HELP - How Do I... discussion

Find out how to Create a Blog

And...how does that happen? I went to Blogger and followed their directions. My goal was to keep this blog professional and 99% writing related. Then after a month or so, I 'let' my sister-in-law have at it. Now it's awesome and cool.

Hey, do you have a promotional thread? Going to look.

Again Renee, I know sod all about these things. I'm hoping people, like yourself can fill these threads with a pie full of juicy knowledge that everyone can bite into. Links to info, how you jag yourself to blog each day/month, what to blog about, what not to blog about. I'm sure the list is not exhaustive. We only need participants :)
I'm sure there's a promo thread, if not, I feel you are more than capable and welcome to create. thanks for you help, Renee.

Okay, her's a little of what I know about blogs, in terms of what a writer should consider.

-is this a professional blog? Are you hoping to attract publishers/agents to your blog and impress them with your writerly skills or is this a blog to entertain friends and family and occasionally add something about writing? Paul's blog is an excellent example of a professional blog. http://paul-mitton.blogspot.com/2010/... A publisher will look at that and know he's serious about the craft of writing.

- I read a couple of agent blogs where they enlightened readers as to what they were sick of seeing in author blogs. Housewifery, kids, day job, and anything not related to the writer's actual writing and genre are what they do NOT want to see. If you have a tendency to blog about your kids and the neighbor pissing you off, stop it. There's time for those blogs later, after you've caught the notice of your agent/publisher.

- Layout and design - that should reflect your personality and your work. If you write children's fiction, then dark and creepy is not going to fly. If you write horror then butterflies and rainbows would be silly.

- Frequency - Ideally, while building your presence and attracting followers, you should blog as often as time permits, once a week is the advised frequency but if work and family is too insane, then aim for twice monthly. Readers are a fickle bunch and if you blog less than that in the early stages, you will be forgotten.

- Network your blog. Make sure to join other blogs of importance to you and what you want to achieve. This works, I have six followers (in one month) from networking alone. People I don't know, whose blogs I follow because I find them interesting. Don't 'follow for a follow', that's just silly and your damn feed will be retarded. Also, for every blog post, make sure to update Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, or whatever site you're on. My hits go up each time I post on one of those. It's a good tool.

- Writing samples. These aren't a necessity. If you have a book published, a good idea is to post an excerpt in one of your tabs, so that no matter what page they're on, they can see it and click it. Scribd is a good tool for the unpublished author. Use their little badge widget and bloggers can click it to get samples of your writing posted on there.
Really your blog should reflect your writing style, and should work as a sample itself. Edit, edit, edit. Do not post a blog with spelling and grammar errors, crappy sentences, and a flow that makes the reader dizzy. Treat it as a piece of your latest novel and make sure it's polished as well as you can.

- Comments: Try to comment in reply to a good portion of the comments made to each post. I know this seems tedious, but it shows you don't just post and forget it. You WANT to know what your readers are saying and you value their opinions.

If I think of anything else, I'll post. I hope this helps. In terms of creating a blog, which site to use, etc. I don't know that my opnion will help there. I like Blogger. Many like Wordpress. They're really easy to use and network. Anyone else with other suggestions, please let us know. Creating it, take your damn time. Use anyone you can to help. I redesigned mine with the help of my sister in law, an artist and a photographer, and I'm so glad I did. It looks much more professional IMO. Not so childish.

So there you go. How's that Andy?

WOW!
Andy picks himself up from the floor. Jeez, that's a looooot of info, no wonder your headaches are splitting. very much appreciated by me, Renee. I'm sure others will thank you kindly when they find it to. Your such a...lady. Lady Xena :D

Haha. Spelled correctly this time too. I offer whatever information this scattered brain can hold. Questions? Bring em on. I might not know the answer, but I'll find someone who does, or I'll just avoid you.

Any of the following will be deleted without percy.

I want to meet this percy! Is he the guy who posts chit chat? :-)

Rene wrote: Questions? Bring em on. I might not know the answer, but I'll find someone who does, or I'll just avoid you.

Well said, Renee. Makes me smile.

Haha. I didn't notice 'percy'.

Ha ha ha ha. I never noticed it either. You may notice it's changed to suit. Thanks for the observation, Jeanne.
Renee, you wouldn't be the first to avoid me. Eat worms, going to. I am.

I've made my blog. but... how do I get it to have content on both sides of the posts? And how do I get design on my background?

I hope someone comes back with help, Susan. I haven't done bloggy things and wouldn't be much use at all. I suspect the content on either side is by using a scrolling text box and the background would be a pic that is locked in place?

Thanks Andy,

I've tried pulling things from one side to the other, but it doesn't work. I've seen other blogs that have content on both sides of the posts, (using Blogspot) but not many. And as far as background, I think I need to use an outside (of Blogger) program to make it something different than they offer, but not sure. So if anybody out there knows anything I'd appreciate if they could give me any tips.