Posts Tagged ‘blogging’
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Elevator Pitch
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It’s Day One of the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog and my mission today, should I choose to accept it, is to develop an elevator pitch for my blog. A short, punchy statement that sums up who I am, what I do and why you (the reader) should not only stick around, but also why you should come back again tomorrow and why you should tell all your friends to wander over for a visit as well.
All that in less than a dozen words (give or take a few). How hard can it be?
I kind of like the blurb that I already have for my blog (A Different View of Everyday Life in the Land Down Under), but I’m not sure that really captures all the elements listed above. Perhaps I should change it to:
A Different View of Everyday Life and Free Chocolate for all my Regular Readers in the Land Down Under.
That certainly has the potential to capture repeat visitors, but I’m wondering if it is a) a little wordy and b) going to give people the impression that I will be offering them free chocolate. Back to the drawing board.
Thinking about Life, the Universe and Everything in the Land Down Under – I think Douglas Adams may have claimed this one (except for the Down Under bit). OK. Strike two.
Maybe a bit of brainstorming will help – thinking, quirky, family, everyday life, creativity, books, learning, writing, friendship, humour, different viewpoint…
What about these (The first four are mine, the rest are suggestions from the comments. I’ll update during the day):
- Thinking deep thoughts and laughing at life’s quirks in the Land Down Under
- Thinking, reading, writing, laughing and looking at everyday life from a different perspective
- Life is more interesting when you look at it from a different angle
- Turning everyday life upside down and giving it a good shake to see what comes out.
- Life’s more interesting from a different angle
- Give life a shake and see what comes out
- Thinking, reading, writing, laughing and looking at life from a different perspective
What do you think? I like 4 best from my original thoughts, but I love the suggestions that are coming through. I may have to take a vote at the end of the day.
ETA: I should come up with a longer (up to 30 second) description as well. My sleep deprived brain forgot that last night. How about this:
Reading Upside Down is the home of Susan Whelan – writer, book addict and compulsive thinker. It’s a place for me to think out loud, chat about the things I love and share a few giggles with friends. Pull up a chair, grab a cuppa and let’s get the conversation started.
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Bloggiesta Finishing Line
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Well, I started with such enthusiasm, but life just got in the way and I didn’t get much further than the point I was up to at my first (and only) Bloggiesta update. Oh well. I’ll keep working on my list over the next month or so and try to work through the links to the challenges and past challenges.
Bloggiesta did get me thinking about exactly what changes I want to make to my blog and thinking through a rough plan for improvements, so I feel like I have achieved something. Now that I have a better idea of what I want to achieve, it should be easier to actually achieve it. Right?
So, the sun slowly sets on another excellent Bloggiesta, but the spirit of blog renovations and improvement will live on.
See you at the next Blog fiesta!
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Bloggiesta Update #1
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I’m feeling quite proud of my Bloggiesta achievements so far.
Mini-challenge at My Friend Amy – Blogging Goals
Earlier this month, I actually posted about my blogging goals for 2011, so I’ve got a head start on this challenge. I really liked Amy’s reminder about writing the kind of blog I like to read. I also like Amy’s timeline for her blogging goals, so I’ll do the same.
Main Goal #1: Write a blog I’d like to read – chatty, clever, amusing, interesting
Main Goal #2: Be more involved with the blogging community – visit blogs and leave comments.
By March: Chat with my new blogging and writing buddies (found after I posted my blogging goals in early January). Discuss ways we can support and encourage each other.
By April: Have a posting schedule in place including taking part in some regular blog memes.
Mini-challenge at Word Lily – 10 Things Bloggers Should Not Do!
My ratings for the 10 points (1 = bad, 5 = good)
- Don’t Expect Results Overnight – 5/5
- Don’t Ignore Your Readers – 3.5/5
- Don’t Scrape Other Blogger’s Content – 5/5
- Don’t Expect Success without Promoting – 4/5
- Don’t Copy Other Bloggers – 4/5
- Don’t Fail to Update Your Blog Regularly – 2/5
- Don’t Ignore SEO – 3/5
- Don’t Ignore Networking – 3/5
- Don’t Have an Unreadable Site – 4/5
- Don’t Throw Mud – 5/5
My total score is 38.5/50. I’ve probably been too positive with my marks, but I’ve started making improvements in a few areas already this year so I’m feeling generous.
