10 Wise Quotes
The last time I wrote a post about quotes I only included one proper example. That was because it was somewhat lengthy. So I filled the remainder of the article with film quotes, which I found amusing because I do like a good pop culture reference. However, it can be argued that they weren’t really in the spirit of the original writing prompt. So this time round I have collated ten proper quotations from various intellectuals, celebrities and bon viveurs. I also made sure that they’re not all from people who are dead. Many of them do come across as somewhat smug and self satisfied. Such is the nature of quotes. I think the main reason we sometimes feel this way is because a really good one hits home with its sage wisdom. So here are a few that I find interesting. I’ve added a brief annotation as to why I particularly like each one.
Gore Vidal
The last time I wrote a post about quotes I only included one proper example. That was because it was somewhat lengthy. So I filled the remainder of the article with film quotes, which I found amusing because I do like a good pop culture reference. However, it can be argued that they weren’t really in the spirit of the original writing prompt. So this time round I have collated ten proper quotations from various intellectuals, celebrities and bon viveurs. I also made sure that they’re not all from people who are dead. Many of them do come across as somewhat smug and self satisfied. Such is the nature of quotes. I think the main reason we sometimes feel this way is because a really good one hits home with its sage wisdom. So here are a few that I find interesting. I’ve added a brief annotation as to why I particularly like each one.
“Reality continues to ruin my life.” Bill Watterson
Ah, the enigma of American cartoonist Bill Watterson. He has an innate gift for wholesome sentimentality.
“The more money an American accumulates, the less interesting he becomes.” Gore Vidal
A few names spring to mind.
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” Mae West
Mae West is a treasure trove of witty quotations. I wouldn’t dream of questioning the wisdom of the above quote.
“If Stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?” Will Rogers
It never ceases to amaze me how stupidity thrives by standing on the shoulders of the wise and humane, who do all of society’s heavy lifting.
Carl Sagan
“We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.” Carl Sagan
My father lamented how when he was a child, you had a fighting chance of understanding how the things around you worked. A radio, a fridge, a car. Nowadays he said it was virtually impossible with regard to computers, networks and software.
“I don't think any of us grew up into the world we were hoping for or expecting.” Alan Moore
The media, the state and society have always misrepresented the world we live in. We now actively collude in this lie ourselves, via social media.
“Power is like being a lady... if you have to tell people you are, you aren't.” Margaret Thatcher
I’m not a fan of the UK’s first woman Prime Minister but I appreciate the sentiment in this quote.
Henry Rollins
“It’s sad when someone you know becomes someone you knew.” Henry Rollins
This quote is interestingly ambiguous. Does he mean death or when a friendship withers on the vine?
“A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it.” Albert Einstein
I bet Rodgers and Hammerstein feel stupid now.
“Love, friendship and respect do not unite people as much as a common hatred for something.” Anton Chekhov
A sad but accurate observation. If you want a specific example I refer you to the UK tabloid press.
Bonus quote:
“Excuse me, sir! Can you direct us to the naval base in Alameda? It's where they keep the nuclear wessels.” Pavel Chekov
I did say I love a pop culture reference.
Thoughts on Blogging Part 19
I’ve been writing online for 17 years. During that time a modest audience has read my posts and occasionally commented on them, which is the accepted dynamic of blogging. Some of my posts are ephemeral. Others, such as film reviews, have greater longevity. Naturally I want people to read my output and I’ve noticed that the film reviews seem to generate a fair amount of traffic. After consulting my website analytics package, it would appear that the majority of readers find my reviews by searching Google. Promoting my writing via social media does very little. Another issue is that readers tend to read the post they found via their search and then leave. Despite there being links at the bottom of the post to similar material. Currently, my blog does not have an effective means of searching older posts. The landing page has only 20 posts listed. There are approximately 2,500 archived.
I’ve been writing online for 17 years. During that time a modest audience has read my posts and occasionally commented on them, which is the accepted dynamic of blogging. Some of my posts are ephemeral. Others, such as film reviews, have greater longevity. Naturally I want people to read my output and I’ve noticed that the film reviews seem to generate a fair amount of traffic. After consulting my website analytics package, it would appear that the majority of readers find my reviews by searching Google. Promoting my writing via social media does very little. Another issue is that readers tend to read the post they found via their search and then leave. Despite there being links at the bottom of the post to similar material. Currently, my blog does not have an effective means of searching older posts. The landing page has only 20 posts listed. There are approximately 2,500 archived.
Six years ago I wrote a tutorial post explaining how to effectively search Contains Moderate Peril. Each post has a list of keyword categories in the footer and if you click on these, it will list all other posts that have been labelled in the same way. There is also a calendar feature on the blog archive page, which shows all posts by dates. However, neither of these two means of searching the site are really intuitive or convenient. To date I am still seeking a suitable means that can be implemented within the current constraints of Squarespace and the specific templates this site uses (Trombone Shorty). I am also trying to determine a means of promoting my content online but in a manner I consider to be ethical. I don’t like misleading, hyperbolic clickbait. Nor do I want my social media accounts to be exclusively used to push my work.
There are plenty of websites that offer advice on marketing and promotion. Broadly, they all state the same things. Create targeted content, build a community via promotion on social media, collaboration with others and back links. SEO is a must. All of which makes sense but is not necessarily to everyone’s tastes. I have no objection with promotion and collaboration but I will not alter my writing style, just to chase an audience. I consider personal blogs to be in some respects like music or newspapers. You write in a certain idiom and that appeals to a specific group. For example, when I write about film I assume that the reader has a certain degree of investment in the subject and some knowledge. Technically, by changing my writing style I could reach a larger audience but that is not what I'm seeking to achieve. I am pursuing a different, smaller niche, which for me is more rewarding.
It is interesting to note that as my return to regular writing has coincided with the Blaugust: Festival of Blogging, there has been a modest increase in traffic to Contains Moderate Peril. I put this down to the various bloggers participating in the event, kindly showing an interest in my posts. As I’ve stated before, seeing any degree of interest in one’s work helps in maintaining the motivation to keep writing. Although the technological aspects of blogging have changed over the years, I suspect the basics remain the same. Readers return whenever new content is available, associated promotion via podcast, live stream or YouTube channel also helps. Giveaways and competitions will attract traffic and some will stick around. A catchy name doesn’t do any harm, although try not to pick something that may box you in at a future date. Finally, keep plugging away. If you throw enough faecal matter at a vertical brick structure, some will eventually adhere.
Stop Overthinking and Write
This post is an experiment, insofar that I haven’t planned it. That is the central theme of the piece. Sometimes, when you have an idea, just run with it. Don’t overthink things. Don’t obsess over style. Don’t worry about mistakes. Just get your ideas down and see where they take you.
This post is an experiment, insofar that I haven’t planned it. That is the central theme of the piece. Sometimes, when you have an idea, just run with it. Don’t overthink things. Don’t obsess over style. Don’t worry about mistakes. Just get your ideas down and see where they take you.
Usually, I will write following a process. An idea is developed through points or arguments. These are then collated into a logical order with a summary added at the end. It’s a formal approach that I picked up from my science lessons at school. Back then, writing up an experiment had a specific structure. You first defined what the experiment was investigating. Next, you espoused your theory or predictions. Then you noted how you conducted the experiment. After that, you analysed the results. Then finally you drew your conclusions. It is a tried and tested method. It also works well when debating a point or critiquing something such as a film, book or piece of art. But it isn’t appropriate for all kinds of writing, as its rigidity can cause restrictions.
For example, if I were writing about my day and what I’ve done, a far less formal style of writing is beneficial. A stream of consciousness comes to mind. I could structure a post listing the day’s events in chronological order but that would be rather dry. Nope, I think burbling away in a light hearted manner is far more appropriate. You can also go off at tangents, as our thought processes so often do. For example, I mentioned my science lessons at school. I’m now reflecting as I write, upon anecdotes from my school days. For example, how in 1983, we built a full size, working replica of a ballista in our classical history class. It only got fired once, then the local police got involved. Happy days.
Another great thing about writing from the hip, is that you can adopt a far more conversational tone. You don’t have to worry too much about the rules of grammar. I often equate posts written in this manner to be like talking to your friends down the pub or at some other informal gathering. And if you really want to be bold, you can write your own inner monologue down verbatim.
“Is that wise?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well you may come off looking like a nut.”
“Nonsense. One of the benefits of talking to yourself is you don’t put up with any stupidity”
“Are you sure about that?”
Sometimes you have to be self disciplined. If you want to get some writing done, you need to avoid distractions, knuckle down and just get on with it. I often find that on the days when I’m procrastinating, once I actually start typing things get better. It’s a bit like getting into a swimming pool that you suspect may be a little cold. Once you get in, there’s a bit of an initial shock and then you acclimatise. At least with blogging there’s no risk of getting a verruca. If there is, you’re doing it wrong.
There are numerous different approaches to writing, all of which have their own merits. It’s a question of trying them all and finding what works for you. There is no one size fits all when it comes to maintaining a personal blog. Experiment with everything from style to your writing environment. Just don’t fall into the trap of overthinking your point when writing, or how you want to say it. Think efficiently but not excessively. The most important thing to do is just to write. Get your thoughts down on the virtual page and then revise and polish them afterwards.
N.B. I wrote this post in 23 minutes. Which is very quick for me. Hopefully it makes the point I was driving at. Don’t overthink. Just write.
Blogging and AI
This year’s Blaugust: Festival of Blogging has been presented with a very curious and contemporary conundrum. To put it succinctly, one of the participants uses AI to generate their blog posts. Hence, there is now a debate among the Blaugust community as to whether this is appropriate or not. At first glance, participating in an event that exists to promote creative writing with content written via a third party AI or Large Language Models, seems contradictory. Yet upon further reflection, such technological services are ultimately tools, albeit complex ones. Is it therefore right to take a fundamentalist stance against their use? Seeking a new perspective on this matter, I thought it would be novel to ask this question of an AI, itself. So I put the following question to ChatGenie. I found its response most interesting.
