Thread: Shipmates who blog Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 
Over the past few months I've seen a lot of links to blogs turning up in people's sig lines. I added mine a week ago .

I'm very new to all this, so I wondered if we might have a blogs thread, to exchange tips, discoveries, enthusiasms ... and of course to indulge in just a little bit of manic self publicity.

Like I say, I started mine a week ago. It's really about what I'm doing with my time since I went from working full-time to working only 3 days a week. Over time I want it to show how I begin to have new ideas for spending my time, and grow into a new way of life.

So, what do others blog?
 

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Posted by Eigon (# 4917) on :
 
I just counted on my fingers, and discover I've been blogging for five years now!
When I started, I saw lots of people commenting on the net about their visits to Hay-on-Wye, and what it was like from a tourist's point of view, but nothing from someone who lived here. So my blog is an insider's view of the tourist town, and what's going on behind the facade.
Sometimes it's very trivial (I'll shortly have a post about how I got some nuts at the hardware store that my boyfriend couldn't find in London), but I've also covered local opposition to a new bar/music venue, the Republican uprising against the King of Hay (which was fairly good natured - Richard didn't mind having his head chopped off too much!), and the recent sale of Hay Castle.
So it's not really about me - more about what's happening in the town.
 

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
Contrary to what my blog records say, I have not been blogging since January 1970.
That was due to a fault when the wibsite was updated - February 2003 is much more realistic, which shows I've been blogging consistently for 8 1/2 years! Not a bad length of time for a technophobe....

I decided to stick to a fairly strict theme for my blog as I do dislike rambling ones - my blog is an online version of a diary I would have kept anyway - of all the church music I have sung each week in my church choir. Now there's a surprise. (Not.)

I have subtitled it: "A diary of the life of a very ordinary chorister in a very ordinary choir in a very ordinary Church of England parish. Well, that’s how it seems today – maybe one day in the future it will all seem quite unusual."
 

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Posted by wilson (# 37) on :
 
My current blog dates back to Feb 2003 but I know I had another blog before that but I forgot the address. However the early years are fairly lean as regards posts.

I started off blogging about anything and everything, including random thoughts about my life etc. Then it was mostly reviews of things (TV, films, books). Then it was my attempts at writing. In the last few years I've used it mainly to keep track of my diet and the books I'm reading.

Tips I've learned (but don't follow):

• try to be concise - tldr applies to blogs
• write about one thing - have a single point to a post and, possibly, a single theme to your blog
• be interesting - try to write what you'd like to read
• write well - most of my posts are first drafts knocked out quickly, when I take more time they read better
• include pictures, links, videos, music - breaks up the monotony of the text
• comment on other blogs - if you write something interesting people will click back to look at your blog
• ...but only where you genuinely have something relevant to say. Look for blogs you like, blogs on a similar topic to your own, start a discussion.
• use tags, categories etc - make it easier for people to find your blog
• advertise your blog - put it in your various sigs, on facebook, twitter etc
• have fun with it

 

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Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :
 
I've been blogging for nearly six years now, my Wiblog (the one in the signature!) being the one I've settled into. Blog One I deleted, but kept a copy of key posts, Blog Two still exists, but is only updated occasionally - it may go soon, as the friends I made through that either no longer blog at that site, or we keep in touch in other ways.

It's a rambling, whatever I chose to blog about kind of blog. It's been a really helpful tool for me in sorting some of my very muddled thoughts out, over a difficult few years. Blog One began as a creative outlet at the worst moment of the difficulties, and frankly it kept me sane. Blog Two and the Wiblog one evolved out of this, as it became increasingly difficult to talk about the God stuff on Blog One without a load of nasty comments.

My Wiblog continues to help keep me sane, and as I've just reread it all, I'm pleased to confirm Life has certainly evolved and changed in the course of the two and a half years of that blog. For the better, even if it often doesn't feel like it!!
 

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Posted by Caty M. (# 11996) on :
 
I've had a blog since 2007. Mostly pointless rambling and book reviews. It very rarely gets updated these days, apart from when I add half a dozen posts on whatever I'm reading, in a brief fit of enthusiasm, after which I ignore it again for another three months. I did have a separate blog for writing about Christianity - mostly thoughts arising from devotions - but in the end I moved the posts back into the main blog and deleted the secondary one.

At one time, my blog was quite important to me: as for Japes, it was something that helped me to sort stuff out at a difficult time. Now, I don't have the same need for it. I keep wondering whether to delete the current it; while I've weeded out some old posts, I can't quite bring myself to get rid of the whole thing.

Wilson's tips are good ones. (Although I don't always follow them either. )
 

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Posted by PD (# 12436) on :
 
I blog. I started about tw years ago. The main blog is my own 'The Old High Churchman' which is mainly Church history, liturgics, and occasional theology. The other blog I contribute to is "The Continuum" which was started by Albion Land, but it is now Frs Hart, Kirkby, Nalls, Wells, and me. I was invited to join it about eighteen months ago. David Virtue occasional lifts the odd article from that one.

I tend to be a sporadic blogger. I cranked a couple of articles out this month, one last, and then nothing before that since March!

PD
 

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Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Caty M.:
I've had a blog since 2007. Mostly pointless rambling and book reviews. It very rarely gets updated these days, apart from when I add half a dozen posts on whatever I'm reading, in a brief fit of enthusiasm, after which I ignore it again for another three months. I did have a separate blog for writing about Christianity - mostly thoughts arising from devotions - but in the end I moved the posts back into the main blog and deleted the secondary one.

At one time, my blog was quite important to me: as for Japes, it was something that helped me to sort stuff out at a difficult time. Now, I don't have the same need for it. I keep wondering whether to delete the current it; while I've weeded out some old posts, I can't quite bring myself to get rid of the whole thing.

Wilson's tips are good ones. (Although I don't always follow them either. )

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I'm similar to you, Caty, in that my enthusiasm for blogging waxes and wanes. Like Chorister, I have a wibsite blog - Musings of a Squished Budgie, started about 7 years ago. Three years later saw the birth of Green Patches over on Typepad - inspired by a Methodist Church Lent Campaign. I still think of the latter as my secondary blog, even though I rarely post on it nowadays and feel rather guilty for so doing. I feel more part of a virtual community with the wibsite - hence the guilt at being so anti-social lately. Still, it's fascinating now to look back over the accounts of family, friends and so on; when it began both my children were in their early/mid teens; now one is launched and out in the Big Wide World, the other will be graduating from uni in a few week's time.

My Greenpatch blog was originally supposed to be the more 'serious' 'ecological, vaguely theological and totally illogical journeyings of a mature student and Musings the lighthearted fun one - but I've not been terribly focussed with either of them. It takes me far longer to compose posts I'm happy with than I used to. I reckon I come over either horribly pretentious or ridiculously fluffy and lightweight. And as the lifetime of both blogs has seen me through theological studies, profession as a Francsican tertiary and spiritual direction training, confidence comes into it as well. I worry - (maybe too much?) that what I write doesn't measure up to some unwritten standard and might reflect badly on me in some way.

Ouf! Glad to have got all that off my chest!
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
I started my blog in 2004, and have blogged pretty consistently. When I started it I was coming to the end of my MSc and considering applying for a PhD, so I called it "The Maturest Student in the World" and intended it to mainly (though not exclusively) be about my adventures as a mature student. 2 days ago I posted my PhD graduation photo ( yay me!).

After my viva I decided to change the name of the blog, as I think it will be a while before I become a student again! (I need a life). I've renamed it "Unfinished Symphony" as a little nod to my original degree (in music) and as it sums up that after all these years I'm still a bit of a work in progress trying to figure out what to do when I grow up. Since the start of the year I've mainly been blogging my Project365 photos and had a bit of a break from the philosophising/navel-gazing/ranting/pontificating, I think after 7 years I was getting a bit tired but didn't want to stop blogging as I love the interactions between me and my regulars (mainly other bloggers on the wibsite, though not exclusively). Once this year is over I am planning on setting up a blipfoto account for my photoblogging and returning to writing a bit more.

I do post other stuff - book reviews (rarely, I'm not that good at reading for pleasure!), sketches (even rarer), and random chuntering about stuff, but I think this year of mainly photoblogging as a breather is doing me a lot of good I agree with a lot of wilson's advice (though don't always follow it). I think facebook has made me much more aware of over-disclosure, not that I ever massively over-disclosed before (I don't think) but I'm more careful now.
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
I have two blogs they serve different purposes and I have had a couple of blogs before then.

My first blog was a record of my stay as a volunteer on Iona and has long since passed into the nevernet that is made up of defunct sites. Fortunately I made the effort to write the time on into a photography album so I still have a record.

Second one had bits of writing on. Not really a consistent theme and is largely defunct but is still on my website.

My third was a compromise. My family are inveterate letter writers, and both my sister and I write about weekly round robins. I became aware that a group of people beyond those I actually email this to might be insane enough to want to read the almost weekly summaries of small happenings in my life. It is a diary of largely non-events. I am surprised how many people seem to read this blog.

My fourth which is irregular is just a space for me to down load ideas in my brain that are clogging up space that should be more usefully put to use for my thesis. These tend to be short and focussed.

Jengie
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
I have just realised the link in my sig is out of date - I have changed it but it will take a while to update. I'm now at this link.
 

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Posted by Auntie Doris (# 9433) on :
 
I blog about all sorts of things, some sensible, some not. Over the years my blog has changed somewhat, like other people it kind of helped me through some quite difficult times, the writing helped my head space, especially when I was single.

These days I blog less but that is partly due to being more content and more busy. I have always been pretty honest when blogging but these days, if the post involves him, I always get The Mister to approve it. I feel it's only fair to him - especially as some of the recent one have been about infertility etc.

I still love my blog, and one day will have time to do it more again

Auntie Doris x
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
I've set up my blog as a site to post my sermons, which apparently generate lots of interest (well, amongst a small circle).

But I revise each sermon carefully before posting, in the light of the shifts it made during delivery, so it's quite an effort and well behind time.
 

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Posted by Trudy Scrumptious (# 5647) on :
 
I've been blogging since 2006 at a blog called Hypergraffiti , and this thread just inspired me to update the link in my sig to the blog, since I'm running a contest there now. A lot of my blog posts are centred around writing and my books, but I also blog about faith and religion, parenting, teaching, and random other things that interest me. I've been told that as a writer, if you want to use your blog as a self-promotion tool and attract lots of followers, your blog has to have a clear focus and stay on a single topic, which mine utterly fails at, but I really keep it mainly for myself, though I hope a few others enjoy it now and then.

I have a second blog called Compulsive Overreader, which is all book reviews, and I try to update that fairly regularly with what I'm reading, though it's usually a month or so behind.
 

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Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 
Well now I've had to create a whole new bookmark folder, just to hold the links to people's blogs.
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Adeodatus:
Well now I've had to create a whole new bookmark folder, just to hold the links to people's blogs.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Protozoan:
I would be interested in knowing what people get out of reading other peoples blogs and how they stumble(?) across the interesting ones.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Chorister:

quote:

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Originally posted by Protozoan:
I would be interested in knowing what people get out of reading other peoples blogs and how they stumble(?) across the interesting ones.

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I don't read many blogs because I don't go looking for blogs in the first place. What I do instead is read the blogs of people I've got to know in other places and who seem interesting people - reading their blogs helps me to get to know them better.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Chorister:
And people who already seem interesting often (but not always!) have interesting blogs.

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I have come to the conclusion it's a good job I'm not trying to build a widely-followed blog: I never seem to manage to be interesting, either in person or in print.
 

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Posted by wesleyswig (# 5436) on :
 
I sporadically blog at Listen Think Act. It started out six years ago on the same url as 'representation, reflection, review'and was an attempt to Methodist democracy into the late 20th Century.

Since then various things have happened and blogging mojo and time lapsed - I'm always (bizzarely) praised for my blogging and enjoy it when I have the time.

Currently on the hunt for a good portable blogging device - a phone is too small and laptop is too big - writing it on paper works but then I never have time to type up.

So the blogging is strong, time is week but (some rather major issue based frustrations aside) you do find a wonderful community to share with.


Listen Think Act
 

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Posted by Tilley (# 13687) on :
 
I started my Wordpress blog to keep my parenthood, decluttering and similar musings in one place. I also put in stuff about academic articles I come across that deal with things that interest me.

My live journal account is more for keeping in touch with a number of friends I've known for years, and since many of them don't have kids and have limited interest in my darling daughter's escapades, I put the excess in my Wordpress blog.
 

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Posted by Tilley (# 13687) on :
 
I should add that I couldn't think of a witty name for my blog, but when things are crazy, it's like juggling cats.
 

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Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
There you are Tilley, you've got your name.

Juggling cats
 

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Posted by OhSimone (# 16414) on :
 
I go through phases with my blogs - my usual approach to any new interest I have in life is to start a blog about it... The one I've kept up most consistently is this one, which basically details my and my wife's visits to all sorts of random little towns, on the basis of what we can get from the charity shops there.
 

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Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by OhSimone:
I go through phases with my blogs - my usual approach to any new interest I have in life is to start a blog about it... The one I've kept up most consistently is this one, which basically details my and my wife's visits to all sorts of random little towns, on the basis of what we can get from the charity shops there.

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Now that is an original theme for a blog. I'm impressed, especially with the write up you gave to our place; we need all the good vibes we can get!

