Jan 1, 2018 / Community Pool

Community Pool

Where WordPress bloggers support each other with feedback and advice.

Happy new year! Welcome to the first 2018 edition of the Community Pool. Let’s keep this forum a welcoming, friendly, and productive space — thank you for reading (or re-reading) and respecting our guidelines below. Here’s to another fantastic year of blogging and online 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 more information about custom domains, advanced design options, and other enhancements for your blog? Find the WordPress.com plan that’s right for you.

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.

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.
  • 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. Also note that including multiple links in your comment might automatically put it in the moderation queue, which will delay its publication.
  • 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.

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.

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  1. Hello everybody, Simon from To Cut a Short Story Short here. Firstly a Very Happy New Year to one and all, and I hope 2018 will be a year in which you can achieve some of your own worthwhile writing goals.

    I’m reposting one of my most popular posts ever, New Year’s Eve Ritual. The ritual could actually be done at any time but New Year seems like a pretty good time. I hope you enjoy it and maybe will be inspired to try it for yourself.

    https://simonjwood.wordpress.com/2017/12/31/new-years-eve-ritual-2/

    Liked by 31 people

      1. Hi, I’m glad you liked it. Maybe you’ll be tempted to try the ritual yourself? As I mention in the preamble I’m aiming to continue to publish a new story on my blog every five days in 2018. Fingers crossed!

        Liked by 4 people

      1. In the main sidebar on the right there is a list of the posts published in the last 10 weeks. Below that there are pictures of my top 10 posts. *Directly below that* there is a blue ‘follow’ button, then a picture grid of follower Gravatars. Click on the blue button and you can subscribe to my blog.

        If you don’t see the blue button it may be that your browser isn’t loading the page properly. I often find it doesn’t load my fonts, even though the page isn’t showing any error indication. By refreshing the page they are then shown correctly. If refreshing the page doesn’t work, restart your browser/reboot your computer/try a different browser/try a different computer. I’ve had a few follows in the last couple of hours so they must be seeing it OK. Good luck!

        Liked by 3 people

    1. It’s an amazing review that manages to sell you the story without giving too much away…which always sucks😂…you made me want to read the book and I look forward to reading more of your reviews

      Liked by 7 people

    5. The book seems great, right up my street and I will definitely read it. My only concern was, do you mean “It is the story of their BLACK mother, Leonie and her white husband, Michael…” the word you have used maybe frequently used in the book, but it is a racially offensive term outside of this context.

      Good job otherwise

      Liked by 7 people

      4. I am sure you don’t want to offend, so I am saying that in that case, you should replace that word with the word nigger with the word “black” or “African-American” unless you are quoting directly from the book. As it is it is likely to cause many people offence – I am just helping you out because it is a good review!

        Liked by 2 people

    6. I understand you’ve used the n-word out of ignorance. However, it’s kind of a profanity. To throw some further light on it, let’s say you don’t call all people from the sub-continent “p**i”, do you? The correct word should be “black” or “African-American” or “Caribbean”.

      Liked by 1 person

    7. I like your layout a lot. Your page looks super clean and well organized. I like that you cover such a wide variety of books and genres too. You write really well.

      Like

    8. On the topic of using the word nigger. As a black woman, I read the post and understood the context in which you were using it. If racism is a theme in the book anyone who reads your review should be prepared to come across it. As black people we understand that racism was /is something that happens in the world and we’re not triggered if you mean nothing offensive by it. There are much bigger issues to be dealt with than a bloggers use of the word nigger in a blog post about a book that contains racism. Keep writing

      Liked by 3 people

    9. A big thank you to everyone in this conversation for expressing yourselves with so much civility and open-mindedness. As a moderator, I’d normally remove mentions of words that are considered pejorative and/or offensive, especially those that target specific groups and communities. In this case, the context — which is about commenters who are more familiar with the North American connotation of the word explaining its potential to offend to someone from a different, non-U.S. background — I’ll keep it here for future reference. It’s a real testament to the power of this community that a tough topic could be broached with respect, empathy, and clarity.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I liked the content of your post, but your font is very small. Did you know you can change this? On your left-hand sidebar, by Themes, hit Customize. You’ll get a menu of various things you can change, one of these is Fonts.
        All the best in this new year and happy blogging.

        Liked by 6 people

    4. I will get through all of them! I like how you mix your original creative writing with relevant commentary and opinion. You write extremely well. I just got done with your Free Speech post. It was fantastic.