This year’s Blaugust: Festival of Blogging has been presented with a very curious and contemporary conundrum. To put it succinctly, one of the participants uses AI to generate their blog posts. Hence, there is now a debate among the Blaugust community as to whether this is appropriate or not. At first glance, participating in an event that exists to promote creative writing with content written via a third party AI or Large Language Models, seems contradictory. Yet upon further reflection, such technological services are ultimately tools, albeit complex ones. Is it therefore right to take a fundamentalist stance against their use? Seeking a new perspective on this matter, I thought it would be novel to ask this question of an AI, itself. So I put the following question to ChatGenie. I found its response most interesting.
Question: I'm participating in an online event that promotes blogging. Should we allow AI generated blog posts?
ChatGenie’s Answer:
Whether or not to allow AI-generated blog posts in your event is a complex question with no easy answer. Here's a breakdown of the arguments for and against, to help you make an informed decision:
Arguments for allowing AI-generated blog posts:
Accessibility: AI can help anyone create content, even those without strong writing skills. This expands participation and democratises blogging.
Efficiency: AI can generate content quickly, allowing participants to focus on other aspects of their blog or business.
Experimentation: Allowing AI posts can be a way to explore new avenues in content creation and explore the potential of AI in the blogging world.
Arguments against allowing AI-generated blog posts:
Authenticity: AI-generated content lacks the human touch, personal voice, and original insights that often define good blogging. It can feel formulaic and impersonal.
Ethical Concerns: There are ongoing debates about the ethics of AI-generated content and its potential impact on human creativity and jobs.
Quality Control: AI-generated content can be inconsistent in quality, leading to potential issues with accuracy, factual errors, and plagiarism.
Lack of Engagement: Readers might find AI-generated content less engaging and less likely to comment or interact with it, potentially harming the event's overall community aspect.
Possible Solutions:
Clearly define rules and guidelines: Be transparent about what constitutes an acceptable blog post and whether AI use is allowed. Consider setting specific limitations, such as requiring human editing or original content contributions.
Focus on human interaction: Emphasise aspects of the event that encourage collaboration, discussion, and peer-to-peer learning. This can help create a more engaging and authentic experience, regardless of how the content is generated.
Offer different categories: Consider having separate categories for AI-generated content and human-written content, allowing participants to choose which they prefer to engage with.
Promote transparency: Encourage participants to disclose if their posts are AI-generated, allowing readers to make informed choices about what they consume.
Ultimately, the decision to allow AI-generated blog posts is yours. Consider your event's goals, target audience, and values, and choose an approach that aligns with your vision.
I consider ChatGenie’s response to be both logical and measured. While drafting this post, I wrote several bullet points regarding the pros and cons of allowing AI created posts into an event such as Blaugust. They were remarkably similar to the AI’s reply. However, being a writer of 17 years standing, I think it is fair to say I have a proverbial “horse in this race”. Hence, I don’t actually feel the need to be impartial and reasonable on this occasion. However, there is a major point to be addressed before we get to my personal view. Blaugust is the brainchild of Belghast from Tales of the Aggronaut. It therefore falls to him to adjudicate on this matter and as he didn’t stipulate that AI generated content was excluded from the event, it will remain this year. I suspect there will be caveats set for next year’s Blaugust.
So where do I stand in this debate? I am against AI generated blogs participating in Blaugust. I have written many times that one of the main attractions I like about blogging is getting to know the author via their work. One’s use of language and cultural references as well as our overall blogging voice are very revealing. I would go so far as to say that through some strange psychological form of osmosis, something of the author bleeds into their written work. That is not the case with AI generated content which is an imperfect facsimile of multiple peoples prose. AI produces an approximation, a caricature, even a bastardisation of human writing. As a concept, AI produced writing is a classic example of the culture of “cakeism” that exists in western society today. It embodies the conceit of wanting to have the kudos associated with a creative process, without having to do any of the work.
Sadly, I am fully aware that I am swimming against the tide on this matter. Hence I have no intention of making this a proverbial hill to die on. I shall simply curse in vain like King Lear and then move on and take comfort in my own writing. It may be imperfect but it is authentic. As for the argument that AI generated content is a tool, I shall concede the point that it is. But like most tools, how it is used defines how it is perceived. A hammer wielded with great skill can carefully break a rock, revealing a gem of unsurpassed beauty inside. Or it can be savagely used by the secret police to smash the teeth from the dissident’s mouth. Literally and figuratively crushing dissent. I suspect that AI will ultimately devalue creative writing which will become an increasingly rare and niche market product. Which is why I advise those who enjoy genuine writing to live in the moment and to savour the current status quo.
My Current Writing Environment
During the course of previous Blaugust events, I’ve discussed my writing environment several times. Where and how you write is a subject that is worth revisiting because having a place where you can work unimpeded is an important factor in blogging regularly and successfully. Some people are very easy going when it comes to when and where they write. They will blog on a phone or tablet while commuting, or on their laptop while eating lunch in their work cafeteria. Others prefer a quiet office, free from distractions where they can collate their thoughts in comfort. I personally favour the latter and use the spare bedroom in our bungalow as an office. Looking back over my prior posts, it is clear that my physical writing environment seems to be growing over time. Curiously, despite acquiring more peripherals, the basic tools that I use to write have broadly remained the same for the last decade or so.
During the course of previous Blaugust events, I’ve discussed my writing environment several times. Where and how you write is a subject that is worth revisiting because having a place where you can work unimpeded is an important factor in blogging regularly and successfully. Some people are very easy going when it comes to when and where they write. They will blog on a phone or tablet while commuting, or on their laptop while eating lunch in their work cafeteria. Others prefer a quiet office, free from distractions where they can collate their thoughts in comfort. I personally favour the latter and use the spare bedroom in our bungalow as an office. Looking back over my prior posts, it is clear that my physical writing environment seems to be growing over time. Curiously, despite acquiring more peripherals, the basic tools that I use to write have broadly remained the same for the last decade or so.
I subscribe to Office 365 primarily to have access to Outlook, which I use to manage eleven email accounts. It is a hangover from my working days and although there are alternatives products, I just like the functionality that Outlook offers and the fact that I’m very familiar with it. However, despite having Office 365 I don’t use Word as my primary means of writing blog posts. I use Google Drive for this and have it as one of the tabs that opens by default when I launch Google Chrome. Subsequently it is easy to start a new document or return to one that requires editing. Complete documents can be downloaded and archived in Word format. Google Drive also has the advantage of being readily accessible on other devices, which prior to my retirement was very useful when travelling between multiple sites. I use Microsoft Paint to resize images and if a picture needs any tinkering or fine tuning, I use whatever free online tools are available.
I have recently added the extension New Tab Draft to Google Chrome. This adds the functionality of Notepad to a new tab opened in your web browser. This is excellent for writing notes, copying text and removing formatting. Furthermore any text written persists after closing your browser. It is stored safely in Chrome Local Storage not via the cloud. Before anyone takes umbrage at my use of Google Chrome, I also have Firefox, Edge and Opera installed on my PC. All are used for specific tasks. Opera is especially useful as it has a basic VPN functionality. I run AdBlocker Ultimate to keep the scourge of pop-ups at bay and manage my password via Bitwarden. I previously used LastPass. Archive Page is another extension that I find very useful. This is a public means of archiving news posts and retrieving them. It is excellent for accessing posts that are gated behind paywalls.
I still have the same desk I bought four years ago. I have two FHD monitors and a fairly decent soundbar for my audio needs. We recently upgraded our internet connection and received a new router which sits behind my screens out of the way. There is a Yeti X microphone gathering dust on my desk, along with a Nintendo Switch. I have a wireless Xbox controller for the games I deem require it. There is also a charging cradle for my phone. Next to the desk is a small table with a Brother multifunction wireless laser printer (MFC-L2710DW). It’s a black and white only model but it suits my needs and is cheap to run. I have a pair of Sony bluetooth headphones which also doubles as a gaming headset. As I am a fastidious creature, I have a USB vacuum cleaner and a keyboard cleaning kit. My desk is a dust magnet and so I clean it weekly.
I always keep a notebook to hand and I have my trusty Feather’s McGraw water bottle so that I can stay hydrated. There’s a coaster for cups of coffee or bottles of beer. Over time, ornaments, novelty items and lucky gonks have been removed from my desk. This decluttering process has mainly been driven by my grandson, who is now banned from my office unsupervised. He likes to spin in my computer chair and mess with my shit. I used to buy fancy mouse mats and at one point had one of those ones that takes up most of your desk and has LEDs around the edge. However I find that fabric mouse mats get dirty quickly, so I now buy multipacks of them and change them every quarter. My wired Razer keyboard and mouse are holding up well despite my heavy handling. I’ve written before about how I get through a lot of peripherals.
My PC is not just for writing. I use it for gaming, listening to music, watching films and perusing the internet and keeping an eye on social media. It is a multipurpose tool which tends to be turned on first thing in the morning and turned off just before bed. As a concession to old school administration, I have an “in tray” on the shelf under my printer where any mail that I receive is stored. It remains there until it is actioned and then it is filed away in a box file. I favour a closed door policy when writing as I like to be free from distractions and able to concentrate. I tend to write notes first and then flesh them out and put them in a relevant order. Some posts will take less than an hour to write and others several. I find the act of writing very calming, even if it’s a subject that troubles me. I suspect the comfort of my environment contributes to my writing process and is thus part of the overall catharsis.
Blaugust and Me
I wrote a personal introduction for Blaugust last year which still serves its purpose, so I hope you’ll forgive me for not repeating such a post. I thought instead I’d talk a little about Blaugust and my relationship with blogging. I have always enjoyed writing, both creatively and analytically, since school. I was very fortunate to have had several very good English teachers that fostered in me a love of verbal expression and good books. It was therefore only logical that I kept journals and diaries in my younger days and when the internet came along, moved onto writing online. This August, I will have been blogging in some shape or form for 17 years. This blog, Contains Moderate Peril, has existed in several previous iterations. The current site, hosted via Squarespace, has been around for nine years. I believe it has over a thousand posts of varying quality. Then there’s the podcast that accompanied the blog for many years. That is currently on an extended hiatus but who knows, it may make a return one day.
