Jul 8, 2012 |
I’m a blogger. At least, I think I am. Blogger is typically defined as a person who maintains or publishes an online diary (web blog). But I’m not writing my private thoughts into the public media. Blogging, to me, is more than just spilling your emotions over a keyboard for all to see.
There are good blogs and bad blogs. Blogs that have one theme (Food or travel blogs, for example), and blogs that are all over the place (blogs written typically by high school girls, perhaps…) The majority of blogs are somewhere in between.
Take mine, for example. I started well over a year ago to document my forays into the social/dating world. But I found that to be too limiting for what I wanted to say. So I spread my wings. And I realized, thanks to my subscribers’ comments, that I have more to say on more subjects than just Who’s Who on Match.com. Thank goodness… have you checked some of those profiles lately? Seriously….
I’m a good writer. But I’m not always a good blogger. I threw myself in the deep end and am teaching myself how to swim. Sometimes I float, sometimes I sink. But I am always able to come up for air and reach the surface.
I don’t know logistics. I don’t know coding and formatting. I know writing. I know creativity and characters and descriptions and recipes. And typing. And a little bit of photography, but not much.
I’m still learning.
This is where you come in. I need help. I have so many questions. I just know that somewhere out there in the great Blogosphere are the answers. So far I’ve been self-sufficient enough to research and google and obtain basic information. But I know there’s a whole world of ways to make my blog better, and I’m just not sure where all that information is.
So here is my Plea: Tell me how to write a better blog.
- Do you have tips on photography?
- What topics do you like to read about?
- How do you attract (and maintain) a large following?
- What types of giveaways get your attention?
- How do you get your Blog to pay for itself (advertising, sponsors, etc.)?
- How do you get contributions for your giveaways?
- What can make Frankly, My Dear… a daily must-read email?
- How do you get people to comment on your blog, without using spam?
- Do you reply to every comment?
- How do you get your readers to interact with each other (reply to other comments)?
- What layouts appeal to you? What makes a blog too “visually busy”?
- When I add my blog hop links every “What’s the Word?” Wednesday, the code box is adjustable instead of formatted to fit under the photo link. How can I change this?
- Is there a way to make a Blog Hop start, without a stop date?
I truly welcome want need any advice or suggestions you may have. Feel free to comment or even link up posts if you have them.
Come by and visit. Get some tips. Share some tips. Don’t forget to place the link on your own posts! I know I’m not the only one on this teeter-totter. Together, we can write Better Blogs, dontcha think?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jun 12, 2012 |
[This post is inspired by Ann at Doodles and Jots. I just love her amazing nature photography!]
Since Dot and I walked the mile to my Mom’s house today, I thought I’d also work on my photography skills at the same time.
Dot’s much more creative than I am, but I’m happy with what I’ve captured. I guess I thought the walk would be just asphalt and stop signs. But with a lens in my hand, I saw much more.
As we left our own yard, I was so excited to see my Eggplant start to revive and even flourish. This picture’s a little blurry, but you can see new buds in the middle. In a month or so, I hope to have a harvest of eggplants!
Here’s another view, more flower buds. And they’re really developing. What great Ratatouille I’ll make!
This is a view of just a few of the buds on my Green Bell Pepper plant. I love Green Bell Pepper. I use it in my Ratatouille, on pizza, in salad. I can’t wait for this harvest, either!
Here’s the sole flower that’s thriving in my front window flower bed. As you can see from the background, others are trying hard. There are a few blooms almost ready to pop open. Maybe tomorrow…
This is the first shrub I really liked on our walk. It’s a typical desert weedy wildlife, but I love the bright yellow flowers on it.
Only in the desert could dry weeds grow around a fire hydrant.
And now my artistic attempt with the same object. Which photo do you like better?
I tried to capture the Moon in the clear blue sky.
I’m not sure what this plant/shrub is, but I’m glad it’s not in my yard. It’s beautiful to look at, but my allergies would prob’ly give me no rest.
This fallen Joshua Tree was laying in a vacant lot. It was at one time very big with many branches, but the rains last year were more than it could take. It collapsed upon itself and ever since I’ve been watching birds flit in and out when I drive by.
Pampas Grass. I love this. I might put several of these on my property line next year. They remind me of the Cattail plants back in Michigan. And I love the long, flowing grass. 
I don’t know why, but this power line really got my attention. I like the “HIGH VOLTAGE” sign.
