May 23, 2016 / Community Pool

Community Pool

The place for feedback, advice, and blogging camaraderie.

Have you just published a new post and are dying for some feedback? Are you redesigning your blog and could use some layout or design advice from your more seasoned peers?

The Community Pool is for peer feedback and advice. Looking for more specific information? Check out some of these resources:

Tap into the wisdom of The Daily Post blogging community and leave your question here in the comments. Others can then click through and offer input either on your site, or in the comments here (feel free to indicate which you’d prefer).

Looking for free, self-guided courses to help you get started with your blog (or revive a dormant one)? Check out our current offerings at Blogging U.

To help us make the Community Pool a productive space for discussion, here are some tips you might find useful:

  • While you’re not required to, we encourage everyone who requests feedback to also reply to at least one or two other bloggers who need some help. Spread the love!
  • The Community Pool comments section can get quite big — and starting duplicate threads doesn’t help. Thanks for not posting the same question more than once!
  • If you’re looking for quality feedback, be as specific as you can. Questions about a particular post tend to draw more comments than ones about entire blogs. Questions about specific design elements are more likely to be answered than ones asking for general layout advice.
  • We discourage leaving links without a more substantive message or question. These are often overlooked by other bloggers, and we frequently remove them to make the comment reading experience smoother.
  • Please keep all comments civil and constructive. The idea is to have fun — it’s a pool, after all!
  • 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.
  • If you haven’t looked at our Commenting Guidelines in a while, now might be a good time.
  • No running on the deck.

Are you a new blogger looking to share your very first post? We have a special forum for bloggers just like you in our weekly First Friday posts.

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      1. Thanks! Your blog is lovely! I specially love the balloons in the background 😀
        About arranging the reviews in alphabetical order, it might work differently for you because we have different themes, but if you create a new page and add photos of the books you have reviewed, then just link each photo back to its review post.. That’s what I did anyway. Hope that helps. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Often it is the mommy blogs that share this (which is always wonderful), but it is very refreshing to read this post from an upcoming dad. Very well written and congratulations!

      Liked by 3 people

  3. Have you had a Manic Monday?

    Most of us don’t like Monday’s because it’s so far away from the weekend. We get through it because we know it’s only two days to Wednesday which is like the brow of the hill. It’s all downhill from there, and we get to the weekend seemingly much quicker.

    I for one, quite like Monday’s because it’s my day to write an observational post. I enjoy writing these as it’s an opportunity to request help from the great Blogging MeetupWordpress community.

    So, if you want something to make your Monday a little more tolerable; and you fancy helping a writer out then take a look at my latest post “Should I Stick or Twist?”

    I would really appreciate your feedback.

    Have a good one!

    Liked by 7 people

    1. I don’t think you should worry too much about word count unless you feel rambley. I know my word count is usually 1000+ rarely is it less. Just read it out loud and see if it sounds too long. Cool story though.

      Like

    2. I really liked your site and what you had to say! If you want to attract conservative viewers just eliminate the few curses you used. I have found that it doesn’t damage the writing style at all but opens doors for more viewers. Just a suggestion, awesome page:)

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Ever looked at a photo and thought about a song that goes along with it? My blog pairs the music that I love with my own photography, so I’d love for you to have a look and see what you think. My latest is one of my Photo Shuffle series-I set my Ipod to shuffle, and whatever song comes up, is what I have to write about, which keeps it fun and challenging for me. Have a look right here

    Photo Shuffle-I’m Gonna Fly Someday

    Liked by 6 people

    1. I love this concept and definitely have images and lyrics intertwined for so much of my life. I will take a look and leave a comment.

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Loved this post…exactly what we are doing up here in Canada, planting our gardens. And what I should be doing now. But am enjoying all these new blogs too much…haha! 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    1. it started out great..but you lost me with the scatalogical language. When I read a book review, or a movie review……actually any kind of review I expect a discussion of the merits and the problems with the book. throwing in curse words simply does not add up to a rational discussion that I wish to read. Not my cup of tea, so to speak. I can see where perhaps a younger person than I wouldn’t mind it. I just think it completely detracts from your writing.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thankyou for the advice, I don’t really think they make that much of a difference, but I agree they don’t add much. I will think about changing this in future reviews.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Hi there, I’m a big fan of book reviews (well books in general really), so I really like your idea of having a blog exclusively about book reviews. The only two things I would change if I were you would be:

      1) Getting some widgets on the side of your posts to make your blog a bit more interactive. People usually like interacting with the author of the posts… for some reason. Haha.
      2) And maybe trying to keep your posts a bit shorter. Shorter posts seem to be more popular in the blogosphere.