Writing is tiring
I wrote a personal introduction for Blaugust last year which still serves its purpose, so I hope you’ll forgive me for not repeating such a post. I thought instead I’d talk a little about Blaugust and my relationship with blogging. I have always enjoyed writing, both creatively and analytically, since school. I was very fortunate to have had several very good English teachers that fostered in me a love of verbal expression and good books. It was therefore only logical that I kept journals and diaries in my younger days and when the internet came along, moved onto writing online. This August, I will have been blogging in some shape or form for 17 years. This blog, Contains Moderate Peril, has existed in several previous iterations. The current site, hosted via Squarespace, has been around for nine years. I believe it has over a thousand posts of varying quality. Then there’s the podcast that accompanied the blog for many years. That is currently on an extended hiatus but who knows, it may make a return one day.
As you can see, I like writing and enjoy having a specific site for my thoughts and ideas. For me that is one of the main attractions of blogging. It is a means to process one’s thoughts about the world we live in. It is also a means of sharing ideas and mutual pleasures with other like minded people. I have met many people through blogging and remain on agreeable terms with many of them, years on. In fact I would go so far as to say that when Contains Moderate Peril gained some traction circa 2014 and the podcast had a modest audience, these were among the best times I’ve had. However, that was due to a perfect storm of events which were unique to that period. Things have moved on now, as they always do. Blogging is still an excellent pastime but I feel that for me, that period of time between 2010 and 2015 was a golden era.
If you need to take a break then do so
However, blogging regularly takes time and commitment. It often has to compete with other real world issues. Hence we can find ourselves suffering from fatigue and burnout. Or it may be a case of after a while, we just want to do something else. On two occasions I have taken an extended break from blogging. I took three months off in early 2016 and recently stepped away for nine months. Although I didn’t have the stamina at the time to sustain a regular writing regime, the moment I stopped I immediately started to miss it. Which brings me back to Blaugust. Its timely arrival presents me with a perfect opportunity to get back into writing. I shall see if I can produce a daily post for the entire month. I already have about a dozen draft posts waiting in the wings. Furthermore we seem to have gained a particularly enthusiastic and communicative group of new participants this year which is a real boon.
I am fortunate to be in a position where I can focus quite a lot of energy and more importantly time, into Blaugust. I have effectively retired (early) and am currently spared the treadmill of full time employment. I have a spare bedroom that I use as an office and it provides a suitable writing environment. Beyond the festival of blogging, I would like to develop some long standing writing goals that I’ve had outstanding for several years. I have a non-fiction book that has been mapped out and prepped, that I would like to move forward with. I just need to bite the bullet and start putting the meat on the bones. I would also like to see if it is possible to grow the audience of Contains Moderate Peril, back to the levels it enjoyed a decade ago. That however is a more complex proposition, as the blog had the promotional advantage of an accompanying podcast. However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s concentrate on the next 30 days of Blaugust first.
Preparing for Blaugust 2024
Because I have taken a nine month break from maintaining this blog, I thought it would be a good idea to give Contain Moderate Peril a makeover prior to Blaugust: Festival of Blogging commencing on 1st August. Initially I intended to outsource the work but the cost was prohibitive. So I made some changes to the existing blog template myself and had a new logo created via a designer from Fiverr. The changes are sufficient to quash my subconscious concerns and I am now in a position where I won’t obsess (too much) with the look and feel of the site. There is still some work to be done. I have to repost all previous instalments of “Walter Watches”” and ensure that the existing domain for that site points to its new home here. I also have to tweak the blog archive page, so that older content can be found easily. There are over a thousand posts published but it is immediately apparent.
Because I have taken a nine month break from maintaining this blog, I thought it would be a good idea to give Contain Moderate Peril a makeover prior to Blaugust: Festival of Blogging commencing on 1st August. Initially I intended to outsource the work but the cost was prohibitive. So I made some changes to the existing blog template myself and had a new logo created via a designer from Fiverr. The changes are sufficient to quash my subconscious concerns and I am now in a position where I won’t obsess (too much) with the look and feel of the site. There is still some work to be done. I have to repost all previous instalments of “Walter Watches”” and ensure that the existing domain for that site points to its new home here. I also have to tweak the blog archive page, so that older content can be found easily. There are over a thousand posts published but it is immediately apparent.
Although I often write “from the hip”, I also keep a lot of draft posts. Whenever I get an idea that I think may make a suitable blog post I make a note of it and then when I’m sitting at my desk, I create a new document via Google Drive. Some of the draft posts get developed and published quite quickly but others sit in development hell and never see the light of day. Today, I trawled through the drafts folder and expunged those proto-posts that I feel have missed the boat, are unsuitable or no longer interest me. I also added some new draft ideas that came from talking to other bloggers on the Blaugust Discord server. There’s also a lot of mileage in responding to someone else's blog post. It’s a great way of sharing ideas and highlighting other writers' blogs. It is also handy if you’re having one of those days where you’re running low on your own ideas.
Another preparation I made in getting ready for Blaugust was adding all the new participants of this year’s festival to Feedly. I currently have 177 blogs listed in this RSS aggregator but not all are maintained. Some have definitely gone to the wall, so at some point I need to prune them. However, that notwithstanding, it is pleasant and reassuring to see such a substantive quantity of blogs still active. I’m sure there will be more to add over the course of the forthcoming month, as Blaugust always attracts numerous late arrivals. I always try to trawl through Feedly each morning and see what’s new. During Blaugust I also endeavour to leave a comment on all participant blogs as a sign of solidarity and encouragement. I find that comments on my own posts are always a shot in the arm, as it means that at least a handful of people are reading my output. It’s nice to know that I’m not just shouting into the void.
Finally, in the lead up to Blaugust, the community Discord server has gotten busier. I appreciate that not everybody likes this medium but I find it most useful and agreeable. It is nice to meet new and returning bloggers, offer support and encouragement and just swap stories about our respective experiences when it comes to writing. Furthermore, we have a very diverse community who write about a multitude of different subjects. Hence group discussions can provide a wide variety of perspectives. I also find that the Discord server really does create a sense of community. For me that is what is at the heart of Blaugust. Encouraging writing by creating an online community. Hence I am looking forward to tomorrow’s start of this year’s festival of blogging. I hope all who are taking part enjoy the experience as well.
Starting a Blog
I’m sure if I search through the various posts on blogging that I’ve written over the years, I’ll find one pretty much identical to this. But good advice bears repeating. Plus, as the years go by, there are more options available to new bloggers. So here’s some simple, straightforward and candid advice for those who are considering starting a blog. Some of it is universal and you’ll find similar tips on most sites about blogging. Others derive from my personal experiences of writing online over the last 17 years and being part of a community of bloggers. I do not claim to be an expert but I also do not see myself as a “noob”. My advice is exactly that. Advice. It’s purely optional and at the end of the day “you do you”.
I’m sure if I search through the various posts on blogging that I’ve written over the years, I’ll find one pretty much identical to this. But good advice bears repeating. Plus, as the years go by, there are more options available to new bloggers. So here’s some simple, straightforward and candid advice for those who are considering starting a blog. Some of it is universal and you’ll find similar tips on most sites about blogging. Others derive from my personal experiences of writing online over the last 17 years and being part of a community of bloggers. I do not claim to be an expert but I also do not see myself as a “noob”. My advice is exactly that. Advice. It’s purely optional and at the end of the day “you do you”.
First off, before you type a word or consider setting up a blog. Consider the following. A blog that is public can be read by others. It probably won’t get a lot of traffic to begin with but it is in the public domain. Also, nothing on the internet truly goes away. Deleted blogs persist. What I’m driving at is the very act of blogging requires you to put yourself out there. You are sharing of yourself and by dint of the fact that your blog is available to read, you are tacitly inviting people to interact with you, consider you and even judge you. If you are not comfortable with that, then don’t do it. I am not saying that the moment you publish your first post, you’ll receive a tsunami of abuse, co’s you won’t but you’re dealing with people on the internet, so there is scope for things to go south. So choose wisely as the Grail Knight said.
Decide in advance of blogging what you would like to write about, what your goals are and whether you are going to wing it or work to a schedule. These points are connected to a degree, so it helps to have a clear idea before you start. If you’re just writing for your own pleasure and to share your experiences, then a fancy name, specific niche and timetable are not required. If you have your heart set on being the definitive source online about Etruscan pottery, then you need to choose a title that is relevant and then write prodigiously about that subject to build up your audience. For many of us, we are writing mainly for enjoyment, so there aren’t too many big decisions to be made beforehand. But it doesn’t do any harm to consider your options before you begin.
Pick a means of blogging that suits your needs. I would suggest that you choose a free platform or one at least with a free tier of service to begin with. Don’t spend a penny on blogging until you know that it is for you. You can always upgrade and add fancy features at a later date. If you’re the sort of person who gets side tracked or obsessive over design issues, try a blogging service such as Bear or Blot. Both offer simple, plain and unadorned blogging so you can just write, publish and shake it all out. Too many bloggers (and I include myself in this category) will draft plans, fret over logos and templates, plan schedules and generally channel all their energy into the backend of their blog, only to find they have nothing left in the tank when it comes to writing.
Be honest with yourself about what you want from blogging. Many bloggers are not bothered about statistics and traffic. If you’re not then your blogging will be a lot happier. However, there is nothing wrong with wanting to grow an audience and obviously, if you have aspirations of monetisation then numbers and the size of your readership matter. It is a question of tempering your dreams and being realistic about expectations. Growth requires promotion and marketing, although regularly posting new material also helps with regard to Google ranking. SEO also has an impact, like it or not. For the people who are somewhere in between these two positions, it is nice sometimes just to know that your posts are being read by someone and positively received. But even that requires a degree of self promotion and the most obvious means is social media. Blogging communities such as the Blaugust Discord server are also very beneficial. Don’t forget to network.
