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Posts Tagged ‘This Side of the Creek’

Second Time Around…

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on March 2, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Amid all of the weather news that has been occuring today in northern Kentucky and portions of the counties where my family live, I received an email with exciting news…

“This Side of the Creek” has been named a finalist in the Associated Press Society of Ohio news competition for the second year in a row! And once again, my colleagues at the Times-Gazette in Highland County also garnered several awards. Love those guys (and gals). Lora Abernathy, the Ohio Community Media southwest online editor, and I entered our blogs after winning first and second place in the competition last year. Lora and I received those places again this year and it is to be determined which place we took. At least we know we aren’t third, lol…

In May, we will find out for sure as we’ll head back to Columbus to accept and celebrate these awards with fellow newspersons from across the state. Sixty-seven newspapers entered close to 3,000 samples in categories such as blog writing, news feature writing, headline writing, photography, mulitmedia use, sports and front page layouts, etc.

Considering the hesitation I had when deciding to start “This Side of the Creek,” I am quite proud to have sustained this blog and the tremendous readership. Some days I’m at a loss for words and I shy away from posting. Other days it’s as if the words pop into my head and out the ends of my fingertips before I have a chance to take a breath. And there are even days when I doubt everything posted here and question whether I should continue on. I may ask myself, “Who really wants to read this? Why would they care about my words?” Those questions, however, are precisely why I keep going. They afford me the motivation and understanding of how I want to move forward with “This Side of the Creek.” In doing so, I aim to be as real as I can about issues that are often sugarcoated in our society.

As I prepare to turn off my television after hours of storm monitoring, my fear has gone and I’m feeling humble at this time for some good news today. I thank you all for helping to make this second AP award possible. Without you, “This Side of the Creek” would be lonely!

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One Year and Thousands of Views Later…

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on November 15, 2011| Leave a Comment »

It has been one year since I began my journey as the author of “This Side of the Creek.” Wow, how time flies. I must admit that in the beginning, I wasn’t sure I wanted to begin a new blog because with a new blog comes expectations. I was already a graduate student and graduate assistant, working full-time as a newspaper reporter, completing an internship, and maintaining a long-distance relationship. I didn’t feel I needed any added expectations and what would I write about? Fifteen-hour work days? Homework assignments?

Well, I took a leap of faith anyway and began a new writing venture that in the past year has led to more than 7,200 views, numerous comments, and an Associated Press Society of Ohio award for “Best Blog.” I have enjoyed writing about whatever comes to mind and being able to connect with people on a level that is rewarding. So, I think the journey on “This Side of the Creek” has been worth it.

As I head into a new year of blogging, I encourage you to share your post ideas with me. What would you like to read more about? What do you like or not like about “This Side of the Creek?” I want to hear from you.

And I thank you for your continued support and encouragement. I hope you will share “This Side of the Creek” with others who may enjoy or benefit from the posts herein.

Until next time…

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What’s Your Story?

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on August 16, 2011| 1 Comment »

We all have one and we have all survived it thus far. I’m talking about a story; the one that is completely our own and to which we have written the chapters.

Sometimes the story is an action-packed adventure. Sometimes it’s a drawn out drama, possibly full of suspense. Other times, it’s a story of love or a story of tragedy. Regardless, our stories belong to us and we have it within our power to write the next pages with as much or as little as we wish.

My story has been a mixture of all of the above. When I consider where I have come from and where I am today, I sometimes wonder what it would have been like had I made different choices. However, I made whatever choices I did in the exact moments that I made them and the resulting chapters led to the Meredith I am today. I don’t regret. I work hard to forgive myself and others while looking at the day at hand and asking myself what I want to write today.

I’m working to put my story into actual book form, but these things take time and patience. When I’m ready and God says it’s right, I’ll share it with a broader audience with hope that someone somewhere may be inspired.

Until then, I encourage you to consider your story. What types of chapters do you want to include and how many of those chapters have you already written? Remember, you have the power to decide what words will be read on the next pages… in this way, we are all writers.

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