Two of my favourite summer outfits: a denim dress and a beautiful pair of Laura Ashley cotton trousers came from charity shops; a snip at £2.50 each.

 

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Posted by OhSimone (# 16414) on :
 
I haven't bought a new book or CD in about 5 years
 

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Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Gamaliel:
I'm a late adopter and can't help thinking that there's a lot more I could do with my blog and with my work blog which I've started but have yet to complete.

I've been asked to start one on behalf of a writer's group I'm involved with, so I'd better pull my finger out.

I find it very hard to get started and although I get hits from Shippies and from Facebook contacts, I'm not getting many followers. Any tips on how to increase the number? Or have I got BO?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Gamaliel:
I'm going to have to devise a strategy, I think, rather than just tinkering.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Miffy:

quote:

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Originally posted by OhSimone:
details my and my wife's visits to all sorts of random little towns, on the basis of what we can get from the charity shops there.

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Now that is an original theme for a blog. I'm impressed, especially with the write up you gave to our place; we need all the good vibes we can get!

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Whereas with my town, 'She came, she saw, she blogged nothing'. I'm not too sure what to make of that.
 

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Posted by Rosa Winkel (# 11424) on :
 
There are various interest-groups on t'internet where one can advertise ones blog. On http://www.expat-blog.com for example, one sees blogs written by English speakers in various parts of Poland. That blog works worldwide.

I daresay special interest sites exist.

I seem to get decent traffic from expatblog.

I disobey the 'one subject' rule, myself; well, Poland becomes at the most an avenue to channel my ramblings about politics, history, bird watching and other seemingly non-related stuff.

Edit: Oh, and write often.

[removed extraneous comma so the link would work]

[ 29. June 2011, 02:03: Message edited by: jedijudy ]
 

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Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Chorister:

quote:

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Originally posted by Miffy:

quote:

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Originally posted by OhSimone:
details my and my wife's visits to all sorts of random little towns, on the basis of what we can get from the charity shops there.

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Now that is an original theme for a blog. I'm impressed, especially with the write up you gave to our place; we need all the good vibes we can get!

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Whereas with my town, 'She came, she saw, she blogged nothing'. I'm not too sure what to make of that.

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The Creamtealand charity shops aren't posh enough, maybe?

 

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Posted by OhSimone (# 16414) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Miffy:

quote:

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Originally posted by Chorister:

quote:

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Originally posted by Miffy:

quote:

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Originally posted by OhSimone:
details my and my wife's visits to all sorts of random little towns, on the basis of what we can get from the charity shops there.

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Now that is an original theme for a blog. I'm impressed, especially with the write up you gave to our place; we need all the good vibes we can get!

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Whereas with my town, 'She came, she saw, she blogged nothing'. I'm not too sure what to make of that.

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The Creamtealand charity shops aren't posh enough, maybe?

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Oh dear, where's that? Is it somewhere I haven't blogged yet or somewhere I've done, just not very well...?

Also, despite the moniker, OhSimone is a he
 

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Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 
I've never paid much attention in the past to the wibsite. Is there a reason it seems so popular among posters here?
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
I suspect the reason is its connection with Dave Walker, who is a shipmate here, once known as W. and before that as Wibblethorpe if my memory serves me correctly.

Jengie
 

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Posted by scuffleball (# 16480) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Miffy:

quote:

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Originally posted by Chorister:

quote:

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Originally posted by Miffy:

quote:

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Originally posted by OhSimone:
details my and my wife's visits to all sorts of random little towns, on the basis of what we can get from the charity shops there.

---

Now that is an original theme for a blog. I'm impressed, especially with the write up you gave to our place; we need all the good vibes we can get!

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Whereas with my town, 'She came, she saw, she blogged nothing'. I'm not too sure what to make of that.

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The Creamtealand charity shops aren't posh enough, maybe?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Rosa Winkel:

[removed extraneous comma so the link would work]

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Thanks, jedijudy.
 

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Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
Starting tomorrow, I'm going to be blogging for the first time, so the hints and tips above have been really useful. Thanks for them

Basically, I am going to be incredibly short of money this year. So I decided to make penury more fun by making a one-year project out of it. I'm intending to include various money-saving tips and recipes, but mainly just to do some lighthearted blogging on the various discomforts, social embarrassments, and the general lack of chocolate!

I have never successfully kept a diary before now, but I am hoping that this public forum will keep me on track. And if anyone actually reads it, that will be a real bonus.
 

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Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :
 
I started my first blog yesterday - but not as myself. I write as a fictional character called Sylvie Thredds, living in a fictional rural community (The Wolds).
This was started by a few of the many people who had joined the BBC Archers blog to complain about the incident that marked the programme's 60th anniversary. It was decided that it would be much more fun to create our own stories. It has been a matter of trial and error, as we are all inexperienced bloggers and we are undergoing our second reorganisation at the moment. There are a couple of communal blogs, in which we can all write posts, and several written by individual characters, on which we can all comment. Until yesterday I had just posted on the communal blogs, but have decided that it will be more enjoyable to make a proper contribution with Sylvie's own blog.
 

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Posted by Eigon (# 4917) on :
 
Is Much Going on in the Wolds anywhere near Much Binding in the Marsh?
 

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Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Eigon:
Is Much Going on in the Wolds anywhere near Much Binding in the Marsh?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Cottontail:
Basically, I am going to be incredibly short of money this year. So I decided to make penury more fun by making a one-year project out of it. I'm intending to include various money-saving tips and recipes, but mainly just to do some lighthearted blogging on the various discomforts, social embarrassments, and the general lack of chocolate!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Rosa Winkel:

quote:

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Originally posted by Rosa Winkel:

[removed extraneous comma so the link would work]

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Thanks, jedijudy.

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You're welcome! I live to serve!
 

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Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
For years I've thought about blogging (stroking my own ego, and giving me a motivation to get back into writing Stuff) but have fought shy because most of what I could write about entertainingly could easily be extremely hurtful or destructive to the people that provoke the writing. Not intentionally, and not even if they were to read it and read it in the right way; but the opportunity for mis-interpretation and sensitivity is such that it wasn't really worth the risk.

However, I've just dipped my toe in the water shortly before this thread popped up. I'm hoping it will help me order my thoughts a bit more, possibly inspire me to find the time to write poetry again, and generally foster a bit more creativity. Unfortunately it's liable to be a bit higgledy piggledy, and cover a bizarre mix of techy ranting (work-based) and worship/church ranting (personal).

When there's actually some content up there I'll add it to the sig ...
 

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Posted by Gamaliel (# 812) on :
 
Snags, if it's poetry you're interested in writing, I've found that a good writers' group helps - I'm fortunate that there are several around here - and of a very high standard indeed.

If you've not done that already, I'd recommend it. The blog can fit in with that but there's no substitute, I find, to 'workshopping' your work with other poets.
 

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Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Thanks Gamaliel, it's not something I've ever done, so I shall give that some thought. Not sure what would go to make way for it, though!

I used to write a reasonable amount of awful teen angst stuff when I was a student (hey, I was studying English, it was almost compulsory) and had both the time and the hubris to indulge my mawkishness and consider it to be insightful. In the last few years I've written, very hurriedly, companion pieces for specific projects, and it reminded me how much I enjoy doing it, but it's something I really need both space and focus to achieve - and currently have neither.

My problem is I'm a dilletante without the independent wealth to allow me to be one!
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
I work 28 hours a week, I am doing a thesis as well and I find time to write poetry. The secret is exactly what Gamaliel says, finding a writing group. A good one will provide both the incentive to write and the support to become a better writer.


Jengie
 

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Posted by Ethne Alba (# 5804) on :
 
The start of my blogging coincided with the arrival of a digital camera, so the first few years were just plain fun

I've found that blogging kinda comes and goes....both the posting on it ....and the reading of it

Havin friends all around the place, means that we don't always meet up but it's good to see what's going on in each others lives.And family as well, my kids are all flown the nest, some of them like to peek into my life every now and then and see what's going on. Then there is stuff that maybe i wouldn't be talking about on the phone calls.... or that wouldn't reach facebook... nor yet even an email...or a text.

In an ideal world I would run one blog and that would be that. My world is not ideal and I havn't yet found a way for that to work. So there are two and i should throw 'em up here.

I think that main aim is to be just as friendly as you want to be ( no more and no less), leave comments on others blogs, be interested...and interest-ing........and Have Fun:)
 

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Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Jengie, thanks for the encouragement, but trust me, I really, really don't have the capacity to take on a writing group right now, unfortunately. Which doesn't mean I won't in the future; it's an intriguing idea.

Howver, right now I'm burning the candle at both ends just keeping on top of my existing work, domestic and 'by choice' commitments, and that's after cutting some of them out. The process of addressing this is on-going, so it's probably a case of watch this space, rather than "Yeah, right".
 

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Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 
Note to self - posting an art review on the blog is really scary. Someone might read it who - - knows what they're talking about!
 

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Posted by birdie (# 2173) on :
 
Too right. I posted a review of that big Gormley exhibition a few years ago and veered between apologising for talking arty nonsense and panicking that someone who knew better than me would read it.

Turned out fine in the end.
 

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
I once made a mistake on my blog by attributing a piece of music to the wrong composer (similar names) - one of the comments was from him correcting me. I cannot believe he reads my blog normally, so guess he was googling himself after the concert to see how popular he was!
 

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Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Adeodatus:


So, what do others blog?

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Yours looks very swish Adeodatus. I like the bookshelves motif.

I blog a theological scrapbook.

Bits and pieces I have found that I like/love/strike me.

I then use it as a reference url when discussing certain things with people on the ship or the net.

Works well.

Still haven't worked out how to reply properly to posts tho or delete certain links or add widgets or add this that and the other etc ad naseum.


 

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Posted by Caty M. (# 11996) on :
 
I always worry whenever I post reviews of books by living authors, especially if I didn't like the book. I keep expecting them to turn up and argue with me - although it's only ever happened once, and the author in question was very nice about it. It doesn't help that I always feel horribly guilty about saying anything negative about anything or anyone in the first place.

And I dare not post sermons, although I have occasionally posted very short, very vague musings on Bible readings. I am always worried that someone better qualified will come along and point out to me why what I have said is wrong and heretical.

My blog subtitle probably ought to be either 'Can't we all just get along?', 'Professional fence-sitter', or 'But I might be wrong about this'.
 

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Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Evensong:
Yours looks very swish Adeodatus. I like the bookshelves motif.

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It's just one of the standard background that Blogger offers. Good, though.

(I'm meaning to read David Bentley Hart's book soon by the way - I've heard very good things about it.)
 

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Posted by Twilight (# 2832) on :
 
I usually write reviews on Amazon after I've either loved or hated a book. I was very surprised after I panned Chris Bojalian's Double Bind, when he came along and argued with me about it. I rather thought he lowered himself to care what the likes of me might think. Besides he had hundreds of rave reviews to focus on.

I blogged a short book a few years ago and might do another one. It's slightly more fun than just writing one in a spiral notebook. Someone might actually be reading it! Then again, maybe not. I know I almost never read other people's blogs.

Do those of you who write blogs, read very many?
 

---

Posted by duchess (# 2764) on :
 
I blog but I think I'm all blogged out. (blog is on my profile). Between all my tweets, facebook, e-mails and now having a boyfriend, I don't seem to have the desire to blog as much. So it stays there...maybe I'll blog tonight quickly.
 

---

Posted by Ethne Alba (# 5804) on :
 
do i Read blogs?

well yes


why?
because it's encouraging... mostly.

I do have a stash of blogs which are guarenteed to make me smile, it's cheaper than chocolate, more healthy than resorting to wine and less time consuming than therapy
 

---

Posted by Caty M. (# 11996) on :
 
I read blogs. Some are personal, including blogs of several shipmates and people I know elsewhere on line. Some are blogs about religion, politics, books, history etc. Some are cartoons.

There are a few - maybe a couple of dozen - I read regularly. That is, I am subscribed to the feed and keep (more or less) up to date. Although since I got talked into joining Twitter recently, these are currently a bit neglected unless the authors are also on Twitter and posting links to new blog posts.

I also have a large number (about 150, I think) bookmarked, and look them up periodically. Not in strict rotation, but most of them get looked at three or four times a year. Sometimes they get promoted to regular reading; sometimes the regular ones get relegated. I'm fickle.
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Adeodatus:


(I'm meaning to read David Bentley Hart's book soon by the way - I've heard very good things about it.)

---

Intro was great. Then the first hundred odd pages were slow. HUGE amounts of early Christian history (he's arguing we didn't suppress science).


But now it's getting much better.

And thanks to this thread, I've been a good girl and cleaned the place up a bit.

Got my link to the Ship looking all nice and snazzy down the bottom.
 

---

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 
I'd been thinking about blogging, it was on my "to do" list, and this has prompted me to get it onto my "ta da" list. It's simply so that anyone curious can see how preparations are going for a project I'm going on later this year, and maybe I'll be able to do some "on the spot" blogs too.
 

---

Posted by Martha (# 185) on :
 
I've written a blog since I moved to Texas a few years ago. I don't think I would have done one if I hadn't gone to a different country, because I mostly just write about everyday activities. The "English person abroad" slant gives it the interest. I fairly regularly have people tell me they enjoy it, which gives me the impetus to keep going, and also it's nice to have a record of what we've seen and done. Since Little Man was born it's also a good way to share photos. It's mostly just for friends and family so I haven't actively promoted it, but I do link to the posts on FB so people know when I've updated.

blog

[ 06. July 2011, 20:50: Message edited by: Martha ]
 

---

Posted by Yangtze (# 4965) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by OhSimone:
I go through phases with my blogs - my usual approach to any new interest I have in life is to start a blog about it... The one I've kept up most consistently is this one, which basically details my and my wife's visits to all sorts of random little towns, on the basis of what we can get from the charity shops there.

