My name is Hugh. I live in the city of Swansea, South Wales, in the United Kingdom.
My blog covers a wide range of subjects, the most popular of which are my blogging tips posts.
If you have any questions about blogging or anything else, please contact me by clicking on the 'Contact Hugh' button on the menu bar of my blog.
Click on the 'Meet Hugh' button on the menu bar of my blog to learn more about me and my blog.
Wordless Wednesday – No words, just pictures. Allow your photo(s) to tell the story.
Not sure what Wordless Wednesday is or how to participate? Click here for full details.
Are you participating in Wordless Wednesday? Although I am not hosting this challenge, you can leave a link or pingback to your post in the comments section to help promote it to other bloggers.
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May 9, 2023, prompt: Write a story about two who can keep a secret in 99 words (no more, no less). Is the secret between them, or is one keeping a secret from the other. Who are they? What remains unknown? What is revealed? Go where the prompt leads! See May 9: Story Challenge in 99-words for more details.
What You Can’t See – by Hugh W. Roberts
Jake and Scott found solace within their secret haven in a world of stifling judgment.
Their hearts intertwined; they danced through life’s labyrinth, concealing their secret love from prying eyes.
Behind closed doors, their passion ignited like wildfire, unapologetic and genuine.
Their whispered affections became a sacred symphony known only to them.
Society’s chains threatened them, but they held firm, protecting their secret.
Side by side, they painted rainbows of resilience, unyielding in their love’s brilliance.
Together, they vowed to endure, guarding their secret with unbreakable devotion, knowing their love was a beacon in a world longing for acceptance.
Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
Wordless Wednesday – No words, just pictures. Allow your photo(s) to tell the story.
Welsh cakes baking
Finished Welsh cakes
Not sure what Wordless Wednesday is or how to participate? Click here for full details.
Are you participating in Wordless Wednesday? Although I am not hosting this challenge, you can leave a link or pingback to your post in the comments section to help promote it to other bloggers.
Follow Hugh on Social Media. Click on the links below.
“They’re just rocks. Most of the planets we’ve visited have them.”
“I know, but I’m sure one has moved since we arrived here.”
“But rocks can’t move on their own. Something or someone must have moved it. The ship’s instruments did pick up a small tremor last night.”
Miles bent down while pointing towards the ground to the right of the first rock.
“Looks like something either pushed or pulled this one. If the ship’s camera had been working, I’d have proof that this rock is nearer the ship than it was yesterday. What’s taking mission control so long to figure out what’s caused the camera to fail?”
Shaking her head, Hilary bent down beside Miles and examined the ground.
“It must be alive,” cautioned Miles. “These marks on the ground clearly show it has moved. Yet there’s no evidence that someone or something has moved it. I thought you said there was no evidence of life on this planet, Hilary. Without any signs of H2O, you said nothing could survive here.”
Consisting of at least 50% of water, the human visitors had no chance when the rock struck. Not even their spacesuits helped protect them.
The dusty, dry planet became alive again as the other rocks slid slowly towards the bodies to feast on the liquid nectar they needed to survive.
While decomposing flesh helped plant life grow and spread instantly, the sound of a click from the ship’s repaired camera finally returned the first image of a beautiful, welcoming new world where humans could exist.
Beware: Not everything is what it seems to be.
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Flash Fiction Friday
Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘More Glimpses.’
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32 short stories and flash fiction pieces take readers to the edge of their imagination.
May 1, 2023, prompt: Write a story about high water in 99 words (no more, no less). Hell can be involved or not. Is high water a new drink? A crisis in nature or the basement? Get in the flow. Go where the prompt leads! Check May 1: Story Challenge in 99-words for more details.
In Heaven And Hell – by Hugh W. Roberts
Amid the chaos of the rising floodwaters, Anne and Fiona found themselves stranded on a rooftop.
They’d been strangers before, but now they clung to each other for survival.
As the water crept closer, they discussed their lives and dreams, finding unexpected commonalities. They shared stories of heartbreak and triumph. It wasn’t long before they silently fell in love with each other.
They spent the night on the rooftop, holding each other tightly as the water raged below.
When the rescue boats arrived, they stepped into a new world, hand in hand, ready to face whatever came their way.
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Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘Glimpses.’
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Glimpses
28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.
