Thoughts on Blogging Part 23

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It’s nearly two and half months since the Blaugust: Festival of Blogging event ended. During that time I’ve maintained a fairly regular writing schedule and I post every two days or so. Furthermore, I finally dragged my blog template, kicking and screaming, into the modern era. I tweaked a few pages and updated the content of the “about” page. The next task is to start going through all previous posts and replacing older, low resolution images with larger, more appropriate ones. This process also presents an opportunity to ensure that all posts follow a uniform style. IE Are appropriately categorised, have links to related posts at the bottom and are SEO optimised. This will be a lengthy task so I think the best approach will be to tackle two or three posts a day. Hopefully this will raise the profile of older content, which generates the lion’s hare of traffic to this site.

Spikes in Traffic 

Over the last two months I have noticed several spikes in my website statistics. Initially I was quite excited, hoping that my writing was gaining more traction and finding a wider audience. Sadly this wasn’t the case. Upon further inspection, the traffic all originated from China and was focused on the homepage (IE the domain name), rather than specific blog posts. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t people reading a post and sharing it online. Due to the point or origin and the nature of the traffic, I am very suspicious of this activity. I’ve checked with a few other bloggers that I know and it would appear that I am not the only one to have experienced this anomaly. There is no evidence of any untowards or malicious activity, so beyond monitoring the situation there’s not a lot that I can do. It is still my long term goal to increase the readership of this blog but it is proving an uphill struggle.

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Is AI Killing Blogging?

Although no one in my immediate blogging circle has quit blogging per se, I have noticed a decline in output among the 200 plus blogs I subscribe to via Feedly. Several subreddits about blogging that I visit have referenced people leaving the blogging scene due to being unable to compete with AI generated content. However, I think this is more to do with commercial blogs and sites specifically designed to try and generate revenue. Fan created sites are potentially a different matter. One of the reasons fan blogs become popular is because the author’s personality permeates their writing. That is something that AI struggles to replicate and why it is for the present, quite easy to spot AI generated content. However, this may change over time. Although AI is not killing my interest in writing, it does chip away at my motivation. I’m sure I’m not alone in this.

Big Versus Small

Larger monitors with QHD and UHD resolutions are slowly but surely becoming more popular. The latest version of Squarespace and indeed many contemporary blogging templates seem to favour filling that expanded screen real estate. I certainly prefer reading websites with large text and images. However, half of my website traffic is via phones and tablets. Although I use an adaptive template and my writing scales accordingly for each medium, my tendency to write substantive paragraphs can look like a wall of text on handheld devices. This raises the question as to whether to alter the style of my writing to try and accommodate the needs of both large screen users and those that peruse the net via phones and tablets. I’m not sure exactly how you’d do that but there must be a way? Or is the best approach not to worry at all and just focus on the writing?

Thoughts on Blogging Part 22

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Back in March 2019 I wrote a blog post about the operating costs of running this website. I went into detail with regard to hosting and domain costs, as well as the other software and hardware used to write posts and at that point produce a podcast. Let it suffice to say that five years on, those costs have all increased. If we’re just looking at maintaining a blog simply in terms of hosting and the domain registration, it costs about £20 a month to run Contains Moderate Peril. Theoretically, if I want to reduce those costs I could dispense with a specific domain name and use a free blogging service. However, I feel that such a compromise comes with its own set of problems, such as advertising and a lack of control (to a degree) over your content. I therefore choose to pay to mitigate these concerns. If I then wish to do more, such as produce a podcast, create videos for YouTube or live stream, then those costs increase. 

Now there’s nothing unusual about a hobby having a cost. If you fish, play golf or even spot trains, then you’ll end up spending money in the pursuit of your interest. However, blogging and content creation online is often about being part of or indeed creating a community. There is often a strong social dynamic running through what you do and motivating you. One of the major aspects of online culture during the early days of the internet was a sense of community and creating resources that were accessible to others. Sadly, that ethos seems to be in retreat and the internet is far more transactional these days, with content being commodified. Although the democratisation of media still exists, increasing online operating costs will slowly begin to exclude people. Such a thing may seem at first glance, inconsequential, but if you consider the matter it is not such a good prospect.

