Keep an eye out for messages in your comments saying things like “I follow you and noticed you liked my post (so and so) how about following my blog in return.” Or a variation of that. Good way to get followers but sorry, I do go look. I didn’t ‘like’ the post, never heard of the blog, and sad to say might have followed it if approached differently.
I just wanted to put that out there for y’all. Yeah, I follow a LOT of blogs. I return follow if I like the blog and/or like the About page even if the topic of the blog isn’t my thing. I like to support. But don’t lie and cheat to try and get a follow out of me. I’m easy, real easy. I would have enjoyed the blog this particular post mentions and had someone in mind to recommend it to. But sad to say, two follows not happening, which the person probably doesn’t care about.
A poem of the Embracing a Wounded Soul site. As I completed it I noticed the shape and was pleased with how it turned out as I simplified my sentences.
It doesn’t take long before those new to Blog World to experience the first feelings of impending . . .
I experience it every day. Now although I have taken on more writing responsibilities I’ve started taking control of my Blog World. If you don’t do it in the beginning, it takes months to dig yourself out if you are like me. So why not start your experience off on the right foot, or left, or . . . let’s do this the correct way.
We all blog for different reasons. I love my Friends in Blog World but too much of a good thing and I am just about dead. I need time for other things, like writing my novels, spending time with my son, reading books (that are really for reviews for my blog) and sleeping. I may have forgotten something important in there, I am sure of it.
But breaks don’t always happen. That’s why you and I have to . . .
Three Ways to Keep your Sanity in Blog World
Before you even start a blog need to consider these three things and stick to them.
#1
Set boundaries for your Blog Life
How available to do you want to be?
Do you want to be personable in your interactions?
Do you allow access to your various social networks?
Basically you want to be able to have your readers connect with you through your writing. Be satisfied with that. You will make a few friends and I am not saying to limit yourself. Just keep your Blog World in Blog World. I have made some great friends and we talk on Twitter and Facebook. I’m not saying it’s wrong or bad or anything. If you have thousands of followers and 1 percent want to talk to you, that ends up taking a big chuck of your time. I have one friend who spends as great deal of time just responding to comments.
Also you want to remember why you are in Blog World in the first place, to Blog.
#2
Set a schedule for your Blog Content
You can write all you like, but I recommend that you save that writing in drafts for those days you just don’t feel like writing at all.
Set how many posts you want to put out per day and/or week and stick to it.
Make time to visit other blogs you enjoy.
I have had a problem with this. I blog write like a mad man. I am all over the place writing, and I do enjoy writing. I don’t want anyone to get me wrong about that. If I had saved my writing and limited myself to just 2 posts per day I would be set for the year. Just think about that. You could do all the writing your want and schedule it for months ahead, freeing up your time for writing your novel or whatever else you might like to do.
Another thing about content management. Give your content time to be viewed. If you load up content then things get pushed down and are not seen. Give it time.
#3
When your Blog Schedule is over . . . unplug
Disconnect from your blog and social networking
Set time for your other life activities.
This is a bit wrong in how I set it. You set time to blog, the rest is your life. Make sure that when you are not scheduled to do Blog World things that you disconnect yourself. Blogging can become an addiction. It replaces needs in peoples lives. We enjoy it, we can share it, we can be us, we can create, we can express ourselves, we are the world. Pretty cool stuff really.
I tried to set a schedule not long ago and ended up feeling guilty as people felt I didn’t want to talk to them. Well Ronovan has to toughen up or just get out of Blog World. Schedule is coming.
Blogging is a great life. If you manage it from the beginning you don’t need to worry about burnout so much and you will enjoy it a lot more. Some reading this will hate it. They will say “You can’t schedule your friends.” Well you know what? I would rather schedule my friends than burnout so bad that I lose them.
First, if you are a Blogger then you can break this up into three parts to make it less work for you at a time, although it’s not that much work. For some of us it just takes time away from blogging itself. And it LOOKS like a lot of work.
Let’s look at two basic purposes:
#1
Just to Follow blogs
For a lot of people that either don’t want to sign up for accounts with a lot of different blog providers just to follow a blog, or don’t want to subscribe by email, Bloglovin’ can be a great alternative. Simply go to Bloglovin.com, sign up and follow any blog that’s on the site or add a blog to the site. These blogs are from every imaginable blog provider, from blogspot to WordPress. I don’t mention those to promote those but one is toward the beginning of the alphabet and the other is toward the end.
#2
As a Blogger
For bloggers this is a great way to have people follow your blog without having to do blog accounts or email subscriptions. Even I am hesitant to do the email and I am a blogger. I do follow a handful that way but I receive enough email driven from my own blog to keep me busy as it is. Okay so I don’t get that much from my own blog but it’s still email to go through. And the more email you have the more of it that turns into junk for you, my blog included.