---

That's you?? I read that. Love it.

I've been blogging for a few years. Pretty erratic, thought I've just started it up again. I really like blogs that have a focus: religion, food, style, music. So thought originally I'd blog around food and faith. But it expands.....
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
A wee note for Adeodatus: I wanted to comment on your blog (to say I love your painting), but couldn't as with Blogger blogs I need the Name/URL option enabled (although wibsite blogs are powered by wordpress, the OpenID option doesn't recognise them as they don't have wordpress in the address). Wondering if you're able to enable the Name/URL option, as I'm enjoying seeing your work but can't comment
 

---

Posted by OhSimone (# 16414) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Yangtze:

quote:

---

Originally posted by OhSimone:
I go through phases with my blogs - my usual approach to any new interest I have in life is to start a blog about it... The one I've kept up most consistently is this one, which basically details my and my wife's visits to all sorts of random little towns, on the basis of what we can get from the charity shops there.

---

That's you?? I read that. Love it.

---

 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
Well, this thread's certainly given me some new blogs for my reader. I'll be needing to build an extension before too long!
 

---

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jack the Lass:
A wee note for Adeodatus: I wanted to comment on your blog (to say I love your painting), but couldn't as with Blogger blogs I need the Name/URL option enabled (although wibsite blogs are powered by wordpress, the OpenID option doesn't recognise them as they don't have wordpress in the address). Wondering if you're able to enable the Name/URL option, as I'm enjoying seeing your work but can't comment

---

Thanks, Jack the Lass. Umm ... I think I've done what needs doing. In the settings menu I've set "Anyone" to be able to comment.

... and there's another painting up now.
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Roseofsharon:
I started my first blog yesterday - but not as myself. I write as a fictional character called Sylvie Thredds, living in a fictional rural community (The Wolds).
This was started by a few of the many people who had joined the BBC Archers blog to complain about the incident that marked the programme's 60th anniversary. It was decided that it would be much more fun to create our own stories. It has been a matter of trial and error, as we are all inexperienced bloggers and we are undergoing our second reorganisation at the moment. There are a couple of communal blogs, in which we can all write posts, and several written by individual characters, on which we can all comment. Until yesterday I had just posted on the communal blogs, but have decided that it will be more enjoyable to make a proper contribution with Sylvie's own blog.

---

Roseofsharon - another blog I've been enjoying lately which is similar to yours is The Beaker Folk of Husborne Crawley Does anybody else here follow this one? It's a sort of mixture of shipoffools meets The Archers with an ecclesiastical sprinkling.

I'm wondering whether it's sometimes easier to maintain a blog's input and bring out what you want to say by taking on a fictional persona (ae) like this.

Any thoughts?


p.s Thanks to you hosts for dredging this thread back up from the depths of Oblivion.

Please, keep posting here on all things bloggery or this will be sent plunging back down into the bog.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
I'm glad it's back too - I was busy bookmarking all the blogs when it sunk.


 

---

Posted by Erleuchte (# 16533) on :
 
Call this a cynical attempt to by a new Ship deck-swab to drive new traffic to his blog if you will. You probly right!

I'm blogging my vocation discernment process here:

http://erleuchte.wordpress.com/

...now off to the "Whom shall we send?" thread to do the same!

E
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Erleuchte:
Call this a cynical attempt to by a new Ship deck-swab to drive new traffic to his blog if you will. You probly right!

I'm blogging my vocation discernment process here:

http://erleuchte.wordpress.com/

...now off to the "Whom shall we send?" thread to do the same!

E

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:
Roseofsharon - another blog I've been enjoying lately which is similar to yours is The Beaker Folk of Husborne Crawley Does anybody else here follow this one? It's a sort of mixture of shipoffools meets The Archers with an ecclesiastical sprinkling.

---

Interesting.
Although I don't know how The Beaker Folk got the idea that Much of the Goings on in The Wolds are church-based. There is a church, St Sebastian's, (see the reference back to The Archers ?) in the village of Much Muttering in the Midden, but it doesn't play a huge part in the lives of many of the blogging set.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:
I'm wondering whether it's sometimes easier to maintain a blog's input and bring out what you want to say by taking on a fictional persona (ae) like this.

---

quote:

---

Interesting.
Although I don't know how The Beaker Folk got the idea that Much of the Goings on in The Wolds are church-based. There is a church, St Sebastian's, (see the reference back to The Archers ?) in the village of Much Muttering in the Midden, but it doesn't play a huge part in the lives of many of the blogging set.

---

RoseofSharon You are quite right. It was the combination of references to coffee, interesting characters and a village/parish setting that did it. I have corrected immediately. But I still think you've an interesting blog and concept.

And I still don't see what the Beaker Folk have to do with the Archers..... (I know it wasn't you said that!)
 

---

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 
Aw, it's back! How lovely.

I've just checked out the Beaker Folk blog and it looks superb. One of those "I wish I could write like that" moments.

I'm currently blogging about a painting I'm doing. Scary at first, submitting the whole process to the public gaze. But I'm now rather enjoying it, and finding that the blogging is actually helping the painting. And I'm nearly finished!
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Archdruid Eileen, welcome aboard ... travel well, avoid the hellions, become addicted like the rest of us ...
 

---

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
Archdruid Eileen, welcome aboard ... travel well, avoid the hellions, become addicted like the rest of us ...

---

...and the same to Erleuchte!
 

---

Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Archdruid Eileen:
It was the combination of references to coffee, interesting characters and a village/parish setting that did it.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
Archdruid Eileen, welcome aboard ... travel well, avoid the hellions, become addicted like the rest of us ...

---

As long as it doesn't distract you from your blog, of course!

It was me wot likened the Beaker Folk to the Archers - mea culpa and all that - on account of the drama, the tension, the suspense, the larger than life daftness, the lure of the tealights...

 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Roseofsharon:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:
Roseofsharon - another blog I've been enjoying lately which is similar to yours is The Beaker Folk of Husborne Crawley Does anybody else here follow this one? It's a sort of mixture of shipoffools meets The Archers with an ecclesiastical sprinkling.

---

Interesting.
Although I don't know how The Beaker Folk got the idea that Much of the Goings on in The Wolds are church-based. There is a church, St Sebastian's, (see the reference back to The Archers ?) in the village of Much Muttering in the Midden, but it doesn't play a huge part in the lives of many of the blogging set.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:
I'm wondering whether it's sometimes easier to maintain a blog's input and bring out what you want to say by taking on a fictional persona (ae) like this.

---

I find that fictional characters need to have thoughts and ideas of their own. Otherwise they would just be the blog owner using a pseudonym - which is what many bloggers do anyway.
Not all of the Wolds bloggers find it easy to make the separation between their fictional and RL personas, but as I 'run' two separate characters I have to try and make them recognisably different from each other, and not necessarily much like me.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:
You say your characters have thoughts and ideas of their own. I wonder - do they ever run amok and say or do something totally different to what you'd originally intended?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Erleuchte:
Call this a cynical attempt to by a new Ship deck-swab to drive new traffic to his blog if you will. You probly right!

I'm blogging my vocation discernment process here:

http://erleuchte.wordpress.com/

...now off to the "Whom shall we send?" thread to do the same!

E

---

Good idea. They're a very supportive lot over there.

Now, I just know I'm going to show myself up as a complete ignoramus, but what
does your blog title mean?

---

"O, Come and enlighten" see the About page. E
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
Thank you. That's enlightening.

Have you discovered our Benedictine Oblates support thread? Currently lurking on page 2 or 3 of All Saints. Would post a link - only my pc is suffering from one of its intermittent attacks of UBB allergy.

And welcome to the thread, Jordan 32424.
 

---

Posted by Padre Joshua (# 13100) on :
 
I actually have two blogs, but only one is worth mentioning: The Barefoot Friar. I do a daily prayer guide for the church bulletin that I post on my blog. The idea for that came about when I had a list of people I was trying to remember to email the guide to every week and mostly failing. Now I can post it up, add pictures and videos if I want, and it's easier for me to remember than a list of emails. I also write articles about liturgy and worship and whatever else strikes my fancy.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
One point which bloggers might like to consider is style and accessibility - anyone with dyslexia or visual stress (And many people have one or other of these without knowing it) will really struggle with a white font on black background. They are then likely to click away from your blog without reading it at all.

The best colours (usually) for people with these difficulties are the Ship's colours.

I know we can change it on our computers - but then the background becomes all one colour - which is also harder to read.

Text on various background 'blocks' is really helpful (Once again like that excellent site called the Ship of Fools uses)



[ 14. August 2011, 13:55: Message edited by: Boogie ]
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
That's a good point, Boogie and one that applies to other media as well. You can experience problems reading as part of the natural ageing process. My eyesight is not as keen as once it was. I struggle to read white against a coloured background. Magazines like The Big Issue are the worst culprits, and until recently, Greenbelt. Though I notice this year's Essential Info leaflet is dark grey on a white background; a vast improvement on their usual white or black on orange or turquoise shades.
 

---

Posted by Ferdzy (# 8702) on :
 
Missed this thread first time round!

My blog is pretty exclusively on the topic of local food and can be found here:

http://seasonalontariofood.blogspot.com/
 

---

Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ferdzy:
Missed this thread first time round!

My blog is pretty exclusively on the topic of local food and can be found here:

http://seasonalontariofood.blogspot.com/

---

quote:

---

Some nice recipes there!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
I've been blogging for many years now, but mostly autobiographical stuff, which nobody cares about. Last Fall I started Is Outrage! which is mostly satire pieces with a little autobiography and occasional children's story thrown in; the latter two don't get any hits at all. So I'm mostly doing satire now.

---

I loved reading about poor Jake and his issues with vegetarianism!
 

---

Posted by cheesymarzipan (# 9442) on :
 
cake blog has new post, for those of you that like cake. (link in sig)
 

---

Posted by Caty M. (# 11996) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by cheesymarzipan:
... for those of you that like cake

---

There are people who don't like cake?
 

---

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 
I can't resist a moment of blatant self-advertising. For about a month, I've been blogging about a painting I've been doing, from source photos and sketches to the finished piece - and the finished piece is on my blog today!

It's ridiculous, the sense of achievement I get from this terribly simple thing ...
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
I've just resurrected one of my blogs (see link below) to work out where I stand theologically on a few things. Only one new entry so far but I have a mental list of others to follow as time allows.
 

---

Posted by Martha (# 185) on :
 
I've enjoyed watching it grow, Adeodatus! I dabble in arts and crafts occasionally but have never painted, so it's been interesting to learn how the process works.
 

---

Posted by GrahamR (# 11299) on :
 
Zappa - I thought your last sermon was good and I would have read more, but white text on a black background really hurts my eyes! I had to copy and paste it into a word document to read that one!

Auntie Doris - I seem to get redirected to the front page of wibsite when I try and follow your sig link

In a fit of enthusiasm I started a blog a couple of months ago - it's currently mainly hosting those sermons I think are vaguely worth preserving. There's lots of other things I'd like to put up there, but not enough time to get the posts into shape...
 

---

Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 
I have just started mine - see link in my signature - in support of the book I'm about to self-publish.

I'll be "launching" it this week, with more posts, and some facebook and twitter promotion.

So, you're the first to hear about it.

mr curly
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
I finally figured out how to change my header and get all the right things on the side bar.

wooohooo.

The header is from my home cathedral and I thought the buddy christ image went reasonably well as a background.

My husband said, "for someone with no artistic ability, that's pretty good".

That's a beauty of a painting Adeodatus! Looks pro.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by GrahamR:
Zappa - I thought your last sermon was good and I would have read more, but white text on a black background really hurts my eyes! I had to copy and paste it into a word document to read that one!

---

Me too. And if it hadn't been by Zappa I'd have rapidly clicked on by.

Please all who blog, consider those who have visual problems or visual stress. The worst, by far is white on black. One of the best colour schemes for us is that used by our very own lovely Ship.


 

---

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
I haven't been getting any comments on my blog for a little while now, which is unusual - this may be because nobody loves me but may be because there is some sort of technical problem. Don't all rush at once, but I'd be grateful if one or two people could help me do a test run by posting a comment, link in sig. below.
 

---

Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
Please all who blog, consider those who have visual problems or visual stress. The worst, by far is white on black. One of the best colour schemes for us is that used by our very own lovely Ship.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chorister:
I'd be grateful if one or two people could help me do a test run by posting a comment, link in sig. below.

---

Done. My comment "is awaiting moderation".
 

---

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
OK, I've had a play with both comments and the options. Seems I have to manually approve them now, whereas I used they used to appear automatically. Just reading comments in the email notification means I can read them, but nobody else can.

Thanks both, for your help.
 

---

Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chorister:
OK, I've had a play with both comments and the options. Seems I have to manually approve them now, whereas I used they used to appear automatically. Just reading comments in the email notification means I can read them, but nobody else can.

Thanks both, for your help.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dormouse:

With the Wibsite, Chorister, I find that comments made by people who have made comments before are accepted without moderation, but from new people they have to be moderated

---

This happens on WordPress, too - as long as you have ticked the right box in your options
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
Chorister, I commented on your blog this morning. Hope this helps.
 