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However, equality of access is ultimately a different blog post to the one I am writing. Of late my thoughts about blogging and wider content creation have mainly been about scheduling versus available time. I began the year with aspirations to write more often and also produce some video content. I was even considering a weekly 30 minute podcast, hosted just by me. None of that has come to pass because other issues have come up and there just aren’t enough hours in the day. It irks me to a degree but not as much as it did a decade ago. You ultimately do what you can do and be content with it. Another matter that concerns me is the template that Contains Moderate Peril currently uses. It is ten years old and beginning to look its age. However, replacing it would mean having to manually adjust 1,930 plus posts. Sooner or later that is a nettle that needs to be grasped.

Finally, although I am not going to stop blogging, I am continuously reminded that I can get more eyes on my posts via other platforms. I’ve mentioned before about how posts on Reddit provide detailed metrics and that a well received article can get thousands of views in an hour. Recently, I wrote a review via Google for a local restaurant and posted a few accompanying photos. I subsequently received notification via my phone that over 25,000 people had read that review. I appreciate that to a degree this is a bit like comparing apples with oranges but I would love to write a blog post on my own site that generated those sorts of numbers. But that’s not how blogs work. They have to be discovered and give the reader a reason to stick around. Reddit already has an audience, gathered in one place. Ready and waiting to consume material.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 21

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When you initially start blogging, your aspirations tend to be very straightforward. Choose a title, find a niche and get into the habit of writing. Simple tasks that can still take a while to master. Once your blog is established and has endured for a while, you may not have any further long term goals other than to just keep going. However, if you feel that you want to achieve more then you have to tackle a new set of problems. There is a great deal of “advice” in the public domain about growing and monetising your blog. A lot of it is questionable but there are some approaches that do work. However, these require you to write to a specific process, chasing the ever changing whims of your potential readership. You have to compromise. And for many bloggers, that is the deal breaker.

Hot takes, “ambulance chasing” and generally attempting to move from bandwagon to bandwagon may well find you an audience and possibly a line of revenue. But it strikes me as a soulless and empty way to write. I much prefer to write about what interests me, although I recognise that some of that is going to be extremely niche specific. However, some subjects can prove quite popular and can gain traffic. I find that film reviews and essays can gain traction and have the advantage of longevity. Writing detailed guides, FAQs and tips for specific subjects can also prove fruitful. It is harder to gain an audience by being a raconteur but some writers do maintain an audience through their personality or reputation. Remember that blogs are very personal things and your personality is a factor whether you realise it or not.

Assuming you have an online presence with a big enough audience to seriously consider monetisation, the next stage is to decide exactly what method you wish to adopt. Personally I don’t consider advertising to be viable anymore. The halcyon days of having banner ads on your blog are gone mainly because ad blockers are ubiquitous and broadly speaking people find advertising pervasive and annoying. For it to work you need a lot of traffic before you see a red cent, so I really don’t think it is a solution for many bloggers. Plus there are ethical concerns as you may not necessarily have any control over what advertising is shown to your readership. Hence, the most logical business model to pursue is one of reader patronage, where they can subscribe to show support and access an additional source of exclusive content. Patreon or something similar.

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If you pursue reader patronage then you have to produce extra content to justify their support. This will require either having exclusive material on a third party site or having a members area on your existing website. Naturally it will entail extra work and you can argue that the moment you embark upon a process of monetisation you have fundamentally changed the nature of your writing. You now have an obligation to serve the needs of your customers. At the very least the commercial nature of your blog may impact upon what you choose to write about. Alternatively, you can simply add a donation facility to your site which is less transactional. However, it may not yield a reliable source of revenue and a lot of bloggers just find this approach uncomfortable. All of which are good reasons for bloggers to think long and hard about the ramifications of monetisation. 