Modern life is complex with multiple demands on our time. Work, family and real life take priority for obvious reasons. Therefore, you need to figure out when and where you can write. You also need to find a suitable writing environment, if possible. You know the kind. Free from distraction. Once you’ve sorted out a specific time and place to write, then you write. Sounds crass to even say that, doesn’t it? But it is the key to blogging, spookily enough. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, writer’s block as it is generally perceived, is not really a thing.
Yes, I said it. Writer’s block isn’t a case of “I can’t write at the moment”. It’s just a case of “I don’t want to write at the moment”. Now before everyone gets shitty with me about this point, I am not referring to the days when some folk find themselves without the spoons to write. That is different. That is a wider mental health issue and not specific to writing. On such spoonless days, not only will you not write, you won’t go shopping or do the laundry. I’m talking about the days when you sit down to write and your heart is just not in it. So you give yourself a free pass claiming writer’s block and go do something else. Come on, that’s bullshit. Do you think plumbers get plumbers block? No, they get on with the job whether they want to or not. Blogging requires a degree of self discipline. I’m not saying it has to be a chore but you do have to apply yourself sometimes. Or else you just won’t produce anything and blogs need content, do they not?
So to review all the above points, if you have decided to write, then figure out what you want to write about and then where. Once you’ve got these things sorted, then just get on with it. I don’t think it has to be any more complex than that and if it is, then I politely suggest that it is you and not blogging per se, that is making it so. Once you’ve got your head in the right place so you can write, then doing so becomes a lot easier. Some days it will feel hard and you may not be exactly happy with your results. Yet these days count and if you can power through them you’ll be a better writer for doing so. And then there’s the days when it’s just like turning on a tap and the words and creativity just spill out of you. Those days are the most satisfying. So, with all this in mind, go start a blog. Or if you have one already and it’s been put on the back burner, then go write something now. Happy blogging.
Thinking Out Loud
Simply put, I got fed up with my ongoing diet last week, so I came off the wagon. There were a few glasses of wine too many and a couple of meals that were larger than the new prescribed portion size. As a result, my weight has remained the same as last week’s. On mature reflection, I am glad it didn’t gain weight as that would be very counterproductive. Weight loss and trying to change your diet are difficult tasks and somewhat joyless. Mainly because you are denying yourself pleasure. However, I don’t like what I see when I look in the mirror, so if I wish to regain my former status as a minor deity and sexual Tyrannosaurus (in my mind), then I need to get back on track.
This is yet another post where I write a series of random thoughts, gathered under the title “Thinking Out Loud”. The fourth, if we’re counting, which we’re not. I tend to do this on Mondays but that’s not legally binding.
The Diet (Again)
Simply put, I got fed up with my ongoing diet last week, so I came off the wagon. There were a few glasses of wine too many and a couple of meals that were larger than the new prescribed portion size. As a result, my weight has remained the same as last week’s. On mature reflection, I am glad it didn’t gain weight as that would be very counterproductive. Weight loss and trying to change your diet are difficult tasks and somewhat joyless. Mainly because you are denying yourself pleasure. However, I don’t like what I see when I look in the mirror, so if I wish to regain my former status as a minor deity and sexual Tyrannosaurus (in my mind), then I need to get back on track.
Digital Terrestrial Television
I seldom watch live television these days, although it is something I did all the time as a child. However, there was no other option at the time until the advent of the VCR. Nowadays I use on demand, streaming services most of the time. Especially those paid services without any advertising and on screen graphics. However, because I am a “belt and braces” sort of person, I recently bought a USB digital terrestrial TV tuner for my PC, in case the internet ever goes down. We still have a roof antenna (although it is in the loft) and there’s an outlet in the spare room that I use as an office. Hence, it was no effort to run a cable from the socket, to the USB device and then to my PC.
I don’t know how bad digital terrestrial TV is in your country but it is pretty poor here in the UK. I’m not talking about the prestige channels such as BBC or Channel 4. I mean the cheap, filler stations that fill the extremities of the TV guide. Most of these channels are in standard definition, with poor digital compression and colour grading. There are far too many adverts, so you sometimes only get 9 minutes of actual content before the next commercial break. As for the actual programs, they tend to be low grade reality shows such as “cooking with ghosts”, or cheap cosy crime dramas about a barista who solves murders by night. If these channels broadcast old classic shows, they’re often edited for content so they can be shown at any time of day. Such is the reality of so-called “free” content. If you’re not paying, this is what you get.
Cleaning the Wheelie Bins
Upon adulthood, regardless of whether you cohabitate or live alone, you quickly discover that there are chores that need to be done. Clothes don’t miraculously wash themselves. You have to go grocery shopping to some degree. If you don’t clean your home, it will become verminous. Hence, we usually get into a routine of dealing with these tasks. How effective this is comes down to you as a person. However, not all chores are immediately apparent or even expected. We have 4 wheelie bins provided by the local council, to handle our rubbish and recycling requirements. Due to the hot weather we’ve had of late, these have all needed cleaning because they contained more maggots than a Lucio Fulci movie. Needless to say this chore fell to me.
Armed with a garden hose, an old mop and a couple litres of disinfectant, I set about keeping this sinister plague at bay. It certainly wasn’t a glamorous job. Nor was it something I ever envisaged doing when younger. Along with unblocking toilets, cleaning up fox shit, removing all spiders from the house, clearing leaves from the guttering and expressing the cat’s anal glands when they’re blocked. No wonder kids don’t want to grow up these days. Due to the internet, they know that adulthood isn’t half as good as it’s cracked up to be.
The Ubiquity of AI
I built a new PC in January which meant a fresh install of Windows 10. My policy regarding this operating system is comparable to one I have regarding my own body. Namely, I don’t install anything that isn’t necessary (I’m not sure if that analogy quite works). Hence I tend to check the various updates that Microsoft regularly shunts out, to ensure that I’m only installing essential patches, rather than superfluous new features. Sadly, this is not a process you can 100% control. Which explains how I found Microsoft Copilot installed on my PC, after an alleged minor update,
Now I am not at present pathologically against AI. Artificial intelligence is a tool and like any tool, it is the manner in which it is used which foremost dictates how it is perceived. Currently, AI seems to be running rampant like a schoolyard craze among kids. The world and his wife is trying to crowbar such services into their business model. All too often the results are not good and are subsequently withdrawn. Take courier company DPD for example and its customer service chatbot. AI is also saturating other markets. Take the freelance marketplace Fiverr. A lot of the design work on offer is now AI generated and frankly shit. YouTube is awash with AI generated content which is generic, simplistic and utterly bland. As for AI voiceovers, they are excruciatingly stilted.
I make it my business now to opt out of any potential AI scraping of material that I produce. Today, I went into my Twitter/X settings to ensure that the Grok AI couldn’t parse my tweets for training purposes. I have done the same with my Squarespace website. Again, I want to keep a level head about AI but suspect that senior management in a lot of major businesses see it as a means of bypassing services that previously they’d have to pay for. It’s not so much AI per se that’s the problem but AI in the hands of unreconstructed capitalism.
Thinking Out Loud
With Blaugust: Festival of Blogging fast approaching, I have decided to close several side projects I started last November (which rapidly ran out of momentum) and focus all my writing endeavours back on Contains Moderate Peril. I have taken a 9 month break which has served its purpose. I have decided to make some minor changes to the base template I am currently using for the blog, as it has remained essentially unchanged since summer 2015. I did toy with the idea of involving a third party developer to improve the site but employing such a company with specific Squarespace experience meant spending between £2000 and £3000, which is far more than my initial budget.
This post is another collection of random thoughts, thrown together in no particular order. All of which is gathered under the functional title “Thinking Out Loud”, which is a recurring blog post that tends to be published on Mondays.
Tweaking Your Blog
With Blaugust: Festival of Blogging fast approaching, I have decided to close several side projects I started last November (which rapidly ran out of momentum) and focus all my writing endeavours back on Contains Moderate Peril. I have taken a 9 month break which has served its purpose. I have decided to make some minor changes to the base template I am currently using for the blog, as it has remained essentially unchanged since summer 2015. I did toy with the idea of involving a third party developer to improve the site but employing such a company with specific Squarespace experience meant spending between £2000 and £3000, which is far more than my initial budget.
I appreciate that such rates are the market standard at present but I simply don’t want to spend such sums of money on a hobby that in principle should not have excessive operating costs. If I was pursuing a business related blog, then it would be a different matter. My advice to new bloggers is to avail themselves of free services or 30 day trials of established products, before committing to any major costs. It is best to determine whether blogging is for you before spending a dime. If you decide that you wish to maintain an online presence and develop your own brand, then the costs have the potential to increase exponentially, the more you do. I wrote a post about the cost of keeping a blog back in 2019. Naturally the prices referenced have gone up but the basic ideas remain the same.
Total Hours Played
Setting aside the MMO genre which is predicated upon its continuous playability based upon the release of regular new content, I usually don’t keep track of the total amount of time I have invested into a video game. I will have a broad approximate notion but if I need specifics, I will go and check the numbers on Steam or whatever platform is pertinent. It can be quite surprising sometimes and often my assumptions are wrong. For example, it felt like I had spent a lot of time playing Starfield upon its release last Autumn. In total it was 136 hours, which may sound a lot but is far short of other RPGs, such as Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (186 hours) or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (286 hours). Perhaps that was due to the rather ponderous nature of Starfield, which despite its superficial modernity, ultimately was structured and played like a much older RPG.
I recently returned to Sniper Elite 5 which I have been playing on and off over the last two years plus. Having played through the main campaign, DLC, co-op and multiplayer modes, what brought me back was a renewed interest among the wider gaming community in the so-called “invasion” mode. This interesting variation of PVP, allows another player to enter your ongoing campaign and try to hunt you down while you are battling the various NPC in the game’s story missions. It is purely optional but certainly adds a fascinating and absorbing spin on the proceedings. As the invading Sniper Jäger you have the advantage of being on the same side as the enemy NPC and can tag them. If they subsequently encounter the enemy, their change in status on the mini-map alerts you. However, playing the campaign and having your game invaded can be immense fun as well. There is scope to clear areas of the map and set traps or an ambush for invaders. I find this especially satisfying. It certainly has given the game a new lease of life which is why I discovered last week that I had played 317 hours in total. Seldom does a modern game provide such value.
