Jul 3, 2017 / Community Pool

Community Pool

Where bloggers come together to give each other feedback and advice.

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 and guidelines 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, as well as for not starting numerous threads in a single Pool.
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  • Please keep all comments civil and constructive. The idea is to have fun — it’s a pool, after all!
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  • If you haven’t looked at our Commenting Guidelines in a while, now might be a good time.
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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. Yeah… I’m experimenting with scheduling taking over motivation. May write more about it when I have time… for now as long as I’m producing every week – I’m happy. I’ve clicked on your profile to go to your blog but it seems it’s still in construction – when you are open please let me know so I can come over and take a look at your posts!

        Liked by 4 people

      2. Ah yes. Thanks to a very impulsive decision to switch hosts late last night I now can’t access my blog. Thanks for reminding me to contact support! 🙄 🙈

        Liked by 4 people

    3. Wow you pretty much sum my life right now…. I never saw it that way. I’m trying to make excuses as to why I can’t commit to things anymore due to the negative back lash I had received. Thank you for opening my eyes. I enjoyed reading your post 😉

      Liked by 5 people

      1. One of the things that helped me the most is recognizing what people are ACTUALLY angry about. Like, in 90% of cases when someone is angry or arguing with you… he won’t argue about what’s truly bothering him. But rather he will wrap it in something nicer… like something trivial that’s easier to argue about / more socially respectable / whatever.

        So, if you are in tough spot because of other people – see if you can get them to say what they are aiming for. If you can help them to get to that goal – great. If not – great again… see how you can get to your own goal without them.

        In any case – good luck… you are one of the people I love to interact here – mom of 6 = hero ;).

        Liked by 4 people

      2. Awww you are so sweet. In my situation it’s more like I have to swallow my “wants” so everything can be happy. But there are times that I can’t anymore so I’m the angry with everyone. I have good days and bad days. I’m the problem here, I can’t be honest with my myself because I need to sacrifice my needs to make others happy.

        Liked by 4 people

      3. I’m really interested in dynamics of marriage. I was actually thinking about creating post and linking to what you wrote… analyze it from perspective of what I would do as husband in similar situation.

        My take is that future is all that matters. Sure, past defines who you are. You must have emotions toward past experiences (I mean, we all wear scars). But you can always work toward being who you want to be.

        Relationships are always about being more than sum of parts. Meaning – I cherish moments when I can do something that my significant other wants… and my personal preference on it doesn’t really matter. If I feel like I can’t do anything my spouse asks of me – don’t want / don’t have energy – it means something is very wrong.

        Liked by 3 people

      4. I like your view on things. Future is all that matters. I feel trapped in my emotions right now. I’ve gone through a lot and I can’t seem to shake it off. I know something is wrong but it won’t change my situation. I have to pretend that I’m happy until I’m ready to face the unknown. I tell myself that this is a phase and I will get through it. Everyone says that a marriage has its ups and downs but they never say how long those downs can go.

        Liked by 4 people

    7. I know exactly how you feel! Good job! I just started my posts too but this is my 3rd or 4th day doing it. Keep going!

      Liked by 5 people

    8. Well I have totally failed at keeping up this week with 4th of July, but it looks like you are doing terrific keeping with your schedule. Hopefully next week I will do better. Loved the post. Too often I get taken away from my work from external distractions and it takes me forever to get back where i needed to be 🙂

      Liked by 7 people

      1. Yeah – staying on threadmill of life. I’m exactly there… need to work on something else, yet here I am, responding on WordPress comments. Getting back to what’s planned right now 😉 Hope to see you next week with new post!

        Liked by 2 people

    10. A schedule is hard to stick to so well done! Plus I really like your style of writing- keep it up!
      Love Soph xxx

      Liked by 2 people

    3. I always struggle with writing spoiler-free reviews… guess I should learn from you. What you wrote in your review reminds me 1984… I had tough time reading through that book. But then again – your post intrigued me… guess I’ll look into getting audiobook at least. Keep up with your great posts!

      Liked by 5 people

      1. I wouldn’t know, I haven’t read 1984 yet. But here’s what E.L. Doctorow had to say on the subject: “This visionary novel . . . can be read as a companion volume to 1984 – it’s verso in fact. . . . It evokes the same kind of horror even as it’s mordant wit makes you smile.”
        Thank you!

        Liked by 2 people

      2. I also have a hard time writing spoiler free reviews and I often don’t bother trying. Sometimes I warn ahead of time that there will be spoilers but not always. I’m sure I’ve pissed a lot of people off.

