Category: Blogging

Blogging Insights- Year of the pandemic

Tanya is the host of Blogging Insights

TODAY’S QUESTION 

How do you think this pandemic year has been for blogging in general and your blog in particular?

Blogging is one activity that can be done when one is home bound and alone.

I was visiting my daughter in Seattle when we were informed that the city will be going in 2 weeks of lockdown. Everyone knows how these 2 weeks extended into months and then more than a year of covid restrictions.

Blogging saved me from boredom. It helped me stay connected with my online family and gave me something to do with the free time I had on my hands. In short, it turned the enforced inactivity into a great pastime.

My blog grew in followers as many new people started blogging. Though I curtailed my posts from a minimum of 4 to 3, the traffic and visitors increased.

Blogging during the pandemic also brought the community closer. We connected on a more personal level with each other and shared our concerns for each other’s safety and their family’s safety. Exchanging notes on getting the covid vaccination too.

The down side was that we saw a few very loved bloggers, leaving the blogosphere. They were either overwhelmed or had some personal reasons for not posting on their blogs but it was sad to see them no more. I miss Becky and Punam most. I hope to see them back.

Thank you Tanya for this opportunity to take a look back at the last year and assess how it was.

Thanks for reading!

#Keepitalive

#BloggingInsights

Blog Series Questions – Game 4

Rory is the host of Blog Series Questions

What are your top 5 favourited Blog Genres – the ones you enjoy reading the most?

I don’t follow bloggers based on what they write but more for how they write and how they think. So the genres I follow are a mixed bunch. There is poetry, fiction, and blogging advice. Some writers write about a lot of things so it would be hard to classify their blogs. As Fandango says, they write about this that and the other.

My preference always is easy to understand writing, story, or poetry. Complicated words and plots are not my thing at all.

Have you ever experienced Writer’s Block and if so, what did you do to get yourself through it and if not, what do you do to avoid it?

I agree with you Rory that mostly what is called writer’s block is just plain disinclination to write. It could be exhaustion of mind or ennui that could be stopping the creativity. I usually don’t have trouble writing and if I do, I just take a break and come back to it later when my ideas start flowing again.

Bonus Question – Do you believe ‘writer’s block’ is an actual thing?

See above!

Do you think colour psychology is an important part to the blogging journey and does it play a big part in how your readers view a blog?

So I am one of that lazy blogger who exclusively uses the WP app and the reader. I seldom see the actual site of the blogger and the colorful display some people have. For myself, I like things in black and white. Though I really admire colorful images which compliment the writing. I always look for an appropriate image to match my writing.

I haven’t changed the layout of my site in ages. And to me it only matters in so far as it is easy to navigate and read. Some blogs have such colorful writing that it’s hard to read. I hope that any of my readers who access my blog through the browser are able to read and enjoy my posts easily.

How do you feel about Interview series and or Guest Writing opportunities on other blogs?

I would love to do an interview or a guest post but I would have to learn how to do a guest post. Interviews are easy as I think I’ve done one for your blog a long time back.

As for doing interviews on my blog with other bloggers, or asking them to do guest posts, that idea has crossed my mind! Under consideration, you may say!

#Keepitalive

#RoryAsks

Blogging Insights – Award Freedom

Tanya is the host of Blogging insight series

TODAY’S QUESTIONS 

How long have you been blogging? Can you remember the first blogging award you received?

I joined WordPress in February or March of 2018. I joined WP to follow and comment on my dear friend Dr. Tanya’s blog as unless you are in WP you cannot comment on a blogger’s post without going through hoops.

But I wrote my first blog post on 6th September 2018.

My first blogging award was also Sunshine Blogging Award and I was nominated by Mel of Caramel, a learner at love . I was very happy when I got my first nomination and continued doing the award posts for almost a year and a half.

Do you still accept blogging award nominations or is yours an award free blog? If your blog is award free, what are your reasons for this?

I am very grateful and honored when someone thinks of my blog while nominating. It is morale boosting and a sort of validation that they think my blog worthy of an award. The last award I did was from Cranny of Cranny’s Cove. She nominated me for the Golden Bloggerz award. I haven’t made my blog award-free and do respond whenever I get the time to do so.

However, the creation of an award post is very time-consuming and often tricky where nominations are concerned. Very few bloggers accept awards these days and most just ignore the nomination. The fact that you’re supposed to nominate 10-20 bloggers is a bit too much. So if I get a nomination these days, I gratefully thank the blogger and answer the questions posed by them. I may ask a few questions of my own but I refrain from nominating people and ask anyone who is reading to please consider themselves nominated.

It’s not the ideal solution , but still better than ignoring the award or politely declining the honor.