Alexa Doesn’t Swear
I’ve had some form of Amazon Echo smart speaker since 2016. I have always found these devices useful for timers, general questions such as weather, traffic and train times and for reminders. Its main use in our house is playing music. I probably don’t use a third of its total functionality but I still consider it an asset. However, despite 8 years of ownership, I only recently discovered one of Alexa’s curious foibles. She seems incapable of swearing. Upon reflection, I see the merit in this design choice. Especially if you have young children using the device. I certainly don’t see it as an infringement of free speech. I found out about Alexa’s puritanical streak when I requested specific songs to be played. Usually I request various playlists that I’ve curated but on this occasion I asked for a few songs by name. To my surprise and amusement, the profanities in their titles were “bleeped out” when Alexa confirmed the selection. The songs in question were “Too Drunk to Fuck” by Dead Kennedys and “Pussy” by Rammstein.
Diet Update
When I stood on the scales this morning, I appear to have lost another 2.2 lbs, which is steady progress. At present I weigh 196.4 lbs. I had to cut down a great deal last Wednesday to compensate for the fact that I was going for a meal at a French brasserie on Thursday and I felt obliged to try and ensure that my metaphorical food intake ledger was balanced accordingly. Mrs P and I have decided to not eschew wine completely so it has been incorporated into our weekend “indulgences”. Whether this has a detrimental effect on the overall program, I will find out next Monday.
Blaugust 2024
Every year, Blaugust: Festival of Blogging comes around and I happily participate. I also try to encourage others to do so by giving reasons why writing and being creative in general are worthwhile pastimes. At times it does feel that I’m repeating myself, so this time round I shall keep it very simple. Writing is fun, regardless of how you do it. The benefits of being part of a friendly and supportive community are so obvious, do I really need to list them? Blaugust is always one of the high points of my year and I’ve never regretted the time I’ve spent participating. The “rules” are simple. You do as little or as much as you see fit. You share your content and if you wish to, can interact with others over on the community Discord. There’s no pressure from anyone and if you approach the event with the right mindset, you don’t need to put any pressure on yourself. So follow the link above, read Belghast’s post and consider signing up? To quote Alexei Sayle, “you’ve nothing to lose but your wafers”. No, I have no idea what it means, either.
Every year, Blaugust: Festival of Blogging comes around and I happily participate. I also try to encourage others to do so by giving reasons why writing and being creative in general are worthwhile pastimes. At times it does feel that I’m repeating myself, so this time round I shall keep it very simple. Writing is fun, regardless of how you do it. The benefits of being part of a friendly and supportive community are so obvious, do I really need to list them? Blaugust is always one of the high points of my year and I’ve never regretted the time I’ve spent participating. The “rules” are simple. You do as little or as much as you see fit. You share your content and if you wish to, can interact with others over on the community Discord. There’s no pressure from anyone and if you approach the event with the right mindset, you don’t need to put any pressure on yourself. So follow the link above, read Belghast’s post and consider signing up? To quote Alexei Sayle, “you’ve nothing to lose but your wafers”. No, I have no idea what it means, either.
A perennial statement that is often trotted out with regard to Blaugust is “do people still read blogs”? To which the resounding answer is “yes”. A cursory Google search will show that blogs still enjoy a healthy readership and to suggest otherwise is at the least spurious and at worst disingenuous. Here are a few basic points about the relevance of blogging:
77% of internet users report regularly reading blog posts.
80% of bloggers say that blogging drives results.
50% of bloggers publish weekly or several times per month.
Bloggers who publish the most are most likely to report “strong results”.
Food, lifestyle, and travel niches have the highest percentage of blogs and more than 50,000 blog visits per month.
So, there’s definitely life in the old dog. If you’re writing just for pleasure, then the stats and SEO side of things aren’t that important. However, if you’re writing to build a site or a brand, then Blaugust offers scope to grow, if you put in the effort.
Something that has changed in recent years, that is worth noting, is the advent of Artificial Intelligence. It is now relatively easy to input a few ideas into a site such as ChatGPT or Chat Genie and generate a passable blog post. However, such content is usually easy to spot as it all too often reeks of homogeneity and lacks character. It’s missing all the foibles and quirks that human writers bring to their work. It’s one of the reasons why so much of the content on YouTube is bland and generic. Personally speaking, I would not like to see a world in which real writing becomes a small island in an ocean of AI generated content. It is important that people think and do things for themselves. However, that is another blog post in itself.
Finally, one of the most positive things that has come out of my 17 years of blogging, are the people that I have met along the way. Many of whom I’m still in contact with today. I have always enjoyed reading their blogs and learning about their lives, likings and activities. The thing about writing is that it offers a window into the author’s mindseye. Even if you write under a “nom de plume” and keep your personal life out of your prose, aspects of your personality still bleed through into your content. It is this human quality, be it abundantly clear or subtly woven into your words, that attracts many readers and keeps them returning. This is why I continue to take part in Blaugust. It is an opportunity to make new friends and experience new things. Such as different hobbies or pastimes, life in a country far from your own, or to gain insight into points of view contrary to your own.
And if none of that appeals to you, there’s always pictures of cats. See you around.
Thinking Out Loud
First of all let’s begin with an activity that I have a love hate relationship with. Namely, tinkering with your PC. I’ve been looking at the specs of my computer and it would appear that its performance Achilles heel is the graphic card. In a perfect world, I would just buy the latest top of the range model and be done with it. However, I am not sufficiently wealthy to do such things. Hence, I have to set a budget and then search for what is considered the best option within it. This is a tedious, contradictory and wearisome task. It involves trawling through reviews written by people who often do not understand the concept of a budget and figurative lines in the sand. They are infuriating, but that’s people for you.
This post is a collection of random thoughts, expressed as a stream of consciousness. Put less pretentiously, a few words about the various things that are occurring in my life. Alternatively, they may also be ephemeral talking points from the never-ending news cycle, or even those obscure thoughts you experience while laying awake in your bed. Either way, they are not the sort of material that requires a full blog post. A paragraph or two is sufficient to express a thought or make a point. All of which is collectively gathered under the title “Thinking Out Loud”, which will no doubt become a recurring blog post.
Tinkering With Your PC
First of all let’s begin with an activity that I have a love hate relationship with. Namely, tinkering with your PC. I’ve been looking at the specs of my computer and it would appear that its performance Achilles heel is the graphic card. In a perfect world, I would just buy the latest top of the range model and be done with it. However, I am not sufficiently wealthy to do such things. Hence, I have to set a budget and then search for what is considered the best option within it. This is a tedious, contradictory and wearisome task. It involves trawling through reviews written by people who often do not understand the concept of a budget and figurative lines in the sand. They are infuriating, but that’s people for you.
To cut a long story short, I have ordered the following AMD graphics card. Powercolor AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT Fighter 8GB GDDR6. The reviews are acceptable, my current PC is based around an AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 8-Core Processor so there should be some synergy there, and I got offered a very good price. If this is not to the liking of the selfappointed “Graphics Card Police”, then they can fuck off into the sea. It’s the best I can do for £204 plus postage. Hopefully it will arrive on Tuesday and then I can have the usual fun and games trying to fit it. I can also “defluff” the interior of my PC case. The fun is endless.
Games Should be Fun
I stopped playing Call of Duty in June because it was becoming too much of a treadmill. Playing both Warzone and Multiplayer essentially boiled down to the following. Buy the 2 month Season Pass, grind out the weapons and aftermarket parts, adapt your existing weapons builds to the latest meta, endure the endless succession of unbalanced multiplayer games and swarms of cheaters. Rinse and repeat while being bombarded with endless new novelty skins and weapon blueprints. It all became a dull chore, lacking in fun. So I’ve moved on.
It seems that the notion that a game should at some fundamental level be fun, is no longer a primary consideration. In fact it seems pretty low on the list of requirements, at least with mainstream, triple A titles. Obviously there are still entertaining and enjoyable titles out there but I feel that you just have to look a lot harder to find them, these days. Too many games feel generic, soulless and obvious products rather than interactive mediums for entertainment and enjoyment.
I recently bought a few new games, because why would I want to play any that I had in my library for years? Insane isn’t it? I bought The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe version which is most amusing and incredibly intelligent in its satire of so many video game tropes and idiosyncrasies. It lends itself to binge gameplay until you’ve achieved several of the alternate endings. I also bought the submarine game Cold Waters mainly because I recently watched the 1958 classic movies, Run Silent, Run Deep with Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. It’s not a full blown submarine simulator but still offers complex gameplay. I also purchased Dragon’s Dogma 2, as I had a hankering for an RPG. Sadly, I’m struggling to find the fun in this game as it is proving confusing both narratively and with its gameplay. I’m also struggling with the keyboard and mouse controls for the PC. I suspect this title plays better on consoles.
Diet (Who Ate All the Pies?)
My diet is far from healthy and has contributed to my gaining a lot of weight. I drink too often as well, which makes matters worse. I have managed to lose weight in the past but this year I have not been so successful mainly because my heart hasn’t been in it. But it is for the sake of my heart that I need to resolve this matter. So Mrs P and I are both embarking on a diet, based on three meals a day, reduced portion sizes and the elimination of a few specific items, including alcohol. I’m not looking forward to it as I derive a great deal of pleasure from eating and drinking. I shall try and gamify the process and work towards goals and rewards. I shall also post details each Monday as to whether I’ve been successful. As of today, my starting weight is 201 lbs. I am looking to shed 28 lbs (2 stone). It’s on, like Donkey Kong, as they say.
