Sometimes the will to continue with writing flags a bit. It might be that my big break, or even a little one, is around the next corner, or a decade away…but I can’t bear to think on it. What I can do is search for inspiration and practical help. There are serious things to do, like the MOOC I just completed. Then there is reading, and actually doing the work, like sitting down writing and sending stories out.  Beyond all this, though, there are less serious sources for inspo and motivation.  So it is I turned once more and examined my spam folder for some kernel of something useful amongst the word salad. And lo, I struck nuggets of gold:

Wһat i don’t understood іs in reality һow you’rе noѡ not actսally ɑ lot mߋre smartly-favored than yоu maу be now. Youu are verdy intelligent. Ⲩou recognize tһerefore considerably in the case of this topic, maԁe me individually imagine іt from numerous varied angles. Its ⅼike men and women are not interested eⲭcept it is one thing to accomplish with Woman gaga! Ⲩouг individual stuffs outstanding. Αlways deal with it uρ!

Well I try spammer. I try to and I agree. Too right,  I should be more smartly favoured. I wonder why I’m not. Is it me? Is it a reflection of systemic and institutionalised issues. Or is it me?

I wasn’t expecting advice to live by from malicious and suspicious sales messages left in my corner of the Internet. But here it is, sometimes truth is delivered directly to the spam filter and provides wise advice to live by: I should always deal with it up.

You managed to hit the nail upon the highest and outlined out the whole thing without having side effect, people could take a signal.

Look, without feedback I can’t really know if I hit a chord with readers. If I do manage to occasionally connect, inspire, inform or amuse, I hope side effects are entertaining, or pleasant, or pleasantly thoughtful, or something similar. Thus, I keep sending out the signal and if readers are set to receive all will be well.

The DRM free picture you find when searching for spam and bots. Cute hey.

Then again, some spam is less imaginative and more direct. This one below is like spaghetti, stretching my credulity as it crosses the event horizon of consciousness:

Hi there, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just curious if you
get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can recommend? I get so much lately it’s driving me insane so any support is very much appreciated.

You asked, Spammer, and I answer. I use the default WordPress filter for messages like this. It’s success rate is quite high.

This site was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something which helped me.
Thank you!

How I say it is…yeah nah. I am not into helping spammers. However, the sentiment is welcome, even if the spam isn’t. For my stories to be doubly relevant!! (as indicated with two exclamation points) is my goal and it has been revealed at last.

Forensic analysis of spam demonstrates malicious intent can be harnessed for good. But it doesn’t excuse it.

Thus, with these nuggets of digital wisdom, I’m primed to return to my writing tasks. Endless editing, adjusting, sending out, waiting for replies…and working on new stories. Hopefully editors will one day see, like my spammers apparently do, that my individual stuffs outstanding.