Jan 12, 2014 / Community Pool

Community Pool

Community Pool

The Community Pool is for those of you looking for input, whether on post ideas, writing, blog design and layout, or anything else. If you have a post, page, or idea you want to bounce off someone, leave a comment. Your fellow bloggers can then click through and offer input either on your site, or in the comments here (feel free to indicate which you’d prefer).

Read on for the ground rules and to leave a comment. Zero to Hero folks, head to today’s forum thread to chat about the assignment, but feel free to seek other feedback here!

  • You’ll get the best feedback if you can be as specific as possible about what you’d like people to respond to or where you’re struggling.
  • Please keep all comments civil and constructive. We’re here to help and support one another, not to beat anyone down.
  • If you haven’t looked at our Commenting Guidelines in a while, now might be a good time.
  • To keep from losing your place in the comment thread while you visit others’ blogs, right-click on a link to open it in a new tab or window.
  • No running on the deck.

Photo by t_a_i_s.

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    1. I happened to comment right after you and it turns out we are both students in Nashville! I really like your blog (and I also watched way too many episodes of Modern Family over break).

      It’s hard to make suggestions for your about me since I don’t know all that much about you, but I like the one you have at the moment. If you wanted, you could add a sentence or two describing what you tend to write about, or a picture of yourself/something you like that describes you.

      Glad I stumbled upon your blog! 🙂

      Like

  9. I just started my blog and would really appreciate any feedback on my content! I’ve been trying to write about whatever strikes my fancy, but I’m nervous that my blog is too word-y (I’m working on adding photos to my posts!) and boring to read.

    http://oliviare.wordpress.com

    (Thanks to anyone who views it, I really appreciate the feedback!)

    Like

    1. Hi Oliviare. Loved your writing. I myself think about my blog being too wordy. What you can do is try posting images in between the writing. For example you wrote a post on music albums and songs. In that you could have posted some cool cover arts in between easily available on the internet. (Just a thought, since I’m also new to the world of blogging.)
      Your blog is definitely not boring!
      – Your new follower. 🙂
      P.S. You can check mine out at http://techpersonified.wordpress.com

      Like

  10. Happy new year everyone!!! I have been writing my blog since September so still count myself as a beginner. For anyone who has the time to take a look at my blog. All feedback is welcome both positive and constructive criticism…

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  11. Traffic has been satisfactory on http://rjaysmilez.wordpress.com but I’m concerned people may find the layout confusing or simply too much. Feedback on the content will also be appreciated. I try to post only my best work but the scope I tend to focus on (poems,art,introspective writing) strikes me as narrow. Any thoughts?

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      1. Thanks. I like your work as well. The minimalist feel of your blog along with the wording of the poems is very simplistic and inviting. Glad to have found it.

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      3. I suppose it is advantageous that visual and literary art go hand in hand so well. Where I lack the capacity for expression in one, I compensate with the other. Drawing for me is a means by which I let myself be interpreted while writing is my vocal platform. You do well in your written word. Looking forward to more.

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    1. Include information about the program you went in to, what motived you to go into that program instead of another; how useful (or useless) the advice you were given was in regards to choosing a program/school/life-path.

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  15. Can someone please give me feed back on my blog? Just general writing tips and whether you enjoyed anything specific. My most recent posts are on new years resolutions and technology.

    http://improvingslowly.wordpress.com/2013/12/24/stop-doing-so-much/

    http://improvingslowly.wordpress.com/2013/12/27/dont-depend-on-technology-for-better-discipline/

    http://improvingslowly.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/failing-resolutions/

    Any feedback is helpful 🙂

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  16. Hi everyone! I recently started blogging on relationships, life, mortality and general human psychology, mixing it up with occasional photographs and quotes. I would love to get more feedback and probably tips on how to maintain a steady readership, as I don’t post everyday. You can check out my blog at http://techpersonified.wordpress.com

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  17. Hello everyone! I have been blogging for just under two weeks now! I have been wondering about two things: 1) about my blog theme, whether it’s too dull, whether I should put more pictures in, etc., and 2) about the ‘Related Content’ and the automatic tagging gadgets – they’ve both disappeared and I can’t find help on the official WordPress site! Any help/opinions on these two things would be greatly appreciated! Thanks 😀

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    1. Hi there! At first glance I really like your photos, especially the window, fire, and the bluest sky post. I just wish some of your other pictures were a bit more vibrant and had more contrast in the colors. I think it would pull my eye to them more. I’m just one person though and I think you have a great eye for photography!