        Liked by 3 people

    1. Looking at the picture, it looks just like the Tarka Dhaal I often used to buy from Indian restaurants here in England. It’s one of my favourites and sounds so easy to make too. My mouth is watering at the thought so will definitely give it a go!

      Liked by 8 people

      2. Oh wow! Great! 😀
        I am glad that you have tried the dal before, and yes it is very easy to make, do try and let me know how was it?

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I’ll leave Saturday’s post here too, since community pool was closed for comments this weekend.

      This one is about hitting the half-way point of 2017 and it being a good time to take stock of your resolutions or to make new ones.

      I started my blog in May after getting a new kidney from my little sister. I’m determined not to waste my second chance at life so I’m blogging about my journey to be happier, healthier and more productive.

      https://myinstructionmanual.com/2017/07/01/its-july-1-time-to-set-some-resolutions/

      Liked by 5 people

    2. I have about 25 boxes of papers in my garage, mostly old utility bills, bank statements, notes on this and that and (mainly) unimportant letters, all from the last thirty years. Probably 90% (at least) is junk (I’ve a filing cabinet for important stuff). Any ideas about sorting through that lot, and also how to dispose of it, a lot of it is sensitive financial statements, too many to shred but I’m loathe to just bag them. Any ideas?!

      Liked by 5 people

      1. Get quality shredder – those can shred like 30 pages at once. I went through a box of papers in like 5 minutes. Although in your case with 25 boxes you would need break here and there for shredder to cool down… but still it could only be 3 hour job.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Well, there are thousands and thousands of sheets but that is good advice. I’d never thought of that and I guess I could probably hire an ‘industrial strength’ one too.

        I’d be amazed if it only took 3 hours 🙂 but even if it took 3 hours a day for a week I’d be happy. Thank you!

        Liked by 3 people

      3. There are also commercial shredding services. They will come to your house, pick up your papers and shred them. I’m not sure how expensive they are but it might be worth it for you. How To Addict is right as well; shredding can go fast with a $100 shredder. But if youre doing thousands of pages they do create dust. Both options are good – just make sure you don’t put financial Information in garbage / recycling without shredding. Good luck!

        Liked by 3 people

      4. Hi Keith, thanks for your reply. I wouldn’t want to give my papers over to a third party as they are personal. Also, as I mentioned, I need to sort through them as I go along as there are some papers/letters of interest mixed in with the rubbish.

        I think the heavy-duty shredder sounds the best option and it’ll be in an open garage so maybe that’ll help with the dust aspect. It occurs to me that the noise might disturb neighbours (although I have very few) but it’ll be an ongoing job in any case. There’s no rush but it’s something that can’t be ignored forever!

        Liked by 1 person

      1. I love your blog (and this story)! I’m just starting out(ish) and am hoping to have my blog be something like yours, filled with my creative writings and eventually links to published works. Truly an inspiration! 🙂

        Liked by 4 people

      2. Hello Claire, thanks so much for your kind comments. I started my blog less than a year ago, although I had some writings from the previous nine months which I uploaded. In fact I found that people generally didn’t look at them anyway, just the new posts.

        I aim to post every five days (and have done so far in 2017) and that helps sustain a writing routine, even if time is limited. I also aimed to improve the look/usabiltiy of my blog by tinkering with it most days for quite a while.

        I’m posting an article on self-publishing on the 8th July, which details how I produced the paperbacks/eBooks detailed in my ‘Shop,’ so you might find that of interest. I will check your blog out shortly and wish you every success with it!

        Liked by 4 people

    2. Hello!!! What an excellent little story you’ve got going on here!! I laughed the whole way through. Not sure if I could tell you if I enjoyed the Oxford professors or the guest speaker the best…probably Jackson the best, but it’s a close toss up. Thank you SO much for sharing! Your writing style is engaging and precise while your tone is approachable and humorous. I wish you all the best. Cheers! 💫

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Hi, thanks so much for your feedback and it’s great that you share my sense of humour! Yes, I could picture the scene and hear the dialogue pretty well in my imagination, Jackson and Rudyard, the protagonists, with Charles as the peacemaker!