---

Posted by Surfing Madness (# 11087) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chorister:
I haven't been getting any comments on my blog for a little while now, which is unusual - this may be because nobody loves me but may be because there is some sort of technical problem. Don't all rush at once, but I'd be grateful if one or two people could help me do a test run by posting a comment, link in sig. below.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
I was Very Proud™ to get one solitary comment on my blog - from a well known shippie, too ...

---

So, of course, I had to go there to find out who it was.

 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
I was Very Proud™ to get one solitary comment on my blog - from a well known shippie, too ...

---

So, of course, I had to go there to find out who it was.

---

Hehe - me too.

I think I am now suitably inspired to write a blog!

I used to love blogging on a previous Forum, but part of that was the on-going conversation of comments that they generated.

I wish there was a Ship-Blog section.


 

---

Posted by BessHiggs (# 15176) on :
 
I have been toying with the idea of blogging and have just about talked myself around to doing it. Now I'm at a sticking point.

I have no idea how one goes about starting a blog. Absolutely none.

I'm fairly clever (so my mother tells me) and could probably figure out what to do once I knew where to start. But I don't even know that.

Any and all direction would be greatly appreciated. And PM's would be fine if y'all don't want to clutter this thread. Thanks in advance
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Boogie

The Wibsite, effectively functioned/functions as that. There are a lot of shipmates on it.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by BessHiggs:


I'm fairly clever (so my mother tells me) and could probably figure out what to do once I knew where to start. But I don't even know that.

Any and all direction would be greatly appreciated. And PM's would be fine if y'all don't want to clutter this thread. Thanks in advance

---

Go to a blogging website and "create" a blog.

The one I use is www.wordpress.com but there are lots of others. I think another one is www.blogspot.com

I'm afraid I just kind of bumbled about and figured it out as a I went along.


What I still can't get to work is how to get a Twitter Icon onto my blog (the follow one, not the feed one). The FAQ's on Twitter give you a section of html to copy and paste into your blog but I haven't the faintest idea where to paste it! Can anyone help?

[ 02. September 2011, 04:50: Message edited by: Evensong ]
 

---

Posted by Surfing Madness (# 11087) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:
What I still can't get to work is how to get a Twitter Icon onto my blog (the follow one, not the feed one). The FAQ's on Twitter give you a section of html to copy and paste into your blog but I haven't the faintest idea where to paste it! Can anyone help?

---

Sorry no help, but I have the same problem. Just changed the theme, as I was using one with a twitter bird on it and everything, but I still couldn't link to it
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Hhhhmmmnnn. Will let you know if I figure it out!
 

---

Posted by Avila (# 15541) on :
 
Was wary of linking on here as new to blogging but decided to come out as a blogger!

weebles wonderings

My focus is a bridge between faith and vulnerability - in my case living with depression.
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Avila:
Was wary of linking on here as new to blogging but decided to come out as a blogger!

weebles wonderings

My focus is a bridge between faith and vulnerability - in my case living with depression.

---

There are no conditions for inclusion on this thread, Avila. Everybody's welcome, whatever their state of bloggery.
It's for mutual encouragement (OK Adeodatus - and for blatant self-promotion ) and from a quick glance through yours I'm sure that your wonderings will speak to many of us here.

Here's to a long and fruitful blogging career!
 

---

Posted by Avila (# 15541) on :
 
Thanks for the welcome.
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
Do any posters here art journal as a spiritual practice? Adeodatus, you've begun blogging the artistic process for you, JTL is following Project 365 at the moment and I'm sure there must be more. Dormouse, how are things working out for you?

In my case I'm talking more about my sporadic attempts to incorporate the process and act of creativity into my personal prayer. I very rarely blog about it - for reasons I've explained here. , although you can find a few bits and pieces which have fuelled reflection for me in the Greenscapes - 'Reflections' section of my blog. Haven't added to it for yonks.

It's vaguely therapeutic and a tad woolly at times, I guess, but I've found it a really valuable outlet of expression, especially once I've got past the dreaded self-censoring internal 'parrot,' or the internal 'fluffy bunny' who prefers that I put on a front and stick to 'nice', safe stuff, instead of going off-piste down some of the darker and more challenging pathways.
 

---

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 
[tangent] Ooh! Miffy! What kind of plant produces those oval/round seedpods in your picture? I just had a blast from the far past seeing them. They must be something from my childhood![/tangent]
 

---

Posted by Ann (# 94) on :
 
Looks like Honesty to me.
 

---

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 
Thank you, Ann! I do seem to have a vague memory of Money Plant or Silver Dollar that has been buried deep in my brain until reminded by your link.
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by jedijudy:
Thank you, Ann! I do seem to have a vague memory of Money Plant or Silver Dollar that has been buried deep in my brain until reminded by your link.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:
Do any posters here art journal as a spiritual practice? Adeodatus, you've begun blogging the artistic process for you, JTL is following Project 365 at the moment and I'm sure there must be more. Dormouse, how are things working out for you?

---

I 've done two "pieces" - They happened when words from Psalms seemed to be echoing in my mind. One is based on the 2"rd Psalm and another on "Out of the depths..." They were really interesting and helpful to do (and enjoyable. But that's fine!. ) I may well continue on a sporadic basis.
 

---

Posted by cheesymarzipan (# 9442) on :
 
There's pictures of Wedding Cake on my blog now. Tasty tasty pretty cake!
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by cheesymarzipan:
There's pictures of Wedding Cake on my blog now. Tasty tasty pretty cake!

---

Very pretty it looks too!


Pleased to hear about your psalms, Dormouse. I've been neglecting my art journaling lately, although I have been doing a piece over the last week; rather personal though, it won't be posted on my blogs.
 

---

Posted by Mr Curly (# 5518) on :
 
My blog is bubbling along, but I've just been asked to guest blog on a site with many more readers than me. It's a big chance to promote my blog and the book I'm promoting through it, so working hard on getting it right.

mr curly
 

---

Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :
 
Here's one
 

---

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :
 
My blog gets a reasonable amount of hits every day but their number surges up every Saturday. Most of those look at a sermon written for the following day.

There must be loads of desperate preachers doing a last minute search for something to say.
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by leo:
My blog gets a reasonable amount of hits every day but their number surges up every Saturday. Most of those look at a sermon written for the following day.

There must be loads of desperate preachers doing a last minute search for something to say.

---

Past coverage of my husband's cycling activities has prompted a small but steady stream of hits ever since. I can imagine there must be a good few puzzled road racers out there who've logged on expecting to read the finer points of competition technique and instead are confronted with my woolly spiritual waffling. Who knows how many lycra-clad hunks I may have put back onto the paths of righteousness?

 

---

Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :
 
How do you create a link on your own blog to other blogs that you think are good? I'm presuming there is a handy app thingy in the design features to do it, I just haven't discovered it yet
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by fletcher christian:
How do you create a link on your own blog to other blogs that you think are good? I'm presuming there is a handy app thingy in the design features to do it, I just haven't discovered it yet

---

quote:

---

Adeodatus: I can't resist a moment of blatant self-advertising. For about a month, I've been blogging about a painting I've been doing, from source photos and sketches to the finished piece - and the finished piece is on my blog today!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by LeRoc:

quote:

---

Adeodatus: I can't resist a moment of blatant self-advertising. For about a month, I've been blogging about a painting I've been doing, from source photos and sketches to the finished piece - and the finished piece is on my blog today!

---

I saw it. It was a courageous thing to do, and the result is splendid.

---

Agreed - I am really enjoying your blog Adeodatus.


 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:

quote:

---

Originally posted by fletcher christian:
How do you create a link on your own blog to other blogs that you think are good? I'm presuming there is a handy app thingy in the design features to do it, I just haven't discovered it yet

---

On wordpress it comes up as "Link" or "Blogroll" on your dashboard.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by cheesymarzipan:
My neglected crafty blog has new shiny posts on it of old (but still shiny) sewing machine!
Any opinions on the colour scheme? I chose white on colour as constant black on white hurts my eyes if I stare at the screen too long.

---

Link?

The best colour scheme for visual stress is pale bluish-grey background and dark blue fonts (sans serif is best)


 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:
Who knows how many lycra-clad hunks I may have put back onto the paths of righteousness?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by fletcher christian:
Now you made me click on it out of curiosity....off to wash my retinas in soap

---

See? Next time you'll listen to me!
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by jedijudy:

quote:

---

Originally posted by fletcher christian:
Now you made me click on it out of curiosity....off to wash my retinas in soap

---

See? Next time you'll listen to me!

---

Being the pure, innocent creature that I am, I resisted the temptation to click!

 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
I am not pure and innocent, but never have I so wished to be. I did click. Worse, I have seen that film and that abomination is far from the worse scene contained within.
Please pass the brain bleach, I shall pour it in my now empty sockets.
 

---

Posted by cheesymarzipan (# 9442) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:

quote:

---

Originally posted by cheesymarzipan:
My neglected crafty blog has new shiny posts on it of old (but still shiny) sewing machine!
Any opinions on the colour scheme? I chose white on colour as constant black on white hurts my eyes if I stare at the screen too long.

---

Link?

The best colour scheme for visual stress is pale bluish-grey background and dark blue fonts (sans serif is best)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by jedijudy:

Lightsaber lit and humming

Evensong, when you post a non-work safe link, you must label it or use the two click rule. Don't do it again.

Lightsaber sheathed

jedijudy
Heaven Host

---

What is a non-work safe link? What is the two click rule?

Sorry.
 

---

Posted by Divine Outlaw Dwarf (# 2252) on :
 
Here's my new(ish) blog on theology/ politics/ liturgy.
 

---

Posted by moonlitdoor (# 11707) on :
 
I hope it's all right by the ship of fools rules to ask this, but if not, or you prefer not to answer, I apologise.

That blog seems to describe you as an Anglican catholic but from posts on ship of fools I believed you to have become Roman catholic. Am I confused ?
 

---

Posted by cheesymarzipan (# 9442) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:

quote:

---

Originally posted by jedijudy:

Lightsaber lit and humming

Evensong, when you post a non-work safe link, you must label it or use the two click rule. Don't do it again.

Lightsaber sheathed

jedijudy
Heaven Host

---

What is a non-work safe link? What is the two click rule?

Sorry.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Divine Outlaw Dwarf:
Here's my new(ish) blog on theology/ politics/ liturgy.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by cheesymarzipan:
I can't find the rule, but it goes a bit like this:
If a link that you post could cause trouble for people if they look at it on a work computer, don't link to it directly (link to another page which links to it), or warn that it's not safe for work.
I think that's how the rule goes.

---

Thank you,cheesymarzipan. That's right.

Evensong, I'm sorry I wasn't available until now to answer your question. Some people have to worry about their work computers being checked for content that could possibly get them fired or otherwise in hot water. We don't want to cause folks that kind of trouble.
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
A picture of Borat in a mankini would cause trouble at work?

But yes, okay. I get the point. Will refrain from further iffy pictures. Sorry.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:
A picture of Borat in a mankini would cause trouble at work?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:
A picture of Borat in a mankini would cause trouble at work?

But yes, okay. I get the point. Will refrain from further iffy pictures. Sorry.

---

Euech!

Never mind, here's a pic of my own resident lycra-clad hunk and I assure you it's work-safe.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
This is one of my favourite blogs.

She often blogs about her dog and it's brilliant!

[ 23. September 2011, 13:15: Message edited by: Boogie ]
 

---

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :
 
I noticed that people who found bits of my blog through a search engine saw only one page. They didn't look at other pages.

So I googled my own blog and discovered that people only see what they are searching for because thereis no 'return to home page' in Wordpress.

The solution? I have added a bottom line to all posts: To return to the home page, click on the header at the top of this page.
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
This is one of my favourite blogs.

She often blogs about her dog and it's brilliant!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by leo:
I noticed that people who found bits of my blog through a search engine saw only one page. They didn't look at other pages.

So I googled my own blog and discovered that people only see what they are searching for because thereis no 'return to home page' in Wordpress.

The solution? I have added a bottom line to all posts: To return to the home page, click on the header at the top of this page.

---

I get the weirdest search terms sometimes.

The last one was "heaven".

How the hell does a search engine search of "heaven" bring up my blog??!!

Sure I had an article on heaven. But how many billion other hits could the engine have gone to first?

Quite bizarre.
 

---

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
When I googled 'Creamtealand' I expected it to come up with my blog. But it came up with Ferijen's blog instead, at the top of the list!

Strangely, most of the other references were to a shade of paint called 'Cream Teal' with the word 'and' after it....
 

---

Posted by comet (# 10353) on :
 
so, random motivation hit me and I dusted off the old House Blog. I have it all snazzed and pretty again and plan to get the updates going more often. Since we're no longer building I'll be focusing more on our lives in and around the place, rather than the place itself. I can't bring myself to have posts like "an in-depth look at the clogged sink". just not that kind of girl.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:
A picture of Borat in a mankini would cause trouble at work?

But yes, okay. I get the point. Will refrain from further iffy pictures. Sorry.

---

Euech!

Never mind, here's a pic of my own resident lycra-clad hunk and I assure you it's work-safe.