      Liked by 2 people

  6. Hi everyone,

    Happy New Year, I wrote a little post about how 2017 was for me! I hope you enjoy it! Do leave comments and likes if you like the content! I like hearing comments from people!

    https://munabanana.wordpress.com/

    Have a great year ahead! Psst, I follow back by the way! 🙂
    Munabanana

    Liked by 21 people

    2. Interesting perspective, I like that you spoke your own mind and that you don’t let anything bother you. It reminds me of the song Look At What Made Me Do by Taylor Swift. She let’s her thoughts be known.

      I did my own review of 2017, your welcome to check it out.

      Review of 2017

      RealJoePhill25

      Liked by 6 people

      1. Have you posted this as a new post? It’s too beautiful to be hidden under someone else’s thread. Good luck in the romance area and yes see about the teeth. Let us know about the ordeal as painful as it may be. I see that you like cricket as well 🙌🏾. All the best in 2018.

        Liked by 3 people

    3. Hi. Happy New Year to you all well. Nice post btw. I can relate to friendship being a one way street. I have been there and I still get used sometimes. One point I would make on the layout of your blog though. I prefer not to read posts with GIFs. That’s just me I’d rather read a post without an image than to be distracted by GIFs. Saying this with honesty and kindness.

      Liked by 4 people

    3. I think direction is something only you can figure out. You have to like what you write and have a plan of sorts, even if that plan is to write on a variety of topics. When you identify that, I suggest editing your About page and fixing your drop-down menu so it’s not as repetitive.
      Happy Blogging!

      Liked by 3 people

    4. I really like your writing style. I just read your short Thrones post and it had me laughing, you’re very right. To me titles seemed fine, and I think taglines could work really well, I would just try to refine them. I think your layout is good too, only thing is that there seems to be kind of a lot going on if that makes sense. I’d suggest trying to pick images that are going to be clearer and distinguish your posts on your page.

      Liked by 2 people

    6. Hi, nice little blog, maybe thinking about using pictures for the blogs to grab peoples attention, many people are drawn by visuals and if they see something they like they are more likely to read what you have written. Also one slight thing I found difficult was the background to your tag line, it really detracts from the words and if you wanted it to stand out, that background isn’t helping it. Keep up the good work though 😊

      Liked by 1 person

    4. Hi! I like your layout! Consider adding some images to your posts to draw the eye and break up text. I know your posts (at least the few I read) aren’t too long, but it’s still a good idea to include images to help convey your message.

      Liked by 3 people

  12. Happy New Year, friends! I posted this entry just yesterday as a reflection on the past year, along with some shared insights and wisdom from a few of my favorite books.

    Take a read, if you please, and I’ll happily return the favor!

    Home Beauty

    Liked by 13 people

    3. An insightful reflection of the past and how to look toward the future. I enjoyed it! And the quotes were a happy addition, in my opinion lol Happy New Year! 🙂💫

      Liked by 4 people

    5. The photos you select for your posts are incredible. You did a great job formatting your blog too. I like how clean and accessible everything is. You write well.

      Liked by 1 person

    6. Great post, I really liked Margaret Atwood’s part about writing the truth, that you need to think that no one else not even yourself will read it later. I think that is very true and I think I would write differently if I thought like that.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. I’m a maths student but with ambitions of being a sports journalist! Unfortunately I have minimal writing experience so I’m looking for feedback on how to improve. Any advice 7 tips is welcomed.

    With that said, I hope you enjoy the articles too. I have recently posted a little analysis of how an article about Everton has aged prior to their match against United.

    To keep the page fresh, I also share posts about sports culture in general, ranging from NBA fashion to taking football discussions in the pub too seriously!

    Finally, for those interested in House/Disco/Techno music I also blog about music ranging from old to new between those three genres, linking record labels in the process.

    I hope you enjoy & find something on here interesting. Any advice, particularly on writing techniques, is hugely appreciated!

    http://sixof1.blog

    Liked by 10 people

  14. I’d like to start my own blog about my daily struggles with living with bipolar2. Does that sound like something people would be interested in? I’d appreciate any ideas. TIA

    Liked by 14 people

    4. I think that could definitely be an interesting blog theme. Obviously, from my blog title, I share about what it’s like to deal with a different experience: feeling suicidal. One potential value that I see in that type of sharing is that it can help other people understand what our experience is like. A lot of conversations can end up happening.

      Liked by 2 people

    7. I have borderline personality disorder which has similar traits to bipolar. There are definitely people out there who are interested in reading about the topic/learning about it. Following!

      Liked by 1 person

      2. I also had some ptsd symptoms though was never actuallu diagnosed. But it significantly messed with my BPD. Good luck to you and I look forward to your posts!

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Great advice! I think it makes a lot of sense to view self-care as a preventative step we can take to better deal with whatever life throws at us. Thanks for sharing!

