Blogging

Monster-in-Law

Ronovan Humor, Life, Reblogs , , , , , , , , , , ,

Oh Lord, please don’t tell Amanda I reblogged this one. She tells it like it is about her ummm “Monster”-in-law, her words not mine. I bet some of us can relate. @AmandaLyle86

Dear Mr Landlord

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I just knew by the name of this one that Amanda had something to say. When does she not, right? She really goes off this time. At least there’s a Happy Meal included. Just saying. Click it and read it. She’s on vacation so check out her stories and follower her here and on Twitter as a surprise when she gets back. @AmandaLyle86 She hasn’t been on Twitter long but is really getting into it.

Blogging Tips: It’s NOT your content.

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It’s not your Content

by: Ronovan

 Featured Image -- 1487

You’re new to the Blog world or even been around the Blog a few times and you wonder “Where are all the people that should be lining up to read my work”. (See what I did there, “Around the Blog….Around the Block. No…I tried. And I have no idea why L. L. Cook J’s ‘Around the way Girl’ is going through my head now.)

Blogging is like a lot of things in life:

  • It takes time
  • It takes practice
  • You have to work it
  • And it takes great patience

 

When I started blogging I just wanted people to read my creative pieces. I didn’t really think about how many I wanted to read it or how I would get them to read it, I just wanted to create and click publish.

 

We like to say we don’t care how many people show up to the party. As long as we put out the nachos in case someone decides to join in we think we’re okay. But we all know we really like to see those faces show up, even those we don’t know. This article is mostly for people who want to increase their readership.

 

I want to say one quick thing. If your home page is where your most recent posts go then here is what might happen. A person goes to the page, reads the top article, then reads all the ones below it. You get one view for all of those read articles. Some people put in a ‘read more’ break that you place in during your posting process to shorten what’s on that page to create more space or they do it to actually force a click to the next page. I personally no longer do the ‘read more’ just because. I’m happy people showed up and try to make it easy as possible.

 

The truth is, most of us have content in our articles that is good. We’re going to connect with someone and we’ll find our niche or group we seem to speak to. But it doesn’t happen overnight.

 

Time

Like I said you can’t bring in hundreds of views of your articles overnight unless you just write some hot button issue and get it out on social networks properly at the right moment. Perhaps hot button is your theme. If so then make sure you do something unique with it to stand out from the crowd.

 

Practice

Getting your format set up just right takes time. I’ve been through several themes for my blog and tested the waters on what I write. I know what will bomb and what will receive some generally decent response for my site. I still don’t mind bombing as long as I have fun and don’t do it too often. I want my readers to know they can always show up and have something good/useful to read.  That is one reason I put out as much material as possible. The other reason…I’m insane.

 

Work it

It’s tough to say this but just putting your content out there doesn’t mean people will show up. You need to do some work and help people find you, in other words, get the ball rolling:

  • Visit other blogs and comment:  You are thinking you barely have time to do your own blog but you would be surprised at the ideas you        come up with by taking a few minutes to visit elsewhere. Blogging isn’t just about blogs, it’s a community of supporters.
  • Link back to other blogs but only if relevant: Don’t just put a link to another person’s blog in your article for no reason. Make it be because it pertains to your article. Honest blogs get honest followers who stay with you.
  • Share in Social Networks: Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Google+ or LinkedIn, whatever your options are use them and share your articles there and spend a few minutes just being at least remotely involved.
  • Tag your articles properly: This one is a work in progress for everyone. You have to look at your work and see what it is and what words best describe it. Visit other blogs similar to yours that are successful and see what kind of tags they use.

 

Patience

You have to be patient. Once things start rolling…they roll. But it will take some time. Just keep working and putting out a lot of content, but quality content.

 

That’s all for this time and I hope there was something useful for you. Just remember that it’s not always about the content or the writing.

 

The only way you will fail is by giving up.

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 13, 2014.

The Sensitive Blogger

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The Sensitive Blogger

by: Ronovan

 Black Sight

 

You have to be tough to make it as a blogger!

 

I’m not tough. In fact I’m the exact opposite. I’m what you might call The Sensitive Blogger. If you’ve read my work and had interactions with me you may have put together a picture of what I am. I wear my mind and heart on my sleeve. They are both out there for the world to see and stomp on.