April 24, 2023, prompt: Write a story about the colour of hope in 99 words (no more, no less). Who needs hope, and why? How can you use colour to shape the story? Pick a colour, any colour. Go where the prompt leads! See April 24: Story Challenge in 99-words for more details.
Where There Is Hope – by Hugh W. Roberts
As the Pride Parade approached, the city streets were awash with every rainbow colour. But for Tim, a young, closeted bisexual man, only one colour truly embodied the spirit of hope – Green. It was the colour of his first love’s eyes and the hope he carried for a world that accepted and celebrated all identities.
As he watched the march, he knew he was not alone. Many diversities watched the parade while waving rainbow flags. Together, they would fight for a future where every colour of love was accepted.
Hope always won over the hatred for being different.
Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘More Glimpses.’
***
32 short stories and flash fiction pieces take readers to the edge of their imagination.
April 17, 2023, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story of something/someone dark-eyed. What could be a dark-eyed situation? Or is it a dark-eyed beauty? A dark-eyed junco? Maybe it’s a futuristic piece of technology. Go where the prompt leads! Check April 17: Story Challenge in 99-words for more details.
Mirror, Mirror – by Hugh W. Roberts
As a child, I was always captivated by the abandoned house on the hill.
Driven by curiosity, I entered and found a room with a cracked mirror. It caught my reflection, but my eyes were pitch black, devoid of colour.
My heart pounded as I stumbled back and left.
Since then, I’ve been different. My mind has taken on dark themes, and nightmares plague me.
Desperate to find my old self, I returned to the house. When I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I saw my old self screaming to get out.
I’d never left that house.
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Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘Glimpses.’
***
Glimpses
28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.
Do you remember how you felt when somebody first pressed the ‘like’ button on one of your early blog posts?
Does the ‘like’ button lose its appeal the longer you blog?
Do you notice who has clicked the ‘like’ button on any posts?
Is the ‘like’ button overrated?
Is it time to remove the ‘like’ button on your blog?
When I first started blogging, the ‘like’ button on blogs was something I thought was one of the best ideas about blogging.
Getting a ‘like’ on one of my posts gave me the best feeling. I thought anybody clicking the ‘like’ button had read my post.
For me, a ‘like’ indicated that somebody had taken the time to read what I had written. Yes, somebody in the big wide world had taken a few minutes to read and like something I had written.
It also motivated me to write more blog posts in the hope that they would attract even more ‘likes.’ Of course, if somebody also left a comment, that was a bonus!
The Like button doesn’t have any disadvantages, does it?
It was not long before I discovered that the ‘like’ button has disadvantages.
Some bloggers said that seeing too many ‘likes’ on a blog post makes them feel demoralised.
In turn, some users go on to delete or abandon their blog or develop ‘blogging envy’ at seeing how well other users are doing compared to themselves.
I know of one user who admitted that, for them, ‘the number of ‘likes’ was more important than the content’; in other words, they saw blogging as more of a popularity contest.
I have never envied seeing bloggers get hundreds of likes, but I understand why some bloggers may envy it.
As I grew the list of the blogs I followed, it wasn’t long before I realised that there was not enough time in my day to read, like, and comment on all the blogs I followed.
Given that some of the bloggers I followed were publishing new blog posts more than once a day I was soon overwhelmed and drowned in a sea of voices, all wanting my attention.
Doing the following is not a solution.
Rather than unfollow any blogs, I began to ‘like’ posts without reading them. I thought that doing this would indicate to the blogger (who had written the post) that I had read their post, and they, in turn, would continue to read and ‘like’ my posts. I was fooling both them and myself.
I soon discovered that other bloggers and readers were playing the same game because they were all in the same boat as me. Some users (including me) were misusing the’ like’ button.
A dilemma. What would you have done?
When I read a blog post about the death of somebodies wife, I asked myself what I should do. Should I click ‘like’ or just leave a thoughtful comment? After all, many readers had already clicked the ‘like’ button on the post. Did those who clicked it not read the post? How could they have pressed the ‘like’ button on a post about somebodies death?
That was the day I left my first comment without clicking the ‘like’ button. Now I’m doing it much more often. Do you leave comments without clicking the ‘like’ button?
Would you press the like button on a post that contained bad news or news of death?
What shocked me the most about the ‘like’ button.
What shocked me the most was why some bloggers and readers click ‘like’ even if they have not read the post. The most surprising reason why bloggers do it was that it ‘shows support’ for the blogger who had written the post, even if they didn’t have time to read it.