---

That is so not work safe. It caused kuruman palpitations

 

---

Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by comet:
so, random motivation hit me and I dusted off the old House Blog. I have it all snazzed and pretty again and plan to get the updates going more often. Since we're no longer building I'll be focusing more on our lives in and around the place, rather than the place itself. I can't bring myself to have posts like "an in-depth look at the clogged sink". just not that kind of girl.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:
A picture of Borat in a mankini would cause trouble at work?

But yes, okay. I get the point. Will refrain from further iffy pictures. Sorry.

---

Euech!

Never mind, here's a pic of my own resident lycra-clad hunk and I assure you it's work-safe.

---

That is so not work safe. It caused kuruman palpitations

---

Just told him. He's thrilled!
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
Just noticed that we've not hear from Cottontail's blog for a while. Is everything all right, CT?
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Ah, I was thinking about this thread last night. Is anyone running their own WordPress installation? If so, is there a convenient way to track who subscribes to the RSS feed (other than by poring over the logs)?

Confession: I'm being lazy and asking in case someone knows, rather than JFGI, which I'll do if pushed.
 

---

Posted by Gamaliel (# 812) on :
 
Here's a blog I've created with some help from my brother (the graphic for 'The Leopard') and my teenage daughter:

www.leopardpoetry.wordpress.com

Any feedback, comments or suggestions would be very welcome.
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
I've had a couple more hits on my blog from search engines with the keyword "heaven".

I don't gedditt......
 

---

Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:
Just noticed that we've not hear from Cottontail's blog for a while. Is everything all right, CT?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:
Just noticed that we've not hear from Cottontail's blog for a while. Is everything all right, CT?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dormouse:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:
Just noticed that we've not hear from Cottontail's blog for a while. Is everything all right, CT?

---

I was thinking this, but had forgotten whose blog it was. I've enjoyed following it...

Come back blogging Cottontail! I like your style and found your blog interesting enough to visit most days - even if I didn't comment.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Keren-Happuch:
I've just set up a blog, which I'm intending to use for book reviews and musings on the subject of books, translation etc.

One thing I'm having trouble with though - my time stamp seems to be in a different time zone to me. Does anyone know how I can set it to BST?

Anyway, here it is: Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere.

---

For a moment I thought you were referring to the railway station and was about to take you to task for misinformation!
. It looks wonderful.

Not sure about the time setting. Perhaps check your dashboard to see if there's a way of adjusting from there?
 

---

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Keren-Happuch:
Does anyone know how I can set it to BST?

---

I can help you with that!


Go to "My Profile" at the top of this page.
Click on "View/update profile"
Under "Your Preferences" about halfway down that page, you can input "0" hours or "-1" depending on which is correct for you.

One of your helpful Heavenly Hosts.
 

---

Posted by Keren-Happuch (# 9818) on :
 
Thanks JJ - I did eventually find it myself. I thought I'd checked all the settings but evidently not.
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
For any (?) who visit my blog (s) - off on shore leave and laptop free week to contemplate my navel...
 

---

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :
 
I get e mails telling me that people have 'subscribed' so they will get e mail alerts every time I update.

But this doesn't work, since I 'subscribed' myself to see if it words - and it doesn't.

The Wordpress help pages are less than helpful.
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
leo, it may not work if you do it to yourself....it may recognize the address. Dunno. Just a guess.

But it's actually raised an interesting point for me.

What ways do you guys subscribe to other blogs?

I haven't really figured out the best way. I just happened to stumble across something called Bloglines when I once pressed an RSS feed icon on someone's blog.

That seems to work. But I rarely get round to reading my Bloglines page so I don't usually read all the blogs I'm subscribed to!

I'm generally just a facebooker. So if I subscribe to a blog via facebook, then I usually get updates.
 

---

Posted by Eigon (# 4917) on :
 
I am very old fashioned about following blogs! I have a printed out list (three pages of it, double columns). I visit the blogs alphabetically, to give myself a good mix of subjects, and tick them off as I read them. It normally takes me about 6 weeks to get round them all, so if a blog hasn't been updated in 6 weeks (or since my last visit), I cross it off, and if I see a new blog I like, I pencil it in. When I've gone round them all, I print out a new list and start again!
Works for me.
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
If it's a regular keeper, I tend to use RSS to subscribe, and at work have Thunderbird running for a couple of specific email accounts and RSS feeds, to keep it separate from work.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
OK, I've done it - I have started a blog.

Here is a link to it A bit of an Arty Farty blog.

I'm going to put all my art work up there - good and bad. But I have started with two I like enough to put up on my walls.

I'll put a link in my sig.


 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Dude. You can paint. Nooice.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Thanks Evensong

I want to put up everything I paint and draw - but that's hard as I don't like most of what I do.

It's going to take some will power to put up stuff I'm not satisfied with!
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
Thanks Evensong

I want to put up everything I paint and draw - but that's hard as I don't like most of what I do.

It's going to take some will power to put up stuff I'm not satisfied with!

---

Just been admiring this, Boogie.

When are we going to to be able to see some more?

 

---

Posted by The Great Gumby (# 10989) on :
 
I've just started my new blog - Recovering Agnostic. I've got some ideas for subjects to get going with, but after that it all depends on how things go.
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eigon:
I am very old fashioned about following blogs! I have a printed out list (three pages of it, double columns). I visit the blogs alphabetically, to give myself a good mix of subjects, and tick them off as I read them. It normally takes me about 6 weeks to get round them all, so if a blog hasn't been updated in 6 weeks (or since my last visit), I cross it off, and if I see a new blog I like, I pencil it in. When I've gone round them all, I print out a new list and start again!
Works for me.

---

Eigon, your system bears a certain resemblance to the one my late father used to use in order to keep track of all his magazine and newspaper subscriptions. It looked rather hard work to me, but worked well for him.

Then again, having logged on on return from retreat a couple of weeks ago to find several hundred blog entries waiting for me in googlereader, maybe you have the last laugh.

 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Crickey Eigon. That's an impressive system. You must be very well informed!

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Great Gumby:
I've just started my new blog - Recovering Agnostic. I've got some ideas for subjects to get going with, but after that it all depends on how things go.

---

Looks great gumby. Simple layout. You write well and clearly and on some cool topics. Onya.
 

---

Posted by The Great Gumby (# 10989) on :
 
Oh gosh. Er, thanks.

It's really just an enormous braindump of things that have been rattling around my head for a while, which I'm not short of - I've got 3 drafts on the go at the moment, and at least as many ideas that haven't even made it into a draft yet. I don't know what I'll do once I've got through all that backlog.
 

---

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 

quote:

---

The Great Gumby: Oh gosh. Er, thanks.

---

quote:

---

The Great Gumby: It's really just an enormous braindump of things that have been rattling around my head for a while, which I'm not short of - I've got 3 drafts on the go at the moment, and at least as many ideas that haven't even made it into a draft yet. I don't know what I'll do once I've got through all that backlog.

---

Let new things rattle through your brain and dump them too!
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
My blog has been hacked by an advertisement.

When it's on the main page it doesn't show up. But when you click on the individual page it's there.

And it doesn't show up in the edit function or HTML tags at all so I can't delete it.

Have a look here.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:
My blog has been hacked by an advertisement.

---

Oh dear

There must be a way to get rid of it!
 

---

Posted by justlooking (# 12079) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:
My blog has been hacked by an advertisement.

When it's on the main page it doesn't show up. But when you click on the individual page it's there.

And it doesn't show up in the edit function or HTML tags at all so I can't delete it.

Have a look here.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:
My blog has been hacked by an advertisement.

---

Mine too - and both are on Wordpress, so I guess that's where the blame lies.
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
What did you do about it Rose?

Can you show me yours?
 

---

Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :
 
They seem to be temporary. Nothing there today.
I know I mentioned making cakes recently, and an advert featuring a cake appeared in the middle, but that has gone now.
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Aha!

Good to know. Thank you.
 

---

Posted by Suzywoozy (# 6259) on :
 
I haven't been on the Ship for ages and was never very prolific when I was but I keep a blog it's mostly as a family diary, but with particular emphasis on home educating my children, however I do drift on to other bits and bobs. I advertise posts around my friends on facebook and if relevant to home education groups on-line. I mostly have friends, family and home educators looking at it. It's here if anyone wants a look Our Blog
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Suzywoozy:
I haven't been on the Ship for ages and was never very prolific when I was but I keep a blog it's mostly as a family diary, but with particular emphasis on home educating my children, however I do drift on to other bits and bobs. I advertise posts around my friends on facebook and if relevant to home education groups on-line. I mostly have friends, family and home educators looking at it. It's here if anyone wants a look Our Blog

---

Suzy - the link doesn't seem to work on my browser - though got through via your sig! Love the layout of your blog. Was just reading the entry about Cruciform Vision at Guildford Cathedral. Must visit the place more often.
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
I'm yanking this one up and sticking a sprig of holly behind its ear before it sinks back into the bowels of the Ship.

Advent and Christmas blogging. Do we 'deck the halls' of the blogosphere and 'don our gay apparel:' commit our reflections on the Advent readings to the WWW, 'bah humbug' our way through the run-up to The Big Day, break out the tinsel and sticky -back plastic and run a '101 ways to simplify your life and decorate your home' series for the edification of all?

What have the Ship's bloggers been up to? I'll freely admit to 'not much,' some rather lackadasical navel-gazing, most of which has remained inside my head (or my navel). It's been an odd Advent, this year.

I'm off to church to 'tra-la-lala-la' shortly, so will leave you with a little gem - Archdruid Eileen's Betjeman Parody
http://cyber-coenobites.blogspot.com/2011/12/betjeman-last-parody-one-last-time.html

[Chrome and Instant UBB don't seem to be in the Christmas spirit today hosts, sorry!]
 

---

Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :
 
Some of the inhabitants of Much Grumbling in the Wolds headed up to the local Stately Home, Lawnder Hall, for a Christmassy Victorian soirée - in costume. Our songs and recitations were brought to a halt when Wordpress started playing up and refusing admittance to various people - including the lady of the manor.
 

---

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
Seems rather a fun site. I like the Thomas Hardy plot generator!

As usual, I mostly only blog about the services, so the Christmas services will be on there, plus any extras of note (eg. when the holly catches alight, or the teeniest chorister faints).

Does anyone blog about their best / worst, most useful / useless present?
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chorister:
Seems rather a fun site. I like the Thomas Hardy plot generator!

As usual, I mostly only blog about the services, so the Christmas services will be on there, plus any extras of note (eg. when the holly catches alight, or the teeniest chorister faints).

Does anyone blog about their best / worst, most useful / useless present?

---

Can't say I have. Good idea though.

Roseofsharon, your soiree sounds fun. Puts me in mind of the Ship's parties back in The Good Old Days.
 

---

Posted by Avila (# 15541) on :
 
Bump...

I had to look hard for this, tucked away on back pages.

I have now graduated from the basic page blog. I have found out how to add an about page and links to blogs I like, or think my few readers would appreciate.

Ok so that was there all along but when I set it up I settled for a space to splurge, and didn't get a chance to tweak til now.
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Looks good Avila!
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:
Looks good Avila!

---

Certainly does!
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Did any of you lot receive an "annual summary" about your blog recently?

I got one from wordpress.

Interesting to look at all the stats.

My most popular posts and the most common search engine term that led people to my blog was "Atheism".


 

---

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :
 
I didn't - but I only started on wordpress half way through the year.
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Could be leo.

I'm the only one that got a summary?

Pretty cool tho. Have a look here.

They can even track what countries most of your hits come from.
 

---

Posted by South Coast Kevin (# 16130) on :
 
That is rather nice, Evensong. My blog is on Blogger and I got no such annual report Although you can always view statistics showing how many views your blog has had, what pages people are viewing, where the people come from and so on. That's quite interesting, especially when it shows you've had a hit or two from random countries like Chile (lovely country, I'm sure, but I've got no links at all to it!).
 

---

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Wordpress doesn't show you what countries the hits come from.

I tried putting a widget on once that says "live" that someone is "visiting from Sydney Australia" cos I thought it was cool but unfortunately I had to have a paying version of wordpress or something....

Notice you're reading lots of McClaren. I used to follow his blog. If you were raised con evo then he'd be quite a change for you wot? Onya
 

---

Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:

I'm the only one that got a summary?

---

I got one, too - but my blog is also on Wordpress.

Mostly it's just the half-dozen who share the blog who pop in to read each other's entries, although we also had visitors from around the globe.
The Ship was our most active 'outside' referring site.
 

---

Posted by Fineline (# 12143) on :
 
Oh, I've got a summary too, for my Wordpress blog, although I didn't know until right now when I read this thread and checked the email account I use with my blog. I haven't updated my blog since August - according to my summary I have only updated 3 times in 2011, but I got 20,000 views. It is strange how blogs get views when you're not updating them! I should update more, as another New Year resolution. And then I can make it so that my posts here have a link at the bottom, in case people want to read it - it's a bit embarrassing linking to a blog I haven't updated for ages!
 

---

Posted by wilson (# 37) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fineline:
I haven't updated my blog since August - according to my summary I have only updated 3 times in 2011, but I got 20,000 views.

---

I updated my 82 times in 2011 and got only 2,500 views.

Not that I'm jealous... (ok I am).
 

---

Posted by Avila (# 15541) on :
 
Some of us have less friends!

Having started mid year, I am chuffed to make 600!!
 