I’ve been posting more regularly and I have been putting more effort into networking and connecting with the blogging and writing community via Facebook, Twitter, visiting blogs and participating in blogging networks like Aussie Mummy Bloggers and Blog This. I’ve got my ticket booked for the Aussie Bloggers Conference in Sydney in March as well and I’m looking forward to meeting many of the bloggers I regularly chat with online and finding ways of networking more effectively with them.
Mini-Challenge at Teach Mentor Texts – Using Mr Linky/Linky Tools
I’ve used Mr Linky and Linky Tools before so this challenge is another tick. I used Linky Tools earlier this month to create a place for other bloggers to link to the 2011 Reading Challenge update posts.
Updates from my Blogging To Do List
- Updated blog menu bar to include a drop down menu in some sections, a new TBR page and some new categories, which I am planning to post articles in soon.
- Posted a ‘Books I’ve Read in 2011’ list that I will update through the year so that I can see just how many books I manage to read this year.
That’s probably enough for this update. Time to get back to work!
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Bloggiesta – Let the Festivities Begin
1The 3-day blog makeover marathon that is Bloggiesta has begun. Hosted by Natasha at Maw Books, Bloggiesta is all about doing some blog housekeeping and minor renovations – an opportunity to cross some blog maintenance jobs off the to do list.
I’m not sure how much time I’ll have to devote to Bloggiesta over the next few days, but I do have several jobs I want to take care of here at Reading Upside Down, so I’m going to try to take this opportunity to Get Things Done. That’s right, I’ve pulled out the capitals again, so I’m obviously taking this seriously.
My Blogging To Do List
- Update my ‘About’ page
- Write and schedule 5 book reviews
- Write 5 draft posts
- Create TBR page
- Organise categories and tags
- Create a gravatar & favicon
- Write review policy
- Create Twitter and Facebook landing page
- Update Challenges lists
- Update old book reviews with new post format
- Make blog tech to do list for tech guru
- Create a blogging buddy plan
- Update GoodReads
- Update Book Collector database
- Organise Book Depository affiliate link
I’ll probably add a few more as I progress through the weekend. Hopefully I will be able to cross at least some of these off the list by the time Bloggiesta is over.
If you want to join in the Bloggiesta fun, it isn’t too late. Visit the Bloggiesta Start page at Maw Books to sign up. You can follow @Bloggiesta on twitter, or simply keep track of the #bloggiesta hashtag to follow the conversation.
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The Beauty of the Blogosphere
1The internet is riddled with creeps, perverts, stalkers and crazies, apparently. Venture online and you will regret it. Or so I’ve heard. I have many friends who regard Facebook with distrust and Twitter with disbelief. And blogs? What’s a blog and really, why would you bother?
What I have never been able to help them understand is that I’m not an isolated voice on the internet, speaking out into an empty, resounding void. Instead, I am a tiny part of a web of people, a network of women and men who share common interests or viewpoints, hobbies or philosophies that overlap with other networks to form a rich, vibrant community. A community that laughs out loud with staggering frequency, overuses emoticons and has an unhealthy obsession with kittehs it’s true, but also a community that offers amazing support and encouragement beyond what many would believe possible for a groups of ‘strangers’.
Tonight, via Twitter and blogs, the community is reaching out to enfold Lori (of Random Ramblings of a Stay-at-Home Mum) in their virtual arms. As Lori has faced a heart-rending tragedy over the past few days, Twitter has resounded with calls for prayer for her husband Tony and now, with his passing, for Lori and her children.
This love hasn’t been superficial virtual love, either. No flippant hashtag of #prayfortony and then no further thought. The blogging community that Lori is part of has reached out to ensure that she is constantly reminded that she is loved, cherished and supported. Most of us don’t know her, yet she has been in our thoughts and prayers for days. The blogging community at Aussie Mummy Bloggers made it possible for those that wished to support Lori financially to do so. Those living in the vicinity of Lori and her family offered to prepare meals and others started a candle group at gratefulness.org. Bloggers have rallied with words of support and comfort, reaching out to let Lori know that she isn’t alone.
This isn’t an isolated incident either. As many rant about the evils of the internet (yes, I’m not totally naive, I know that they exist), I find myself feeling humbled that I am part of a virtual network that is far more tangible and positive than many give it credit for.
Aussie Mummy Bloggers recently rallied to send gifts to refugee children held in detention centres as well as promoting the fundraising to support those affected by the devastating Queensland floods. On a more personal note, Jodie at Mummy Mayhem’s Bloggers Without Makeup idea had an unexpectedly profound impact, offering an opportunity for bloggers to reach out to each other with words of encouragement and affirmation. The Boombah Club offers daily encouragement and resources to those women trying to regain their health and fitness and simply looking for somewhere that they can be accountable and encouraged to pursue their health goals.