 

And sometimes people trip over one or the other without knowing it.

 

When the intentional hurt happens I can deal with that, most Bloggers can. We know there will be people who disagree with us or don’t like our work or are just intentionally trying to pick a fight. They want to be THAT commenter.

 

I can handle that. It’s those blindside ones that make me almost give up. When that happens I turn to typing. I write. Why not turn that hurt into something I can use on my Blog?

 

You get judged at times by history, a history that is not your own. I wrote an article called ‘I’m not THAT man’ recently and I find that phrase works in many areas of life. Before I go on, don’t get me wrong. Something said today was not said in a rude or impolite manner but it caught me off guard and well it’s going to stay with me for a long time and I will question my judgment for a long time.

 

I still feel sick. You know that sick disappointed feeling that you get when you are hurt. My initial reaction was “I give up, delete blog.” Since my accident thoughts turn into actions quickly. I stopped myself this time. I just didn’t want to be known as someone who a person even thought remotely might have been doing bad practice.

 

No, I wasn’t being bad or anything. It was just said that it could be seen as such. So don’t think anything like that. I didn’t post bad stuff, or comment badly to someone. It was just a moment that hit me.

 

It made me realize my judgment isn’t what it should be about things.

 

You probably clicked this looking for tips about blogging. I don’t know if you got anything out of this. But sometimes I just need to write and post something that is just a ‘me’ thing. I don’t know that I’ve ever actually done that until now in a non creative format, but isn’t that what having your own blog is about?

 

Much Respect

Ronovan

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 16, 2014.

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

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Luccia Gray…I cannot believe such a classy and amazingly talented lady would think I was inspiring, but she somehow ended up putting my name on her list. Wow.  Definitely go to her site and look around…and learn. Thank you very much Luccia, Ma’am.

Very Inspring Blogger Award

And here are the things to know:

1. Thank and link the amazing person(s) who nominated you.

2. List the rules and display the award.
3. Share seven facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 other amazing blogs and comment on their posts to let them know they have been nominated.

5. Optional: Proudly display the award logo on your blog and follow the blogger who nominated you.

 

Seven Facts About Myself:

1)      I’m a Gemini. I had to include that because Luccia’s first fact was that she also was a Gemini. If you have ever read any of my offerings you can tell that I am definitely two minds about my writing. I’m polite, courteous and encouraging to others and then destructive to myself and my own writing at the same time.

2)      I am a former History teacher who was mainly a World History specialist or so I was told. I took courses in Nazi and Facism as well as two courses on African History and a French Revolution class. Yes I know that Marie Antoinette’s brothers got Louis drunk and had him circumcised. And oddly I took a Bosnian and Serbian class?

3)      I have a method of writing that I don’t employ often myself and I really should. I have tried it. I write a scene in detail as far as feel and everything about something I know and then change aspects of it to turn it into fantasy or science fiction or paranormal. I just change the names of things, and a few details, but leave language and how people speak and act toward each other. I’m writing an article on it now.

4)      I am fascinated by other cultures. Especially very old cultures. Obviously this is the Historian in me.

5)      I love beautiful colors. One of the things I enjoy is watching the birds outside my window at the bird feeders. There all kinds and colors. When that darkness starts creeping into my writing those birds can take it away at times.

6)      I am a recent cat lover, or I should say certain cats lover. I love Kitty and Spunky especially. If you snoop around my site you will see them there. Spunky has two siblings but they will be going to other homes eventually so I am trying not to get attached. Although Fluffy, the dark one, is difficult not to want to hold.

7)      I had a fall in my home within the past year. I ended up with amnesia, long and short term. I don’t remember 99% of my past but through things I have typed over the past 20 years on my computer I have a lot of notes to read through. I am light and sound sensitive and cannot watch TV, listen to music, or read books. I just write all the time.

 

Here are my nominees for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award.

I would like to say this. I know there are plenty of other people that should receive this as well and I would put them here, cheating like Luccia did, but if you read number 7 above you know there is a problem sometimes.

MareEastern Great photographs of more than just scenery. I often write a poem inspired by the photograph of the day. She also writes about her love of Scotland and her cats.

Long And Luxe A very positive and always encouraging person. Always has something upbeat to say. She’s groovy. J

Be Led By Reason New to our WordPress community but with a lot of deep feelings to share and some great photography and history of Hawaii as well.