Many thanks to Tanya for these interesting questions.

#Keepitalive

#BloggingInsights

Blog Series Questions- Game 3

Rory is the host of Blog Series Questions

How many social networking platforms are you committed to for ‘social coverage’ for your written and published blog content? [Whatever your genre]

When I started my blog, I linked it to a Facebook page that I had specifically created for it and to a Twitter account. But with the new Twitter policy regarding child pornography, I disabled my Twitter account. The Facebook account still is linked to my blog and every post I publish is automatically displayed there. But I seldom find time to promote my account or even visit it. So on paper, I have a social media account linked to my blog but practically, none.

How far ahead do you have planned or scheduled content to be published on your blog or are you more of a ‘in the moment’ type of writer?

I schedule my prompt post, WDYS at least a couple of weeks ahead, and my daily posts, at least one day ahead. On a good day, I can write 4-5 posts and pre-schedule them and then I relax. Some days I am running behind and those are “in the moment “ type of writing days.

How long are you ‘in/on’ your blog for daily?

I read and answer comments on my blog throughout the day. It would be hard to say how much time I am “on” it but it feels like at least half my waking time. Usually, I write my posts for the next day before going to bed.

Are the social niceties of being LIKED important to you?

This question was inspired by Ian Kay of Moon Is Rising

Yes, I like when people like my posts. I am not too nice in my requirements and am easily pleased. A like to my mind shows that someone visited my post, maybe read it and liked it. Sometimes they like it to show that they were here. It’s a morale booster to see how many people have liked my posts.

Similarly, if I am rushed for time, I’ll leave a like on a post that perhaps is too long for me to read at the time to show support. A post which has no likes, is a sad post. 😜

#Keepitalive

#RoryAsks

It happened!

So it finally happened! They updated my WP app, automatically and now I have to use the dreaded block editor. I was afraid that it would take me a lot of time to compose a post on it but that’s not the case. Perhaps, because I don’t do any formatting after I write my posts. Anyway, now I am in the same boat as the rest of the community. So much so for the smug feeling that I still have my classic editor!

It’s not that difficult as I imagined. And maybe I’ll be able to work with it.

So what’s the verdict?

Wish me luck!

#Keepitalive

#Blogging

Blogging Insights – Change

Tanya is the host of Blogging Insights

TODAY’S QUESTIONS 

How comfortable are you with change? 

As you said yourself, Tanya that change is the only constant in life so it is wise to accept change as an invariability. The fact of the matter is that I like most changes. It breaks the monotony and brings something new.

How often do you like to change your blogging style or the topics or format of your blog?

I have made a few changes to my schedule this year. I have stopped posting on the daily Prompts which was something I loved to do but it was a bit stressful for me. And besides, it would increase the number of my daily posts to four.

That’s another change I consciously made to reduce the number of daily posts. I think too many posts affect the quality of writing.

I also introduced a weekly question, Sunday Poser as my second prompt. It is a fun way to connect with my readers.

As far as the blog theme and layout are concerned, I make no changes there. Why fix something that ain’t broke. I do change my header once in a while but I think it’s been more than a year since I did that.

I think there has not been a change in my blogging style. At least not consciously. I may have changed unknowingly! The topics are ever-changing as I use a lot of prompts in my writing.

So here are my views about change.

Thank you so much, Tanya, for another thought-provoking set of questions.

Thanks for visiting and reading.

♾♾♾

#Keepitalive

#BloggingInsights

Blog Series Questions- Game 2

Rory is the host of Blog series questions

Questions;

As a blogger how important to you is creativity in your blog?

As I follow a lot of prompts, creativity plays a major role in creating posts for them. So I guess being creative is one of the important requirements for me. However, the question and answer post doesn’t require and creativity, just honestly.

If you could describe your blog in one sentence only – what would you write?’

My space where I share my poems, stories, and views.

With the content you produce for your blog are there topics, genres, or styles that are favored more by your readership audience than others, and if so, with everything you do produce what are your top 3?

I don’t know what will appeal to my readers in respect to my posts written in response to various prompts. Sometimes a post written in few minutes evokes a great response and sometimes a post where I’ve worked long and hard at, receives a lukewarm response.

The two weekly prompts, What do you see and Sunday Poser are the ones that are usually very well received.

Which is your preferred reading in the main – books, blogs, or other and what genre?

This last question was inspired by Lauren of ISS Attitude of Gratitude

Mostly blogs, nowadays. But if one of my favorite authors brings a new book into the market, I’ll read that in a jiffy. These days my time is divided among my family and grandchildren so reading time is a bit limited. I’m hoping when the in-person schooling starts again, I’ll have more time to pursue my reading.