      Liked by 4 people

    3. Good advice!
      One suggestion you may want to think about is changing your background color. Right now you have an all white page and you might like it better if you had a colored border. Go to Themes in your left-hand sidebar, hit customize, and one of the options given in the new side bar is Colors & Backgrounds.

      This is a free feature and you have an unlimited spectrum from which to choose. Experiment. See what you like, what matches your header. Hit Save if you like the changes, or click back to Home Page and your experiment will disappear.

      Liked by 2 people

  16. I’m a maths student but with ambitions of being a sports journalist! Unfortunately I have minimal writing experience so I’m looking for feedback on how to improve. Any advice or tips are welcomed.

    With that said, I hope you enjoy the articles too. I have recently posted a little analysis of how an article about Everton has aged prior to their match against United.

    To keep the page fresh, I also share posts about sports culture in general, ranging from NBA fashion to taking football discussions in the pub too seriously!

    Finally, for those interested in House/Disco/Techno music I also blog about music ranging from old to new between those three genres, linking record labels in the process.

    I hope you enjoy & find something on here interesting. Any advice, particularly on writing techniques, is hugely appreciated!

    http://sixof1.blog

    Liked by 5 people

  19. Happy New year to you all!

    I have just posted for the first time.
    I’m hoping that my blog, and reading others with encourage me to achieve all I want this year by documenting it.
    It’s been a tough couple of years, but I have a very positive outlook on life and hope to share that with others. I’ll be sure to have a read of others blogs.

    Check mine out

    http://lifestyleadventurebeauty3.wordpress.com

    Kay.

    http://lifestyleadventurebeauty3.wordpress.com

    Liked by 2 people

  21. Reblogged this on Rant and Reason and commented:
    Hi folks, just want to say, I took the blogging fundamentals two week program and it was awesome. If bloggers are stuck not knowing the next step to get your blog noticed, have a look here!

    Like

  22. A very happy 2018 to all of you bloggers and blog followers out there; KALEIDOSCOPE will be back after a long holiday break on January 4th…In the meantime, please enjoy my past posts at http://www.j2w7.wordpress.com. Thanks for understanding, and once again, a very happy and blessed new year to one and all, with 💘-JW

    Liked by 13 people

    1. Sorry by mistake posted it without completing it, anyways I’m not gonna post any link for the first time on the first day of the year so you guys are free to visit my website and open and read any post you might like, also post your links and I will read them. ❤️❤️❤️
      Cheers everyone 👌👍👍

      Liked by 6 people

    4. Great Mofe, great to hear these stories from other sides of the globe. If you can please check out my blog also – I will definitely be watching your content closely 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    6. I like how your post was shorter, yet to the point and uplifting! It was a light read and I enjoyed it! Happy New year!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you! I had to wipe out the “Home” page and learn how to put Categories into the Main Menu under the Header, but I’m pleased with the results.
        I wanted people to come right to my latest post rather than a Home page with snippets of all, but then I had to install a Recent posts widget to compensate. All these little tricks gave me the look I want. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  28. Greetings everyone and Happy New Year from the Caribbean…! Great to be back splishing and splashing in the pool…

    If you interested in how an island girl navigates her corner of the world you can check out my stuff @ https://kedawithani.wordpress.com/2018/01/01/january-and-broke/ this is my most recent post… feel free to participate in my Resolution Orgy and drop a comment about your 2018 goals. Don’t forget your protection…it’s an orgy afterall!

    Liked by 10 people

    1. Ked Ked Ked! One of my favourites!! I am checking your blog in a few. The excitement of seeing you post here just made me write this. I’ve missed your posts a great deal.
      Happy new year, crazy mate!
      ♥

      Liked by 3 people

    2. Wonderful money saving tips. Humourous as usual. I once told you sometimes you get readers to laugh even when your content should provoke some sense of seriousness Ked. Haha. You got a follower.
      Just like always.

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Loved it! Totally relatable. Couldn’t find a WordPress follow or like button, though. Did I miss them?

      Like

    2. I agree with “youngmeetsfree” keep writing and readers will come. Practice genuine reciprocity. Read and comment on other bloggers posts. Analyze the people in the Pool and see who is most likely to cohere to your style and invite them personally to check out your blog. Trust me the readers and the followers will come.

      Liked by 2 people

    4. Hi, your writing style is great, but… you need to use capital letters at the start of your sentences and when you use the word I. Readers will come. Sometimes it takes a little while to get off the ground, but persevere and you’ll be rewarded 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      1. thank you for your response! and actually i use inverse capitalization on purpose😉. but thank you so much for your words of encouragement!

        Liked by 1 person