The bloggers's support and blathering thread

[DillyTante]

I thought I would start off a new thread based on a comment by Queen Maeve on another thread, which I completely agree with. In the beginning, the bloggers' chat thread was just that, we chatted, shared links, tips and exchanged views on each others' blogs. Now it has become a bit 'post and run' sort of a one way street really.

While I think that has it's place, as I like to have somewhere to go to pick out new blog posts, I miss the chat and the community, so I am deeming this a chat/support/blather thread. Posts and running will only be tolerated in extremis from regular contributors. Otherwise we shall glare at you via our screens.

So, I'll kick off: how's your blogging going? I hit 101 posts today! That's since July. What sort of numbers are you averaging?

I was really inspired by Latte Lady's post here, and have decided I need to make my blog more instructive, rather than just bumbling around going "oh look, I made this, it's really easy, I bet you could do it too" and sticking a couple of instagrammed photos in. And I want to be more passionate and more interesting. I want to branch out a little, but I'm worried about putting off any followers I do have who follow me for my niche which is mainly crafting.

Blogging has also made me think a bit more seriously about writing. I have always enjoyed writing but never pursued it in anger. I did NaNoWriMo and loved it, but I think that blogging has shown me that if I am going to give writing ago, I don't think fiction is my thing. I'd like to write features. I currently have complete career envy of Perri Lewis. She craft blogs for the Guardian and writes on Mollie Makes and Psychologies. She get to write about craft and psychology, that is what I want to do!

[Tee2072]

I use Pinterest, but also just for fun. Everyone told me it would be consuming but I don't really find it so.

Same user name as here if anyone wants to follow me.

In fact, this is my user name everywhere.

[PetiteRaleuse]

I don't use Pinterest very much - and certainly not for my blog (which goes against all the rules and is text based 99%) but I do like going in and looking at people's pictures and adding some to my own. I wish I had far more time to waste

[polkettle]

Should add that it's not that I doubt either the usefulness or the fun of Twitter...just feel sort of exhausted by the thought of it!

[BaronessOrczy]

Great idea for a thread Dilly.

I've found this part of MN really helpful and inspiring, and have just got into Twitter, trying to get a hold on it all. I'm also on Pinterest - I tell you, it's a whole new world out there!

How do you turn the blog into a book Dilly? Surely someone has to want to buy it first! I'm finding it really helpful writing every day, it's giving me hope that I may be able to turn into a professional writer one day.

[SallyDon]

Dilly - yes the book's about adoption. I've had some good advice from Mme G about self-publishing, that laydee is a mine of information. Still holding out for the big one for now whilst researching digi.

I'm @sallydwrites on twitter if anyone wants to say hello. I don't use the FB due to the many complications of security around adopted children.

And I only blog once a week, so much to do, so little time ......

[DillyTante]

Kej, if you look at the 'latest posts' regular thread you'll find a lot there. Some might have them in their profiles if you click on their name.

Mine is //www.dillytante.wordpress.com and I'm
@dillytante on twitter.

[RecipeJunkie]

I joined the mumsnet network a few weeks ago but I'm not sure it has done much for my stats. I've been blogging since last summer although had a few weeks 'hiccup' after the first few posts when a lovely hacker got into my gmail account. I think I've notched up about 70 posts. I use a stat counter and in total I've had just over 1150 hits. I get anything from 5 a day to around 50 - not always following on from a post. I try to post 2-3 times a week but soetimes I'm just too tired - I work 6 hrs a day (in a field totally unrelated to y blog, which mumsnet has described as an 'energetic jog round my kitchen', plus have 2 primary school kids and a springer spaniel who needs lots o walking. I also find that I no longer have the luxury of time to surf around the blogosphere as much as I would like, so I guess I am also guilty of post & run. It would be lovely to do more, but...

Recently, a lovely artist friend started offering me some illustrations and even finding the time to revamp the layout of my blog took some time. I'm not sure i'M entirely happy with it, but I htink it's more attractive than it was when i started, and I try to use photos etc.

I think a lot of my traffic comes from my extended circle of friends - someone else made this point. I share to Facebook. I did wonder about asking my fb friends to subscribe, as I get quite disheartened when I see that I've had 150 people view but that it hasn't turned into subscribers (I;ve only got 7!), but hey ho - really I guess I'm doing it for me...

Anyway, I'm going to make a bit more of an effort to hang about rather than post and run.

Happy blogging all...

[RecipeJunkie]

Actually, in a bid to spend more time here, I have been looking about a bit and I found a list oif 'recent posts' but the last post that I uploaded to my blog on Friday doesn't seem to have made it on to the list - I applied the mumsnet logo to my blog etc - how do I get it onto the list?

[eccosse]

My blog has been my life line really since I ended up in rural France 'accidentally'. It gives me a great focus to get my work photographed and to take pictures of what inspires me - and if I'm not inspired I just go looking for it, or just collect a load of beautiful things and write about them.

I was MN blog of the week last week which was such a lovely surprise! My views are not massive, 100 or 200 a day depending on what is going on.

I used to always keep a diary as a child / young adult - so blogging fills that void and forces me to make it public - although I don't tend to blog about personal trials and tribulations - I may allude to them just so people don't think I'm swanning around in some bucolic paradise!