---

Posted by Fineline (# 12143) on :
 
Nah, I don't have lots of friends. Lots of random people read my blog, because I write about what it's like to have Asperger Syndrome, and what strategies can help, so people like to read it if they have Aspergers themselves, or if they have a child with Aspergers. They do searches to find out about Asperger Syndrome and they find my blog.
 

---

Posted by Little Miss Methodist (# 1000) on :
 
I used to blog, ages ago, about my knitting but I used Livejournal (everyone did at the time) and always kind of hated the format so eventually that blog died.

This year, one of my New Years Resolutions is to knit or sew or crochet every day, so i've started a new blog (Wordpress - sooo much better!) to keep track of what I manage to make.

At the moment I am concentrating on doing tapestries (because that is what I felt like doing), but am planning some knitting projects to start soon.

If you fancy a look, my new blog is here.
 

---

Posted by South Coast Kevin (# 16130) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:
Notice you're reading lots of McClaren. I used to follow his blog. If you were raised con evo then he'd be quite a change for you wot? Onya

---

You could say that... I only became a Christian as a very young adult, so wasn't raised Christian, but certainly my adolescence in the faith was fairly straight evangelical.

I've certainly moved away from that over the last couple of years though - I had an interesting conversation the other day with a friend who is in the pre-tribulation rapture camp. She's reading Are We Living in the End Times and lent it to me for a bit but I couldn't get into it at all, it was like reading a foreign language!
 

---

Posted by Eigon (# 4917) on :
 
I've been looking at the stats for my blog. I've been jogging along with around 3,000 readers (or page views, or whatever), with a peak of 8,000 when I started talking about the proposed new supermarket locally - and three regular readers seem to be in Armenia! (I knew about the ones in Finland - but why Armenia?)
Also, the most popular post I ever did appears to be the one where a local dog pee'd up my skirt!
 

---

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 
I've just discovered a surprising and radical cure for those times when you don't post on your blog for a while, and the time gets longer, and you wonder what you would say after all this time, and you start to get the impression that your blog is sitting there glaring at you accusingly, and you still can't think of what you would say after all this time ...

Post something.
 

---

Posted by OhSimone (# 16414) on :
 
Despite posting only 16 times (I write my blogs in quiet time at the office - apparently I work harder than I thought) I managed 25,000 views. Must be the back catalogue: annual report. I have a massive backlog of drafts to complete, I'll have to step it up a bit in 2012.
 

---

Posted by aredstatemystic (# 11577) on :
 
Oh, dear me, there is a blogging thread and I haven't shared my URL.

I kind of write about everything and nothing at the same time. Mostly dealing with faith, it is intensely personal and intensely vague at the same time: http://aredstatemystic.wordpress.com/
 

---

Posted by Earwig (# 12057) on :
 
I've started blogging again too! All these little hopeful blogs, perking their noses up in the new year - I'm going to be diligent and keep blogging throughout this year, rather than letting it die down in February.

If anyone fancies having a look, my blog is here, it's mainly about my crafting activities (and sometimes my pets). Any thoughts on whether the header illustration works? I'm not sure about the colour.

Also, does anyone know anything about the creative commons licence? As I'm posting pictures of my work, I want to make sure people don't nick it! (Sounds very arrogant, I don't think people will, I'm just cautious like that!)
 

---

Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
I think the colour of the writing isn't clear enough, Earwig. I find it quite difficult to read it. YMMV. IMNSHO. etc etc
 

---

Posted by Keren-Happuch (# 9818) on :
 
I agree with Dormouse - it's hard to read the title. Given that the lines are already broken up, it needs to stand out very sharply against the background. Or that's what I think, anyway!

I've posted a new review on my blog. I need to update it more regularly...
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Keren-Happuch:
I agree with Dormouse - it's hard to read the title. Given that the lines are already broken up, it needs to stand out very sharply against the background. Or that's what I think, anyway!

I've posted a new review on my blog. I need to update it more regularly...

---

Yes, agreed. I find it hard to read the title.

As for me - my house has been blessed, as have my stats. I came in this evening to find they'd gone through the roof! (In suitable modest manner) It's amazing what a spot of latin will do.
 

---

Posted by Earwig (# 12057) on :
 
Thanks chaps, I appreciate that. I'll have a tinker...
 

---

Posted by The Great Gumby (# 10989) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:
As for me - my house has been blessed, as have my stats. I came in this evening to find they'd gone through the roof! (In suitable modest manner) It's amazing what a spot of latin will do.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Great Gumby:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:
As for me - my house has been blessed, as have my stats. I came in this evening to find they'd gone through the roof! (In suitable modest manner) It's amazing what a spot of latin will do.

---

Check your referrers on your dashboard. It may be that someone's mentioned your blog somewhere, or linked to a post, and you'll see a rash of inward clicks from a particular source.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Earwig:
Also, does anyone know anything about the creative commons licence? As I'm posting pictures of my work, I want to make sure people don't nick it! (Sounds very arrogant, I don't think people will, I'm just cautious like that!)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Drifting Star:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Earwig:
Also, does anyone know anything about the creative commons licence? As I'm posting pictures of my work, I want to make sure people don't nick it! (Sounds very arrogant, I don't think people will, I'm just cautious like that!)

---

Just put a statement on your blog somewhere that says you retain the copyright to all pictures, but are releasing them for others to use under a Creative Commons licence - say which specific licence, and give a link to that licence on the Creative Commons website.

Speaking as someone who uses a lot of CC resources, please make your statement easy to find, and thank you for offering your pictures in this way!!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Adeodatus:
(I think I'm also right in saying that a mere assertion of copyright is sufficient under UK law, but wouldn't be under US law.)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Adeodatus:

I think I'm also right in saying that a mere assertion of copyright is sufficient under UK law, but wouldn't be under US law.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by ken:
...The USA used to have a weird system that involved registering copyright but they got rod of it over ten years ago (though loads of Americans don't realise that yet).

---

Well the US Copyright Office is still offering the
forms and taking the fees, so it seems that the system is still in place.

It is worth asserting your ownership of the copyright on your website, because the majority of people will heed what you say. It may not occur to them without the nudge, though.
 

---

Posted by cheesymarzipan (# 9442) on :
 
Hopefully my crafty blog will be revived this year as i'm trying to make a quilt so I can post on progress each week. Not sure how long I'll keep going but I'll have time in the eveinings so maybe I'll even finish it eventually. Fingers crossed! most recent post here.
 

---

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :
 
I find it mildly amusing the my blog gets more hits on a Saturday than the rest of the week put together. It seems that there are a lot of desperate preachers who have left their sermons preparation to the last minute.
 

---

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 
Um ... am I allowed a bit of own-trumpet-blowing? It's just that today's blog entry contains a significant bit of information about a competitive arts exhibition I've submitted work to. Information that has had me looking like this - - all weekend.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
That's great news Adeodatus! I don't live far from Sale and will go and see it.


 

---

Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
OOOOOOOOOh, get you, you proper artist! Well done!
 

---

Posted by birdsoftheair (# 15219) on :
 
Fantastic and glad you are blogging again!
 

---

Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
Do any of you seasoned bloggers have advice for an absolute beginner?
I'm going to start a blog with a view to keeping a travel diary, starting with my upcoming trip down under.
So I'll be using my shiny new ipad (other tablets are available!)
Does anyone have experience of using a blogging app?
 

---

Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
I think quite a lot of us use the Wibsite. I found the people there helpful and it was easy to set up too. But equally I have a blog with blogspot which was ridiculously easy to set up.

I can't offer much more advice, but I'm sure others will be able to. Can you download photos easily to your i-pod might be a relevant question. But equally, it might not be.

What's great is that you can plan your holiday now!
 

---

Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
Yes, Dormouse, it's a great feeling. I'm certainly going to appreciate this holiday even more than I would have done had I not had the health scare.
I've bought the piece of kit that enables me to put photos on my ipad from my camera so that shouldn't be a problem.
Maybe I should look into the wibsite...
 

---

Posted by Little Miss Methodist (# 1000) on :
 
Tree Bee, I blog with Wordpress and i've found it excellent. It's easy to use and has lots of options and inserting a picture couldn't be easier. Previously I used Livejournal and it was incredibly clunky in comparison.
 

---

Posted by Keren-Happuch (# 9818) on :
 
I've got a guest post on somebody else's blog today which I'm quite excited about as hers is higher-profile than mine... You can see it here: Domestication vs. Foreignisation via Red Rage
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
The Forty blogs of Lent is me taking something on rather than giving something up.

Anyone care to join me in Lenten blogging?
 

---

Posted by The Great Gumby (# 10989) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
The Forty blogs of Lent is me taking something on rather than giving something up.

Anyone care to join me in Lenten blogging?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
The Forty blogs of Lent is me taking something on rather than giving something up.

Anyone care to join me in Lenten blogging?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jack the Lass:
Hi TreeBee

Re Q1): if you go into your dashboard and go down the left hand column to 'Pages', and click on that, you will then get a list of pages of which 'About' is one (probably the only one). If you then click on that it will take you to the edit box, write what you want and then click on 'Update' over on the right.

Can't help with the photos (though I did just send a comment to your blog, it's being held in a moderation queue). How big are your photos? Were you posting it from flickr or other such site, or using upload/insert at the top of the text box to add a photo from your computer? I mention in my comments it might be a feature/bug of your chosen blog template, that might make a difference.

---

Thanks Jack.
In 'pages' there's only 'All Pages', in which no pages are found, and 'Add new'. Daughter Erin uses Word Press and has been trying to help me this morning but there appear to be many fewer features available on my blog than on hers.
We could find no way to add text to the 'about' section.
By adding the Word Press app to my ipad we found that altering the size of a photo is an easy option there. So that's what I've done.
A third question - I'd like a 'follow this blog' area, but once again this doesn't appear to be an available option.Anyone know how I can add this?
We browsed other templates to see if it would be more straightforward elsewhere with no joy.

I'm wondering if I'm on probation as a newbie and new features will be added later?
 

---

Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
So where do we find your blog, TreeBee?
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
I've found it:
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
I've found it, and I am so inept that I failed to link to it
treebee.wibsite.com
Try that.
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Great Gumby:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
The Forty blogs of Lent is me taking something on rather than giving something up.

Anyone care to join me in Lenten blogging?

---

Nice idea. Not this time, but I might do something special next year. Is the idea to blog about something special, just to post every day, or what?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
Looks like it's there to me, but if anyone else wants to do it, I use the UBB thread in the Styx, then copy and paste to the sig from there. Two tabs or windows open in the browser helps.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
The Forty blogs of Lent is me taking something on rather than giving something up.

Anyone care to join me in Lenten blogging?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jenny Ann:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
Anyone care to join me in Lenten blogging?

---

Me! Lent Positivity

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Great Gumby:
This might be the best place to mention that I've just had an unfeasibly good week for hits on my blog, thanks to some unintended SEO. I posted something early in the week about the forthcoming Dawkins-Williams debate, and subsequently got a large number of hits, mainly on Thursday afternoon, from related search terms.

My hit rate's been steadily increasing, but now my daily hitcount history looks like a more or less flat line with one huge skyscraper. It's quite depressing in a way.

---

I had a skyscraper when someone linked to an atheist poster on my blog.

Looking at my stats recently I've been interested to note two posts that are regularly hit are:

1) an excerpt from Bonhoeffer on community
2) Martin Luther's views on depression.

They don't get nearly as much traffic as the atheism posts but they get hit very regularly.

Interesting.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
I drivel happily on, largely undisturbed by hits ...
 

---

Posted by Ophelia's Opera Therapist (# 4081) on :
 
Every so often my blog takes on a bit of a Ship flavour. I've been here a bit the last week or so trying to work out what I think about the redefining marriage issue, and grateful for the range of views. But other times my blog is more about music or films or what have you.

HeartenSoul blog

My sister always gets more hits than me. But I'm not bitter

OOT
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
One of the joys of taking my custom over to blogger has been the discovery of what I've nicknamed the rolling bogroll.; you know, the one that continuously updates with snippet views of your favourite blogs. Such fun! For some reason I'm finding myself far more drawn to 'visit' other bloggers than before and to explore their blogrolls in turn.

So far it's working in a similar way to my membership of a bookgroup; I'm pulled outside of my comfort zone to read stuff I'd not have selected off my own bat. Whether or not this is beginning to be reflected in my posts is another matter. Time will tell.
 

---

Posted by South Coast Kevin (# 16130) on :
 
Heh, I was ill last weekend and that fuelled a bile-filled rant about gay marriage (with an associated slightly provocative Facebook link) - that day my blog got more than twice as many hits as it had on any previous single day!

I'm now wondering what to write about next as it feels like the only way from here is down...
 

---

Posted by The Great Gumby (# 10989) on :
 
It was good, though.

Anyway, it could be worse - my best daily total is still 3x my next best. Worst of all, I know that my "big day" had nothing to do with me or my writing, and everything to do with people searching for the Dawkins-Williams debate, so even if I wanted to, I couldn't attempt to replicate it.
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by South Coast Kevin:
Heh, I was ill last weekend and that fuelled a bile-filled rant about gay marriage (with an associated slightly provocative Facebook link) - that day my blog got more than twice as many hits as it had on any previous single day!

I'm now wondering what to write about next as it feels like the only way from here is down...

---

Yes. I can imagine that'd be a hard act to follow!
Looks as if you're managing fine so far IMHO.

