Meet Helen of Anchored Scraps

In today’s Meet the Members post, we’re introducing you Helen of Anchored Scraps. She’s been blogging daily since launching her blog in February of 2015. Her blog encourages old-style correspondence letter writing. Get to know more about Helen below and then head on over to her site to give her a warm welcome!

MEET HELEN OF ANCHORED SCRAPS

1. How long have you been blogging?

Blogging daily for over 3 years now, since launching my daily blog AnchoredScraps. Currently, I’m at over 1100+ days and still counting!

2. Why did you start blogging?

In my very first AnchoredScraps blog post, “There’s Been Talk!”, February 26, 2015, I share how I came to name my blog.

In January 2015 My Dad passed away unexpectedly, after a brief illness. I was honored to give his eulogy at his Memorial service celebrating 85 fully lived years sharing stories that were treasures to our family. A few weeks later I was able to mail out a reprint of our family photo and included a printed note on my stationery with an image of an anchor and said these days I realized not all photos get printed but I have found by having the ones that are important printed it helps us to anchor their memory. This is what inspired my web name of AnchoredScraps.com; every time I see the name I am reminded its inspiration came from Dad as a tribute to his naval service.

In addition, there was the combination of motivation reading Seth Godin daily for over ten years to take action; and the wonderful clarity the 4W’s of blogging from Mack Collier which was very helpful to crystallize my blogging scope.

3. What do you blog about?

My Letter Writing Daily Blog encourages old-style correspondence, including postage stamps, fountain pens and pencils, postcards, snail mail, typewriter, stationery, and Thankful Thoughts. Being a Certified Project Manager – I also each month include a Monthly Daily Blog Recap, as well including Milestone blog posts, i.e. postings of every 100 daily blog posts!

4. Where are you blogging from in NC?

Coastal North Carolina. My P.O. Box is in Hampstead, N.C.

5. Out of all the posts you’ve written, which one (or two) would you pick as your favorite?

• Celebrating my 1000th Daily blog post! StampSmarter Fantastic Website & Celebrating AnchoredScraps 1000th Daily Blog Post
• “Keep Moving” – Celebrating Dick Van Dyke’s 90th Birthday!

6. What blog(s) do you love?

• Seth Godin’s blog
• Bill Zimmerman’s blog
• Letters & Journals Blog
• The Typosphere
• The Farmers Wife Quilt

7. What’s one piece of advice you’d offer your fellow bloggers?

Pick a topic that you are passionate and want to share. As I mentioned above, taking the time to determine your 4W’s of Blogging from Mack Collier, is really helpful. [1 -Why am I blogging? 2 -Who am I blogging for? 3 -What content do they want? 4 -What actions do I want them to take?] When I realized I did not have to write my blog for “everyone” but rather for kindred letter writing souls (and everyone else was welcome to read along) the light bulb went off and I was on my way. It is fun to be using digital technology to connect about analog hobbies.

8. What’s are three things do you know to be true?

1. It continues to be a joy to write daily! Determine how frequently you want to blog and then stick to it. Decide on what is realistic for blogging frequency, and then commit to consistently shoring up and share. For me with writing a daily blog, my procrastination is bound by 24 hours, every single day. “Any tendency for procrastination must be contained to within the 24 hours each day because the time stamp is going to occur regardless. … What we do during each 24 hour period does make a difference in reaching our goals – and it is important to not just think about it but to actually take action.”
2. Be yourself!
3. Do not wait for perfection to begin blogging. Your knowledge of blogging tools, plug-ins, SEO, and your writing skills will grow over time.

9. Where can we find you on the web?

• Blog: anchoredscraps.com
• Twitter: @HELENSStudio, @anchoredscraps
• Instagram: @anchoredscraps
• Linkedin: Helen Rittersporn

10. And finally, is there anything else you’d like to add that you want people to know about you?

Certification: Project Management Professional (PMP)® through the Project Management Institute (PMI). Organizations: Member of P.E.O.; Wilmington Philatelic Society, Board Member 2017, 2018; WordCamp Wilmington Organizer 2018, 2017 Public Speaking: WordCamp Wilmington 2016, 2017 Presenter.

Did You Enjoy Meeting The NC Blogger Behind Anchored Scraps?

Make sure to give her a warm welcome by commenting below! Love meeting our NC Bloggers? Meet them all!