Blaugust 2023: Lessons Learned
This is the last week of Blaugust 2023: Festival of Blogging and it is customary at this point to reflect on the event and one’s own contribution to it. For me, the stand out aspect of this year is the number of people participating and the diversity of blogs. I find it most reassuring that so many people have chosen to express themselves online and share their thoughts and insights. It has also been most gratifying to see so many people join the Discord server. There have been a lot of interesting and enjoyable discussions over the last few weeks. I hope that the support and resources available have proven useful for new and returning bloggers and that the event has been beneficial for them. I always find that Blaugust is good for bolstering my enthusiasm for writing and getting me back in the proverbial saddle.
This is the last week of Blaugust 2023: Festival of Blogging and it is customary at this point to reflect on the event and one’s own contribution to it. For me, the stand out aspect of this year is the number of people participating and the diversity of blogs. I find it most reassuring that so many people have chosen to express themselves online and share their thoughts and insights. It has also been most gratifying to see so many people join the Discord server. There have been a lot of interesting and enjoyable discussions over the last few weeks. I hope that the support and resources available have proven useful for new and returning bloggers and that the event has been beneficial for them. I always find that Blaugust is good for bolstering my enthusiasm for writing and getting me back in the proverbial saddle.
September is now on the horizon and in many ways it offers the hardest challenge of all for new bloggers or those that have recently returned. That being to keep blogging and to find some sort of routine or schedule that is appropriate. Sadly, some bloggerss will become increasingly intermittent in their output and a few will go into a hiatus. Such is the nature of blogging. Not everyone has a work/life balance that can sustain it and it is also fair to say that some will discover that as a hobby, blogging simply isn’t for them. But that is part of what Blaugust is about. It is an opportunity to work out and explore one’s own relationship with writing. What approach works for you and what motivates you to write or produce the material that you do. It is about being realistic and honest with yourself.
I have found, once again, that Blaugust has provided the impetus to encourage me to write every day. I think this just comes down to being in the company of like minded individuals, who are all trying to do the same. The event also provides a tremendous sense of satisfaction in seeing a series of posts build up over the course of the month. And it is nice to engage with those who leave comments. What I would like to do in the months ahead is see if I can increase the readership, which has naturally declined during the period I have not been writing. I am hoping that regularly blogging about Starfield will prove an enjoyable experience and of potential interest to readers. In the meantime I need to revisit the Blaugust Achievement list and determine which ones I can claim. To everyone else who participated, well done. I hope you’ve had a successful Blaugust.
Blaugust 2023: Staying Motivated
I have participated in Blaugust numerous times over the years and also in several other similar events. I have therefore written about the subject of “staying motivated” quite a few times already and as a result it is quite hard to come up with a new angle on the problem and not to sound like a scratched record. I also appreciate that my rather hardline and fundamentalist message of “stop complaining and just write, no excuses” may not necessarily resonate or inspire everyone. We all have to tackle this problem in our own unique way. So today, I’ve decided to adopt a more conciliatory stance and offer five straight forward and practical points that may help the aspiring blogger to keep on writing in the weeks ahead.
“Gonna fly now, flying high now” and other motivational stuff
I have participated in Blaugust numerous times over the years and also in several other similar events. I have therefore written about the subject of “staying motivated” quite a few times already and as a result it is quite hard to come up with a new angle on the problem and not to sound like a scratched record. I also appreciate that my rather hardline and fundamentalist message of “stop complaining and just write, no excuses” may not necessarily resonate or inspire everyone. We all have to tackle this problem in our own unique way. So today, I’ve decided to adopt a more conciliatory stance and offer five straight forward and practical points that may help the aspiring blogger to keep on writing in the weeks ahead.
Focus on your own blog and not what others are doing. It is natural to look to other blogs for ideas and inspiration. Ideas for both templates and posts are shared and this is how popular formats and styles become established. However, other people’s blogs can also be a distraction. Especially if you feel that they are gaining a degree of success and yours isn’t quite getting the same sort of traction. Just like obsessing over website traffic and stats, worrying too much about what others are doing is problematic. It can sow the seeds of discontent and undermine your output. Which is why it is important to stay focused upon your own writing. There comes a point where you must draw a line under tweaking your blog’s design and apply your energies to writing. A fancy looking blog without any regular content is redundant.
Brainstorm ideas. Keep notes somewhere practical. Be it in a physical notebook or electronically. Write down ideas, as and when they come to you. Better still, brainstorm potential writing prompts and talking points. Write them down, put them in some semblance of order and start banking ideas for the future. Write draft posts if that is your style and get the basics down first. Ideas become bullet points, bullet points become paragraphs and paragraphs can be built into a full blog post. If you have a good idea, don’t squander the opportunity. You may have an angle on a particular subject that others haven’t covered yet.
Hannibal Smith likes a plan
Plan posts. Brainstorming ideas and collating draft posts allows you to plan content in advance. Some bloggers like to write spontaneously or react to what is happening around them. But not everyone favours such an ad hoc and impromptu style. Hence planning posts in advance may well increase your chances of them completed and out the proverbial door. If fate provides you with both the time and inclination to write two posts in a day, then seize the opportunity. Some subjects may well need to be tackled in more than one post. Therefore planning an appropriate arc to accommodate a weighty subject may be the best approach. Committing to a series of posts may also provide a degree of stability that you need. It means not having to think of new material for a while which can take the pressure off.
Set achievable goals. Blogging becomes a lot easier if you are entirely honest with yourself. We all know what we can and cannot achieve with regard to writing and balancing the requirements of the rest of our life. Therefore, don’t commit publicly to writing material everyday and then fail to achieve it. You will disappoint yourself and your readers. If you can realistically post one post a week then embrace that reality and ensure that you do your best. Placing unnecessary pressure upon yourself is counterproductive, so don’t do it. Be candid about what you can produce, with the time and resources you have and then focus upon getting it done. Something is usually better than nothing when it comes to blogging.
Reward yourself. Finally, reward yourself after writing. If you have set yourself a target of three posts in a week and you achieve it, then claim whatever prize you have set for yourself. A carrot on the end of a stick is better at motivating than just a stick on its own. Gamification is often a good tool to increase productivity. So find a way to reward yourself that will actively encourage you to write. Obviously, if you fail to hit your target and still reward yourself, you’re an unconscionable hypocrite and calumniator, who will burn in perdition’s flames. But that’s blogging for you and the universally accepted code of writing. No blog post. No cakes. Or meth. Or whatever your personal indulgence is.
16 Years of Blogging
Today is my blogging anniversary. I have been inflicting my thoughts upon the world for 16 years. I started writing online regularly in March 2007, although my early blogging projects were somewhat scattershot as I struggled to find an appropriate niche. August 16th standouts because it was the date I registered my first domain name, in a fit of enthusiasm. In the previous seven months, I created and abandoned three sites before I finally found a subject that I could focus upon and that would sustain my writing. Hence for practical reasons I consider August 16th my starting date as I spent money on my hobby, which I believe shows some kind of commitment. I won’t bore readers yet again with my origin story as I’ve covered that before. To keep things short and sweet, I’ve kept writing this long because I enjoy it. Maybe in a different life, I would have liked to have made it my career.
Today is my blogging anniversary. I have been inflicting my thoughts upon the world for 16 years. I started writing online regularly in March 2007, although my early blogging projects were somewhat scattershot as I struggled to find an appropriate niche. August 16th standouts because it was the date I registered my first domain name, in a fit of enthusiasm. In the previous seven months, I created and abandoned three sites before I finally found a subject that I could focus upon and that would sustain my writing. Hence for practical reasons I consider August 16th my starting date as I spent money on my hobby, which I believe shows some kind of commitment. I won’t bore readers yet again with my origin story as I’ve covered that before. To keep things short and sweet, I’ve kept writing this long because I enjoy it. Maybe in a different life, I would have liked to have made it my career.
I like long-form writing that utilises the English language well. It can be informative, galvanising and even revolutionary. Well chosen words give weight to ideas and concepts. They can inspire and call people to action. They can also empathise, amuse and educate. The right words can echo through time or make you spit out your coffee. Hence I like the acerbic wit of Charlie Brooker and the emotional depth of Al McIntosh. Then there is the wisdom and reverence of Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan. I also enjoy Agatha Christie, Jacob Bronowski, M.R. James and Roger Hargreaves. All great writers in their respective fields. I could list names indefinitely. My point is that when you encounter good writing, it doesn’t just make its point. It elicits an emotional response and resonates with you in a meaningful way. It can be four panels of Calvin and Hobbes, Shakespeare’s St. Crispin's Day speech from Henry V, or Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream.
As a blogger, although I cannot reach the standards of the writings I have referenced, I believe I can learn and improve overtime. It doesn’t matter what you’re writing about or what your style is. If you keep writing, thinking and trying to hone your skills, you will. Hopefully your blogging journey will be enjoyable, rewarding and even therapeutic. I know mine has over the years. I’ve met (online) many talented, interesting people and learned a lot simply by reading other people’s experience of daily life. It becomes apparent very quickly that we have more in common, than we do differences. I also believe that we are actively encouraged to be docile and to lose ourselves in memes and ephemeral online content. We willingly embrace an infantilised and lazy use of language. In doing so we restrict our own freedom of expression. Blogging flies in the face of this. It is about exercising your right to free speech, free thought and rejecting the status quo.
I hope that I’m still writing in another 16 years time, as it is such an integral part of my daily life. However, I suspect my liver and arteries have other plans. Plus the growing corporate stranglehold over the internet may well mean that blogging becomes more and more like pissing in the wind. I don’t think that any company would be crass enough to block content directly that isn’t under their auspices, but it isn’t too far fetched to envisage an algorithm that bypasses anything that isn’t “affiliated”. But enough of this existential navel gazing. We haven’t quite reached an Orwellian dystopia yet. Therefore, in the meantime remember that words are good. They are your friend and ally. They will serve you well if you approach them with an open mind. Don’t forget the old maxim, you must say what you mean, if you wish to mean what you say. Keep writing.