♾♾♾

#Keepitalive

#RoryAsks

Blogging Insights – Blogging experience

Tanya is the host of Blogging Insights

TODAY’S QUESTION

What has your blogging experience taught you?

This is a very interesting question, Tanya.

Blogging has changed a lot of things for me.

On a personal level;

I have realized that I love writing short poems and stories. I also enjoy interacting with people here in the blogosphere. Meeting so many new people through my blog, I have learned a lot about people. My knowledge has broadened and so has my mind.

I have gained insight into how different people think and why. I have also learned a lot about mental health issues. Blogging has brought awareness to me about different cultures around the world.

The fact that through my blog I am connected to so many people from all over the world, is in itself very precious to me.

From my writing and blogging point of view;

My mostly untested writing skills have improved over the last two and a half years. I have learned to be succinct and express myself clearly in fewer words.

I can write short stories now and if I go by the response I get, people like them.

Poetry was one thing that I hadn’t written since my school days. I have learned to express my ideas and feelings through poems rather well if I say so myself.

For my mental health;

It will be no surprise to anyone that blogging improves the mental health of a blogger. I can write out whatever is in my heart and mind. It’s like having a therapy session for free. I get to read a lot about what others are going through and it gives me context regarding my own feelings.

Our blogging community is very supportive and they are always here for us.

On running a weekly prompt;

In October 2019, I took over the weekly prompt which was previously hosted by late Hélène, What do you see! It is a very rewarding experience. The prompt was very kindly given a lot of support and today I posted WDYS # 78 in this series. Hosting a prompt is an incredible experience. I love how everyone sees something different in the same image and their responses are interesting to read.

For the last six months, I ask a question every Sunday, the Sunday Poser. It has also gained popularity with time.

I can say that my life has been enriched by my blogging experience.

Thank you Tanya for this interesting question.

♾♾♾

#Keepitalive

#BloggingInsights

Blog series questions – 1

Rory is the host of this new series

The Questions ….

Are you ‘mostly’ a short content or a long content reader and how many words within those defines can you comfortably read per post?

I usually like short posts, poems, or stories. But if the content is interesting, I can read on. Given the number of blogs that I follow, I am always short on time. So if it’s a very long but interesting post, I’ll save it to read later.

How many blogs do you read per day?

It’s hard to put a number on it but at a guess, anything from 25-40 posts a day. I follow many blogs, out of those some are notified in my reader, and these I read every day. Others I have to look for when I have time.

Are you a short, long, or varying length content writer, and if so what is your preferred length for a post that you create?

I am a short content writer. At most 200 – 300 Words. If it’s a poem then a few lines are the most I’ll write. I think too long a post can distract the reader and will be counterproductive.

What kind of relationship do you have with the blogs that you follow – in so far as Like Only, Read-only, Interact only, Comment only, or a combination of all?

I read all the posts I am notified of. Out of these, there are many bloggers whose posts I would definitely read and comment on. I consider them friends and as friends, I want to let them know that I visited.

While there are some who I do read and like, but I don’t comment on all their posts as there is no reciprocal interaction.

There is no comment only posts. If I read, I do like it and then comment.

♾♾♾

#Keepitalive

#RoryAsks

Blogging Insights – WordPress

Tanya is the host of Blogging Insights

We keep griping about WordPress whenever we get the chance. Today let’s try and evaluate how it has behaved in this past Year of the Pandemic. 

TODAY’S QUESTION 

How satisfied (or not) are you with WordPress during the pandemic?

♾♾♾

I agree with Tanya that blogging has been a sanity saver during the pandemic.

Admittedly, the new editor has created lots of problems for many people and I don’t think it is a popular tool amongst bloggers. But having said that, the community at WordPress is exceptional. It’s the community that has basically been the saving grace for WordPress.

Personally, I blog solely from my phone, and to date, I have been able to use the classic editor on the WP app. I don’t know if this changes, how I will fare, but I don’t plan to give up blogging because the people behind WordPress are trying to make life difficult for their customers.

When I started to blog, I was experiencing the classic signs of an empty nester. Blogging at first gave me something to do with my free time and later on, it introduced me to this marvelous community we have here.

It’s like finding a new family and a bunch of good friends. So even before the pandemic, it was helping me cope with my life of reduced responsibilities. And during the pandemic when I was stuck in Seattle without any means to come home, it was a Godsend.

As far as the technical glitches of WordPress go, I am not affected by them as I blog from the WP app which is working fine most of the time.

This is my view about blogging from WordPress in pandemic.

Thanks for visiting.

#Keepitalive

#BloggingInsights