I'm finding simplicity - well...relative simplicity - is helping me become more focussed with the new blogging adventure. Whilst not exactly all bells and whistles, the old Greenpatches was beginning to get cluttered with all sorts of widgets, buttons and goodness knows whatsits, at the expense of the actual content. I find stilling the monkey mind in prayer to be tricky enough without extending the chaos into the blogosphere!

Treated myself to three teeny tiny moleskin notebooks last week: one for blog ideas, one for arty bits n bobs, the third as a mini- journal and general distraction catcher. They fit nicely into a handbag and I'm hoping they'll help me catch those pesky critters and harness them for a more positive purpose.
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
Finding things to blog about is difficult. I decided to do forty blogs in Lent (I get Sundays off from posting) and now I'm over half way through finding something new to say is getting harder.

I've made it easier on myself by using some of the days to re-post some of the things I'd previously posted on the no longer existing St Pixels site and Monday's blog is about something that happened at church on Sunday.

At least I have tomorrow's, which is about the spiritual significance of eating badger.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:

I'm now wondering what to write about next as it feels like the only way from here is down...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:

I'm now wondering what to write about next as it feels like the only way from here is down...

---

Yeah I've had that problem - i launched an attack on the Archbishop of Sydney because he was being a supercillious dickhead - I've never had as many hits before or since ... (but mine on the other hand is dry and boring anyway)

---

Zappa - touched though I am to have you attribute the above to me, it's actually South Coast Kevin's quote.

I don't have the courage to launch bile-filled attacks on my blog, tempted though I am at times...

 

---

Posted by South Coast Kevin (# 16130) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:
Treated myself to three teeny tiny moleskin notebooks last week: one for blog ideas, one for arty bits n bobs, the third as a mini- journal and general distraction catcher. They fit nicely into a handbag and I'm hoping they'll help me catch those pesky critters and harness them for a more positive purpose.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
Finding things to blog about is difficult... I've made it easier on myself by using some of the days to re-post some of the things I'd previously posted on the no longer existing St Pixels site and Monday's blog is about something that happened at church on Sunday.

---

I read some advice from a veteran blogger that it's partly just about the discipline of blogging regularly, even if you don't feel you have inspiration at that particular time. I'm not sure how I feel about the idea of posting something that I think is, frankly, rubbish just for the sake of posting something, but the discipline is important, I guess. If you think you have a gift (or just a desire) to write, then get on and write!

And good idea about re-posting stuff from elsewhere, I think. Fresh inspiration might strike you and it's perfectly possible that someone else could read it and be greatly encouraged, challenged, stirred up...
 

---

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
It's my blog's birthday this month: I've been consistently blogging now for exactly 9 years, always on the same topic. Bet you can't guess what that is.
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chorister:
It's my blog's birthday this month: I've been consistently blogging now for exactly 9 years, always on the same topic. Bet you can't guess what that is.

---

Weeellll....Let me see now...
 

---

Posted by Eigon (# 4917) on :
 
When I started blogging, I worried about not having anything to say - I write about local gossip and what it's like to live in the Town of Books. I occasionally went three days without finding anything new to talk about, but very rarely more than that, and these days I tend to have a list of three or four subjects ready to go (especially as I'm involved in a couple of local campaigns now, which require updates).
 

---

Posted by Perkin (# 16928) on :
 
Thats an interesting point about having things to say but waiting - having a bit of a waiting list.

Whats a good frequency for blogging do you think?
 

---

Posted by South Coast Kevin (# 16130) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Perkin:
Thats an interesting point about having things to say but waiting - having a bit of a waiting list.

Whats a good frequency for blogging do you think?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by South Coast Kevin:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Perkin:
Thats an interesting point about having things to say but waiting - having a bit of a waiting list.

Whats a good frequency for blogging do you think?

---

I suppose if you're purely blogging for your own benefit or to share news / events with a defined group of people, then just blog when you feel the urge. But if you feel you have something to share with a wider audience then, apparently, the more frequently you post something, the more likely it is that your blog will get picked up by search engines.

Personally, I try and write something at least twice a week and I also have a bit of a waiting list, or at least an ideas bank. I've got 3-4 ideas at the moment and intend to put one up tonight - I've not had time since the weekend.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Adeodatus:
(Psst! Gumby! Your PM box is full.)

---

Oops!

Clear now.
 

---

Posted by Eigon (# 4917) on :
 
Great Gumby, I totally agree about current events. There's no point in me doing a re-hash of the local paper; I have to find something a bit different to say about the event, or choose things that the local paper wouldn't be interested in.
At the moment, I'm doing a long term project I'm calling Small Business Saturday, taking a photo of every small business in town that I can find and posting one every Saturday with a brief description. There are an awful lot more small businesses here than I thought there were when I started! I haven't even got near the main shopping streets yet.
 

---

Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
As a travel diary my blog has been serving its purpose well, I'm pleased with it.

I decided once I'd got home I'd tackle again the problems I've been having in adding content to the area on the right that is always there.
(This probably has a name I'm unaware of.)

But it's like banging my head against a brick wall, I can't figure out how to do it.

I've asked for help from one of the hosts but the answer is vague and I'm still lost.

I'd like to amend the 'about' section, add an avatar, have a 'follow' tab, have a list of blogs I follow etc.

I may have to abandon it and start afresh.
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tree Bee:
As a travel diary my blog has been serving its purpose well, I'm pleased with it.

I decided once I'd got home I'd tackle again the problems I've been having in adding content to the area on the right that is always there.
(This probably has a name I'm unaware of.)

But it's like banging my head against a brick wall, I can't figure out how to do it.

I've asked for help from one of the hosts but the answer is vague and I'm still lost.

I'd like to amend the 'about' section, add an avatar, have a 'follow' tab, have a list of blogs I follow etc.

I may have to abandon it and start afresh.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jenn.:
I've just started blogging as a way to make me reflect on what I am reading in the lectionary rather than just reading and running.

---

I've been meaning to start a Kerg thread to do just this for some time where we might all reflect together.

I keep veering off the lectionary tho.
 

---

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jenn.:
I've just started blogging as a way to make me reflect on what I am reading in the lectionary rather than just reading and running.

---

I've been meaning to start a Kerg thread to do just this for some time where we might all reflect together.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by leo:
The hosts don't like 'homework'

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by leo:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jenn.:
I've just started blogging as a way to make me reflect on what I am reading in the lectionary rather than just reading and running.

---

I've been meaning to start a Kerg thread to do just this for some time where we might all reflect together.

---

That would be a very fruitful thread. The hosts don't like 'homework' but it neededn't just be for those preaching on a given Sunday. More like the sort of Bible Study group that my church used to run midweek in preparation for the upcoming readings.

---

Kelly Alves was very keen on the idea when I approached her. I just haven't got round to it - cos as I said - I have trouble sticking to the lectionary ( even tho I'm supposed to ).

But I think a lot of people on the ship do follow the lectionary readings so it might be useful.

How bout you start it?

Great idea for a blog Jenn. Just think the ship could use a similar idea.
 

---

Posted by Keren-Happuch (# 9818) on :
 
I've signed up for the WordCount 2012 blogathon and am going to try and post every day in May. Not quite as epic as Balaam's 40 blogs of Lent, but I have got a plan...
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Keren-Happuch:
I've signed up for the WordCount 2012 blogathon and am going to try and post every day in May. Not quite as epic as Balaam's 40 blogs of Lent, but I have got a plan...

---

I see I have an honourable mention.

http://adiscounttickettoeverywhere.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/m-is-for.html


 

---

Posted by Keren-Happuch (# 9818) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Keren-Happuch:
I've signed up for the WordCount 2012 blogathon and am going to try and post every day in May. Not quite as epic as Balaam's 40 blogs of Lent, but I have got a plan...

---

I see I have an honourable mention.

http://adiscounttickettoeverywhere.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/m-is-for.html

---

Missed this at the time - glad you liked it Miffy!

Well, I did it. The last Blogathon post has just been published.
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Keren-Happuch:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Miffy:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Keren-Happuch:
I've signed up for the WordCount 2012 blogathon and am going to try and post every day in May. Not quite as epic as Balaam's 40 blogs of Lent, but I have got a plan...

---

I see I have an honourable mention.

http://adiscounttickettoeverywhere.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/m-is-for.html

---

Missed this at the time - glad you liked it Miffy!

Well, I did it. The last Blogathon post has just been published.

---

Well done. I wish I had your staying power! I'm quite intrigued at the idea of a Blogathon. Maybe one day...


 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
These intensive blogs can be followed by a lull. (plus I has Sundays off.) It is two weeks since I blogged.

So well done Keren-Happuch.
 

---

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
My blog is supposed to be about my own church choir. But now I seem to spend almost as much time somewhere else. Each blog entry is beginning to sound like a mini Mystery Worship report.
 

---

Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chorister:
Each blog entry is beginning to sound like a mini Mystery Worship report.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chorister:
Each blog entry is beginning to sound like a mini Mystery Worship report.

---

Or a travelogue.

---

Shouldn't worry, Chorister. You're doing us all a (excuse the pun) service here. When I'm looking for a holiday church, I'll know just where to go.

 

---

Posted by Keren-Happuch (# 9818) on :
 
I've just moved from Blogger to Wordpress. I got fed up with a serious of compatibility issues with Firefox, to which Google's official response was "use Chrome" ...
 

---

Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Keren-Happuch:
I've just moved from Blogger to Wordpress. I got fed up with a serious of compatibility issues with Firefox, to which Google's official response was "use Chrome" ...

---

Sounds familiar. Most of my posts over the last week have concerned my compatibility issues - namely my all-singing, all-dancing moving blogroll. All fixed now, hopefully. Now I need to find something else to write about.
 

---

Posted by Godric (# 17135) on :
 
I've been blogging for just under a year and the blog is about burials and funerals which have always interested me. I've always wanted to see into an 'in Church burial' vault but so far this has eluded me. I live in hope of being allowed access at some point. In the meantime I enjoy photographs and reading snippets from 19th Century books in project Gutenburg or CCEL.

The blog is a place where I can share some of the great places we have in Norfolk and where I can reflect on the often Catholic tradition of the County

http://godsacre.blogspot.co.uk/
 

---

Posted by Eigon (# 4917) on :
 
I've just had a look at your blog, Godric - fascinating! I never knew there was a Jewish cemetery in Norwich.
 

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Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :
 
I don't appear to have mentioned it yet, but the fictional community of Much Grumbling In The Wolds seems to have faded away, and all blogs associated with it have been silent for nearly six months.
Including mine.
I will not be resurrecting it.
 

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Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
The Olympic Torch will be passing our church tomorrow. What we are doing is in my blog.(Link in sig.)
 

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Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
*Bump* with due deference to the hosts. Noticed a few new shiply bloggers who might fancy saying hello on this thread.
 

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Posted by Hart (# 4991) on :
 
Thanks, Miffy. I started a preaching blog earlier this summer (link in sig), as I'll be preaching weekly this coming year for the first time (I've been more likely monthly up till now). It seems to be being fairly well received. Nothing crazy -- about 20-30 views per post -- but a decent start.
 

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Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
May I just add that the stuff in the blog referenced above is beautifully written?

I haven't blogged in a while, but I just wrote up an incident for one of my classes, and I was so excited about it, I threw it on my long-negelcted livejournal, to be found here.
 

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Posted by Keren-Happuch (# 9818) on :
 
I'd be incredibly pleased with 20-30 views per post. I'm rather put out that my old blog, which isn't being updated, is still getting more views than the new one. Hey ho. I guess it'll pick up.
 

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Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
Daft question - can anybody tell me what Stumbleupon is and how it works? I've noticed a few visits from the site in my stats recently.

Kerren-Happuch - suspect the same with my old blog; it seems to thrive on neglect.
 

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Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
Stumble upon is a random website generator. If you've been stumbled upon at least you pass the work safe rule.

As for me, I get visits from people Googling "Ass."
 

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Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Balaam:
Stumble upon is a random website generator. If you've been stumbled upon at least you pass the work safe rule.

As for me, I get visits from people Googling "Ass."

---

All seeking good, sound biblical wisdom, I'm sure.

 

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Posted by Yangtze (# 4965) on :
 
I am an erratic blogger. I started out this year with such good intentions of blogging more regularly and then......well it's a familiar story.

The name - What's for Afters - reflects that when I started it I realise the blogs I most read were either about food or faith. And so I was going to explore those. However it mainly ends up being about life in general. Ho hum.
 

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Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
Summer 'bloggin, had me a blast... or not as the case may be. Where are you all? I don't know, I emerge from the woodwork after a long absence and the place is as silent as a trappist monastery.

If it goes on like this, I'll have to consider changing my strapline to unofficial guardian and yanker-upper of Ship's bloggery and Franciscan threads!
 

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Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :
 
I do update my profile so that the sig shows the title of the latest blog. Other than that I don't tend to advertise it here.(Just on Twitter and Facebook.)
 

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Posted by South Coast Kevin (# 16130) on :
 
Ah, my blogging has also been very patchy recently. Although I've come back to it over the last couple of weeks and I'll be restarting my theology course in September, which I'm sure will give me plenty to witter on about!
 

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Posted by The Great Gumby (# 10989) on :
 
Likewise, I plug selected posts in my sig. I'm still publishing at least once a week, though, and I can't be bothered to update that frequently, so there are plenty of good posts (or decent, at least - alright, they're probably crap) that don't get that level of publicity. In fact, I've written quite a few things recently that I'm very pleased with, starting with the link in my sig, including a letter to the ABC and an interview with the Naked Pastor.

