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Could we perhaps start a smaller thread called Blog Updates January 2011, and then delete it and replace with February, etc? I think when threads get very big it puts people off reading them just due to the huge figure in red! (I mean the number of posts unread, not Santa, by the way!)
Lou, sometimes you know there is a particular post that you want but can't neccesarily remember who posted it or when, so can search through.
I'd have no problem with a monthly Blog Updates but wouldn't want it deleted at the end of the month. Consider those who may only pop into TB a few times a month because they're away or working intensively on a project. They might miss something useful.
Okay, so it's time I took the bull by the you know whats, and consider starting a blog. I don't have one and I can see that LilyC has just started one. I'm a bit shy/nervous at self-promotion... So I have a couple of questions!
1. If you get tons of followers, does this increase your chances of getting published?
2. Do people put new chapters of their MS on and invite comments?
3. Do peoples ideas get nicked?
4. Does having a blog open other doors in terms of writing?
5. How do i get a blog....where do I look....my I.T skills arent very good!
You might glean from this that I am very cautious and like to consider my options!
Cath, a blog will allow you to build up a potential audience for your work and if you are being considered by a publisher it helps demonstrate that you have an audience and would actively promote your work.
I only started my blog in September and found it easy to set up.
Blogger gives you a variety of options so you can use the background to reflect your genre even.
Ideas are not copyright, so if you tell everyone (which is what you are doing when you have something open to the world on the internet) then expect someone to use it.
If you have any problems or find you're not sure how to do something, a new thread asking for help will get responses from the more qualified and IT literate on TB. I found it invaluable when I was starting out with my blog.
Another update... Please, bear in mind, we've signed up to the 'One a Day Project' http://oneadaybloggers.wordpress.com/about/
So new blog posts will be very regular.
Wrote a post about e-readers vs. real books. I think both options have advantages and disadvantages and I use both so decided to make a comparative study.
New blog post: For those who don't know (as I refused to mention his actual name in my post) I'm talking about this utter T**t http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/221985/Fury-at-Big-Brother-star-Kenneth-Tong-s-pro-anorexia-Tweets
News about having my first poetry acceptance with EDF. Took a few rewrites as requested from the editor but they eventually accepted the thing. Who would have thought?
News about my nominatiom for a short story award. This blog post tells all about it and how to vote if you wish to. It's for my story 'What Doesn't Kill You' by Anthony Cowin.
If you can't access the blog the voting is here: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/shortstoryh.shtml
Comments
http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.com/
Posted runner up OWC poem Arbeit Macht Frei, as well as other stories and poems:
http://ajhumpage.blogspot.com
I'd have no problem with a monthly Blog Updates but wouldn't want it deleted at the end of the month. Consider those who may only pop into TB a few times a month because they're away or working intensively on a project. They might miss something useful.
I've just had my first acceptance of 2011, in crime fiction site DO SOME DAMAGE's Christmas Noir Challenge!
http://colburysnewcrimefiction.blogspot.com/2011/01/do-some-damage-christmas-noir-challenge.html
1. If you get tons of followers, does this increase your chances of getting published?
2. Do people put new chapters of their MS on and invite comments?
3. Do peoples ideas get nicked?
4. Does having a blog open other doors in terms of writing?
5. How do i get a blog....where do I look....my I.T skills arent very good!
You might glean from this that I am very cautious and like to consider my options!
Any comments very welcome!
I do post my work there and have a copyright notice at the bottom of my blog. Mine is new as well so I can't really comment on your other questions.
http://sallyjenkins.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/books-to-be-won/
I only started my blog in September and found it easy to set up.
Blogger gives you a variety of options so you can use the background to reflect your genre even.
Ideas are not copyright, so if you tell everyone (which is what you are doing when you have something open to the world on the internet) then expect someone to use it.
If you have any problems or find you're not sure how to do something, a new thread asking for help will get responses from the more qualified and IT literate on TB. I found it invaluable when I was starting out with my blog.
http://anthonycowin.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-doesnt-kill-you.html
http://renate-villerius.blogspot.com/2011/01/regency-scene-past-indiscretions.html
http://lmtowton.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/introductions/
So new blog posts will be very regular.
http://jediya.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/why-i-blog/
http://lmtowton.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/four-years-in-the-making/
http://renate-villerius.blogspot.com/
http://carol-bevitt.blogspot.com/2011/01/awards-night-and-my-novel.html
Wrote a piece about last summer's holiday in Egypt. In the footsteps of Cleopatra. On a camel!
http://loutreleaven.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/i-got-a-kindle-for-christmas/
http://ramblingsofafrsutratedcrimewriter.blogspot.com
I'd be interested to hear what everyone thinks.
http://chippy-thelifeofwriting.blogspot.com/2011/01/picture-is-worth-100-words-image-1.html
http://renate-villerius.blogspot.com
http://jediya.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/should-we-really-be-censoring-historic-books/
http://allwritefictionadvice.blogspot.com/
Some flash fiction pieces
http://ajhumpage.blogspot.com
Also changed the layout of my blog so please let me know what you think.
http://renate-villerius.blogspot.com
Next time I go on a date (stop sniggering), I'll definitely be marking them out of ten!
http://carol-bevitt.blogspot.com/2011/01/learn-about-presentation.html
http://badger.dinorodeo.com/
I've put up my first two.
http://fiona-maddock.blogspot.com/
http://jediya.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/promoting-anorexia-as-a-fashion-lifestyle-is-beyond-a-joke/
News about having my first poetry acceptance with EDF. Took a few rewrites as requested from the editor but they eventually accepted the thing. Who would have thought?
http://christine-muir-writing.blogspot.com/
pp x
http://stevenchapmanwriter.blogspot.com/2011/01/hes-alivealliiiiiive.html
*WARNING: Blog post contains picture of an evil chicken.
(Although he does have a name, which seems to make him less scary.)
www.sallyjenkins.wordpress.com
http://renate-villerius.blogspot.com/2011/01/regency-scene-mischievous-scheme.html
;-)
http://scribocin.blogspot.com/2011/01/formatting-nonfiction-manuscript.html
News about my nominatiom for a short story award. This blog post tells all about it and how to vote if you wish to. It's for my story 'What Doesn't Kill You' by Anthony Cowin.
If you can't access the blog the voting is here: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/shortstoryh.shtml
I suppose you can call it one of those things...
For two fellow Talkbackers...
http://colburysnewcrimefiction.blogspot.com/2011/01/col-burys-crime-fiction-choice-with.html
http://sixsentences.ning.com/profiles/blogs/without-breath-leaving?xg_source=activity
http://wwwrite-place.blogspot.com/2011/01/from-here-to-there-and-bits-in-between.html?spref=fb
http://plasticst.blogspot.com/2011/01/episode-21-shocking-evil.html