Once you register your blog with Bloglovin’ then your posts will show up on Bloglovin’. Yes, you read correctly. You don’t have to share or do anything special after you have registered your site itself, not just registered as a member. I repeat after you become a member and then register/claim your site, that’s it.
How do you do it?
#1
Just to follow blogs:
Simply sign up by going to bloglovin.com. When you first register you’ll be asked if you want to use facebook or your email to register. If you use facebook then you will have any friends that are on Bloglovin’ already with blogs perhaps automatically in your list. Kind of cool. I did the email option simply because I like to keep my Blog world and my everyday world separate and manageable as I like it.
Then you search the categories for something you like or search for that favorite blog you like, perhaps ronovanwrites. Several of my friends are there but too many to mention and I don’t want to slight anyone here. Once you find a blog you like, such as ronovanwrites follow it. Then every time you log in you will see posts available to click and check out and even on the right side of the screen see a list of your friends and how many posts they have going on at the time. Did I mention ronovanwrites is on Bloglovin’? Well if not, ronovanwrites is on Bloglovin’. Hey, if I don’t promote myself who will, right?
#2
For a Blogger you need to sign up just as above. Then:(Updated-12/09/14)
Look at the top and to the right and you will see the Heart icon. Click and you will see ‘Settings’ in the drop down list. Click it.
Next you will need to scroll down until you see, Blogs by Me and a button next to it that says Add Blog. It’s located under the Profile section. Click ‘Add Blog’.
Now a screen called Blog analytics comes up with the ‘claim blog’ button.
Type in your blog address and search for it. It should come up. Click your blog. If it’s not there you need to register it and Bloglovin’ does well showing you how.
Crazy as it sounds, my blog actually had a couple of entries already and I had never been to Bloglovin. I just picked the one that had the most followers and claimed it. It was my address. People can put in a blog they want to follow so don’t be surprised if you see your site there.
Whoa! What do I do with that box with the script in it and says ‘Claim blog’?
Toactually register you need to copy that text into a new post on your blog in the TEXT tab, not the VISUAL tab. You know, just like when you share a video.
Once you publish the post and go back to Bloglovin’ you are now registered. Difficult, huh?
How do you add the Bloglovin’ Widget?
No need for numbers now, this is all Blog World business. And it’s simpler than it at first seemed as I tried to follow some directions.
First thing, it’s a Widget that will be in your sidebar.
I would go ahead and have a Text Widget open and read so you can copy a simple code from Bloglovin’.
The image is in the code so no worries there. TheBloglovin’ Widget sitehas different widgets you can choose from. Click ‘Get this icon’ under the one you like and copy the code into your text widget. Save it and guess what, you’re done.
You can always change your widget when you like, just choose the one that best fits you, your blog and your theme.
And also it’s not a bad idea to change up that widget at times just to make things look different and draw your readers eye.
“But wait, Ronovan, some people don’t look at those thingies on the side. What other way can I let a visitor know how to follow me on Bloglovin’?”
Copy a Follow me on Bloglovin’ image you like and add it to your media in your blog.
When you create a post, add the image and then click the image in your post editor and add the address to your actual Bloglovin’ site. Make sure to check the box for open in different window if you like. What, you didn’t know you could add a ‘link’ to your images? Yep, you do it the exact same way you do any other link. Click the image and then the add a link option in your post editor.
Sounds tedious that you need to do it each time. Nope. It’s just like adding any image but this time you have one that should be called Bloglovin’ and one link in your list called Bloglovin to add to your image. It’s that simple.
We all freak out a little when we start using these new to us features/options, but the truth is, once you actually sit down and walk through it yourself to explain it, it’s easier than a lot of people think and make it sound. I’ve found some sites that just totally confuzzled me. I probably confuzzled you. Have questions, ask me, or I am sure any of my Blog friends who do Bloglovin’ can help as well.
Everyone, please visit my very first ever Guest Blog. Amanda of insidethelifeofmoi was kind enough to let me share something from my heart. Please go and check it out and follow her blog if you are not already doing so. She is very engaging with those who comment and is a very sweet young lady.
Much Respect,
Ronovan
I first want to thank DazzlingWhimsy for creating this badge for the challenge.
Welcome to the Weekly Wordless Haiku Challenge #8.
The rules are simple: For how to write a Haiku in English and using the 5/7/5 syllable pattern click here.
No words or numbers of any kind can appear in the images you use. This includes sign language . . . of any kind.
You can use just pictures and not put them in the format I have them here. I was being creative. The point of this is to have fun.
This is an example of one I created last week.
The Haiku was:
Moon Shadow Dancers
Heartbeats Stumble, falling in
Love Infinity
I know, not the best but it was better then the first one I posted.
Here’s the challenge; You created your own wordless Haiku for Wednesday or any day really, then either post a link in the comments here for everyone that visits to go see and/or ping back (or copy the URL for this post into your Haiku post) to this post in your Haiku post.
I will read it and comment on it. Once I comment come get the badge.