      Hope I’ve helped 🙂

      Like

    3. I don’t think the profanity is necessarily a problem. It appeals to a niche audience and as a blogger, niche audiences are exactly what we need to tap into. IMO, swearing doesn’t take away from an argument unless it’s very excessive–which yours wasn’t. Different people, different strides. I think you’ve got a good start (and a solid analysis) and I agree with the commenter below that sprucing up your blog with some widgets might be a good idea.

      Like

      1. Thank you, I didn’t think it took away from my argument either. Don’t really know how to use widgets but as soon as I discover I will do so (I am very new to this)

        Like

      2. If you go to My Sites, you should see a button that says Customize right next to Themes. If your theme allows it, you can add/edit your widgets from there.

        Like

    4. Hey there.
      You’ve got a great start and I have just a few suggestions to help make your blog even better. Firstly, the background is a little busy and it makes your title/tagline hard to read. I’d suggest changing it to a solid color, or a bigger image so it won’t repeat as much. I’d try updating the About page. Adding some categories to your posts (like “life” or “fandom” and such) will help readers find exactly what they’re looking for. Finally, I suggest taking the Google map off your website, if that does happen to be you real home address and phone number. It is not usually safe for teens to have that kind of information up on their blogs.
      Best of luck to you!

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Haha, I like your post but I’ve always been tentative to start freelancing because of all the “boring-as-snot product descriptions” that would inevitably be part of my day. Lots of good advice for anyone seriously thinking about it though. Thanks.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. It can be a boring start. Product descriptions are how I started my freelance writing career, but once I got going I got to write some pretty interesting articles. Having a niche that specializes in a particular area or subject really helps. It narrows down the type of clients who’ll ask for your work. If ever you decide to give freelancing a go, I’d be happy to help you along the way!

        Liked by 2 people

    4. These are just the kinds of posts I like to read. Good information communicated concisely and with humor.

      Liked by 1 person

    5. I read your post, although I am not a freelance writer at the moment it is my aspiration for the future. Your post was very helpful and will definitely be looking at other posts of yours. 🙂

      Like

    1. I love the way your site is set up. Also, just from reading over a few of your posts I can already feel the in-depth analysis included in your writing. I’m looking forward to reading more! 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Your posts are very sincere and beautifully written from the heart. I can see your heart in your blogging, and that you would want to make it your life.
      It definitely can be used as a platform to encourage, help and inspire others. Who knows where this might take you. Keep up the GREAT work! 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  18. Hello, everyone!

    I’m an author who is working on writing a Science Fiction novel while also creating other works on the side. If you enjoyed books such as “Divergent”, “The Hunger Games”, or “The 5th Wave” then you may find my novel interesting as well! I also write some poetry and short stories. I’d appreciate it immensely if you’d take a look!

    Thanks!

    Liked by 5 people

  19. I’m new so new very new!!
    I’m not looking to get like for likes or a hundred followers!! But I want to connect to people with my struggles!! Recovering alcoholic and drug addict on suboxene! Just throwing all my secrets out cause I’d like to find others! I see so many alcohol pages and while I have fought that demon down, pills are my true battle! HOW do I search/find/connect with people like me?
    I’m trying to find true life examples of what it’s like coming off this medicine!
    And howdy y’all, hope I don’t sound rude! Would love to talk to any and everyone!! But….help!

    Liked by 6 people

    1. I’m glad you’re taking the steps to recover from your addictions! Blogging is a great way to conquer these addictions because other bloggers can lend their support. Best of luck to you! 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  21. I had three posts last week and none since cause my baby was born, but if you want to read about a spiritual/out-of-body experience that happened to me in China: https://gospelisosceles.wordpress.com/2016/05/15/a-conversion/

    Or, being delivered from the power of lust to transformative, brotherly love: https://gospelisosceles.wordpress.com/2016/05/18/deliverance/

    And this one is a hip-hop style flow poem about oppression and grace, in English and Spanish: https://gospelisosceles.wordpress.com/2016/05/12/sourceel-origen/

    Thanks!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. When I clicked your link I sat there for a while waiting for the screen to load and then realized it was loaded but your header is black and fills the screen making it appear like it is loading. You may want to change it to a picture so others do not make the mistake that I did:) Good luck!

      Liked by 2 people

    1. I’m glad I found a blog that focuses on writing about emotions. My emotional stability is one of my main sources for my writing as well. I’m excited to see things from your perspective. 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I am so excited to read your feedback on my blog… believe me, it inspires me to throw light more emotions and come up with great pieces of art… with a big smile from mySestina… thank you Logan S.

        Liked by 2 people

    2. I think you have a way of explaining potentially complicated subject matter in a very clear manner. I learned much of what you’re writing about in the past, but I feel like I’ve forgotten much of it having not used it, so your blog provides a nice refresher. I definitely look forward to your future posts. And I love science puns!

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Hey,
    I just did a post with 5 top reasons you should read more.
    It’s pretty beneficial as it gives you mental/social reasons you should read. Hope you endjoy and would love feedback!

    Liked by 7 people