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I was looking forward to tidying up my blog this weekend. Then, wham. I got hit with an ugly cold, with lots of coughing and sneezing and the inevitable accompanying whining. Then, wham again. I got hit with bad winter weather that knocked out my Internet all day.
So I'm late to the game.
It's late, but it's not over, so I'm jumping in.
Why Do I Blog?
I started my blog for a summer class. Who'd have thought I'd still be at it a year and a half later?!
I know I'll never be a serious blogger. I'm very happy with my once-a-week post. And that's my goal: Post once a week and visit ten blogs a week. And it's all about books.
2010 Blogging Resolutions?
I'd like to find and connect with other bloggers who read the books I like. And what do I like? Kids' picture books...wonderful fiction...books about books...books about challenges...travel narratives...classics...books that others rave about.
How Can I Improve My Blog?
Here's where I could use help! Any ideas?
Wow, you've read a lot already! I've read two, but was feeling pretty good about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a very fast reader. And it is easy to read when you have a miserable cold and your Internet is not working. Looks like I'll read less today (cold is still here, but Internet is back up).
ReplyDeleteOuch. I hope you feel better! I was sick the whole last week of 2009 and was just completely miserable.
ReplyDeleteYour goal for blogging sounds absolutely perfect. Quality of posts and connections with other bloggers is much better than quantity and isolation. I found when I was trying to be Blogger of the Year, I no longer had time for commenting and connecting with others.
As for an idea, rather than using Amazon as your source for book covers, you could try GoodReads.com. That will get rid of the white box around the covers and the "Look Inside!" arrows.
Thank you for your thoughts, Christina. And I will try the Goodreads photos! It will be lovely to be rid of the white box and the "Look Inside!" arrows.
ReplyDeleteYou've gotten a lot read! I don't have any real advice for blog improvements- I think by connecting with other bloggers, you'll automatically find things you lik or dislike about their blogs and then incorporate that into yours, too.
ReplyDeletecheck out all those books read alredy! WOW! As far as your plea for 'help' on the ideas for blog improvement.. I feel each blogger has their own inspiration and feel .. therefore however your blog appears should be however you are the happiest with it. If you like it, leave it. I don't see anything that you are lacking, except perhaps a link to the reviews? I have a post up where I edit it every time I add a review to the blog, and I add the new review with the link to it with each new review. But that requires work, and maybe you could just start with the 2010 reviews, from here on forward. Just an idea for you since you asked.
ReplyDeleteThanks for including my blog in the list of ten blogs you will visit each week =) and I am hoping the icy weather goes away, I know it will alleviate some this week in our Lone Star state.
Stay warm!
Aarti, I think you are right. I get my best ideas from other bloggers. (Just as I get my best teaching ideas from other teachers! Steal, steal, steal!)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are doing what I want to do on my blog, Marie. I suppose I need to start one post for reviews and edit it each week. I've been posting my complete reviews at edublogs and then linking here at blogspot. I thought about linking my reviews from goodreads, but I wasn't sure that would work.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first visit to your blog. I love discovering new sites, even though it's "accidental." You came to mine, via Sunday Salon. Therefore, I'm checking out yours! I like that game.
ReplyDeleteI see you've read "The Happiness Project," and it's on my short list. I was going to read it next, but after two memoirs, I thought I should break things up with a lighter read. Then that one comes up next. Maybe that's a light read, though. Hmmm.
Thanks for visiting my blog...and I wouldn't change anything, if you like it. I enjoy my own blogs, but I do know that I tend to get "cluttery," in my blogs and in my life! LOL.
That's what I'm trying to change.
I'd say The Happiness Project is a light read. It's a perfect read for this time of year. I'd jump right into it.
ReplyDeleteSerendipity is my middle name. And that's one thing I love about reading. And blogging.
Suggestions. Okay, let's see if I can do a hyperlink or two. Here's a blog you might like. Here's another one. If those two links work, it'll be a miracle. I'm techo-challenged.
ReplyDeleteI think you have some great goals already. But I agree with Christina that Amazon isn't the best source for book covers. I usually just do a Google image search.
ReplyDeleteYour hyperlinks worked perfectly, Bill. I'm not sure why you call yourself techno-challenged, you who blog, Twitter, FB with the best of them.
ReplyDeleteI've always used Amazon for book covers here. Somehow I seemed to think it did not break copyright laws. Not sure about what those laws might be for book covers. Maybe they are only allowed for positive reviews?
ReplyDeleteYou started out 2010 in a good way and are probably way ahead of a lot of us in the reading category! Congrats! Hope you'll visit my Sunday Salon
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope you're feeling a bit better now?! And yes, there's still time for some partying at Bloggiesta!
ReplyDeleteAbout improvements... I've seen enough of those snowflakes by now; it was fun the first time but it is very distracting to the eye as well. Thankfully the colours of your blog are cool and peaceful!
Get well soon!
Good for you for jumping into the Bloggiesta! :) I hope you are able to accomplish your goals!
ReplyDeleteYes, perhaps it is time to say goodbye to the snowflakes.
ReplyDeleteI'm becoming happy with once a week post. As long as you keep going AND are having fun doing it. I think that is what is important.
ReplyDeleteAs for improving your blog, I agree with those already have commented about the images from Amazon. I also might link the images to a site about the book so the reader can learn a little bit about the book. Sometimes what I do is link the image to the author site; other times, I use Amazon and yet other times, Powell's, Barnes and Noble, or some other site.
Your sidebar looks pretty good. I've seen a lot worse with too much clutter on the side.
I would move Blog Archive up toward the top myself...and maybe add a "search" box for your blog. Just a few ideas.
Mmm...a search box...and moving the Blog Archive...two things I'd never have thought of myself....Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling better! As for suggestions, I've found that I've gotten most of my ideas for tweaking my blog from visiting other blogs. Find what you like and go from there.
ReplyDeleteI like the peaceful colors of your blog. Very soothing. And I'm really impressed that you've already read so many books this year! Great job!
I hope your cold goes away soon! And your blogging goals seem really awesome. :)
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