Blog Update

Today I want to update you about some changes you may have noticed around here.

When you type in my website, ashleylilley.com, there is a new landing page. My social media pages have also changed from “Ashley Lilley” to “The ND Family.”

Here’s what’s up with that.

Reason #1:
I am always experimenting with ways to increase my “reach” online. I’ve changed which day I usually update the blog, scheduled social media posts around my “most active times,” played with the look of the memes I create based on blog posts, read more confusing information about algorithms than I ever wanted to, and have even participated in the odd reel trend–which is SO NOT my thing! All in the name of getting my writing seen by more people (hopefully, the people who most need to see it).

To that end, I have noticed something. One of the ways I get the most new readers is by commenting on other people’s blogs and social media posts, participating in conversations. THAT is something I actually enjoy doing! BUT, my blog’s name isn’t doing me any favours. When I comment with my old blog’s name “Ashley Lilley,” well, that sounds an awful lot like a normal person’s name (oddly), so it doesn’t encourage people to click through to my profile and discover that I’m not just a person, I am a blogger. The hope is that, when people see “The ND Family” has commented on their post, they will take a second to go, “huh,” and click through to my page.

So where did I come up with the name, “The ND Family?” Well, “ND” is a common short form that people use online to mean “neurodivergent.” Neurodivergent is the term used for brain wiring differences. Autism, ADHD, DCD/Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Tourette’s Syndrome, intellectual disabilities, and more, all fall under the banner of “neurodivergent.” Since all four members of my family–myself, my husband, and both of our children–are neurodivergent, and since the majority of my posts center around educating and advocating about neurodivergence, it just made sense.

Reason #2:
Another reason for the name change is because I am starting to want/need a little more separation between Ashley Lilley the author, and “Ashley Lilley” the blog.

As a writer, I do more than just follow the themes of this blog: I’ve written freelance articles on a variety of topics for newsletters and local publications, I’ve done guest posts for other blogs, entered writing contests that are not neurodivergent-themed, I’m (slowly) writing a non-fiction book, and recently wrote a children’s book that may or may not see the light of day someday.

Basically, I don’t want to tie myself too strongly to just one topic, which is why my website is now the official website of Ashley Lilley the writer, while also hosting my blog “The ND Family.”

As readers, I hope you’ll find that nothing much has changed. If you are subscribed, you will continue to get notice of each new blog post delivered to your inbox. If you follow me on social media, the title of the accounts/pages have changed, but all of the previous content is still there. Thank you all for sticking with me on my writing adventures.
-Ashley

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