Tag: Writing Tips

Where Did my Name Come From?

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Daily writing prompt
Where did your name come from?
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What’s Up With Hilary?

Just to clarify, it’s Hilary, not Hillary or —goodness, no—Hillary Clinton, so let’s not go there. I’m more of a Hilary Duff, anyways.

Please note that I’m keeping this blog post about my first name, Hilary, because diving into my middle name—shared with my great aunt, a nurse with a story worth its own novel, would take us on a tangent. Also, my married name, Tan, is super common in Singapore, but my maiden name? It’s practically extinct. I’m the last of my family to carry it, and let’s just say I’m not its biggest fan, but will make light of it with humor, of course.

My name, Hilary, feels like a whisper from the past, carrying a gentle, soft melody that I’ve always found grounding. Derived from the Latin word, Hilarius, meaning “cheerful” or “happy,” it’s a name rooted in joy, which resonates with my quirky, uplifting personality. I’m not just funny—I’m Hilary-ous! I often joke and say that if I could have any job in the world, I would be a comedian.

A Touch of History

Historically, Hilary was a unisex name, used for both men and women, but when I think of it as a male name, I think of the guy who climbed Mt. Everest—Sir Edmund Hillary, I believe. My name might be timeless, but it’s not very popular anymore, especially after Hillary Clinton’s time in the public eye. However, there’s something poetic about carrying a name spoken across centuries, even if it doesn’t hold much significance for me. Honestly, I would’ve been fine with a different name. Then there are people who, as if it’s a groundbreaking idea I’ve never considered, say, “Well, you could use your middle name since you don’t seem to like your first name that much!”

Gee, I never thought of that! Actually, I can’t, because my middle name is worse than my first name!

I often write blog posts about finding peace in the chaos of life, and Hilary feels like a quiet nod to that mission. Its cheerful essence reminds me to seek joy in small moments—whether it’s a quiet morning with my journal or a walk on my favorite trail. My parents chose it because they wanted a name that felt unique yet classic, something that would stand out without being overly trendy. My mom wanted a name that sounded musical, and she preferred a variation of Hillary, which she said she didn’t care for. I often get called nicknames like Hilz, Hilly, Hil, and others that aren’t even close to my name, like Hilla, Hailey, Hannah, and so on. I really don’t mind Hailey. In my opinion, Hailey or Hannah are much better names.

A Personal Connection

Growing up, I didn’t really like my name, Hilary. As a kid, I sometimes wished for something more common, like Jessica, Hailey, or Claire—names that were popular in the 1980s and 1990s. I wanted a common name because I longed to fit in and have a normal childhood. But my childhood was anything but normal. Is wanting a simple, vanilla life too much to ask? 🍦😔

Also, I got tired of correcting the spelling. Everyone, including teachers, would spell it H-I-L-L-A-R-Y. Ugh. Drop the extra L. Over time, I’ve grown to accept my name. I don’t love my name or its associations, but at least it’s distinctive, almost aristocratic. Hilary sounds like a name suited for the social elite. My name has taught me to embrace my differences and quirks. As my mom and Nana would say, my name sounds musical. My name is like a soft melody—unassuming but memorable. I also feel a lunar pull to my name, as if it aligns with the dreamy, introspective energy of Sereneluna (yes, it’s one word, not two!). Here I go again, correcting people on my blog’s spelling, just as I’m constantly correcting the spelling of my name.

Wanna know what’s not so funny? Having to pay fees to keep this blog alive. It costs money each year to run a blog, as most of you know, and it isn’t cheap. If you’d like to help keep this blog alive and see more posts like this, check out my Ko-fi donation link. My writing runs on caffeine! My suggested donation is $5 CAD (or $3.50 USD), but you can choose any amount. Alternatively, if you want to purchase a sticker from my Redbubble shop (@sereneluna), I earn about $1 per purchase, though that will change at the end of the month.