      Like

      1. Thanks for the feedback! 🙂 I agree! But at this time of year It seems to be a tad harder to find the vibrant colours that are usually all around. If you go further down my Blog there are quite a few colourful posts, especially from the autumn season! I will try to improve on that a bit! Thanks again for the feedback! Appreciated 😀

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  22. I just started a Blog where I challenged myself to run $300 into $10k by playing poker. Im creating videos of myself playing where I teach people to play along the way through the different stakes. Im having a lot of fun creating content for my blog. Let me know if you like my Idea!

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    1. This resonates pretty hard with me. I’m 25 now and I still have no idea what I want to do with my life, so I’m just constantly trying to do the next right thing, whatever that is at the time. Your twenties are for trying new and different things; don’t get sucked down into one, stagnant activity that you do over and over again. Try new stuff. Find out what your good at.

      Like

  27. I have created a memorial blog of my father’s writing and photography. I only have a couple of posts so far and the “about” page. Eventually I want to have a gallery of his photos and a variety of his writing, which will be primarily essays and short stories. Obviously family/friends will enjoy this, but what draws other readers/followers to a blog like this? Should I post the About page as the first page, or Home? What other questions do I need to be asking? http://byldrose.wordpress.com
    Thanks!

    Like

    1. Dear LROSE,

      I had a look at your site and think this venture of yours is a lovely memorial. I came up with the following suggestions:
      1. Use a Drop Cap to start the opening word of your Dad’s actual written pieces. This will help differentiate it more clearly from your introductions (Editor’s Note) that start each piece.

      2. Format the rejection letters that you include using blockquotes or a similar indentation. This will help differentiate them from your Editor’s Notes: they are an interesting element for the reader – particularly as your father kept them all and could lead to interesting discussion with readers e.g. whether they agreed with the publishers’ perceptions or not.

      3. Consider submitting the fiction and photos to the Weekly Writing and Weekly Photo Challenges to reach a broader readership. They are themed and if you can find a few stories and or/photos suitable for the odd theme, it could be a fairly painless way to introduce your father’s work to others not known to you.

      4. Did your father ever write an introduction about himself or about why he was moved to write? If so, you could make a second About page in which his perception of himself and his writing is stated in his own words.

      5. Consider increasing the size of the text on your site. The current size is rather small and can be hard to read.

      I hope this is useful.

      Yours sincerely,

      might war

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      1. Very helpful and very specific! I wish he did leave a journal, but I do have a couple of memories of his comments about his love of writing. I will ask friends and family as well for their recollections. It’s a good idea.

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      2. Hopefully I was not too specific as to be off-putting. Your introductions and your father’s writing speak for themselves. But the way that you present/format the text can go a long way in drawing people to read the post in full. And ease/clarity of structure allows the reader to concentrate more fully on the content itself.

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      3. Not at all off-putting! I was being complimentary and am going to apply some of your suggestions. Thanks again.

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  28. Hey all of you in the “Community Pool”. I have attempted to blog for over a year now, and now, I”m totally committed. Please take a look at my posts thus far (I have 4, working on more) and let me know what you think, advise me of what I lack and what I can do to make the posts better. I really appreciate any and all insight. Have a fabulous day!
    -Angela

    Like

  30. Hello everyone,

    Having completed my first full year in blogging, I decided to post a ‘best of’ to celebrate and to draw attention to posts I’m particularly proud of. I was also hoping that this could then be used as a reference point by those unfamiliar with the blog.

    I would like your comments on the following, please:
    1. Does the current structure work?
    2. Which works better: a description of the post or having a short extract?
    3. Is the post interesting enough?
    4. Any other comments/advice/suggestions you may have would be welcome.

    The post is available here: http://mightwar.com/2014/01/08/best-of-mightwar-2013/

    Many thanks in advance for your assistance,

    might war

    Like