Sober Is The New Black Another new member of the community. This young man is doing something unique here in the WordPress family. He is chronicling his life and a battle. You need to go check it out to see what I’m talking about. Give him a LOT of support. Seriously.

Suzie81Speaks A lot of you know Suzie. She blogs like a mad hatter and has a very professional style. She’s someone you want to check out to see how things are done for the type of blog she does. You’ll enjoy it. Speaks about life and makes it relevant.

Inside The Life Of Moi If you haven’t already visited then the first thing you are going to do is smile. Her header photo is excellent and unique and it is a perfect reflection of her blog style. A slice of life blog in a relevant way. A very, very fun and enjoyable time to be had.

Freebird A very honest blog about very topics but some you get a peek into the life of India. I love the phrasing of the articles which adds authenticity to it all and the culture discovered is something you don’t get just anywhere.

Serins Sphere Very honest reader of your blogs. Writes about life and a lot more. Namibia. I would be shot if I didn’t mention that.

Forgotten Meadows One of the most prolific poets around. An encourager and also one that pulls other poets in to unite a community.

Chapter TK/ A very honest blog. A slice of life blog that expresses opinions but also wants the other side of the story. Wants feed back and wants to really know.

The Fickle Heartbeat Irasia at the site is great to read. Enjoyable and the layouts and photo choices make it an easy for me to look at. This is about relationships. So why do I follow? Writers need to know a lot of things. If you’ve read some of my things every now and then I mention following for inspiration. Sometimes you just need to hear what you know in a different way or hear something new entirely you can play off of.

The Showcase A slice of life from India. Yes, I love the blogs from India. I’ve found there are a more similarities than differences. The style is different than that of thafreebird site.

Lesie’s World The first thing I noticed about this site was the strength of the photo of the owner. I just knew that whatever came out of this person would be something I wanted to read and I was right. Learn a bit of Jamaica from the real thing, but also about everyday things. I just hope you’re ready to read the accent. It’s a blast.

Nubian Waters Enthusiasm. That’s what I get from this site. We all want to blog but this one just puts it out there in real language and heart. Whenever you get that moment of why am I here you can go to this site and remember.

A Blog To Regret Poetry in motion. Variety in style. I look at the picture of the owner and the style of the content matches perfectly. I enjoy it here because it lets me know that my changes in style are okay. I’m nowhere near this level but I know it’s alright to experiment at times.

 

It would be nice to follow through with the rules above. It allows for connections and recognition for some blogs we might not ordinarily see. That’s up to you individually.

Much Respect

Ronovan

Blogging/Writing Tip: Use Animated Gif’s Wisely.

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Blogging/Writing Tip: Use Animated Gif’s Wisely.

by: Ronovan

The animated Gif’s being used are hilarious at times, but sometimes too many take away from your content.

Just as you want to work on short paragraphs to encourage people to move on and keep their attention you also want to keep from distracting them from what you have worked on.

If possible place them either at the very beginning or very end to introduce a tone or leave the reader with some visual message on the way out.

Man_bowing.jpg
gettyimages © Original Photo by Comstock

The other part of this is that using too many can actually make some people feel queasy or physically ill. They love your content but have to hold their hand over the Gif in order to read.

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 07, 2014.

 

 

Writing Tips: Following for Inspiration

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gettyimages © Original Photo by Frederic Cirou
gettyimages © Original Photo by Frederic Cirou

Did you know I follow fashion blogs? And I don’t do it to just see the pretty women. As a writer I like to write about a lot of things and the characters in my stories have experiences and sometimes as a man I just don’t know some of the little things that I need to know about parts of society that would make a moment connect with a reader instead of  totally destroying the scene for them.

What’s popular in shoes right now?

I have no idea. To me it’s what I like at the time, but for women there is a whole other level to it. And men, isn’t that one reason we should love and appreciate those little things? How often have you noticed how her nails seem to match her shoes and how those shoes show off her ankle just right? It’s an art form.

Pants, skirt, or dress?

I have no idea what is appropriate for certain occasions. I just know when a woman looks nice and that is fine with me. Men are lucky. We just throw on about anything and no one thinks about it because we aren’t supposed to know any better. It’s an observation on society in a way but women are supposed to know what to wear. And when a woman gets it all right, every person looks at them and pauses and the skies open up and angels sing.