        Liked by 3 people

  6. Hello,
    I started my blog just over a month ago because I got scared of the fact everyone’s going to uni and starting their lives whilst i’m here on a gap year not knowing what I want to do. I thought I love to write and read so why not start a blog and so I got the courage too. I don’t know where this will go but i’m writing about travel, health and food so if you’re willing to give it a read.
    I’d love to hear what people think. Hope you’re having a wonderful day.
    https://strawberrytravelsblog.wordpress.com

    Liked by 19 people

    6. Well applauses to you, I’m definitely following your blog.
      Even though you’re new, your posts seem well written and your posts are simply so entertaining!
      I love your writing, happy blogging!!

      Liked by 3 people

  7. Hi there! I’m MoMo, and my blog is full of musings on literature and writing, with some theology, art, and other fun stuff thrown in. This post is my response to schools that consider replacing fiction with non-fiction in their English classrooms.
    https://remnantsofwit.wordpress.com/2017/06/29/why-schools-cant-afford-to-replace-fiction-with-non-fiction/
    If you have a moment, I’d love some feedback on the strength of my arguments and the clarity of my writing, as well as your overall impression of the post. I also love discovering new blogs about literature and writing, so if you have a post you’d think I’d enjoy, link me to it here! Thanks and have a great Monday.

    Liked by 19 people

    1. I really enjoyed your post. In our push to make everything more academic we need to remember that many of the greatest people of history learned through the classic authors. Fiction often teaches critical and outside of the box thinking that doesn’t show up in Non-Fiction works.
      Good post 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

  10. Hi there!

    I just celebrated one year since I released my debut novel, Lords Over Kenia: The Prophecy of the Moon Chief’. In my latest post, I write about some of the struggles and triumphs I went through.

    You can find it here–> http://wasongamatinde.com/happy-birthday/

    As always, you’re all welcome to read, comment, critique and/or share the piece.

    Asanteni!

    Liked by 15 people

    1. I’m glad I found your blog. I don’t have tourettes but I’m on the autism spectrum and have stereotyped tic like movements that are often mistaken for Tourettes so in some respects I can relate. I haven’t been able to find much information about adults with Tourettes so good for you for spreading awareness and being an example of an adult with tourettes leading a successful, fulfilling life.

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Thank you. I just read your fidget spinning essay. It’s interesting how much affinity I feel for those with Autism. To the best of my knowledge, I’m not on the Autism Spectrum, but of all the blogs I read, the ones about autism are the ones that hit home. I’m returning the follow. Happy writing.

        Liked by 3 people

  12. Hey everybody! Here is this week’s #MondayMotivation where I talk about Hate and how it can affect our lives.
    https://aestheticgraphy.wordpress.com/2017/07/03/hate/

    My blog content is very diverse and doesn’t really fit into a particular criteria like “writing” or “photography”. Its an all in one blog, including haiku’s/weekly motivation/quotes/travel/photography and basically my life on a blog. I hope you enjoy reading!

    Do leave links to your blog as I’d like to check it out!

    Have a great week ahead.
    Riya

    Liked by 17 people

    2. I liked that your post was short and succinct. Often times we get into the habit of rambling and readers lose interest. I also liked that you shared something that you feel you have conquered. I’d be interested to read about something that you might be struggling with, too. Encourage some dialogue around a topic that you might not know the answer to yet.

      Here’s a link to my latest post. I’d appreciate your feedback.
      https://amoralandreligiouspeople.wordpress.com/2017/07/03/finding-true-freedom/

      Liked by 6 people

      1. Hello Riya, you’re right. When you are hating you are not happy and when you are not happy it’s hard to be positive and to do whatever you want or need to do. Right now (without going into details) I’m in a position where I could be consumed by hatred (rightfully in my view ;-)) but I get through it by distancing myself from the people involved as far as possible and doing the things I love: playing music, writing, blogging, going for walks in nature, meeting friends etc.

        In the past I’ve focused on the feeling of hatred inside, and it becomes a vicious cycle. It’s so important not to get caught up in that; it’s bad for your body and it’s bad for your mind/soul. Deep breathing and/or meditation, or listening to meditation/hypnosis audio also helps me to break out of the cycle, long enough to turn my attention to the positive things in my life.

        Thanks for your article, and the chance to give my thoughts on it.

        Liked by 1 person

  14. My blog recently hit a major milestone: it’s one year old! It’s exciting because it’s a chance for me to share all my favorite stories from my first year of blogging, but reflecting on that year also turned out to be an incredibly introspective opportunity.