I could go on, because the list feels endless. Small comments and/or actions, random acts of kindness – I’ve experienced or witnessed these on a daily basis and I continue to marvel that I get to play my part in such a positive, vital, connected community. People I have jokingly referred to as e-friends in the past have become friends in truth. I have been blessed by numerous comments on Twitter and my blog and I look forward to continuing to play a part in this community that has such a heart for others.
Bless you, Lori, as you and your family face this difficult time. I can’t imagine what you are going through, but I hope you know that you don’t face it alone. This community you are part of is reaching out to you in your pain and confusion and offering you loving support. We can’t imagine your pain, but we hold you in our thoughts and prayers.
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Blogging Goals for 2011
1As part of my New Year, New Focus mantra, I want to fine tune some things here at Reading Upside Down. I want to be more motivated and productive in my writing efforts on several fronts this year, including here at my blog, but it is hard to be motivated when there is no clear plan in place.
Bree at The Blog Stylist is suggesting establishing blogging goals and finding a blogging buddy to share them with. Sounds good to me. Sounds suspiciously like a plan, actually, which is what I said I needed. Excellent.
Blogging Goal #1
I need to find a voice for this blog. It started out as a book blog, but that isn’t really my focus here anymore. I love including reviews of my favourite books, but I’m having much more fun with the general chatty posts than I expected and I want that to be the main focus of the blog now.
The trouble is, I have a bad case of blogger envy. What I really want is to write awesome posts like TheNDM, but can’t because, well, she’s doing that already. Imitation may be the highest form of flattery, but I’m not sure that applies in this case. Being NDM-ish is unfortunately not enough. *sigh* Back to the drawing board.
I’d love to write with the cheeky, witty, irreverent style of Bern at So Now What? or Cate from I’ll Think of a Title Later, but I’m afraid I’m too uptight to have that kind of relaxed fun. For example, if I’d written a summary post of my 2010 mishaps I would have called it 2010 Mishaps and Misadventures. Cate called hers 2010 Fuckups and What I Have Learned from Them. See what I mean?
There are so many other witty bloggers out there. I love Jenn Thorson’s clever use of words at Of Cabbages and Kings and Al Tait’s take on life at Life in a Pink Fibro. I could go on (and on and on). So many great bloggers out there. I want to be one of those clever, amusing people.
There. It’s taken four paragraphs to get to the point. I want to be clever and amusing. Perhaps what I really need is a blogging buddy who is a ruthless editor.
Blogging Goal #2
Regular blog posts. Not three days of frenzied activity then two weeks of silence. I need a writing routine.
Blogging Goal #3
I need to visit more blogs and actually comment.
Blogging Goal #4
Find a Blogging Buddy. Anyone interested? Anyone? Anyone?
That’s probably enough introspection and planning for one post. That whole ‘clever and amusing’ thing obviously isn’t working for me at the moment, so I should call it a day.
Do you have a blogging or writing buddy? How did you find each other and how do you help each other to achieve your goals? Looking for a blogging buddy? Comment here or go to The Blog Stylist and read Bree’s post about blogging buddies. There are heaps of great bloggers over there looking to team up with someone to help them achieve their blogging goals in 2011.
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Christmas Break
1I will be closed for Blog Renovations for the next few days, planning a triumphant and totally amazing return just after Christmas.
There are exciting plans in the pipeline for 2011 including a new website project in partnership with Meredith from Oh, The Thinks you Can Think, a revamped Reading Upside Down blog and a big start to the year with Meredith and I committed to a poetry war over at Kat Apel’s Month of Poetry challenge.
I’d like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas break and pray that you will enjoy all the blessings of the season. To get you in the mood, I leave you with the Silent Monks performance of the Hallelujah Chorus. Enjoy.
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I Haven’t Blogged Much Lately Because…
1I have a whole list of excuses reasons to offer for my frequent blogging absences over the past few months. Really good and important reasons. The kind of reasons that would make you say “Well, of course, that makes sense.” Reasons like this:
As everyone else starts to wind down for the year, I’m finally coming out of the fog that has filled my head for the past few months and I’m all fired up to get myself organised and into a better writing routine. Typical. I’ve always had a terrible sense of timing.