Creator Appreciation Week: Cool Dudes Walking Club
It's Creator Appreciation Week (August 13th – August 19th) for those participating in Blaugust: Festival of Blogging 2023. What does that mean in plain English? It means I am going to write a post specifically about someone or a group of people who create content that I enjoy. Now that is not a short list. I subscribe to dozens of YouTube channels and even more blogs via Feedly. However, it is not practical to try and write about all of these. So I have had to think long and hard about selecting one creator to highlight. It’s quite a difficult choice because I enjoy a multitude of content for different reasons. However, I have chosen one which regularly keeps me entertained, has a good community associated and also offers an element of interaction which is quite unique. It is this last factor which has tipped the balance.
It's Creator Appreciation Week (August 13th – August 19th) for those participating in Blaugust: Festival of Blogging 2023. What does that mean in plain English? It means I am going to write a post specifically about someone or a group of people who create content that I enjoy. Now that is not a short list. I subscribe to dozens of YouTube channels and even more blogs via Feedly. However, it is not practical to try and write about all of these. So I have had to think long and hard about selecting one creator to highlight. It’s quite a difficult choice because I enjoy a multitude of content for different reasons. However, I have chosen one which regularly keeps me entertained, has a good community associated and also offers an element of interaction which is quite unique. It is this last factor which has tipped the balance.
One of my hobbies is walking for pleasure. The UK has a culture of walking and it is often a very practical means of getting about. Then there are the obvious physical and mental health benefits. The former are obvious, the latter not immediately so. Some people do not like being alone with their thoughts or find silence or at least the absence of speech, comforting. I do. Walking affords me a time to think and reflect upon anything I choose. It also allows me to switch off if I wish to. And then there are walks in the countryside. There’s the enjoyment of planning a route and challenging yourself with the distance you walk. Walking can be a fluid situation if a route through a field is untenable, or the weather turns against you. But it is always worth it for the potential views and the opportunity to pursue other interests when out, like photography, painting or wildlife spotting.
Which segues nicely into the Cool Dudes Walking Club. I would like to point out that “dude” is used in a non-gender specific way and that the club is open to all. About seven years ago I was perusing YouTube and found a channel belonging to comedian, actor and writer Marek Larwood. I was aware of his work and subscribed to his channel as it featured (among other things) a series of videos involving excursions to major tourist attractions in London. Let it suffice to say that Marek’s outlook on travel, tourists and generally navigating daily life resonated with me. As he has a keen interest in walking and started producing more related content, he eventually set up a separate YouTube channel. Thus the Cool Dudes Walking Club was born. I subsequently joined, subscribed to the new YouTube channel and became a monthly supporter.
There is a tendency these days for videos to follow a “process”. I don’t mind well made YouTube content but I don’t want the process to crowd out the passion. One of the key things about Marek Larwood’s walking videos is that they are made in an informal fashion but that doesn’t mean that they lack enthusiasm. Marek talks about his gear, gives hints and tips about walking and what he’s hoping to achieve. But it never feels like a hard sell. He also provides anecdotes and information relating to where he is walking and the sights and sounds along the way. Yet it is far from didactic or stilted. In fact the overall tone of most of his videos is the same as if you were walking with your mates. In between the clear love and excitement, there are miscellaneous grumblings about tourists or public footpaths that farmers have purposely blocked. And don’t get Marek started on pigeons. Therefore, the Cool Dudes Walking Club is not only entertaining but very relatable. That is important.
Another aspect of the Cool Dudes Walking Club that I like is the associated community. The comments on YouTube are always pleasant and informative. Often Marek will ask a question in the video such as “do you like “wild” camping? If so, what is wrong with you?” and the responses are honest and again relatable. I think the channel attracts walkers with a laid back mindset who enjoy walking in the moment, rather than those who see this outdoor pursuit as an ironman style challenge. And then there’s the photos. There are a range of Marek keyrings available as club merchandise and an open invitation to take pictures of your “mini Marek” while out walking. Pictures that are sent in feature at the end of videos and they are for me a highlight. People are very creative with their pictures and they often feature very interesting locations.
So these are a few of the reasons why I enjoy being a member of the Cool Dudes Walking Club. It is nice to be part of a community that enjoys a shared hobby, has a welcoming and genuine outlook and is fun to spend time with online. Plus it would be remiss of me not to say that I appreciate Marek’s sense of humour and broader perspective. He is also very good when it comes to extolling the virtues of his walks and their respective locations. I visited both Avebury and the Bembridge Windmill because of his videos. I also empathise with his aspiration to try and make the Cool Dudes Walking Club his primary job. I used to harbour similar hopes regarding writing and this site. Therefore it is nice to see the club membership grow and someone making progress through their own hard work.
Blaugust 2023: A Personal Introduction
The first thing that springs to mind with such a post is the song “Introduce Yourself” by Faith No More, from their 1987 album of the same name. Ah, the power of word association. I was twenty back in 1987. Young, optimistic, trying to figure out what I wanted to do in life. I finally joined the UK civil service the following year as it was a practical solution to an unresolved question. But I digress. My personal employment history is not the point of this post as I don’t think I am personally defined by my line of work. So what actually does define a person? Their actions? The company they keep? John Saxon’s character, Roper, in the film Enter the Dragon.said “a man's strength can be measured by his appetites. Indeed, a man's strength flows from his appetites”. But he was wearing flared trousers so I remain sceptical of such a philosophy. As for me, I like to write. Always have done.
Faith No More were a “popular beat combo” from the 80s and 90s
The first thing that springs to mind with such a post is the song “Introduce Yourself” by Faith No More, from their 1987 album of the same name. Ah, the power of word association. I was twenty back in 1987. Young, optimistic, trying to figure out what I wanted to do in life. I finally joined the UK civil service the following year as it was a practical solution to an unresolved question. But I digress. My personal employment history is not the point of this post as I don’t think I am personally defined by my line of work. So what actually does define a person? Their actions? The company they keep? John Saxon’s character, Roper, in the film Enter the Dragon.said “a man's strength can be measured by his appetites. Indeed, a man's strength flows from his appetites”. But he was wearing flared trousers so I remain sceptical of such a philosophy. As for me, I like to write. Always have done.
I have written several posts in the past extolling the virtues of blogging. It serves a different purpose to other forms of content creation, affording a very personal means of communicating and expressing yourself. It is also invaluable for collating your thoughts and processing the world around you. It has a very cathartic quality and certainly will provide a form of self therapy if that is what you’re seeking. I also think there is a political dimension to writing. Too often these days we are encouraged to immerse ourselves in the trivial or get angry about bogus problems and false narratives. Writing is a means to see beyond such spurious things. To escape the confines of the boundaries set by others. It also challenges the status quo by sharing your own thoughts and opinions with others. And if that all sounds a little too pretentious or highfalutin for you, it’s also good fun.
Carl Sagan was a clever fellow
That’s the pitch out of the way, let’s talk about other things I like doing. I am a man of a certain age (55) and I enjoy traditional comforts, such as good food and wine. I don’t obsess over food and its associated cultural baggage, as in the modern idiom. I just like a “spot of lunch” and welcome meals from both ends of the culinary spectrum. I like reading and learning stuff. By that I mean proper stuff, not crazy bullshit posted on YouTube by some whack job. I recently finished The Dragons of Eden by Carl Sagan which was most illuminating. I try to read at least one book a month and nowadays tend to favour non-fiction over fiction, although I’m partial to some William Hope Hodgson. I am a big fan of cinema and watch films from all countries and all periods of time. It is an artform I take seriously and I cannot survive on a diet of superhero movies. I also like to walk for pleasure and regularly blog about my various day trips and holidays. I’m also a very political animal but am not affiliated to any specific party or ideology.
I have retired early, after a traumatic six years caring for my sick parents. I have plenty to keep myself occupied and seldom find myself at a loose end. It is my ambition now to ride out the remaining years of my life with the minimum amount of hassle and bullshit. I keep my expectations low and as a result I enjoy the simple pleasures in life, such as an unexpected sandwich and a chance encounter with a friendly cat at a bus stop. I laugh a lot as it is free and makes me feel slightly better about all the terrible things I see, that I’m powerless to change. All of the worst people I’ve encountered in life have lacked a sense of humour. I try hard not to hate things and people as such feeling tend to have a detrimental effect on everything. However, I agree with what Doctor M’Benga said recently in an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. “There are some things in this world that don’t deserve forgiveness”. I also think that there’s only one correct way to put the toilet paper on the holder. The Spanish Inquisition burned people for less.
Doctor M’Benga is possibly the most interesting character in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
So that’s me. Well some of me at least. I don’t consider myself a complicated individual. But I like to think I have some depth to me. I hope you are enjoying Blaugust, especially if you’re one of the new people who signed up at the start of the month. I sincerely hope you find support, inspiration and camaraderie within the Blaugust community and that you also find your niche. There’s a lot of experience out there to draw upon and hopefully a lot of positive affirmation coming your way. If I can offer just one piece of advice to anyone who is grappling with blogging at the present, it is that if you keep doing something, learn from your mistakes and just persevere then you will get better at it. Unless you are the UK government but that’s another story.
Welcome to Blaugust 2023
Blaugust Festival of Blogging is finally here. A month long celebration of blogging and bloggers that is open to all. The idea is to encourage those who are just starting out with writing online or those who are returning to the scene after a break. It is also about those who already write online content and who might be feeling a little burned out, renewing their enthusiasm. Blaugust is a community driven event that encourages people to express themselves in the way that is best for them. It doesn’t advocate a “one size fits all” approach and is very much about horses for courses. There is advice, support and activities available and participants are at liberty to do as much or as little as they wish. Blaugust has been running for a decade now and I’ve participated in all previous events as I find it an invaluable experience, each time.
This will make sense if you read the post
Blaugust Festival of Blogging is finally here. A month long celebration of blogging and bloggers that is open to all. The idea is to encourage those who are just starting out with writing online or those who are returning to the scene after a break. It is also about those who already write online content and who might be feeling a little burned out, renewing their enthusiasm. Blaugust is a community driven event that encourages people to express themselves in the way that is best for them. It doesn’t advocate a “one size fits all” approach and is very much about horses for courses. There is advice, support and activities available and participants are at liberty to do as much or as little as they wish. Blaugust has been running for a decade now and I’ve participated in all previous events as I find it an invaluable experience, each time.