I follow Food blogs as well.

You want to describe something a character is eating but all your mind sees is a bacon burger at McDonald’s but they are at a nice upscale Italian restaurant. Food blogs help me see different kinds of foods as, I want a romantic dinner not burger town. When you want to have something that is edible but sensuous to see at the same time, you need to go to the blogs. And men, ribs, steaks, and nachos aren’t going to cut it. The food has to be as sexy and elegant as the woman you are with.

Do I follow certain kinds of blogs just for reference?

No, I also follow for inspiration. I follow Artists, Photographers, Poets, and some that I don’t even know what they would be categorized in. Some of my favorites are those who would fall into the category of Life Survivors. I get inspiration for characters from something they share either emotionally or visually.

Yesterday I read a blog where the woman just poured out her soul and I connected to a spirit that could drive any female character in a book to the top of the lists. We follow blogs to support each other in the blog world but we also do it because we like what we see. And no I don’t stalk anyone. I do watch for posts from everyone I follow though.

Now Follow for Inspiration.

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-May 15, 2014.

Writing and Blogging For Therapy

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Why did you start blogging? For some it was to create a platform for their writing in preparation for a career as an Author. Others may have approached it as a way to share their creativity or even a cause they have embraced. And yet there is another category, therapy.

There are people who do not have an outlet in their lives to free their minds and souls of what ails them or inspires them. If they try, the people around them look at them strangely or even interfere. However, if they blog, they are looked upon as artists and inspirations. They are accomplishing something!

I’m not really certain as to why I began to blog, perhaps a platform, not a hobby, but most definitely therapy. I have so many thoughts and ideas that I need to get them out of my head and somewhere else.

I wonder if it’s validation I am seeking? But then I am also a person that likes to support and encourage others to push forward. I may see doubt in a specific word but in the body of the work I see hope and potential and I like to share that vision.

You may receive a comment from me every now and then. I only comment if I really feel moved to do so. It may be by the piece posted, or something that just inspires me that this person needs to be talked to, or maybe a personal link that I feel.

Whatever reason you post, it is a therapy of sorts and it does allow for healing in many ways. Just make sure to keep relying on the output of your thoughts and ideas instead of the input of the comments of others to help you know that you are great at what you do. Yes, professionals help you, but I am speaking of those of us who may not be complimentary for other reasons.

Every piece I see in blogs has something to it that I learn from even if it is not my cup of tea so to speak. It might be the most awful piece of garbage ever, but I learned how not to do something. Being honest there. I may not click like on the ones I really do like at times as I have a problem with remembering to do certain tasks at times, but I learned from it. So keep posting, keep therapying, I know I made up a word, but that’s part of the fun, isn’t it? I’ll keep reading, liking, when I remember, commenting and learning. And thank you for helping with my therapy by sharing your own.

Why did you start Writing or Blogging?

 

writing-blogging-therapy This is Kitty you might read about in some of my articles.

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-May 27, 2014.

Do your best…or not at all…advice from success.

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Do your best…or not at all…advice from success.

by: Ronovan

 

In my previous life I was in the business world, if only that were meant as reincarnation.

Sympathy Stuffed Bear

 

 

Yes even stuffed animals give me looks of sympathy and pats for comfort. But it wasn’t a complete waste of my life. After all you can learn from every experience, whether it is a good lesson or a bad lesson. This is a bit of a good one.

Coke Can

I attended a business luncheon in Atlanta, GA and there was a very much respected business woman there as the guest speaker. She was a self-made woman who not only had her own business but was also an executive with Coca Cola.

 

 

I’m sorry to say there were no free Coke t-shirts but a lot of free and excellent advice, as was the food, although Nuvo Mealexpensive to my company, and miniscule in size the food not the advice.

 

Now back to our program. The lady spoke of two things that day, one of which I will talk about here and the other another time.

 

Being Your Best at What You Are Doing When You Are Doing It

 

The lady had not come from a silver spoon background. She fought her way up including obtaining her education. One reason the lady said that she had become such a success, and this was not ego speaking, was that in everything she was doing at a given moment she was giving it her all, trying to be the best at it.

 

She felt she had to try harder than anyone else for two reasons; 1) she was a woman in the business world, and 2) she was African American.

