEEP IT ALIVE – “FAITH IS THE ANCHOR THAT STABILIZES YOUR BOAT”
- LIGHTWRITELIFE – HAPPINESS, MINDFULNESS, ACCEPTANCE AND MORE FOR 2023
- LADY LEE – NEXT DAY OR DAY AFTER THAT RESOLUTIONS
- LOVING LIFE – SAVORING LIFE
- THE CHANGING SEASONS – RESOLVED NO MORE BIRD POOP ON HER ARM IN 2023!
- THE SKEPTIC’S KADDISH – ON THE CUSP OF CREATIVITY FOR 2023
- THIS IS ANOTHER STORY – HEALING FOR 2023
For More Thoughts on Piquing Someone’s Interest…
Your post link goes here.
- EKLASTIC – I WONDER WHAT SMELL PIQUED HER INTEREST?
- KEEP IT ALIVE – SHARES PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, CLEARLY AND PRECISELY
- LADY LEE – HER EKPHRASTIC POEM PIQUED MY INTEREST TO LISTEN TO THE SONG
- LOVING LIFE – PIQUING THE INTEREST OF YOUR KIDS MAY CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
- SECOND WIND LEISURE – TAKE THE PLUNGE TO MAKE LIFE INTERSTING
- THE SKEPTIC’S KADDISH MOST CONCERNED WITH THE MORE IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS – INTERACTIONS
- THIS IS ANOTHER STORY – MORE GREAT BLOGGING TIPS TO PIQUE INTEREST
- TRAVELS WITH ALI – I DIDN’T EXPECT ROTTNEST TO BE SO BEAUTIFUL
- WIND KISSES – HOW DOES A TRIP ON A DISNEY CRUISE SOUND?
How to Pique Someone’s Interest in Your Blog
Less is more
Many of us spent time during the holidays and even the month of January changing up our blogs. Terri had a quick recommendation in her Sunday Stills post about resizing and deleting pictures to save blog space. Piqued, I spent a good part of the day on Monday looking at pictures in recent posts that I thought had been resized in Lightroom. I revised and added alt texts to them in WP. The biggest improvement – one picture went from 3 MG to 100 KB.
“Good profiles mentioned characteristics that would probably be true for all of us, such as: “I want someone who will make me laugh.” About Me sections with fewer than a hundred words tend to be clearly popular. Short profiles that express just enough information to pique someone’s interest work best.”
~ Amy Webb
I love the tip of shorter profiles and picking characteristics to share that would “probably be true for all of us.”
Write Titles Using Unwonted Words
“With the words, a lot of things start with questions. Some word kind of piques my interest, and I love the way it sounds, but I really don’t know what it means. And I honestly don’t care for a while.”
~ Andrew Bird
While we might not have time to look up synonyms for every average word in our post, we can pick one piqued word for our title. I like the word wont because it doesn’t mean what it looks or sounds like it should mean.
Create controversy
“If someone starts agreeing with me, I don’t like it. Out of pique, I become something else.”
~ Alexei Sayle.
I like people agreeing with me, so I’m not good at using this technique. It’s also great for titles. I spend more time commenting on a post that makes me think rather than simply telling me something. (That is unless a sentence, story, or poem they wrote piques my interest.)
An everyday moment that raised my eyebrows.
“I really do think inspiration comes from day-to-day life. I think there’s things that pique our interest – not necessarily aha! moments – but things that just kinda make you raise your eyebrows. And those are often the moments that are the seeds of inspiration. Sometimes they’re in a great conversation with friends, sometimes they’re things you see live, something you read, a movie trailer you watch… I think inspiration is kind of laid out there. One thing we have to practice is recognizing when it happens, and recording that moment so we can come back to it.”
~ Phil Kay
The first quote bears repeating because “day-to-day life” is the key to finding compelling pictures. It is not necessarily great processing that makes a good picture. My husband walked by my computer as I inserted the second picture.
“That’s a good picture,” came the rare compliment.
YAY! SCORE!
Piqued interest may not last long as demonstrated by Toby. Or it might be the start of something wonderful, as in the case of all of us blogging.
Sometimes Longer is Okay
The first quote inspired this poem. It is not only a Senryu poem but a Found one as well since some of the words of the poem came directly from the quote. A Senryu is a syllabic poem dealing with the human condition.
Random acts Beyond aha - pique Raise eyebrows Make us laugh Conversations seed Brilliant thoughts Daily acts A couple dancing In the street Heart wrenching Heroine who dies Saving her love Inspiration Record the moment Don't lose it! ©Marsha Ingrao 2023 Senryu Sequence
Now it’s your turn.
