ROBUST discussion

Hi Andre,

I saved your critique of my initial attempt at a website, and I used it as a guide to redo the site. I also followed your suggestion to check out some of the other Robust members' blogs.
First, I moved it to Blogger. I also picked fonts that I thought would suit my books better, but I still left courier for one section because I wanted to create the effect that I typed the information from my notes. I'm really trying to appeal to MG/ young YA readers,and to make it appear like there just might me some truth to my story. I want the website to be a fun place for young readers to go. I have always loved books that create new worlds such as The Lord of The Rings Series.

I would really appreciate it if you could take a look at my new blog. I know this is a work-in-progress, and I am having fun developing it.

Thanks,
Will
http://anabarseries.blogspot.com/

Copied response from Andre:

That looks so much better. Now the monospace font is clever rather than just clumsy because it is clearly a deliberate contrast. Don't tell people to buy your book twice in two sidebars just across the page from each other. Consider whether you really want the bio info and purchase message pushed down the page by comments - both could just disappear from sight if the are many comments, and no guarantee anyone reads more than a few comments. But we're down to nitsplitting now, which is a sign that your blog is there in the larger things.

Slainte!

Andre

Will wrote: "Copied response from Andre:

That looks so much better. Now the monospace font is clever rather than just clumsy because it is clearly a deliberate contrast. Don't tell people to buy your book twic..."

Double thumbs up, Will!

I like the change a LOT.

Thanks!

I've written two short stories and plan to write several more this summer. I have always loved horror - old gothic stories like Frankenstein and almost everything by Stephen King. Because of this, I decided to give the genre a try.
I've posted my stories on a new blog:
http://baddreamsgranger.blogspot.com/

If the stories are free, post notice in the Giveaway folder too, Will. "Free" is very effective promotion for whatever you're selling.

Oops, meant to post my blog here a while back and have no idea why I didn't. http://www.chaosandinsanity.com/

Coral wrote: "Oops, meant to post my blog here a while back and have no idea why I didn't. http://www.chaosandinsanity.com/"

I like your blog & agree about not lying to kids.

I had no idea my daughter believed in Santa (I had never told her he was real) until the Christmas I wrote "From Santa" on all her presents. After the gifts were opened, she looked terribly sad. I asked why. She said, "Because you didn't give me anything."

I'm not vain.

Though I'm pretty sure this blog is about me.

http://www.novelistshawncannon.com

Coral, just been browsing your blog. Totally agree about the whole Santa thing. As a parent, you completely lose all credibility when it comes to things like that.

I can't sit back and not defend my man Santa! I don't see the harm. I really believe he teaches kids from a very young age that Christmas is a special time based on giving and unconditional love. Young children are too young to understand concepts of Christianity and God, but they can understand giving and being nice and happy feelings. The world is bad enough, and kids will learn this soon enough - let them have their Santa.

The last day of my childhood -- when I walked in on my mother kneeling in front of my uncle, pins in her mouth, hemming measure on the floor, fitting him up in her best red velvet curtains to be Santa at an old age home.

Will, kids are not too young to understand that mom and dad were lying to them for years. How do you teach kids that lying is wrong when you're doing it yourself -- at their expense? Kids don't like finding out the person they loved never existed, or that the parents they love are liars.

Patricia,
In our house, we went from our sons finding out the truth about there being no Santa to discussions of the real meaning of Christmas - the birth of Christ. Actually, we always told them that Christmas was primarily about Jesus and giving to others. We later explained that Santa was a bit of fun or them when they were young, and they were ok with the truth and did not seem to be angry with us for lying.

Will, we did something similar with our two. We live far from family so only see them over the school holidays in December when we go live with my inlaws for a couple of weeks. We started out by telling them all about Santa, left a cookie and milk out for him (which my dh's uncle promptly ate as soon as they went to bed leaving some crumbs in the plate and a bit of milk in the cup). We don't do the church thing either and while they have an understanding of the Christian concept of the birth of Jesus, they also understand the mythology around Santa dating back hundreds of years in Europe. They are the oldest of their cousins, by a few years. Now with the younger cousins it's a challenge to get them to debunk the myth.

I have found though that my two especially, crave the truth. They don't like being lied to about anything even if it is just a white lie. Whenever we've told them a half truth and the truth comes out later they have been devestated. So far, the only kid story to have survived is the Tooth Fairy (we call him the Tooth Mouse) simply because, as my 10yo son says, he leaves them cold hard cash :)

In the end, especially with my two cannaballs, I have found the truth around these childhood fantasies are far better for them. My sil's two kids though, they have all the mythology and the Christian concepts. Poor kids are beyond confused whenever it comes to the holidays.

I don't remember how old I was when I found out about Santa, but the betrayal of being lied to ruined the whole thing for me for a long time. If I ever have children there will be no mythical beings of any type in this house... except maybe vampires. ;)

I honestly don't see what's wrong with parents taking the credit for the gifts, what's the point in inventing someone else to put on the gift tags?

My book/happiness blog is at

http://smjbookteasers.blogspot.com

If anyone wants to be a guest blogger, shoot me an email with a writing sample to devante9901 at aol dot com. I post blogs late wednesday nights for Thursday morning coffee, then repost the previous week's blog at LiveJournal (when LJ is functioning), so you get two slots for the time to write one.