Really? Liking a post without reading it is a way to support other bloggers? Are there no better ways to support bloggers? Of course, there are.
Should you remove the ‘Like’ button from your blog?
I did it about four years ago and was inundated with messages from readers who said that they missed seeing the ‘like’ button. When I asked why they missed it, only a few responded, most saying that it was a way to say they’d visited even if they didn’t read the post or leave a comment saying so.
When I enquired what kind of comment they’d leave if they’d not read the post, most said a comment that confirmed they’d visited.
How would you feel if a reader told you they’d clicked ‘like’ on one of your posts, but they’d not read it?
Of course, there’s also the other side of the coin. Just because somebody hasn’t clicked the ‘like’ button does not mean they have not read the post.
Do you notice the gravatar icons next to the ‘like’ button?
These days, I take little if any notice of them. I’d go as far as to say that the ‘like’ button found at the end of blog posts should probably disappear for good.
Not everyone misuses the ‘like’ button. And remember, there are many other ways to support a blogger than clicking ‘like.’
For example, occasionally, leaving a blogger a valuable comment that adds value to their post. Or ask questions about their post’s content to show you’re interested in what they’ve written.
Don’t become a ‘comment spammer‘ by leaving empty comments hoping you’ll get comments back on your posts.
Of course, if you’re happy with the comments section on your blog containing boring comments that serve no purpose other than saying that those who left them visited your blog, click away.
Why do some bloggers press the ‘like’ button on their blog posts?
That’s a question I’d love to know the answer to. Can you help? Does it benefit the post or their blog or make it look odd?
Don’t have time to leave thoughtful comments?
Rather than spend small amounts of time leaving pointless comments on many posts, use the time you save not leaving them by leaving the occasional comment that adds value to the post. Most bloggers will value you more for leaving a thoughtful comment occasionally than leaving many comments that add no value.
One thoughtful comment that adds value to a post is worth hundreds of comments that add no value.
When and for what reasons do you use the ‘like’ button on WordPress? Have you ever misused it, and would you miss it if WordPress removed it from all blogs?
Before you answer my questions or leave a comment, this is what WordPress says about the ‘like’ button.
Let’s say you’ve found a particularly awesome post on WordPress.com. You’d like to tip your hat to the author and give him or her credit. At the bottom of the post, you see the Like button. Press it, and the author will know that you have acknowledged an exceptional, phenomenal blog post.
WordPress.com
Please feel free to answer any of the questions I have asked throughout this post by leaving me a comment.I look forward to hearing what you have to say.
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April 10, 2023, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about “the old lady and the Beast.” What does age have to say about the story? Who is the beast, and why? Go where the prompt leads! See April 10: Story Challenge in 99-words for more details.
The House That Nobody Visits – by Hugh W. Roberts
Nobody ever went near the old ladies’ and beasts’ house.
Tears of sadness fell every day. Not even rays of warm sun coming through the windows helped.
When the front doorbell chimed one Saturday afternoon, panic set in.
“Who could it be?”
“I don’t know. Nobody ever comes here because of me.”
“Should we answer?”
“Why not?”
The face of a young female met their faces.
“I’m not afraid,” she said, pushing past them. “It’s time I proved the village folk wrong.”
As the old lady fed on the young flesh, the beast knew why nobody had visited him.
Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘More Glimpses.’
***
32 short stories and flash fiction pieces take readers to the edge of their imagination.
April 3, 2023, prompt: Write a story about a dog in the desert in 99 words (no more, no less). Why is the dog there? Who else is involved? Is there a deeper metaphor you can make of the desert? Go where the prompt leads! Click here for details.
Space Barks – by Hugh W. Roberts
Lassie roamed the barren wastelands of a far-off desert planet. She was no ordinary dog. The genetically engineered work to withstand the planet’s harsh conditions and assist in the search for a rare mineral was crucial to the survival of all humanity.
With her advanced sensors and augmented strength, she scoured the dunes, her nose forever twitching as she detected the faintest traces of the mineral.
Triumphantly barking again, she dug up a cache of the precious substance.
Now, the humans could survive, knowing their trusty dog companion had saved the day and helped them beat the virus again.
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Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘Glimpses.’
***
Glimpses
28 short stories and pieces of flash fiction take the reader on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.
Hugh's Views & News 