Category: Blogging

Resolved [2016]

calvin and hobbes new years resolutions

Happy New Year! According to WordPress’ algorithms, my local time is now 00:00 on January 1, 2016. I may or may not be awake, but this will go out regardless.

Yesterday, I looked back at 2015; today, I’m looking ahead to 2016 with the following resolutions:.

Reading

Read at least 100 books

Re-read the 41 official Discworld novels

Finish the TBR stack threatening to overtake the TV end table

Keep a good mix of fiction, nonfiction, and biography

Write down or otherwise mark quotes as I find them

Make better use of the Library, including the hold system & inter-library loan

Incur no library fines

Blogging

Keep a consistent blogging schedule

Write more fun-for-me posts, including poetry and short fiction

Take time to read and comment on others’ blogs

Grow Wicked Word Wednesday

Writing

Write a short review to be posted on Amazon & Goodreads for each book I read

Physically write something of importance or significance with pen and ink (or pencil . . . you get the idea).

FINISH THE BOOK

Life in General

Strive to be a better, happier person – the kind of person people want to be around and not just tolerate

Be more understanding that not everyone will understand my introversion and the things that make me tick, and that that’s OK

Compliment more than Complain

Sleep better

Declutter [even – gasp – if it means letting a few books find new homes]

2015 in Retrospect

Turning Calendar PagesDec 31, 2015

The last day of the year seems good a time as any to reflect on the year that was.

Some personal highlights include

Krystal finding a new job as Historic Interpreter

buying a relatively new car

Twitter interactions with Amanda Palmer, Niel Gaiman, & John Scalzi

 Neil Gaiman Retweeted MeAmanda Palmer Retweeted MeThe Scalzi InsultThe Scalzi Retweet

starting my seventh(!) year of teaching

making progress on my book

recording a podcast

surprising Krystal at Christmas

and of course

reaching reading and blogging goals

My Bookshelf, According to Goodreads

Leather Books with Ladder75 books completed

26,363 pages read

Shortest Book: The Visitor

Longest Book: The Silkworm

Average Rating: 3.8 stars

check out the complete Goodreads infographic

Around the Blogosphere

Views:

18,000 (approx)

equivalent to 7 sold-out performances @ Sydney Opera House

Pictures Added:

955

Busiest Day:

Sept 23 (152 views)

Most Popular Post:

Wicked Word Wednesday

Wicked Word Wednesday will return next week!

Longest Posting Streak:

45 Days (28 June – 11 August)

Top Commentators:

vivachange77

philosophermouseofthehedge

Petal and Mortar

shattenengel

Dr Meg Sorick

Why not help me return the favor to these kind folks and check out their blogs, too?

check out the complete WordPress infographic

So, tell me . . . how was your year?

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Blogging 201: Hub, Buddy, & Poll Walk Into A Bar

Sounds like the beginning to a bad joke, doesn’t it?

In reality, I’m catching up on three Blogging 201 assignments.

Make Your Blog a Hub

Create a page or section on your blog to display links to your online presence elsewhere, and make sure your other presences reflect the brand you’re developing on your blog.

Based on previous feedback, my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram followers seem pleased.

If you aren’t following me, check me out!

[Seriously, check out those social media icons in the sidebar.]

Since it’s come up before, let me clarify that

The Facebook page is not my personal page. In addition to blog posts, I also share others’ blogs and various and sundry ephemera I find online.

The Twitter and Instagram feeds are my personal feeds and I don’t mind others following my adventures on those sites.

The Buddy System

Find a blogging buddy.

If appropriate, plan to publish guest posts on one another’s blogs.

Apparently, the duties of a Blogging Buddy can include any or all of the following:

Give Feedback

Promote Each Others’ Blogs & Posts

Provide Moral Support

Guest Post [When Appropriate and/or Invited]

So, who wants to be my Blogging Buddy?

Give ‘Em What They Want, II

Create a poll and/or a survey to collect feedback from your readers on your site and its content.

This one is easy: using the handy dandy poll I’ve created, select the type of posts you most enjoy.

Select all that apply!

Hootenanny. Shindig. Hoedown. Whatever.

Today in Blogging 201 I’m supposed to come up with an event.

I have absolutely no idea what kind of event I’d run.

I do know I’d either run or culminate on Wednesday or Saturday.

I’d want it to appeal to a wide range of people.

Stay tuned . . . but don’t hold your breath.

 
 

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Blogging 201: Digging Deep into Social Media

Apps 1Today is another day devoted to Social Media on Blogging 201.

Thank you to everyone who’s following me on Twitter and Instagram.

Most likely, I’ve followed you back, especially if you post pictures of books, food, or animals.

However, I’ve had issues with my Facebook page.

My Facebook page is more than just my blog.

I share other blogs, news articles, and other things that catch my eye.

It’s my magpie of social media.

However . . .

I’ve already invited all my friends

I consistently direct my readers to it

I just don’t know how to increase readership and likes/shares on what I post to the newsfeed.

Thoughts?

Blogging 201: Archives and Scheduling

Thank you all for your patience as I [once again] make my way through Blogging 201.

This is a two-for-one post!

Archives

If you haven’t noticed, I’ve adjusted the sidebar widgets.

Specifically, I’ve changed how you the reader can find my other posts.

Delve the Archives via the monthly calendar or search everything I’ve published using your favorite keyword.

See my what other readers like [i.e. top-viewed posts or pages].

At the bottom of my posts, you’ll still see related topics.

I’ve enabled WordPress’ large and dynamic option for a more interesting view.

Scheduling

I’m still working on a routine blogging schedule.

In addition to the stuff I write because I want to, I’m in the process of developing

Sunday Snapshots where I show you my week in pictures.

Monday Morning Grievances where I explain my pet peeves.

Teaser Tuesday where I share what I’m currently reading and give short reviews of what I’ve read.

Photo Challenge Thursday where I participate in the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge.

Free Write Friday where I use prompts supplied by you the reader to produce a post.

Currently, I have nothing for Wednesday or Saturday.

What do you think of these themes?

Do you have a favorite – or least favorite, as the case may be?

Finally

What do you think of my post ending, encouraging readers to drop a note in the prompt box or follow my other social media sites?

Should I keep this or get rid of it?

For the record, the Facebook page is not my personal page, it’s the page I set up specifically for the blog.

Thanks for your valued input!

 

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

 

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

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