Just a little fun today. It’s been a busy week, and we have a wedding this weekend that will take most of our time. First, though, congratulations go to Vanessa-Jane Chapman who was the winner in last Saturday’s book giveaway with Charissa Stastny. Vanessa has won her choice of either Eyes of Light or Secret Keepers. Thanks to everyone who commented! I’m looking forward to doing more Saturday Sit Downs, and I hope you are, too.
As a simple post today, I thought I’d share some of the more entertaining search terms that have recently led people astray to my blog.
After one post with a few tagged photos, searches for tall ships bring a number of folks to my blog. Interestingly, there’s some very specific interest in a particular year:
baltimore inner harbor 1900
hd images of american ships moored in 1900
That second one made me look twice. Unless you’re a time traveler, where will you find high-definition photos from 1900? Or maybe this is evidence that time travelers are visiting the past and something important happened with an American ship moored in Baltimore’s inner harbor in 1900…. Hmm.
Archaeological searches also lead my way, undoubtedly from students and professionals. After all, who else would look for:
artifact drying racks
purchase artifact drying rack
archaeological laboratory building requirement
excavating an old homesite
“slipware” “18th century”
english tin glaze ware shards
what is the difference between manganese mottled and rockingham ware?
forensic archeology stories
artifact, flags, field
Then, there are a lot of searches for clip art, most of which focus on running:
hey around characters
running character followed by mobs
stick people running away
someone running away in character form
running away from woman on beach
running images characters
character running away
animals running away from dry
For some, I’m not sure what to think:
map of clutter murder
freaky bones
outward lies mcdowell (do I want to know?)
adverb confessor (I’ve heard of a “father confessor,” but maybe this is a new twist. Okay, I’m sure they were looking for adverbs for the word confessor. But now I’m curious what they were writing about.)
the view dog didn’t do it (then who did?)
dirty mind test pictures (I really don’t want to know.)
sending mail through closed glass jars dropped into the sea (of course! message in a bottle!)
norfolk lavender 5 year graph
Also, people are interested in poems, especially about archaeology. Who knew?
poem running away when things get tough
poem hay fever
dont run away we the goin get tough poems
archaeologist do poem
archaeologists poetics
archaeology in poetry
poems about archaeology
archaeologist poems
archaeology and poetry
poems for children on archaeology
i am poem for archaeologist
i am an archaeologist poem
forensic poem put the kings
Which leads to my all-time favorite to date:
when i’m older i want to be a forensics poem
I’ve heard of some unique job titles before, but never “forensics poem!”
What are some of your favorites search terms that led someone to you?
Laura Stanfill
/ March 2, 2013These are hilarious, jm! One of my top search terms for the past two years has been “real life intersect.” I’m not sure what that is, but I’m pretty sure my post on using real-life details in fiction isn’t what they’re looking for.
jmmcdowell
/ March 2, 2013Thanks, Laura! You never know what can lead to our blogs. I hope the searchers aren’t too disappointed when they get to my posts!
jessmittens
/ March 2, 2013I recently had a post like this myself – the weirdest things come up! But at least it sends them over to your blog? haha. Though, there are some people whose search terms make me unsure if I want them on my blog….
jmmcdowell
/ March 2, 2013Thanks for joining the conversation! I always get a kick out of some of these searches. The writer in me wonders what the person is looking for and what kind of story might be behind them.
Mayumi-H
/ March 2, 2013“Outward lies McDowell! Men, to bed. For tomorrow, we fight!”
Oh, JM, you have no idea how much I needed this laugh! Those are some *fantastic* searches, I’m almost envious.
Happy times at your wedding (it’s always more fun to be a guest), and happy weekend!
jmmcdowell
/ March 2, 2013There’s probably a great story to tell with some of these searches, don’t you think? We probably should use them as prompts more often.
Carrie Rubin
/ March 2, 2013Your terms, particularly the archaeology ones, are far more sophisticated than the ones that land people on my blog. But I’m sure that doesn’t surprise you…
Have fun at the wedding!
jmmcdowell
/ March 2, 2013Well, if I posted on some of the fodder your sons provide you with, I bet I would see some more colorful searches! The wedding should be fun. Just a bit colder weather than I’d like!
kindredspirit23
/ March 2, 2013I think I will go with “fermented urine.” I know which post it got them to but “fermented”?
Lol
jmmcdowell
/ March 2, 2013There’s one I probably wouldn’t want to know….
but how’s that one for a writing prompt?!
char
/ March 2, 2013Search terms always make me laugh. Although I’ve typed in some weird things at times too when I’m trying to narrow a search down for something obscure. Have fun at your wedding this weekend.
jmmcdowell
/ March 2, 2013Thanks, Char! I’ve probably done some curious searches, too, that might get someone wondering. It’s all been in the name of research, though!