I’m planning to revamp this blog over the next couple of weeks and change the focus slightly. There are exciting new developments on the horizon and I’m aiming to have all my writing projects in good working order by the time the Aussie Bloggers Conference comes around next March so that I can network like crazy.
So, with that said, I’m off to get some work done and I’ll be back soon. Promise.
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Book Review: The Greatest Blogger in the World by Andrew McDonald
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Summary (from Hardie Grant Egmont website)
Charlie Ridge has one small goal in life – to be the Greatest Blogger in the World. The internet has been in a frenzy since a competition began to win the website address www.thegreatestbloggerintheworld.com, and Charlie is making sure he’s the number one contender. Charlie has plenty to blog about – his best mate Phattius Beats, who runs an illegal red-cordial business at school; his little brother, who insists on wearing a tuxedo to kinder; and his number one crush, who is the teacher’s pet and always wears knee-high boots. Oh, and his pet duck, Barcode.
Then some really blog-worthy things happen. When the school mascot is stolen and a multinational corporation tries to take over the school formal, Charlie has his chance to Be the Hero, Get the Girl and Save the Day. That’s got to give him a leg up on the quest to be the Greatest Blogger in the World, right?
Comments
How could any modern kid resist a novel with a central character like Charlie Ridge and a support cast like his family and friends? Andrew McDonald had my attention from the earliest pages with the tux wearing brother and the duck named Barcode.
This is a great book for confident primary-school aged readers, covering the kinds of topics that are very much part of their world – the influence of the internet and advertising, friendships, fitting in at school, feeling misunderstood or overlooked and odd parental behaviour.
Anyone who has seen McDonald’s very amusing pictorial guide to avoiding camera loss or his more recently post on the development of ‘ebrooks’ will not be surprised to discover that the pages of The Greatest Blogger in the World are also brimming with offbeat humour. With clever and witty dialogue and situations, readers will enjoy laughing at and with many of the books characters.
For those parents concerned about such things, there is some disrespect shown by the children towards their teachers and parents. In addition, Charlie’s parents hardly reflect well on busy working mothers or stay-at-home fathers, however the whole book with written with a such an active sense of humour and almost cartoonish caricature of these characters that it is difficult to take them seriously or take offence.
I really enjoyed this book, particularly as it managed to be appropriately funny and engaging for its target audience while still offering a little food for thought for those readers interested in taking something more meaningful away from the story.
Review copy details
Title: The Greatest Blogger in the World
Author: Andrew McDonald
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-92150-223-1, 261 pages)
Suitable age: 9+ years
Genre: Children’s general fiction/novels
Recently I have read a few articles/blog posts that have raised the issue of negative comments about individuals. You might want to check them out, then head back here to read the rest of what will surely be a fascinating and remarkably insightful commentary about the issues these posts raise:
Okay. I’ll assume that you’ve checked out at least some of the above links.
Obviously the commenters referred to in each case are discussing different issues, but it comes down to a common point. Why would any person feel that it is reasonable to personally and venomously attack someone who is for all intents and purposes a complete stranger?
Want to discuss why one of the other finalists was more deserving that Jessica Watson of receiving the YAOTY award? Fine. I’d love to hear what you have to say. Feel like launching an verbal attack on a teenage girl? Don’t bother.
How about discussing how single mother Sandra Reynolds turned a chance comment on Facebook into a (free) blog offering recipes and grocery budgeting advice to anyone who is interested? Or perhaps you’d like to debate the pros and cons of social networking and blogs for disseminating information? I’m all for that. Want to attack the parenting ability and general character of someone that you’ve never met? Sorry. I’m not interested.
Dislike the subjects that a particularly blogger writes about? Don’t read their blog. There. That was easy, wasn’t it?
I recently wrote about how amazingly supportive the blogosphere can be. I love Twitter and I enjoy reading a variety of blogs written by a diverse group of people offering a range of viewpoints. I confess I simply don’t understand why anyone would feel the need to launch a vicious personal attack on a complete stranger. To me, it’s one of the beauties of the internet – if you don’t like something, you just close that browser window and it is gone. Voila! Just like magic.
I’m not saying that you have to agree with everyone or ignore any issues that you disagree with. By all means offer an opinion and question the opinions of others. I love a good debate and I’m all for questioning the status quo. Just don’t make it personal.
I liked the quote that Cate Pearce referred to and I have used my mad googling skillz to track it down. I think it’s a nice reminder that while our opinions are important, they are intrinsically subjective. We need to remember that if we want our opinions valued and respected, we need to show some respect to the views and opinions of others as well.