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Blogging

Can anyone share their experiences with blogging? I have set up a blog, but find myself unsure of what the content should be. Is a blog primarily to 'think aloud' about various topics?

Thanks,

Nicola

Comments

  • This thread may help you Nico.

    http://talkback.writers-online.co.uk/comments.php?DiscussionID=175622&page=3#Item_1
  • A blog is whatever you want it to be - you might chose to devote it to one particular topic, a general theme, or chat away about whatever takes your fancy. Mine is a writing blog, so I can cover any (vaguely) writing related topics I fancy although mainly I stick to posting details about free to enter competitions - writing comps, or those to win books, laptops or other writerly stuff.
  • Lol, I did Phot's Moll - it is the nerves of being around all you expert writers :0)
  • Nicola, I've just seen your other thread and realised you're new. You probably don't know about whispers yet - they're a way of talking to one person that can't be seen by anyone else. My first comment above was a whisper to you and the second a general comment that anyone can see, so now everyone will wonder what you're LOL-ing about (let them wonder) Don't worry, you'll soon get the hang of it.
  • I'm Lol'ing again. Thanks for letting me know, Phot's Moll. I must go and read the welcome page now - I was just so keen to start chatting.
  • Nicola, your blog can be whatever you want it to be but is perfect for using your own 'voice'. My blog is a mixture of meandering thoughts, reviews and interviews but is mainly a place to publish some of my fiction and poetry. I also have pages listing my works in print anthologies.

    I run a weekly flash fiction challenge that means I get regular visitors to the blog, and have built up a great little community there. In February I ran a fiction/poetry showcase 'February Femmes Fatales' where I invited female writers of dark fiction to contribute work. My hits increased by over ten thousand during that month!

    I'm principally a horror writer so my writing may not be your bag but if you did want to take a look, my blog is at http://lilychildsfeardom.blogspot.com I'm also a web manager/editor by profession so if you needed any guidance in that direction I'm happy to help. Just whisper...

    What is your blog address by the way?
  • Nicola I agree with all the above - blog about whatever you want!

    I have 2 blogs - one about writing and then there is my original blog that was supposed to be about writing but quickly descended in to me talking about any random thing that was in my head at the time!

    Hence I started a second blog...

    We also have a blog update thread where the bloggers amongst us post when we have blogged.

    http://talkback.writers-online.co.uk/comments.php?DiscussionID=125562&page=29#Item_29
  • edited June 2011
    [quote=LilyC]I'm principally a horror writer so my writing may not be your bag but if you did want to take a look, my blog is at http://lilychildsfeardom.blogspot.com I'm also a web manager/editor by profession so if you needed any guidance in that direction I'm happy to help. Just whisper...[/quote]

    Wow, what a great job, LilyC. How long did it take you to build up this blog? It is fantastic and I could definitely learn from it - not just in content, but presentation and getting hits. My blog can be found at http://healthpsychologyconsultancy.wordpress.com/ and as you will see it is very basic at the moment. The first thing I know I need to do is write more regularly in order to create some kind of 'haven' of information, thoughts, and musings. Until then, it will be of no interest to anyone and I won't have a chance of creating the kind of community you have achieved. If you have any advice, based on looking at my blog, please do let me know. Be as critical as you want - I know there is a great deal wrong with its current format! I didn't even know about 'tags' until someone on this forum kindly advised me. It all helps.

    Thanks again, LilyC, and great blog.
  • edited June 2011
    I like your Live Traffic Feed, LilyC - must be interesting to see who is coming and going. Maybe I have chosen the wrong blog provider (Wordpress). Do you know if there are any general preferences between Wordpress, Blogspot, and any others I might not know about?
  • [quote=Chippy]blog about whatever you want![/quote]

    Chippy, that could be dangerous - I have an active mind :0) That is what blogging is about thought, I suppose - letting your mind free, so to speak.

    I will visit the other thread and take a look at your blogs, Chippy.
  • Nicola, don't forget to add a link to your blog on your TB account page.

    Also are you on Twitter so we can all pimp your blog for Follow Friday?
  • Hi bored_robots, please do pimp away - @healthpsychcuk Can I ask what Follow Friday is?
  • On Fridays people tag #ff and suggest users to follow
  • Well, inspired by Nicola, I have just now started a blog. I have no idea what I am doing, but no doubt it will come to me.
    www.fromthetopofthehouse.blogspot.com
  • Bertiebear you can create a direct link so people can read your blog from here. Go to your blog, copy the address in the browser bar then come to TB and paste the address into the box. Once you submit it, it will show up as a link we can click on.
    If you just type it in it won't make the link. :)
  • You can type it in to make a link, just need to include the http:// as well.
  • You can also highlight and right click 'go to' if it's not a direct link. But the http is the most elegant way of course.
  • Now I didn't know either of those things BR and ST, thanks.
  • [quote=bertiebear]Well, inspired by Nicola, I have just now started a blog. I have no idea what I am doing, but no doubt it will come to me[/quote]

    Excellent :) We can learn together, bertiebear. I will be sure to follow your blog. Good luck with it.
  • http://www.fromthetopofthehouse.blogspot.com/

    Carol, thanks for that. Hope it works.
  • Nicolauk, thanks very much for your kind comments about my blog. It's been running for nearly two years. I started the weekly flash fiction challenge a year ago. I think I started adding tabbed pages around the same time as you didn't used to be able to do this in blogger.

    As for the difference between Wordpress and Blogger, I think it's purely a matter of taste. I find Wordpress's templates are better and more varied than Blogger's (in fact I'll probably use Wordpress for my husband's online art gallery). But there a few things I find clunky, like if you want to subscribe by email to comments there's a faff registration process. With Blogger it recognises you.

    I think your blog is calming and clean. The header image you've chosen is inviting, and the bridge is a lovely visual metaphor for psychology.

    Your posts are just the right length though you might want to add a few extra 'false' paragraph breaks in as shorter blocks of text are easier on the eye and help the reader to scan better. The font you've chosen makes for ease of reading but could perhaps be very slightly larger. Perhaps an odd photo might make the posts more appealing? Your choice of dark green for the Heading/Title text works well.

    I notice you don't have a menu, visitors can only choose by (tagged) category?

    Overall, I think it's a very nice-looking blog and you should be proud of yourself!
  • Bertiebear, the link has appeared okay. :)
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