Margarita
/ March 2, 2013You get a lot of them JM! I got NADA! Have a great weekend! xoxoM
jmmcdowell
/ March 2, 2013I can’t believe you don’t get some good ones! You do such great photos, and those can bring a lot of traffic!
4amWriter
/ March 2, 2013Very funny. ‘Forensics poem’ — I think you ought to write a poem using that search term.
Your post prompted me to look at my search terms, as I don’t ever think about doing it. I don’t have a lot of interesting ones, and as you can imagine I have a lot of search terms with ’4 am’ in them.
But the best one so far is ‘eel nectar’. Finding that one made me laugh.
Hope you’re having a lovely weekend at the wedding!
jmmcdowell
/ March 2, 2013Well, it’s a cold weekend, but the wedding tomorrow should be fun.
And this is a real test of my typing skills on the iPad. Hmm, writing a poem about being a poem…. Just maybe I will…. 
robincoyle
/ March 2, 2013When I grow up I want to be a forensics poem too!
My search terms are always boring. I had one yesterday I don’t understand. It was “mean mexican girl.” I have never posted about mexican girls . . . mean or otherwise!
jmmcdowell
/ March 2, 2013Hmm, did all three words end up in a post and the comments? I think that can lead to “positive” hits, too. But I bet that person didn’t find what he was looking for!
Pete Denton
/ March 2, 2013Map of clutter murder sounds interesting. I wonder what they wanted. I might have to go and search for that one myself.
jmmcdowell
/ March 2, 2013That one made me wonder.
Was it a search for housekeeping tips to remove clutter? Or something darker? The darker quest sounds like a more interesting story line…. 
mskatykins
/ March 3, 2013My absolute favourite search term here is “Stick people running away”. There is something almost sinister about that! Ha!
jmmcdowell
/ March 3, 2013There’s certainly a lot that come in about running! And I think it’s from one post about my characters running away when the writing gets tough and where I included a clip art graphic. Who knew how that would rate high in a search return?!
Vanessa-Jane Chapman
/ March 3, 2013So pleased I was the book winner! Thanks again to you and Char
I was away at a wedding this weekend too! One of my oldest bestest friends from school, it was lovely, hope yours was too.
I mentioned on my blog a while ago about how many search terms I get on my blog with people looking for solutions to their non-setting fudge, I would say I still get at least three a day about that on my main blog. Usually they just say something like ‘what can you do about unset fudge’ but sometimes I get really weird ones like ‘can Vanessa really sort out my runny fudge for me’. Seriously.
jmmcdowell
/ March 3, 2013Wouldn’t it be fun if you could sell a sure-fire solution for it?
The wedding was for my husband’s niece, and we all had a great time. But the weather here is so cold and snowy. We’re ready to go back home tomorrow where it’s warmer and snow-free!
Kourtney Heintz
/ March 3, 2013I like the “map of clutter murder”. How do you map a clutter murder? Seems impossible or maybe a map of the clutter led to a murder? LOL. I think the weirdest on mine might be: how to speak like a maitre d. I have no posts along those lines.
jmmcdowell
/ March 3, 2013I also wondered if they were looking for help in cleaning their house…. Kill the clutter as a way to get rid of it? Or, another term for a mass murder? If nothing else, I think we should turn to these searches as prompt material!
Sheila
/ March 4, 2013That last one is my favorite too – good idea for a crazy poem!
The good thing is that a lot of your search terms have to do with archaeology so there’s more of a chance of those people sticking around. Not as much of a chance with my strange search terms – but they are always good for a laugh.
jmmcdowell
/ March 4, 2013Maybe someday I’ll see if I can come up with a poem for that one.
I think some of the archaeologists do stick around to look at some of the posts. And maybe they’re some of the folks who stop by now and again without commenting or liking. There are a few views like that everyday….
Carol Wuenschell
/ March 4, 2013You might be able to capitalize on some of those archaeology-related searches, since you have the expertise. Include some “fun archaeology facts” or something. I really think there’s a great opportunity for you to pursue the archaeology-related mysteries.
jmmcdowell
/ March 4, 2013I’ve thought about doing more “fun” archaeological posts once Meghan finishes this story. I need a break from writing an episode every week.
Things have just gotten a bit busier, and I haven’t had much time to plan them out yet. Sometimes, life just happens and we have to deal with it. 
Jagoda Perich-Anderson, M.A.
/ March 4, 2013My favorite is, “the view dog didn’t do it.” What’s a view dog? And your question, “Then who did?” Fun! I also like “adverb confessor.” Maybe we writers need a confessor for our other many writing sins (at least I do). Enjoy the wedding!
jmmcdowell
/ March 4, 2013I wondered about that “view dog,” too. All I could think was that maybe the TV show “The View” did a segment about dogs. A “writer confessor” would be helpful for me, too, I think. Would that be another term for a writing coach? Although, the concept of “confessor” does imply more, I think.