Female Executive

At no one point could she be focusing on two things. If she were in school and working on a research paper, that would be the only thing she was focusing on. There was no other class in her mind at that time, no boyfriend in her mind, no TV show, nothing.

 

If you are writing an article about dogs then write the best article you can even though you might want to watch a movie instead, or be working on a manuscript. You chose to write an article and made a commitment. At that moment you are to be the best dog article writer in the world. Why do anything unless you are going to do the best? What you put out is what people see you as so why put out garbage or half attempted material? And why put out something that isn’t you?

 

This translates to editors and literary agents as well. If they see that you put everything into whatever you write then they have confidence in signing you. They know they can depend on you to get the job done, that you will not turn in a half effort or be late.

 

Use this in every job you have. It doesn’t matter what it is, do your best, and be the best.

 

Read her second piece of advice ‘Don’t ALLOW people to control you’.

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-May29, 2014.

3 Writing Tips: To Know When to Stop Writing…for the day…and how.

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3 Writing Tips: To Know When to Stop Writing…for the day…and how.

by: Ronovan

When the laptop falls off your sleeping body or maybe when your ‘other’ smashes it with a hammer? Sorry but I just can’t help but think of Yzma in The Emperor’s New Groove every time I say ‘smash it with a hammer’, Eartha Kitt had an awesome voice. I think we all have our own inner Yzma at times. And Eartha Kitt’s voice was purrrfect for the role. (Yes, I just went Adam West Batman on you.)

But when to stop writing is very important and will help you in how to start the next time you sit down as ready as you were when you left off writing the previous day.

1)      Leave yourself with ideas.Man Writing in a Notebook

There is nothing worse than having worked so hard all the previous day only to sit down the next time and have nothing in your head to go with. You need to end your session with a good deal of material in your mind left. This way you will likely be thinking on it while away from your writing area and when you sit down next time you can immediately pick up where you left off and just let the creative juices flow. If you are concerned you will forget something, make a few quick notes to remind you so you have it ready to glance at when you sit down.

2)      Stop before exhaustion stops you.

Cat asleep on KeyboardToo many of us just don’t want to stop as those ideas are flowing, but the truth is some of those ideas aren’t going to be very sharp and you’ll have to fix them later, and you most likely won’t be able to really remember what all you did very well. So set time limits and stick to them. Also ending exhausted makes for a weary begin to the next day of writing.

 

3)      Set time limits and stick to them.

You need a break, you need structure. If you are working on a book, blogging, researching, submitting, and living, then you need to set some boundaries. Most people who write a book want to do it for a living. Keep it fun and creative but you need to keep it in check or it will burn you out.Timer

I have been completely wiped out writing, had writer’s block, and just really been a wreck. I’ve written a 30,000 book in 24 hours and was literally unable to function for two days. You have to set limits. For me it was a bit of a necessity at that moment, and maybe I will explain that another day, but I should have stopped, and no, there was no deadline. It was a great feeling to have accomplished something like that but it also made it so I didn’t want to look at another piece of writing for quite some time.

One part of becoming a success at writing is to keep writing, and to keep writing you need to keep it fun both mentally and physically. How do some of you keep from getting burnt out?

You may also be interested in Writing Tips: Working Through Writer’s Doubt…Just Flip it 3 Ways.

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 01, 2014.

What’s a Taboo to do? Do you click ‘like’ on Taboo articles?

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Speak no See no Hear no Evil Stuffed Monkeys

What’s a Taboo to do? Do you click ‘like’ on Taboo articles?

 by: Ronovan

Wow, that was so amazing but I don’t want people to know I read that. Admit it, that’s come to your mind before. You may have quickly overcome it but it’s been there. I read a very short piece that was sexual I nature but there was no sex. It was hilarious and a part of it was so surprising and different that I was impressed. But if I clicked ‘like’ then people would know I read it AND liked it.

 

What’s a poor introverted gentleman to do?

 

To some of you it’s a no-brainer. “Just click like, you wimp,” you are saying. “You hypocrite, if you like it then like it.” True, very true, every word of it. I usually do end up with the click. But I put a lot of thought into it. One thing it normally comes down to is;

 

Why did the person write the piece?