I’m curious to know if you’re participating in this daily prompt. After all, what’s in a name? Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment below ↓

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

Should I Change my Blogging Style?

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In the blogging world, there’s a constant struggle between creating high-quality content and posting consistently so readers remember you. Recently, I’ve been dealing with this challenge. I usually take great care when crafting each blog post. I meticulously refine every sentence. I make sure that everything is perfect down to the last detail. Still, I’ve realized that I need to be more relaxed in my approach. I also need to be more spontaneous. Some bloggers easily share their thoughts as they come. They embrace imperfection and authenticity. They do not worry too much about details like I do. This contrasts sharply with my perfectionist tendencies, where every comma and phrase must feel just right before I hit “publish.” If you’re anything like me, then keep reading.

••◦ ❈ ◦••

Like a diary but not like a diary 📖

Blogging like it was someone’s open-book diary has always irritated me and it still does to this day. Still, you’ve got to admire bloggers who have a total disregard for perfectionism. The lack of polish, the disregard for aesthetic perfection, and the casualness of their content seemed, frankly, unprofessional to me. Yet, as time passed, I found myself envying their freedom. They post at odd hours. They use stock photos from the internet. Sometimes, they don’t use any photos at all. Their posts can range from a few lines to lengthy rants on controversial topics like politics. God forbid if you disagree with them. They do all of this with an audacity that I secretly admire.

Image generated using AI ✨💫

This brings me to a pivotal question for my blog:

Should I adopt this approach? There’s a certain allure to the idea of blogging more spontaneously, from the heart, without overthinking every detail. These bloggers, with their unfiltered posts, seem to embody a raw honesty that resonates with readers. Ultimately, these bloggers aren’t just creating content; they’re sharing their lives, unedited and unfiltered. I’m thinking about changing my blogging style. I want to shift from focusing on quality over quantity to emphasizing quantity over quality. This change will help me prevent long-term burnout.

What do you prefer? Would you enjoy more frequent, less polished posts that include off-the-cuff thoughts, diary-style entries, or even the occasional rant? Let’s be real. Most of my blog posts are about me whining about how hard life is. Or do you appreciate the current format? I spend considerable time on each post. That’s if I even bother posting it at all.

Image generated using AI ✨💫

Most importantly, I’m not aiming for my blog to be just another lifestyle and goal-oriented blog. There are countless blogs out there, many of which are deemed superior in terms of presentation or content depth. Yet, what sets a blog apart is its voice. It has a unique perspective and its ability to connect on a personal level. Additionally, the writer needs the ability to keep going. ✍️

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

Do you want to see more spontaneous, less edited blog posts? Would a diary-style entry resonate with you more than a polished article? Do you value the effort I put into each blog post? Even if that means it takes me a century to publish something? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below ↓ I want to hear from you. 😊🤍

P.S. Please follow me on Twitter/𝕏 (@serene_hilz) if you aren’t already. You can learn more about AI image generation there, if that’s your thing. While some believe AI is bad, I view it as a valuable tool with endless possibilities~! I have an unpopular opinion, but that’s fine with me.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

I’m Keeping My WordPress Premium Plan

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Yes, that’s right. I’m not leaving WordPress and I renewed the Premium Plan a few days ago. I was lucky enough to find a coupon for 50% off the Premium Plan and ended up only having to pay $63.00 CAD after tax! If you have a Premium Plan and are interested in taking advantage of this offer, please DM me. The coupon is only good for users who already have a Premium plan. 💻

Whenever I compare WordPress to a self-hosted site, I still conclude that WordPress is the best option for me. It’s no surprise that WordPress is popular because of the vibrant, caring online community that supports it. Even if you decided to host your own site instead of using WordPress, you wouldn’t get that same feeling of being part of a larger community. Yes, I know that WordPress is overpriced for what it is but it’s the community of bloggers that keeps me here. You can read my thoughts about WP Plans and what I like or dislike about it, here:

♡ Related Blog Post: Blogging Fatigue

Regardless of whether you stumbled upon my blog, or you are already a member of the WP community, it is important to be courteous, kind, and respectful of those around you even if you disagree with their opinions. Please don’t be a little b.i.t.c.h. in the WordPress community. Because when you are, it becomes less enjoyable for everyone else.