The wedding was fun. We left Milwaukee this morning, just before a storm hit, and we got home before a storm threatens us tomorrow evening and Wednesday. Winter isn’t ready to let go just yet!
philosophermouseofthehedge
/ March 5, 2013Your searches are much more interesting than mine (those posts about wild hog hunting and that silly “hair fads” will never die…..)
hmmm Baltimore harbor 1900…genealogy research or something more intriguing??????
jmmcdowell
/ March 5, 2013With my imagination, I prefer the something more intriguing option.
Maybe I’ll come up with an idea for a time-travel mystery with that setting? A genealogist notices something “out of place” in an old photo and his investigation leads to an unexpected adventure? Hmm….
Clowie
/ March 5, 2013Some of those are amusing! One that landed on my blog recently was “Jane Austen smells” – not something I agree with even though I come out near the top – I guess not many mention smells on the same page as Jane Austen!
jmmcdowell
/ March 5, 2013That’s a good one! I have to wonder what the searcher was thinking…. It sounds like something a school-age boy or girl, bored with a homework assignment, might come up with. If it was an adult, I’d guess they’re not big Austen fans.
limebirdwriters
/ March 6, 2013I think I’d like to be a forensic poem. Here’s our recent weird ones: bird + bunny word?, my dog is a critter killer, woman face and my fave – ‘sweaty’. B
jmmcdowell
/ March 6, 2013LOL! How many posts have you all written that included the word “sweaty?”
And now I wonder how many folks looking for animal “critter” info end up on writing blogs?!
limebirdwriters
/ March 6, 2013I’m not sure… I’m paranoid now!
cav12
/ March 6, 2013Hilarious! Now I’m curious as to what other search terms didn’t make this list.
jmmcdowell
/ March 6, 2013Well, a lot of them are much more boring.
Although, one post where I compared different techniques for getting through writer’s block to different cures for hiccups brings in people searching for “hiccups.” I doubt they were much interested in the writer’s block!
cav12
/ March 7, 2013You just have to wonder what they are thinking at the time! I remember that post. Will have to revisit for another laugh.
Rilla Z
/ March 6, 2013Wow. Those are pretty crazy.
A forensics poem? What rhymes with forensics? Okay, I gotta try it…
When I grow up, I want to be forensical,
Rather than be active and calisthenical.
I’d rather probe dead bones,
Than move these living ones;
So, when I’m old, I’ll be grumpy and phrenetical.
Bad? Just a little bit.
I wonder if there are writers who get hiccups when they have writer’s block?
jmmcdowell
/ March 7, 2013LOL—I love it! A poem that fun can’t be bad.
I would be totally stumped trying to find a topic for the “prompt,” let alone words to rhyme with it! If you don’t mind, I’ll include this with a link to your blog in Saturday’s post. 
Rilla Z
/ March 8, 2013I’m glad you liked it.
I look forward to Saturday’s post! (Will it be another cozy, hybrid interview/author’s book plug? Good stuff.)
jmmcdowell
/ March 8, 2013I’m afraid this Saturday is more a “my brain is exhausted and this is all I could come up with” post. I need to see if some of my blog buddies have new projects coming out very soon so I can snag them for a sit down.
WomanBitesDog
/ March 7, 2013One search term springs to my mind: iain pattison. He’s a friend of mine who is also an author. His name is often in my search terms – it must be the way he finds my blog! Love your search terms. They are much more high brow than mine!
jmmcdowell
/ March 7, 2013I’m sure I’d get “more colorful” searches if I broadened my post topics.
I’ve gotten a few searches leading here for bloggers like Carrie Rubin and Madame Weebles, which is fun. It looks like if we interact with another blogger enough, the search engines think we’re related.
Smaktakula
/ March 8, 2013Silly searcher, archaeologists don’t do poetry. Maybe he meant pottery.
jmmcdowell
/ March 8, 2013I’d bet very few do. That’s how some of these folks ended up here and might have been a bit disappointed. Although they could have stuck around to read Meghan’s first story….
Zen and Genki
/ March 30, 2013Love this post! So often (in my world, anyway!) search terms and their results and infinitely more interesting than the final product! Thanks for the peek behind the curtain
jmmcdowell
/ March 30, 2013When I see some of these, I wonder what the heck people were thinking. I can’t remember who it was now, but in a previous post like this, someone mentioned a search that led to their company’s website about the Dark Side of the Force and cookies. And all I could picture was Darth Vader holding out a plate and saying “Come to the Dark Side, Luke. We have cookies.”