 

I am not into people who write to capitalize on something, or write to simply draw hits. If then I think the piece was written for that reason then I don’t tend to ‘like’ it. Traffic on one’s site is the important factor for most, although the ‘likes’ are the encouraging nudges.

 

But back to the point, should we be embarrassed? I am of the mind that writing is an art form. If someone brushes letters onto their page and creates a tasteful picture on their page then ‘like’ it. As an artist, and as an author who creates imagery with your words you are an artist, you cannot be embarrassed by things.

 

I am not saying to out and ‘like’ everything that comes along just because you find it amusing. Like it because it brought something to you, be it thought, humor, that ah ha moment, inspiration, whatever it is.

 

And one last thing; in poetry you may be misinterpreting the meaning of the words in the first place. I have poems that have received a few likes. I know the meanings, no they are not weird twisted meanings, but the words could be seen to have different meanings when I looked back at them. It wasn’t intentional, but just happened.

 

Are you embarrassed? If so what types of things embarrass you or what do you do when faced with that moment of “This is incredible!”?

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-May29, 2014.

Click ‘Like’ or Click View? What do you do?

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Do you just click like or do you follow through to view?

 

“Do you love me, do you wanna be my friend?
And if you do
Well then don’t be afraid to take me by the hand
If you want to
I think this is how love goes, check yes or no”

 

Those are the words of a popular country song by the King of Country and Western music in the United States, George

Dog with a big blue bone.
You like me, you really like me!

Strait. What does that have to do with blogging? At least you asked.

 

If you are like me you ‘Follow’ a lot of blogs. Some of you get emails as updates and some sign up for accounts and have what are called ‘Readers’ that show when a new article comes out by who we ‘Follow’.

 

You can click and go to the site and read it, or sometimes you can view the entire offering in the ‘Reader’ or email. See any problems yet? I didn’t think so.

 

Well to turn the song around a bit:

 

Do you view me, or do you wanna be my fan?

And if you do

Well then don’t be afraid to follow to the site

If you want to

I think this is how views know, click view or no

 

I follow all the way to the site, even if I can see all of the offering of the author on my reader. Why? Because it gives the author an idea of how many actual views are occurring.

 

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the ‘likes’. But I also really want to KNOW viewers are viewing what I’ve created. If you’re not a person who has a blog you may not realize we can see how many views or maybe hits our site has each day. Some people thrive on increasing their views and that is understandable because we all want our material to be seen. Some see the views as support of their efforts.

 

I know sometimes a few lines fits on the reader page or you see a blurb and you just know you will like it or even you have a favorite blog site that never fails you, but what do you want personally? Do you want people to read what you put out there or just click like and ignore it?

 

Gummy bear and kids.
I support you, I really do!

Are you a fan or a supporter? Do you like everything your blogger puts out or do you go and check it out and really look at it?

 

The problem here is time. The blogging community tries to be supportive but also must work on content. If all it does was read all the blogs, then there would rarely be any new content put out. In a way I understand the ‘like’ clicking method. You know you will like it, it’s just you don’t have the time.

 

This in a way goes along with another article I recently viewed that prompted me to actually finish this one. It’s called ‘The ‘Like’ Button: Enabler of the inactive participant or Advocate of the introverted blogger?’ by Neha at Forgotten Meadows. I encourage you to read it.

 

Do you just click like as a fan or do you follow through as a view?

 

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-May29, 2014

3 Things Every Writer or Blogger Should Consider

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3 Things Every Writer or Blogger Should Consider

by: Ronovan

 

Blogging isn’t easy. Some make it look that way, and I thoroughly despise them for it. Actually those of whom I speak know who they are and know I love them and just jealous…maybe.

 

I first showed up in this blogger world to share my creations, my stories. Then I discovered I had more to share than that. And I learned that the blogging world was a community and there was support among that community you couldn’t find anywhere else.

 

But I know from the title of this article you’re wondering about actual blogging itself. I’ll share three things today:

 

Cluttered Desk
gettyimages © Original Photo by dumayne

COMMITMENT

“What? Of course I have a commitment to my blog,” you are saying. That’s not where I am really going with this.

 

Problem:

Blogging becomes addictive. You want to put out great content because you want more followers and views on your site. Those numbers are worse than the word count feature on a word document for a writer. You have a commitment to the rest of your life to consider as well.