I'll make you a better offer, S.M. You come be a guest blogger on Kissing the Blarney, any subject you choose. If you need a subject, how about "What does a blog actually do for a writer?" 800 words.

How many hits per month do you (S.M. and Andre) get for your blogs?

I'm curious.

S.M. just looked at your blog - awesome! What would a guest post entail? I just launched a paranormal romance, would that work?

I have about 400 and growing. Not too many but the blog has no focus, it's just a window into my mind grasshoppering about many subjects.

My hits vary between 500 and 600 a month. It depends on what I blog about. My most popular posts are on e-book pricing (with a price by length table).

I get steady hits from a russian site - 3 or more a day. Kinda scary since I grew up in the cold war era.

I'm late to this party, but my blog is here:

http://bit.ly/JBT-YA

My web site:

http://www.jjtoner.net

Welcome!

I blog at riftwatcher.blogspot.com.

It started out more as a generic 'writing' blog. I found that tedious and somewhat pointless for a few reasons, so I've slowly shifted the content type to a more reader-centric kind of thing. I tend to have weekly interviews with indie authors (because I support the movement ideologically), but in recent weeks have also started weekly posts on Regency England, Heian Japan, and historical magic systems (as I've written a Regency book, am working on research for a Heian book,and write a lot of fantasy/paranormal respectively).

BTW, any ROBUST member who ever wants to do a guest blog or wants a blog interview is always welcome on my blog unless the work is erotica. This isn't a moral judgement on such things, but rather a branding thing. Sorry.

Kind of thinking of starting pod casting. I'm already prepping these somewhat conversational in tone history posts that 500-800 words every week anyway. It wouldn't be all that much work to record them. I have a nice voice* for this sort of thing and they would end up a nice podcast size (Between 5-10 minutes or so). I know a few people who've had great success with building a brand via pod casting. I'll have to think about it.

Anyway, if you're interested in any of that stuff follow my blog. :)

*I only claim this because I've been paid for instructional voice over work before. LOL. :)

The problem about podcasting is that once you start you can't stop, and your audience will want new material at set intervals.

I read your two excellent Japanese pieces. I'll take up your kind offer of a guest spot when I have something of similar scope.

Let me extend the same general invitation. All ROBUST member are welcome to make a guest spot on my blog, which has very catholic tastes.

Thanks, Andre.

Sounds like we are organizing a blogg tour.

I'm in! My blog(s) are open for new content and interviews.

I'm not sure how to organize one, so someone please come up with a game plan.

Hi. I'm new and so is my blog. It's called SAY THE WORD (and you'll be free...)

http://libbyhellmann.com/wp

Welcome Libby!

Welcome.

thank you!

Welcome, Libby.

Hi Libby. Welcome to our zany world. Your blog looks great. I was particularly interested in the one on audio books. The digital world is a hard one to navigate and predict, but it's probably safe to say that audio and vid books will play a very big part in the future...

Welcome, Libby. Following you on Twitter!

:)

Adam's Blog
I've got a blog written in the voice of my main character,
Adam Paleologos @: www.mad-gods.com/blog
He's open about his views on entertainment, television & film along with celebrity obsession. To be honest I made Adam be that engrossed with the above because it was & continues to be the biggest distraction I've got to writing and promoting said writing. So I figured, take the old adage of write what you know into a different direction and make my MC like me, in that regard at least.

I blog under my main character. He is essentially me in views and interests so I thought I would give him free reign of my ID. www.mad-gods.com/blog

Interesting idea.

Only works if the writer is intrinsically interesting himself. Most writers, I suspect, live in their minds, through their characters, because they're dull, and know it. It's a form of escapism.

Is that a compliment or a dig? My mom says I'm interesting, so I'll follow that critique, so there.

Book blog: http://beauregardeaffair.wordpress.com
Art blog: http://sonofincog.blogspot.com/
DA: http://son-of-incogneato.deviantart.c...
Blather blog: http://sonsrevenge.blogspot.com/

That's me, all blogged out.

Four blogs? That must take some time.

It does. Some of them suffer from little attention.

An airline flight adventure, a tumble down the stairs, an extraordinary Christmas Downunder. Read all about it on my group blog, Boomers and Books: Christmas Downunder at B&B

or at my own blogsite: Christmas Downunder at Storyteller

Be forewarned, however, it is very long and I've had no chance to tighten or edit the story...

Reply to several posts here:

Was it Lord Byron who wrote, "Please excuse the long letter. I have no time now to write a short one."

Good one, Andre!

I'd like to apologise to Sharon for the state of Australia's emergency health. Here in WA, there's a policy that all emergency patients must be treated within four hours of arriving. It doesn't always happen, but it's usually pretty close to that. Obviously, Victoria doesn't have that policy!

'Most writers, I suspect, live in their minds, through their characters, because they're dull, and know it. It's a form of escapism.'

I have another take on this. That some writers were at one point interesting (having interesting life experiences), then got older, more sedate, and are now trotting out their past (and reliving it) through their writing.

Works for me!

Good one, Andre, I must remember that!

Katie, no apologies necessary, it's not so much different in Canada (probably more like the 4 hours WA promises - still a long time) and it was after all a Friday night and during Christmas holiday time. I was told, however, that 7 or 8 hours is the norm here. It seemed excruciating at the time, but that was exacerbated by the jet-lag I was already suffering. Truly, there must have been others in far more dire straits.