The online world is already filled with criticism and naysayers. Individuals who don’t like you will always find a way to talk or write about you. It is never been easier to ignore these people because, like they have always done, they’re likely still lurking in the shadows of cyberspace 👀 If I left WordPress, my voice would be silenced, and I would be doing myself and everyone else a disservice. Her name is not mentioned for privacy reasons, but if she’s reading this and recognizes herself in these words, then yes–I am talking about you.

My Voice Will Not Be Silenced

You see, I still have a lot to say; hence, I am not going anywhere. Writing is very therapeutic for me and it helps me make sense of my thoughts and complicated emotions. And I know that there are some people who will disagree with me, but I also like using the Medium platform (follow me on Medium @sereneluna) because it is a great way to share my thoughts with the world. But it is not always easy to use and navigate, whereas WordPress is much easier to use. That’s why I will continue to share [most] of my articles on both platforms.

Furthermore, I have no intention of making my blog posts private because I aim to make all of my content easily accessible. Understand that I am not monetizing my blog content (I make $0 from this blog) so it’s a labor of love. I don’t need to blog for a living, so instead, I do it out of the kindness and generosity in my heart. Instead of putting up paywalls on everything, that’s what Medium is for 💁‍♀️ One way or another, I will find a way to pay for my blogging expenses so that I can continue to provide my readers with quality content.

Dear Readers, I Love You.

I want to take this moment to thank each and every one of my loyal readers for sticking around with me for all of these years. If it wasn’t for your dedication, my blog would never have grown into something so special and I am forever grateful that you have been there through the ups and downs. Something needs to change in order for me to keep going with this blog, but I am looking forward to what the future holds. I know there’s a lot of pressure to be perfect and keep up with social media trends but I don’t want to fall into the trap of being fake. That’s why I want to stay true to myself while also finding creative ways to show my personality. I really look up to bloggers who are able to write controversial blog posts and put out a clear message when they know some readers will disagree but they do it anyway because they are following their own truth. Only a small handful of bloggers come to mind, which I can count on my fingers.

This might be hard to hear (er, read), but I’m gonna be 100% honest with you. You can’t deceive yourself that everything is fine when it isn’t – I won’t lie and say “everything’s fine” when that is not the case. Sometimes my blogging may stop for a few weeks, but I can assure you that I have no intention of neglecting this account. I am not going anywhere, and I still try to find time to read your blog posts when I get the chance. I will admit that I read a lot fewer blog posts than I used to, and try not to get caught up too much in the blogging world these days.

(っ◔◡◔)っKey Takeaway: So I guess I am stuck using the WordPress Premium Plan for another year, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

P.S. If you’re interested in following my stories on other social media platforms, you can find me here. I do not actively post on Instagram and if you try to send me DMs there, I probably won’t reply. Twitter is where I primarily post updates about my personal life, especially my cat! 🐈‍⬛

Instagram: @serene_hilz

Twitter: @serene_hilz

Medium: @sereneluna

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

great-vibes.regular (1)

It’s Time to Stop Procrastinating

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First, let’s start with some housekeeping. I am re-sharing my Medium article on the blog. If you use the following link to read this article, I will earn a small commission. It might be only a few pennies but it’s better than earning nothing at all. This article was behind a paywall for a few weeks but I want to make it available for everyone to read.