If some of you would like a theme to prompt you what to begin thinking of you can perhaps use. . .
Serpent & Apple
What do the words mean to you, and how can you connect the two words through that second line? You do not have to do the prompt, it is just a prompt to make you start thinking of things.
(Not the Wordless with Pictures. That one is out at 12:00 Noon New York Time.)
If you want to refresh yourselves on a bit of Haiku in English, although you do not have to stick to that particular style of Haiku, it’s just my particular style to use, click here.
This weeks two words to use in some form, meaning you can use another word that means the same thing are:
Before you start!
I have a link that will help you out. Remember for Haiku in English the total syllables are 5 for the first line, 7 for the second, and 5 for the last. This the Haiku I use. I don’t really hold people to that for this but if you want to do it in the 5/7/5 manner, the traditional way, then try that. The link I have for you is . . . howmanysyllables.com. Simply type in the word and find out how many syllables it has. Also for synonyms and antonyms go to thesaurus.com.
The prompts!
Rage & Flammable
Thank you to a nice young lady for the prompt this week.
Here is my example just to give you something to spark the thoughts if need be.
Selfies are the rage,
For even oldies like me,
Ego’s flammable.
Be sure to put a link to your Haiku in the comments below so we can all go check them out. I’ll comment and also choose the ones that knock me down for one reason or the other and link back to them in my Weekly Rewind telling people how great they were and why I picked them. Eventually these will turn into categories.
Hugh of Hugh’s Views & News : “I hope I have another 10-20 years. Whatever…I’d like someone to read this at my Celebration of Life party.“-Meredith of Meredith’s Musings.
I read an article by someone I have come to consider a good friend of mine, Allison at Long & Luxe, and a phrase she used reminded me of one of my favorite all time scriptures.
“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”-Psalm 46:10
Each person reading this has different beliefs and we each have something we turn to that brings us comfort and peace. During a period where I was dealing with high blood pressure, which due to my weight loss I no longer have, and some newly found health problems at the time my world was chaotic. My mind was not able to focus and things had no stability to me.
I’m not one to believe in coincidences. Some people say God doesn’t speak to them. I say they just don’t recognize his language.
During this time two things happened:
One Wednesday night at church we broke up into different groups and prayed for each other. The one praying for me prayed for peace and focus in my life without my saying a word of my need.
The next week, as I was functioning as the Youth Pastor for my church, I took our youth to a Steven Curtis Chapman concert. For those of you not familiar with him, he is an American Contemporary Christian music legend. Some say he even broke the boundaries and brought music of a type that spoke to a new generation of Christians.
During the concert Chapman had the lights turned down low and it was just him and his guitar. And he sang this song.
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still oh, restless soul of mine
Bow before the Prince of Peace
Let the noise and clamor cease
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is God
Be still, be speechless
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know He is our Father
Come rest your head upon His chest
Listen to the rhythm of
His unfailing heart of love
Beating for His little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still, be still
As I said, I don’t believe in coincidences. I recognized God’s voice in what was going on around me. This was in 2008 and has been a mantra of mine ever since. Be still and know God is God and that there are things beyond your control, things you just have to pray about. Give the grief and the sorrows to Him. Let God be God.
Since an accident in my home in the summer of 2013 I’ve been through some tough times. One thing that has never left me is the Word of God. This verse keeps me going. I’ve expanded on it as I’ve studied the Bible more and taken a fresh look at how Christianity is today.
“Be still and Let God be God and people be people.”
I see the slogans and shirts about “Be calm . . .” or “Stay calm . . .” If I have to rely on people to bring me peace and calm, I’ll just give up now. My phrase means just stay calm and be yourself and LET God take care of the rest and LET people be the people they are and wish to be. Yes, as a Christian believing in Heaven and Hell I will share with someone what I think because I love them, no matter who they are, but I’m not going to force them to be what they don’t want to be. Jesus didn’t do that, and he’s the one I follow.
I heard Be Still and Know for the first time at that concert weeks before Chapman lost one of the three daughters he adopted from China. His youngest son ran over her in his truck as she ran to him. He didn’t see her. Chapman kept yelling to his son as he drove off after the helicopter taking his daughter away “I love you son. I love you.” Chapman eventually was able to record again. Was able to be still and know.
Inspired by several offerings I’ve read today about things not owed and being that odd girl out. One a more detailed piece and the other a photograph. I think all people at some point and many creative people especially can relate to those two offerings.
Keeper of the heart, keeps us apart . . . but I’m . . . in you . . .we two. oh my loverrrrr
Inspiration
Wicked Game by Chris Isaak was covered by Phillip Phillips a fellow Southern boy. I had the words flowing through my had being in a certain somewhat melancholy mood. Then I heard Phillips’ version. The tune and rhythm was it. If you you like you can click the link to get an idea of the sound. http://youtu.be/grqrlGwoOU0
ronovanwrites 