This line of three stumps on the side of the road is all that remains of overgrown trees.
It was a great walk. I plan to do it again soon, with a new perspective.
What’s your favorite photo?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Mar 26, 2012
My friend Ann at Doodles and Jots posts photos and drawings every day and writes about them. This last week especially, I’ve been enamored with her bird photos. I really recommend her website. She always inspires me with her crafts, ideas, photos, and notes.
So when this opportunity arose in my own yard to photograph the Great Outdoors, I couldn’t help but think of her and wonder how she’d caption the following.
Sunday was a rainy day in the High Desert. This time of year, it’s somewhat expected. But this rain came with high winds. The kind that knock down fences and can mangle old roofs.
The kind of wind that blows the rain in one direction only. And after an hour of light rain and heavy winds, the trees are neither wet nor dry.
What do you think of these, Ann?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Feb 25, 2012
While I was playing with my new toy utilizing my new business tool [READ: AWESOME NEW CAMERA!!!], I was watching Lizzie Cat
Who was watching the Scrub Jays and Sparrows and Finches
Who were eating from their feeders
And who could (but didn’t) camouflage themselves in my Heavenly Bamboo.
And we were all being watched by Beautiful Berry.
I knew I had a beautiful front yard, but I didn’t know how beautiful until Kodak showed me.
Things will never be the same!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Feb 21, 2012
You’re reading this on Tuesday. I’m writing this on Monday. And I’d love to wait until Tuesday to enjoy it with you, but I have to write in advance so it will post on time. Rest assured, my excitement in writing will only be amplified once these words become reality.
*Insert blissful sigh here…*
Today (your Today, Tuesday; not my today, Monday)… Today I’m getting an early (seriously early) birthday gift. Last year I bought my daughter a mighty fine camera as she aspires to study art and photography. And, as you’ve occasionally witnessed, she has a mighty fine eye for such things. And on the few opportunities I’ve had to use her camera, so do I.
I love this camera. I want this camera. I’m getting this camera. Okay, not hers. She’s keeping hers. I’m getting another one just like it. There’s a method to this madness: she is a natural photographer. I am not. Not. So, after 15 minutes of me trying to figure something out; I won’t have that urge to create an opening in the window or wall. I’ll just ask her for help. Dot’s Tutorials, at your service.
She’s looking forward to it, too. I told her that we can start going on photography expeditions together. You would think there isn’t much opportunity for that here in the desert…
But even a tumbleweed can look good if the camera is right. Dot’s also teaching me the beauty of microphotography: taking really upclose, detailed photos.
All this excites me. A new toy. A new activity on the Mommy-Daughter Date Options List. And new photos for my blog. For my company.
How. Awesome. Will. This. Be.
I can’t wait to take photos of the Coopers. Not to be a broken record, but Old Blue was around again! This time he surprised me. I took the garbage out and when I turned to go back into the house, he was sitting on the fence just watching me. It was great. I didn’t get Dot’s camera in time, but in the next few days I’ll have my own and you’ll have those photos you’ve been asking for. *Insert mutual smiley face here, right?!*
Tomorrow (my tomorrow, your today) should also bring a book I’ve long been waiting for. When I was in grade school, I always defaulted to borrowing this book from both the school and local libraries. I must have read it a hundred times over the course of four years. Since I grew up, I’ve been trying to find it again, but it’s no longer in print.
Enter Amazon. Amazing, Available, Amazon.
And tomorrow/today, I should finally once again be able to read this:
Since I had a small credit at Amazon, the book was free! And since I’ve kept up with my 2012 Reading List, I get a “freebie” read for February. I choose this one. It will take just one day. 24 wonderfully short, attention-grabbing mysteries steeped in the history of our country. And of course, it also means another Mojo Book Review. Can’t wait, can ya?
Today (my today, your yesterday) I’m trying my hand at making chocolate molds. That is, melting chocolates and pouring them into molds. I also want to make ganache and use it for truffles. I’m doing this for a variety of reasons. I have a cake decorating kit I bought last summer but have only used twice. I have melting chocolates that need melting. And I think nothing goes better on blogs than photographs of chocolate. Especially when the treats are homemade.
So starting tomorrow, er… today, I can start taking awesome photos of any and all kitchen creations.
I’m so stinkin’ excited.
Last night, or long ago and far away, I had no idea what I’d be blogging about this week. Now I have too many topics to keep track of. What a difference a day makes.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