♡ Medium Article: It’s Time to Stop Procrastinating

Image Source: Pexels.com

Remember, I am NOT an expert. I am simply a human trying to navigate this thing called life. Apparently, I wasn’t able to live up to the expectations of a blogger who was once a close friend of mine. Last week, she lashed out at me in the most childish way imaginable. At this point, I have lost all respect for her. And for the record, let me clear one thing up right now before we get started:

(っ◔◡◔)っSerious Question: What is this blog, sereneluna.net about?

Using layman’s terms, I write about a variety of different topics, NOT limited to lifestyle, mental health, parenting, and relationships. This is NOT a niche-specific blog. A variety of different topics are welcome, especially if these topics provide value to my readers. I write for an audience rather than for myself.

👉 Now that we got that out of the way, it’s time to stop procrastinating and start getting things done!

“Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.” —Mark Twain

Image Source: www.deviantart.com/pinocchio-kun/art

Procastination Can Sneak Up on You

Procastination can be difficult to identify because it often goes unspoken and manifests in different ways. Also, procrastination is often hard to break, but there are ways to overcome it. It is not uncommon to find yourself in a situation where you are feeling tired or overwhelmed by how much work you still need to get done. Breaking the habit of procrastination is important and taking the time to focus on what you need and want to achieve can help you get back on track.

👉 So you might be thinking that this is good advice, but how do we break free from it? How do we stop it from holding us back? How do you get out of this self-sabotaging cycle? It can be difficult to find a way out of the trap, and you might start to feel like there’s no end in sight.

The answer to these questions is quite simple, but often difficult to execute. You see, the key to overcoming procastination is being able to identify what you’re actually doing and then having the motivation needed to overcome that obstacle.

Some of us find it hard to find time to do the things we don’t want or need to do. Some also tend to procrastinate with jobs or tasks we don’t want to do every day for things that aren’t important. This is where the problem arises.

For example, if you are working on a task at work or doing something with a deadline, it is essential to stay on top of things. It might seem like not completing these important tasks or completing others that are less important would be good. However, in many cases, there can be consequences. For example, no matter what the circumstances, often the essays that are due at the last minute always get completed with mixed feelings of relief and regret. Even though writers typically have the best intentions of writing for their favorite publications, they still struggle with procrastination. Writing blog posts is no exception.

The Benefits of Procrastination

You know, procrastinating isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes it’s good for us to take a break from the never-ending hustle and bustle of our daily tasks, and it can help us refocus on what is important to us. I like to spend my free time taking a walk outside or spending time responding to comments on this hobby blog. Recently, I have also been finding it enjoyable to engage with readers in the Medium community as well. Sometimes, it is tempting to spend time reading through content on Medium because of the variety of topics and quality writing. Even though I don’t always feel motivated to create new content, it’s not necessarily a sign of laziness. This is an excellent time to enjoy reading and interacting with others.

I believe that happiness is a subjective and relative experience. Some people say that being happy comes from doing what is most necessary, while others argue that happiness doesn’t even need to be possible because joy comes from everything we experience. If we can make the process of creative writing more enjoyable, then it will allow us to reach our full potential as writers and help us stay inspired, motivated, and focused on our projects. This would contribute to overall success! Not only would it promote productivity, but it would also provide us with a sense of accomplishment that comes from having done something difficult.

(っ◔◡◔)っKey Takeaway: Doing hard work has repeatedly been said to make us happy, so why not find fun ways to make the process more enjoyable?

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ FINAL THOUGHTS ♥

I know that sometimes as a hobby blogger and writer, I struggle with procrastination. But I know that by overcoming the tasks even when they’re hard, life becomes more enjoyable and appreciating the good things in life becomes easier. This mindset allows me to put aside the difficulties that I face and instead focus on my journey. This has helped me tremendously because it has allowed me to stay focused on my life, happiness, and long-term goals.

This week, I want you to consciously choose to find meaning in what you’re doing by having intention behind the tasks that you have been putting off, whatever that happens to be. What things have you been putting off? Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment below ↓ and I will do my best to reply to you in a timely manner.

Thanks for stopping by!