Are you revising your blog, starting a new hobby, spotting the perfect picture, looking for a new mate, or looking for a good book to read? Create (or find) a post on your blog that piques your interest and link it here in the comment section. Or talk to us (my WQ readers and me) in the comment section.
Upcoming and Ongoing on Always Write
- WQ Page
- WQ #3 January 18: BELLY LAUGH/WHITE OR GRAY COLOR CHALLENGE ALIGNED WITH AN UPCOMING SUNDAY STILLS
- WQ #4: January 25: ENVELOPED/WRITER’S CHOICE/DOUBLE DIP CHALLENGES/
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
73 responses to “WQ #2: Tips to Pique Someone’s Interest”
Such an interesting post, Marsha! Lots to think on and tickle my brain! And thanks so much for linking me here!
P/S love your poem!
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Thank, you, thank you, thank, you, JuLyn. 🙂
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Hi Marsha, here’s my post
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Great advice my friend!
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Thank you so much 😊
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[…] Written in response to WQ# 2, Pique interest, hosted by Marsha […]
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[…] WQ #2 January 11 WHAT PIQUES YOUR INTEREST? […]
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[…] WQ #2 January 11 WHAT PIQUES YOUR INTEREST? […]
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I have a bit of a block with my blog at the moment. I’ve been busy publishing my novel and the blog got pushed aside. But after the launch next week, I’m hoping to get back on it. I miss the regular interaction with all my blogging buddies.
Christmas time always muddles my writing routine though. I always feel quite unfocused during the month of January. (I just chickened out of using the word ‘discombobulated’.)
I’ll use it some day! 🤣
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I like that word. So you launch next week. How exciting. What does that entail?
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Hi Marsha. The launch will take place in my hometown, which is where my story is set. It will be in the old courthouse. Our library when I was a child was in a small room in the courthouse so I have lots of nice memories of the place.
Some of us will dress up 50’s/60’s fashion to keep in theme with the book. Afterwards, we will party in a local pub and a two-man band will play traditional Irish music. We will serve sandwiches and sweet treats, made by friends and family, just like back in the old days! Everyone is really looking forward to it.
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How fun! What a great idea. That’s what I should have done with my book about Woodlake, or something like that. People would have loved it. I can’t wait to read your book!
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Hi Marsha, I try to keep my blogs up to date and work on them fairly frequently. I agree that day-to-day life often contains many sources of inspiration, depending on how you view life, of course.
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I guess if one thinks life is boring, then that person is not going to get a lot of inspiration from it. You and I don’t have that point of view.
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Agreed, we think life is an adventure and get immense pleasure from ordinary joys like birds and flowers.
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Exactly, or if not that, then architecture, or even the beauty of the ugly things. Did you see the post that Mama Cormier posted of an elephant statue made of old leather furniture? It’s brilliant!
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I’ll look for it, thanks Marsha.
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Thanks, Marsha!
Here are my thoughts:
All the best,
David
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I will comment on your post when I get to my computer. For some reason I can’t do it on my phone. I love your post.
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💜
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BTW ~ did you see this? (my response to your poem)?
❤
David
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It is adorable!
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😍
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[…] week, for Marsha Ingrao’s Wednesday Quotes prompt, she asks what we do to pique the potential reader’s interest in our blogs. Marsha mentions […]
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This was a challenging one…but a good one. Great post marsha. I loved your thoughts. Your poem at the end reminded me that my interest in poetry was piqued by someone’s post (not sure whose or where) awhile back. I haven’t ventured further than a Haiku, but the interest is there.
https://troyerslovinglife.blogspot.com/2023/01/putting-fingers-to-keyboardwqtheme.html
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Love your post. I love Albert’s quote.
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I’m sure my blog could use some refreshment, but I seem to lack motivation. I like my format. What I lack is inspiration. I’m not (finally) schedules for two iron transfusions next week and the week after. Let’s see if getting my anemia under control gives me back some of the energy I seem to be missing. This lack of energy may not be mental. It might actually be physical.
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Marilyn, if your blog functions, don’t worry about it. You have plenty on your plate, right. Besides, if you are chatting with the people you enjoy, what more do you need? It can get onerous to do blog cleanup. My friend Janet ordered premium to get more space on her blog rather than to spend time cleaning up pictures. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!!!! Lots of love and best wishes getting you anemia under control.