    👉 https://antipodalpull.com/2017/06/20/one-year-blogiversary/

    My first year was complete emotional tumult, but I’m better for it. I’d love if you’d check out my journey, and I’m happy to return the favor. Thank you 💙

    Liked by 19 people

    2. Congratulations and Happy One Year Blogiversary!!!!! 🎉💫😃 That’s a fantastic milestone and I hope it’s been a blast for you; but more than that, I sincerely hope it continues to go that way for you! You have a personable voice in your writing and it makes it easier for your audience to connect. Thanks for sharing. Cheers! 💫

      Liked by 3 people

    3. Loved the post! It was really interesting to hear about your blogging journey as I’m still only on the first month of mine. Wish you great things in the future pursuing your creative writing dream 💛

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Ohh the dreaded editing. I have that problem where I really don’t edit and then I read the published post and think, “Good thing I don’t have too many followers to see that!”

        Thanks for reading! 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

  18. This is my latest post about accepting and loving other people’s individuality and our own.I’d be happy to receive any feedback/opinions on it 🙂https://unedited365.wordpress.com/2017/07/03/embrace-the-otherness/

    Liked by 8 people

  20. Good to share ideas with people who have the same interest..writing😉😉…Hi everyone, I’ll sharing a post I feel is very relatable. It’s the half of 2017 and we have lots of uncompleted goals due to one distraction or the other.
    Here are 6 Top distractions of mine (maybe yours too) and how we can reduce its negative effect..Any contribution is welcome ☺
    https://phayteaspulse.wordpress.com/2017/06/30/6-top-distractions-how-to-reduce-its-negative-effect/

    Liked by 14 people

    2. Okay , I’m hooked ! I absoleutely adore the flowery format of your blog ahd also enjoyed the newbie blogging tips ! Its extremely helpful for someone like me who is lazy to post

      I also like the fact that you have posts which are relatable to today 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    4. I liked your blog. It brought back memories of my own wedding. I could literally see how much fun you guys had! Great job.

      Liked by 2 people

  26. Hey there! I’m still in the first few months of blogging. I just put up a new post today. Check it out if you’re interested! It’s about being a mom and finding myself and paving the way to happiness after divorce. If you have any other comments about my site, I’d appreciate those as well. Thanks! 😊 Lindsey

    https://mamaspeaksup.blog/

    Liked by 9 people

    2. I love how relatable your blog is. Easy to read and has a funny twist on your experiences. It was very enjoyable to read. Thank you for sharing your stories.

      Liked by 3 people

  29. Hello Everyone,

    This is all becoming really compulsive – and great fun! I’m working my way through the various advice that is available online for increasing readership etc. (my blog is three months old, and tends to focus on art / architecture / photography). I’m finding some useful advice – but the vast majority of my readers are coming through facebook.

    The WordPress / blogger community seems like a really great place for getting good constructive feedback, so I’d like to reach more bloggers. I was wondering if that’s just something that builds up over time, or if any of you might have any tips (based on your own experience) on how to reach more people within the blogging community? Similarly, ongoing feedback on the content of the blog would be cool.

    My site is: https://dynamicstasis.blog/

    As ever, I’m very grateful indeed for your advice!

    Thanks!

    Liked by 6 people

    1. Hi, you have a beautifully designed blog and the photos are stunning.

      I found your background photo slightly distracting at times since you use white font in your post, making it white on white. The other thing you may want to consider is maybe toning down your posts to become slightly less ‘technical’ to attract more readers as sometimes I got the feeling it was a little academic. But then, maybe that’s just my brain not functioning very well nowadays!

      I wrote a post on blogging tips recently as I just reached a year here, do check it out to see if it helps you. Good luck.

      Liked by 3 people

    3. Your pictures are stunning, but somehow I’m not really fond of your theme overall.

      The background is too dark for me and.. marble-y, so the text doesn’t really stand out. Also, when you enter the blog, you can never say it’s a photography one. I think it would be better if you used some other ‘photography’ theme, where you could set some featured image and make it more bright and appealing. But that’s your blog, so no need to take my opinion 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  30. AND also! hahaha another post http://wp.me/p6Mshg-27a
    Eid Mubarak for those who celebrate!
    I made 3 episode for this event, do check it out as well! Leave a like if you like it, follow me at http://www.fallingforsnow.com lastly, do subscribe to my channel for more upcoming videos related to my blog posts! Hope that it will go well – sort of and of course hope that you like it!

    Thank you so much! Oh! Do give me some feedback on the post or the videos!

    Liked by 6 people