Many bloggers are content to just write as and when they like and do not have any plans beyond that. That is a very healthy mindset, providing very comfortable parameters to work within. But some bloggers, myself included, have an itch to see if they can grow their blog. To try and increase their reach. If one writes publicly, then there is some aspiration that someone will read it. However, this is not an easy thing to achieve. The “blogosphere” is not a meritocracy, seeming more often like a race to the bottom. You may often find what you consider to be your best work is ignored and something you deem inconsequential gains traction. There are no definitive paths to success. But if you already have a blog and have been maintaining it for a while, you are already ahead of those who have stopped and those who elevate procrastination into an artform. As with most things in life, it’s important to maintain forward momentum while you’re trying to figure the details out.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 20

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I spent some time in July, making some changes to Contains Moderate Peril. I replaced the branding and made some alterations to the “about” page to ensure that it was up to date and relevant. Not that anyone reads it as I still regularly receive enquiries about guest posts. Something I no longer do. Today, I made some further changes as it is my long term goal to grow the audience for this site. Hence I want to try and make it easier for visitors to find the content they seek and offer them related material. To facilitate this, I have added some additional menu options to the blog homepage. These act as filters, presenting specifically themed content for readers. Hence there is a “movie” button that lists all film reviews and similarly one for “video games”. There are also links for two specific video games, The Lord of the Rings Online and Star trek Online, as website statistics show that these are popular subjects.

Walter Watches has also returned to Contains Moderate Peril. Last year I created a separate website for Walter’s “humorous” film watching shenanigans but upon reflection decided it would be wiser to keep it as part of this site. I closed the Blot account which was hosting Walter Watches but for some reason the site persists. I have contacted the developer of Blot and ask for them to erase the old data but have not yet received a response. So for practical reasons, I have temporarily linked to the old site, while I repost the original content here. I have also added a new page for giveaways. I used to do this a lot in the past but it’s something that has become a lot more complex to manage recently. Hence, most of the prizes on offer will be things like game codes and such like but I think these still have some inherent value.

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Recently, I have been pondering the value of promoting blog posts via social media as an analysis of web traffic has shown it doesn’t garner a great deal of attention. Posts tend to do well when a third party website links to them, or when Google search results feature them. Hence I do not have a great deal of control on the matter. I consider SEO to have some benefits and feel that a lot of the claims about it are spurious. Promoting your blog is a perennial conundrum and I don’t believe there’s a definitive solution as of yet. Often it comes down to being in the right place at the right time. I’ve benefited from such circumstances in the past. Third party referrals can make a great deal of difference but they are hard to come by. I still feel that posting regular content is helpful and impacts positively upon your Google ranking. Going forward, that will be my go to policy.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 19

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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.

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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.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 18

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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.

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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.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 17

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I am currently having a R.J. MacReady moment

I was sitting in my office over the weekend, half-heartedly typing up a blog post about table manners and dining etiquette, when I paused and lapsed into a state of self examination and introspection. 

“Isn’t Contains Moderate Peril supposed to be about gaming, movies and popular culture”? “Yes”, I replied to myself via my inner monologue. 

“So what the hell am I doing writing about table manners, then?” my inner contrarian retorted.  

“Well it is part of our culture, although I wouldn’t argue that it is a defining aspect of the zeitgeist at present” my conciliatory alter ego responded. 

“Frankly, I’m getting bored with all of this per se” a third voice stated. It was at this point, I stopped arguing with various facets of my id and went to the pub.

While consuming a chilled libation I reflected upon these matters and contemplated the wider issue underpinning them. Does collating my thoughts for a blog post help me understand a subject better. Does writing allow me to make sense of the world and the human condition? Does maintaining a blog make me happy and provide a sense of purpose? The fact that I am writing this blog post surely indicates that the answer to these three questions is not “no”. However, it wasn’t a resounding “yes” either. If there is a single word that summarises my current emotional, philosophical and political disposition at present it is “ambivalence”. I have mixed feelings about a lot of things. Video games, the industry that creates them, film and TV, popular culture, contemporary politics, the state of the world, the rest of my life.