 

Solution:

Schedule time for your blog work, and time for your author work. Then let it go. Live life or you burn out. How can you be creative if your mind is jelly instead of a big blob of electronic pasta?

 

 

COURTESY

Be polite to those you Follow and those who Follow you.

Problem:

Words carry an incredible amount of weight in social media settings. We can’t put voice

Lit Thanks Heart
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inflection in there so we have to be careful. We also might end up with a lot of people commenting on articles and some may expect some type of a reply or think you are rude for not doing so. Being considered rude for some of us is a big problem.

 

Solution:

Always use positive words, never negative ones. And at least click like on a comment someone says on your article. That may sound like a lot but if Followers are important to you then do it. I do it because I appreciate the fact that someone reads my offerings and then takes the time to comment. To me that is a huge compliment.

 

When you are reading another person’s blog, don’t comment unless it’s encouraging or they are asking for some type of comment. Also don’t assume when others don’t comment on your offerings that they don’t like them. Some people just don’t comment. It’s a time thing for one. We like to read, enjoy, and move on.

 

Don’t let courtesy rule your life though. I have a bad habit of feeling as though I have to read everything anyone I follow posts, here and on Twitter. That’s a lot of reading and very little time for other things, including my own writing.

 

CONTENT

Make your content what you like first and foremost, but don’t be surprised if what you like changes over time.

 

Chalkboard and Lady
gettyimages © Original Photo by Justin Lewis

Problem:

At the same time you need to remember you are putting stuff out there for others to enjoy otherwise you would just keep it on your computer for yourself. But then you also may end up falling into the trap of writing things just to get visitors, views, and follows.

 

Solution:

This is a truth here so keep reading after what I say next. You write a book and you want to share the chapters, right?

  • Break the chapters up into parts. I’ve found that people mostly want quick reads of usually under 600 words or so. Why is word count opposite on a blog article than what we think of for a book? Blogs are quick reads. Using me as an example, I want something I know I can get through quickly or I know my mind will drift. Not because of the content, but because of the length. This isn’t a book in front of me that I know how many chapters I have. This immediate gratification. Some will see word count on their readers in the blogger communities and just skip over those over a certain length unless they know the writer very well.
  • You can have longer word counts if the topic calls for it, but make sure you are being to the point. Readers can tell filler from foundation.
  • Add visual content. It adds a bit to whatever you put out and makes you feel like you have put out more than just a few paragraphs. I’ve found that since I’ve shortened some of my work and had fun with photos, that not only do more people ‘like’ them but I enjoy putting the work out there as well.

Those are just three things to look at for now.

 

Next time around I’ll share three things that make coming up with Blogging content a little easier. But until then, peace out and blog out.

 

Remember, I’m just a comment away. Talk to me here or on Twitter.

 

 

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-May27, 2014.

Blogger Psychology: Views vs. Likes, Which Satisfies you?

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Being a new blogger it may confuse one at times to see more ‘likes’ than ‘views’. And which ones do you really want? I don’t even have a gut feeling on it really because I see the advantage of both and that, I think can cause the confusion. Yeah, I’m a Gemini. I’m not into astrology but being that whole twin thing, I really fight myself by seeing both sides of a situation. So even my opinion below will likely disagree with the ‘experts’ and even myself.

‘Likes’ are a psychological hug or pat on the back for most of us. While ‘Views’ are the way our work gets seen. Some people just aren’t going to click Like for a number of reasons, but they will keep coming back to read what you have to offer and thus View your work.

Am I a pro blogger? I’m not a pro, whatever that really means in Blog World. But I have realized a great many things since I’ve been blogging.

  • Be happy with your Likes, and use that for motivation. Remember though, how many blogs do you read and don’t click but you go back again the next time? I love the Likes because that’s one way I find people who have things to offer that I will Like and most likely Follow.
  • As long as I am getting the Views, then I am getting noticed.
  • Blog to share, not to receive praise. If you fall into the trap of wanting praise you are going to change how and what you blog. You started blogging for a reason; make sure you stay true to that.

These are just a few thoughts from someone who has gone through what a lot of new bloggers are going through now and even some veterans. We all share the same concerns about the numbers game, so don’t think you are the only one. Just keep doing it. Sure you want people to Like your work, but you really did this to share it so people could View it.