So far over 30 people have signed up for this year’s event and are actively participating. The Blaugust Discord Server has been busy with lots of new faces and the conversation has got off to a flying start. As someone who has been writing online for 16 years, I find the excitement and enthusiasm of all the new participants very invigorating. Blaugust always provides a welcome shot in the arm and reinvigorates my writing mojo, so to speak. It’s also very uplifting to spend time with those who are taking their first steps online. I get the same pleasure from this as I do when I watch a classic movie that I’m very familiar with with someone who’s seeing it for the first time. Seeing new bloggers gain confidence, improve their style and increase their output is most gratifying. The written word is a powerful tool and it is important to make sure it is available to all.
The Magnificent Seven reference coming up
Now it is customary during the beginning of Blaugust to write a post or two offering advice based upon your own experience. I have done that many times over the years on a wealth of topics. Blog rolls, drafting posts, your writing voice, whether to allow comments, website traffic and statistics, motivation, writing schedules and much more. All of which are valid points to consider when blogging. However, today I am going to give just one very straightforward piece of advice. One that is somewhat obvious but is paradoxically the hardest to do. And that is, once you’ve set up your blog with a fancy theme, loads of plug-ins and a quirky domain name, sooner or later you have got to sit down and actually write something. “No shit”, I hear you say. But let’s be honest, wasting time and putting writing off is something we all do to a greater or lesser degree. Procrastination is the thief of time and an international pastime.
How often have you found yourself with lots of ideas buzzing around your brain that you think would make a “crackerjack” blog post. That’s a niche market pop culture reference for fans of The Magnificent Seven but I digress. So there you are filled with creativity and enthusiasm with time on your hands. So naturally you head to your desk, cracking your knuckles in anticipation of the literary masterpiece you are about to bestow upon humanity. And then you sit down to write the damn post and suddenly your keyboard might as well be kryptonite or a two day old fox turd. Immediately that bird on Mrs Coltart’s roof that you can see through the window, has just become the most fascinating thing in the entire universe. You realise that you may have a library book to take back, or you’ve run out of oregano, so you have to go to the store, or else you’ll be condemned to eat bland meals for all eternity.
Prepare for some wisdom comparable to Dear Drooper
Congratulations you’ve just done what 100% of all other bloggers have done. Fear not the solution is easy. You just have to fucking write, you long-eared galoot (other kinds of galoots are available). Yep, that’s the answer. Put your ass in a chair, write some lines, expand upon them and voila, you’ve written a blog post. It doesn’t have to be Shakespeare, it doesn’t have to change the course of history and it doesn’t even have to be of interest to anyone but you if you want. But to be a blogger you do have to write. It’s essential to the concept. Now let us not get into an argument about writer’s block. I do recognise that it is a thing. But it never has been and never will be about not being able to think about what to write. There are endless subjects to inspire you and explore. Writer’s block is about being motivated to write and not wanting to write. There will be times when your heart’s not in it. But you can’t allow something quite so capricious to undermine your writing intentions all the time.
Now if you don’t want to write, then fine, don’t. That’s your prerogative as Bobby Brown said originally before everyone else copied him. Just don’t whine about it later, that you haven’t written anything if you didn’t actually sit down and write something. This is the most practical and sage-like advice I can give to anyone who wants to blog or create any content online. You have to knuckle down and just get on with it, sooner or later. How many other tasks accommodate such a nebulous excuse? I didn’t take out that festering pile of recycling because I am swathed in melancholic pathos. Bullshit. Nope you have to apply yourself to write. Or else you’ll just be forever on the sidelines trying to convince others (and yourself) exactly how good at writing you could be, if it wasn’t for the metropolitan elites, global warming and other “reasons”. The Farage Defense as I call it but that’s a separate blog post.
Blaugust 2023
It is a fact of life, like death and taxes, that our passion for our hobbies will wax and wane overtime. All too often, the realities of daily life just get in the way. The enthusiasm you have in the morning for a great idea, may vanish by the evening when we finally have time to do it. Furthermore, if you do something often enough, sooner or later you’ll either want to (or need to) take a break. Regardless of how much you may love that particular pastime. Hobbies take time, energy and discipline. Sadly, not only can these factors take a toll upon your ongoing participation but they can also potentially stop you from even starting. I suspect that I am preaching to the proverbial choir and that many of those reading this will have experienced both scenarios. You’ve either struggled to sustain a “passion project” and have burned out, or you’ve fallen at the very first hurdle and not progressed beyond your initial excitement to try something new.
It is a fact of life, like death and taxes, that our passion for our hobbies will wax and wane overtime. All too often, the realities of daily life just get in the way. The enthusiasm you have in the morning for a great idea, may vanish by the evening when we finally have time to do it. Furthermore, if you do something often enough, sooner or later you’ll either want to (or need to) take a break. Regardless of how much you may love that particular pastime. Hobbies take time, energy and discipline. Sadly, not only can these factors take a toll upon your ongoing participation but they can also potentially stop you from even starting. I suspect that I am preaching to the proverbial choir and that many of those reading this will have experienced both scenarios. You’ve either struggled to sustain a “passion project” and have burned out, or you’ve fallen at the very first hurdle and not progressed beyond your initial excitement to try something new.
I fall into the former category. I’ve been blogging for over two decades and I slowly ground to a halt last September. I tried to jump start my “writing mojo” in April this year but it was short lived. Rather than playing amateur psychologist, let it suffice to say that motivation is a factor. Fortunately, Blaugust 2023: Festival of Blogging is fast approaching (it starts in August). This yearly, community driven, online event is an invaluable wellspring of support, advice, camaraderie and enjoyment. Organised and overseen by Belghast from the Tales of the Aggronaut blog, Blaugust “is a month-long event that takes place in August each year that focuses on blogging and other serialised content. The goal is to stoke the fires of creativity and allow bloggers and other content creators to mingle in a shared community while pushing each other to post more regularly. The idea is that this festival of blogging can help reignite dwindling fires for the next year and give folks a sense of kinship as a result”.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, actually it was quite shit”.
Hence, I have signed up for Blaugust 2023: Festival of Blogging as I find that the event is excellent for motivating me and focusing my energy. I would urge anyone who has blogged previously and wishes to resume their writing to read Bel’s post and come and join us on Discord. The same goes for anyone who is new to blogging or any other type of online content creation. You’ll find help and advice for all kinds of activities be it streaming, podcasting, blogging or vlogging. Being part of a community where you know that friends and colleagues will view your content and give you positive, constructive feedback can be a major boost when you are learning the ropes. As for me, I just need a proverbial kick up the arse to get blogging again. I enjoy writing for a multitude of reasons but the most fundamental one is that it makes me happy. Time to get back in the saddle.
Thoughts on Blogging Part 18
As a blogger we are often told by our peers not to obsess over website traffic and statistics in general. There is a degree of sense in this. We should be primarily focused on writing, maintaining an equitable schedule and staying motivated. Stats can have a negative effect on the latter. However, one cannot ignore the subject either. As a writer, at some point you do want people to actually read your material, or else what is the point? I have therefore always kept an eye on traffic and have attempted to grow my readership overtime. The results have been varied. In my experience, you do slowly build up an audience by being persistent with your writing. But you also have to promote your work, which is a job in itself. It’s also something that not everyone is comfortable with. “Therein lies the rub” as the expression goes. How do you attract readers without compromising your own standards?
As a blogger we are often told by our peers not to obsess over website traffic and statistics in general. There is a degree of sense in this. We should be primarily focused on writing, maintaining an equitable schedule and staying motivated. Stats can have a negative effect on the latter. However, one cannot ignore the subject either. As a writer, at some point you do want people to actually read your material, or else what is the point? I have therefore always kept an eye on traffic and have attempted to grow my readership overtime. The results have been varied. In my experience, you do slowly build up an audience by being persistent with your writing. But you also have to promote your work, which is a job in itself. It’s also something that not everyone is comfortable with. “Therein lies the rub” as the expression goes. How do you attract readers without compromising your own standards?
No doubt the following anecdote will not come as a surprise to others, but it caught me unaware. I have been on a writing hiatus since last September and only post content about two times a month on my blog. However, I recently decided to write a humorous piece about Call of Duty Warzone 2.0 DMZ, as I’ve been playing the game a lot lately. Due to the niche nature of the post, I chose to publish it on the DMZ subreddit, rather than my own blog. But in every other respect I treated it as I would a regular post. To cut a long story short, when you post on reddit you can find statistics at the footer showing how well it has performed. Only the author and the moderators can see this data. This particular post was viewed 32,500 times in approximately 36 hours. To put that into perspective that’s the equivalent of a quarter of my yearly traffic for my entire blog in just one and half days. A single post on Contains Moderate Peril never garners such traffic.
Now it is important to maintain a degree of perspective with regard to this. The DMZ subreddit has over 44,000 subscribers which is a substantial audience to begin with. Any post that touches on a popular talking point about the game will gain as much traction with the subreddits readership. But what this subreddit or any other potentially offers to writers, is an opportunity to raise their profile. A chance to build brand recognition. Yes I know that’s an appalling term that may make some of you shudder but that’s ultimately a big part of blogging. Often your readers not only visit your blog for your work but because they relate to you on some level. Hence a presence across multiple platforms, using a universal brand or handle, is a great way to build an online identity and increase awareness, directly or indirectly, of your writing.
Like many suggestions associated with blogging, this one means essentially more work. But that is the nature of the beast. Answering comments on your blog, so readers feel involved and want to come back is more work (something I always fail to do). Streaming, producing videos or a podcast as well as writing regularly is more work. Leaving comments on a popular website, forum or discord is more work. Posting material on a subreddit is exactly the same. However, if your motivation to write is wavering because you feel that you are spitting in the wind, then it can be very uplifting to get some traction elsewhere. It also serves as a timely reminder that if you want to succeed as a writer and build an audience, then you have to step outside of your comfort zone and “sell yourself”. And if you’re not writing at all, as I am at present, then you’ll get nowhere.