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Thanks! I’m not paying anything more to WP. I’ve paid them a LOT over the years for which their gratitude knows no bounds (not). And you are right. My plate is VERY full right now. I’ve got so many doctor (and a few dentist) appointments, there’s little time for anything else. I need to get my physical self in better order. Right now, I’m not even thinking straight. I was told that I’m really (no kidding) not getting enough oxygen, so I’m “dull.” I’m not thrilled about these infusions. I have no decent sized veins, so it’s going to get ugly. But on the other hand, if I don’t do something, I’m going to gradually fade away. A stupid thing given this stuff is actually treatable. My not wanting to deal with it isn’t a viable answer, even though I just want to wake up when it’s all over. Oh well. Life is what it is.
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Sweet lady, my thoughts and prayers are with you over all these issues. You are a very strong woman to go through all this. It isn’t easy.
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you def piqued our interest today Marsha in your great Senryu poem and pictures. I agree.. inspiration comes from these everyday moments! 💞
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Your poems reflect that belief!
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awww thanks Marsha! ❣️
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[…] end this week’s Wednesdays Quotes with this graphic I found on Pinterest. What can be more effective at capturing readers’ […]
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[…] hope this post “piques your interest” I’ll be linking it to Marsha’s Wednesday […]
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great inspirational post, Marsha 🙂 love Toby’s photos ❤
https://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com/2023/01/12/the-mind-that-opens-to-a-new-idea-never-returns-to-its-original-size/
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He’s a cutie for sure!
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Wow so many great quotes, I love the word pique, some words just resonate
I’ll be adding mine soon, hope it piques your interest Marsha ☺️
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It did! I was ready to hop on the boat!
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[…] What piques your interest? […]
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Looks like lots of fun!
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Thank you for this inspiring post on so many levels.
I seriously need to resize my blog photos as well. These reminders are very helpful!
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I would start with your current photos rather than going back through all your photos. You can save a lot of space by using Terri’s 600 rule but you don’t want the task to be onerous, either.
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Great suggestion. Thank you!
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Let me know how it goes. 🙂
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Will do!
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🙂
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Lots of things to pique my interest. These days I love the garden nursery to color up my yard.
And, yes, it is kind of an every day inspiration.
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Aren’t nurseries fun to visit? I love wandering around them imagining their plants in my yard.
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Yes…. A favorite wander for me, for sure.
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me too. Less frequent now that I don’t have much space to plant.
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Sadly…me too.
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😦
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Are you living in a snow globe today?
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Not bad. It rained most of the night whenever I was taking Puppy Girl out. This morning I woke up to a lacey covering of snow in places that weren’t washed with rain.
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We had company this weekend but oh, how I wanted to travel to Flagstaff or Sedona.
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I’m sure they are beautiful. I wouldn’t want to start now!
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Toby is too cute!
Here is my “interesting” post: https://picturesimperfectblog.wordpress.com/2023/01/11/heavenly-aroma/
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Toby is still cute, but all grown up now. I think he’s just over a year.
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[…] Writers Quote #2 […]
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Someone said our house smelled musty. We were piqued and our interest was piqued. What could they be smelling. The AZ high desert is anything but damp smelling. LOL Try as we might, we couldn’t smell anything musty after their visit. They must have taken it back with them. They didn’t buy our house.
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A great example of a post that piques our interest, Marsha! For many, the New Year invites us to try or learn something new. I had jumped the gun with my Sunday Stills Plunge post with your theme this week, so I remedied that just now. I also love that quote by Paul Kay–it demonstrates how we never know when inspiration will strike! I’m glad Vince recognizes your efforts, I know Hans rarely does
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Perhaps Hans notices more than you realize! 😀
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😀
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Well, that’s ok that Hans rarely recognizes my talents. Hans doesn’t live with me! Maybe if he was around me more, he’d recognize my photographic and other talents! 🙂 He did notice that I don’t read as fast as you do. LOL!
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Oh he would, he knows your talented!
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That was supposed to be funny, LOL. 🙂
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[…] Marsha’s newly renamed Wednesday Quotes Challenge: Piqued Interest […]
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This might be one of my favorite posts of yours. Give me a lot to think about and I especially like that Kay quote. I like that “pique” can have two very different meanings. Yes, I’m a word geek. I want to resize my blog photos too, one of an ever-growing list of things I want to do. And then there’s the need-to-do list.
I try to pique people’s interest in everyday things with my photos by making them appear not to be everyday things. I believe there’s a lot of beauty that gets overlooked every single day because we’re too busy or we’re driving and we can’t take time to see things or walking and we’re on our phones or something like that.
Anyway, you piqued my interest with this post. Lol. See you later.
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I can’t wait to see how some of your photos came out this time, and where you use them. 🙂 Thanks again for coming up.
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You mean I piqued your interest? 😁. Thanks for having me. It was lots of fun.
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I think you did indeed!
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