[Tee2072]

Recipe drop MNHQ a line to make sure they've got you on their feed.

[tallblonde]

My blog, with some editing, seemed to lend itself quite nicely to being a book about the first year of motherhood, so I took the plunge last week and published it as a book on Kindle! Eeek! What no one tells you about having a baby

It's actually felt quite exciting as writing a book has always been on my 'bucket list', so it would be great if any of you could share tips on how I could promote it. Although it's a humourous take on motherhood, I actually had severe PND when I was writing my blog and had a terrible year. The blog was almost like a saviour to me, as it reminded me that there was a smart and funny woman still in there underneath all the misery and warped thinking. So I suppose that if my book does ok, I'll feel a sense of pride (and closure) that something good came out of something so awful. It'd be a real personal acheivement.

Anyone else find blogging to be a form of therapy?!

[RecipeJunkie]

Thanks Tee2072

[kej75]

Thanks DillyTante, I will have a look at that thread, I have followed you on Twitter (Mrsshortiesmind).

Looking forward to find some new blogs to follow. X

[SweetestThing]

tallblonde, my blog is definitely therapy for me. I started it as a way to keep people informed about what was going on with me but it ended up being much more of a way to "cathart" about how I am feeling, how I am coping, etc.. It's invaluable as a way to set my thoughts down and see what they look like - sometimes good, sometimes not so good!

If anyone wants to find me on Twitter, I am FacingThings.

[Flubba]

I really don't get Twitter (or FB for that matter). I don't understand why anyone would be interested in my 'tweets' (and what on earth would I tweet about?)? Genuinely don't get it.

Every now and then my stats go mad (relative to my site that is). I've had an average of about 30-40 per day in Jan then Feb then had nearly 300 yesterday.

Do you all get lots of comments? I get a bit :( if I know a certain post has had a lot of views but no comments, as I assume it's because people think "woah that's shit"! :o / :( /

[mrsshortiesmind]

I don't tweet that often, but my blog is linked up to it so get some views that way. I've also got a fb page and get views from that, still don't really understand how it works though!

[trulymyrtle]

Flubba - you were on the craft thread yesterday I think? That thread seems to generate lots of hits! I certainly surfed your way

[Flubba]

Yes I was, and I know that yesterday's post about sewing machines on arts & crafts is one of the ones looked at (from MN views) for yesterday, but it doesn't always happen like that. Some days it just goes a bit bonkers for no apparent reason.

[trulymyrtle]

I have been getting a fair number of hits but only a tiny number have signed up to follow me. I am hoping it is just a matter of time, and getting more stuff posted. How quickly have others built up a following (without fb or twitter at this stage? ) What helped?

Can some of you blogging about crafty stuff also explain more to me about linky parties? I just don't really get how they work or what are good ones to join

MASSIVE learning curve!!!

[Flubba]

Likewise with followers - I have had just over 2,750 views since I started in December, but have only 17 followers (and one of those is one of my friends! :o)

Thanks for your comment on my blog btw truly. I was sorry not to win your lovely knit bag, but will now give a similar one a go myself.

[GentleOtter]

Thank you for starting this thread.

My blog is where I vent or describe day to day life, albeit not every day.

I'm not too sure on just how far to go with it as I've held back on an awful lot of things....our life was made hell after one or two blog entries.

I'm wondering whether to blow the lid on what really goes on here or remain silent and not rock the boat but seethe with oppression and class divide.

It is so bitter sweet. Lambs, new chickens and arrogant arsetocracy.

[singlemarriedmum]

Flubba I'm with you about tweeting (and FB) Wish I did get it, but worry if I did, it would take up way too much of my time and I'd be constantly trying to think of things to say.

I'd love to know how many times a day people tweet? And is it a bit addictive when you get the hang of it?

Am now going to comment on your blog and find a way of getting onto the craft thread..... sounds like the place to be!

[DillyTante]

Tough one gentle otter. You know we are all on your side. Can what you say make a difference?

[JoanneMallon]

tallblonde congratulations on your book. I've also recently had a book about toddlers published and have done quite well promoting it via guest posts. I found that when I did one or two guest posts (you can see a roundup of them here), other bloggers would ask me to post one, so I haven't had to hassle people to do it. Each guest post is a 3-400 word extract from my book, so all I have to do is choose a bit then cut & paste it so it's very quick to do.

Since your book is on Kindle, you could easily send the document to somebody else's Kindle for them to review. Try tweeting that you're looking for parent bloggers with Kindles to review your book and ask people to RT your request. The only problem I've found is that people can take a long time to produce book reviews (inevitable really, since they have to read the book), whereas a guest post can be published straight away.

[MrsDanverclone]

I shall de lurk to join in the blathering. I'm right at the very beginning of blogging and have been stalking most of you ( but in an admiring from afar way, not the stalkerish scary person type way), while reading your blogs and and trying to work out what the heck I am doing. Just posted my 2nd post, keep changing the theme, swearing a bit at the computer and not yet into the hang of it .
Twitter and a Facebook page are next on the agenda, with Twitter looking the most confusing out of them.
My whole blogging abilities so far, have been acquired by what I have read on Mumsnet, so thank you for getting me to this point.