I recently hit the landmark of 10,000 hits on my blog, having started in November and scratched around for a couple of months with little activity.
 

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Posted by Ancilla (# 11037) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Great Gumby:
I recently hit the landmark of 10,000 hits on my blog, having started in November and scratched around for a couple of months with little activity.

---

Well done I'm not sure I've got there and I've been going a couple of years... Then again, I did keep it virtually secret to begin with, which sort of defeats the idea of a blog!

I blog as KatyMagdalene and it's (now) all about my experiences as an ordinand.
 

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Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ancilla:
I blog as KatyMagdalene and it's (now) all about my experiences as an ordinand.

---

Good blog too, enjoy Greenbelt.

I have just scored by 1,000th unique visitor, though I suspect it is a lot less than that. Using a desktop, netbook and smart phone would give at least 3 IP addresses. More if dynamic IPs are used.

A good title is worth a lot of hits, I got a lot of hits for one titled "Llama Burger." (As well as a steady stream of people Googling Ass. Ironic considering the number of God blogs I've written.)
 

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Posted by Keren-Happuch (# 9818) on :
 
Yes, good titles are something I struggle with. I recently got a huge spike in hits after I posted about the Lymond books (see relevant bookish threads here!) - they got linked from various fan sites and my stats went through the roof. Sadly back down to earth now though...
 

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Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 
I've been blogging on my current trip as an alternative to sending postcards - I know it's nice to have a pretty picture to put on the kitchen cupboard door, and I'll still be sending a few of those, but the blog gives a chance for those who want to follow me to do so. This time I forgot the gizmo that connects my camera to the iPad (and I forgot thos is a camera too until only recent,y) so I'll post a link to a selection of pics after I get home. If I'm reading the stats correctly, I've had 18 unique readers.
 

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Posted by Eigon (# 4917) on :
 
On my main blog, I got the most hits ever for a story about a local dog using me as a lamp-post! Never mind all the serious stuff - Freddy wee-ing up my long skirt was the thing to look at!
On my newer, fantasy and writing blog, the most popular post so far has been about Tom Hiddleston in The Hollow Crown.
 

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Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 
I just checked the audience stats - UK, USA & Taiwan didn't surprise me, but Germany, Poland & Russia
 

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Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 
I just checked the audience stats - UK, USA & Taiwan didn't surprise me, but Germany, Poland & Russia
 

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Posted by WhateverTheySay (# 16598) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by daisydaisy:
I just checked the audience stats - UK, USA & Taiwan didn't surprise me, but Germany, Poland & Russia

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by daisydaisy:
I use Blogger which comes free with my google account.

---

Can you please change your settings so that those whose blog is not in the list:

Google Account
LiveJournal
WordPress
TypePad
AIM
OpenID

or who have no blog can reply.
 

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Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :
 
Ah ha - I'm still learning about this. I've changed the settings so that anyone can comment. I hope.
 

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Posted by WhateverTheySay (# 16598) on :
 
I use Blogspot
 

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Posted by The Great Gumby (# 10989) on :
 
I'm a Wordpress guy, and find it very easy to use, with a well-managed ready-made community to share ideas and discuss with.

And please forgive the following, but I think this is an appropriate place for a quiet moment of genuinely astonished blog-related pleasure. Not so long ago, in a forum far, far away, I dropped in a quick link to one of my recent posts to illustrate a point I was making - something I generally try not to do, but every so often I find that I'm discussing something I only just wrote about, so it would be daft to repeat the same thing when I could just use a link.

Anyway, following that, someone sent me a message to thank me for the link, and to say how much they'd liked it. I replied with a very British, foot-shuffling "glad you liked it, I always feel self-conscious about plugging my writing" sort of thing, and then came the punchline:

"Oh, you're the author? Wow! I didn't realise! I feel like I've almost touched celebrity now!"



Eventually, I picked my jaw up off the floor. Someone went out of their way to say how much they liked the post, without even knowing that I wrote it! I'd always assumed that anyone who said nice things about my blog was just being kind, or applying "friend-level" standards of criticism. I don't know how to handle this - in a way, it's quite unsettling.

Of course, I'm now wondering if it's a wind-up, and I'm in danger of obsessing over other phrases from the exchange that sound like they're hiding slightly more negative thoughts. My blog's "generally very well written"? Why only generally? I bet it's that post I rushed off a month or so ago, I should never have hit Publish on it, certainly not without some brutal editing and a complete change of emphasis. Oh God, I'm such a failure!

In summary, I think I'm a hopeless case.
 

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Posted by cheesymarzipan (# 9442) on :
 
Hey Gumby - I just realised that you're on my 'list of blogs to read' and though I don't read it very often, I think you write well too. (And tho I knew it was a shippie's blog, I'd forgotten who!)

I remembered to update my blogs (crafty and cake) recently so I thought I'd tell you all in case anyone wants to read my ramblings about cake and fabric!

(links in sig)

[ 29. August 2012, 11:35: Message edited by: cheesymarzipan ]
 

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Posted by Boadicea Trott (# 9621) on :
 
I thought I might mention that I blog too :-)

My main blog, running since 2004, with photos, book reviews and general musings is at The Garden Window
My writing blog, including the saga of Babushka Barbara the Biter of Bialystok and the Babushka's Guide to Life is at MiscellaneousMumblings

 

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Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boadicea Trott:
I thought I might mention that I blog too :-)

My main blog, running since 2004, with photos, book reviews and general musings is at The Garden Window
My writing blog, including the saga of Babushka Barbara the Biter of Bialystok and the Babushka's Guide to Life is at MiscellaneousMumblings

---

Thanks Boadicea. I've added yours to my list.

Going way back, I was very taken by the idea of a prayer shawl. Did you ever get round to making one?
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
I am starting a new blog (well I started it in August but the first blog was always going to be a long time before the second). It is a set of articles I am writing for my congregation's magazine. They will come out in the months that there is a magazine for. They come out of one of the strands of my thesis that people seem to get rather keen on. I have called it "Reformed Practical Piety" and might be approximately about the current experience of Reformed Spiritual Tradition within the United Reformed Church. They are short articles (less 500 words) as aimed for a church magazine and they are on topics I choose as I feel led.

If you want to read it, then it is viewed here.

Jengie
 

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Posted by ChastMastr (# 716) on :
 
I post about comics and stuff in mine! Link is in my sig.
 

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Posted by Boadicea Trott (# 9621) on :
 
Hi Miffy, I did indeed make my prayer shawl, though I don't use it quite as much as I had intended - it is heavy-weight wool and very, very warm!

Blogging has been rather sporadic due to a lengthy period of ill-health, but I am hoping to do rather better from now on
 

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Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
And I too have now given in to blogging, so I figured I'd join here and post as well as sometimes read. Link is in my signature, if you are interested. (And if you aren't.)
 

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Posted by Trudy Scrumptious (# 5647) on :
 
As I think I said somewhere way up this thread, I've been blogging since 2006, but recently (i.e. today) I started something new: a vlog (video blog). I'm going to post every Wednesday (hence the name "Writing Wednesday") about writing. I've always felt the weakness of my blog is that it's very scattered, topically -- I just jump around from one subject to another depending on what I'm thinking of that day. The vlog is going to be more focused, so maybe I'll get a few people following who are interested in writing.

Here's the first episode.
 

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Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Trudy Scrumptious:
Here's the first episode.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by balaam:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Trudy Scrumptious:
Here's the first episode.

---

I always imagined you with longer hair, like your avatar. The batman top, geeky but cool, I like it.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gwai:
And I too have now given in to blogging, so I figured I'd join here and post as well as sometimes read. Link is in my signature, if you are interested. (And if you aren't.)

---

Gwai: I love your blog! The mention of the fakefoods made me laugh out loud.
 

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Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
Trudy! Awesome!

I just realized that I had an entry stickied on my livejournal (found in sig) that prevented my new entries from showing up; have rectified that. I put a bunch of entries from my Woman's Spirituality class blog up; would totally welcome thoughts. The class is amazing.

[ 12. October 2012, 08:02: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
 

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Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kelly Alves:
Trudy! Awesome!

I just realized that I had an entry stickied on my livejournal (found in sig) that prevented my new entries from showing up; have rectified that. I put a bunch of entries from my Woman's Spirituality class blog up; would totally welcome thoughts. The class is amazing.

---

First thought is - can you sort out the formatting please.

Long lines of small text are not only bad for dyslexics, but make the baby Jesus cry. There seems to be some good stuff in there, but I can't read them.
 

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Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
Kelly, Agreed. I've just given in and got myself fitted out with varifocal glasses - really can't cope with large blocks of very small print. There's some good stuff there, yes, which it'd be a shame to miss out on.

Also, I'm unable to put the blog on my list - keep getting a message saying there's no feed linked to yours.


 

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Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
Easy enough-- I just copy-pasted it from the school message board without editing.
 

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Posted by Jade Constable (# 17175) on :
 
I keep meaning to blog but have no idea what about or how to get any kind of readership - but the urge to write is still there. Perhaps I should go back to pen and paper and keep an old-fashioned diary.
 

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Posted by alienfromzog (# 5327) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jade Constable:
I keep meaning to blog but have no idea what about or how to get any kind of readership - but the urge to write is still there. Perhaps I should go back to pen and paper and keep an old-fashioned diary.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jade Constable:
I keep meaning to blog but have no idea what about or how to get any kind of readership - but the urge to write is still there. Perhaps I should go back to pen and paper and keep an old-fashioned diary.

---

I've got two blogs (as yiu can see from my sig) I don't really care about Followers, but it's great if people comment. I am going to take part in a "Blog Event" next January with a goal to increase "Followers"...you might be interested in joining in. I blogged about it here should you be interested.
 

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Posted by Miffy (# 1438) on :
 
Dormouse, thanks so much for this. I might sign up myself, if it's not too late.

Jade, I'm another poster who finds blogger a good platform to blog from - my old one was on typepad. Maybe you could have an online blog and a paper and pencil diary or journal!
 

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
My blog is supposed to be about (mostly the choral music in) my own parish church. But recently it seems to be more about cathedrals I've visited. It will start to look as if I'm shirking on the job

I got into blogging through the wibsite (as did many shipmates) - it's a good way in if you're not used to the idea of blogging. And you can keep up with other shipmates by reading theirs on the same site.
 

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Posted by Horatio Harumph (# 10855) on :
 
I'm a wordpress blogger.
Having used a few various blogging site WP so far is my fav.

You can find my blog at www.fragmentz.org
and my most recent blog is at the top, about being a survivor and the whole jimmy savile thing.
some thoughts on being a survivor and jimmy savile
 

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Posted by Jade Constable (# 17175) on :
 
Any shipmates (Catholic or otherwise) know of any liberal (regarding Dead Horses at least) Catholic bloggers worth following?
 

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Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :
 
A question to Wibsite users (or other Wordpress users):

Some users have a site icon, which appears each time they post (as avatars do here). However when I try to upload an icon at Users/Site Icon in Dashboard* I get the error message: You do not have sufficient permissions to access this page.

Any ideas how to get round this?

.

*Wibsite users should understand this gibberish.
 

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Posted by Michael Snow (# 16363) on :
 
I, too, like wordpress, but have not been at it long, and with only a weekly post at best. Now that harvest is over, will have more time.

http://textsincontext.wordpress.com/
 

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Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
I'm looking for a blog template that lets me post long posts that are abbreviated on the home page with a direction to "see more" if you want to see the whole post.

I use wordpress but haven't been able to find a template to allow that function. Do any of you wordpress users know one that allows this?

I've seen one recently on blogspot. Can any blogspotters recommend one that does this if I can't find one on wordpress?

Ta very much.
 

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Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:
I'm looking for a blog template that lets me post long posts that are abbreviated on the home page with a direction to "see more" if you want to see the whole post.

I use wordpress

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:
I'm looking for a blog template that lets me post long posts that are abbreviated on the home page with a direction to "see more" if you want to see the whole post.

I use wordpress but haven't been able to find a template to allow that function. Do any of you wordpress users know one that allows this?

I've seen one recently on blogspot. Can any blogspotters recommend one that does this if I can't find one on wordpress?

Ta very much.

---

When I create a new post in Wordpress, at any point in the post I can drop in the "More" command. This creates a cutoff point in the post; everything above that cutoff will be visible on the front page, then there'll be link that says "Continue reading" and if you click that you get the whole post. I thought this was the way it worked for all Wordpress themes.
 

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Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Thank you balaam and Trudy.

I have tried that "Reading" and "summary" setting balaam, but it doesn't work. So I assume my particular theme doesn't carry the function. Which is why I was wondering which ones did. Tho you'd think if it's an option in the settings, it should work right?

Trudy. Most helpful!!! Never seen that function before. Played around with it a bit and having a few hiccups but I hope to be able to get it to work when I have a bit more time to read the directions on the faq. Cheers!
 

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Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Evensong:
I have tried that "Reading" and "summary" setting balaam, but it doesn't work. So I assume my particular theme doesn't carry the function.

---

It may do. Once it is set to "summary" you should get a box under the one in which you write the blog marked "Excerpt." Copy and paste part of your blog into this and see what happens,

Again it depends on the WordPress theme as to whether it works.
 

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Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Hhhhmmmnnnn.....can't see anything marked "excerpt". You mean when you make a new post?
 

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Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :
 
Hang five! stumbled across it by accident. Thanks.
 

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