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The pleasures of working working in retail

I have recently realised that I am at a crossroads in my life. After speaking to a financial advisor, I have decided that I won’t be returning to the job market. I am going to retire. Working part time may well improve my finances but I don’t believe it would improve the quality of my life. Work means directly or indirectly accepting a degree of bullshit into your life. This may be a problematic boss or problematic colleagues. Then there’s issues such as leave versus staffing schedules, potential stress (especially if dealing with the public) and lines of demarcation. I’m used to working within the parameters of a clearly defined contract. Yet working culture now seems to permeate one’s life outside of office hours. That is not for me. Plus, I’d be a square peg in a round hole in the modern work environment. A job is a quid pro quo; a means to make money. I have no interest in an employer's vision and how I can contribute to that.

Thus, as I am part of the “great resignation” and am not going back to work. I am focused upon what I intend to do with the years that I hopefully have left. Fortunately, I am never at a loose end and still have lots of interests. Mrs P and I also have numerous activities that we wish to do together. We also realise that we’re very fortunate to be in such a position. However, we have to temper our plans according to our finances, age and health. Hence, if something isn’t positively contributing to the quality of our lives, then it may well need to go. Which brings me back to my penchant for writing. It was once a career goal, then a form of therapy, now it is a hobby (possibly even an indulgence). And hobbies have an arc of their own. For the present, Contains Moderate Peril is going through a quiet patch because so am I. When I next become enthusiastic about something, the blog may well pick up.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 16

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March has been a challenging month for several reasons and as a result I’ve written very little. Furthermore, the recently revived podcast has also ground to a halt after just six episodes due to scheduling issues that are beyond myself and Brian’s control. At the end of February, Google made changes to their search algorithm which have had a major impact upon traffic to Contains Moderate Peril. Visits are down by over 20%. I’ll make no bones about the fact that this has really pissed me off. Several years of growth has been unceremoniously swept away at the drop of a hat. So all this, plus the rapidly changing situation regarding my Mother’s care, has found me ill disposed towards writing. To be clear, I’m not talking about writer’s block. I have plenty of ideas and a folder full of draft posts. I just haven’t wanted to write because I feel that I’m just spitting in the wind.

I’ve been writing and maintaining a blog of some kind since early 2007. In 2014, after seven years of writing everyday and building an audience, I secured a sponsorship deal from a hosting company. Maintaining such a schedule and producing a weekly podcast was great fun but hard work. However, the main problem with “free hosting” is that you’re dependent on the goodwill of those that supply it. When the company was bought out, the sponsorship was terminated and I had to find a new home for Contains Moderate Peril. Due to compatibility issues, rather than migrate the existing site I ended up having to start from scratch. Needless to say by March 2016 I was burned out and went on a three month hiatus. During that time I came close to throwing in the towel. I’ve started feeling that way again, recently. Is it all worthwhile or am I just screaming into the void?

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But as the expression goes “this won’t buy the baby a new hat”. I have two options open to me at present. I can either continue to be annoyed, not write and subsequently watch years of work wither on the vine. Or I can get back on the horse, drink my milk or whatever the hell John Wayne suggested. Just to clarify, I am opting to continue writing. “Normal service will resume shortly”, so to speak. Which means imposing a bit of discipline upon my writing schedule and ensuring that I write early in the morning when I feel engaged and productive. I’ve also decided to do some experiments with certain types of posts to see if they gain more traction with readers. I have quite a few other ideas but I think I’ll keep them quiet for the present. Best not to promise too much and then fail to deliver. For the present I’ll focus just on writing as often as I can. Focus on what’s ahead, not behind. Oh and fuck you Google.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 15

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Blogging is dead: At the time of writing we are halfway through the Blaugust 2021 Festival of Blogging event. Whenever the subject of personal blogging is raised, there are those who immediately declare that “blogging is dead”. According to Google, out of 1.7 billion websites that currently exist worldwide, 500 million or so of those are blogs of some kind. These generate over 2 million blog posts daily. So I wouldn’t say that blogging per se is done and dusted. However it certainly has evolved considerably over the last 15 years. At the start of the current century blogging was a novel activity providing the means of keeping a personal journal online. Inevitably, popularity and ubiquity led to commercialisation and a necessity to monetise. There was a period of time when clicks, traffic and advertising could generate popularity as well as an income. But other forms of social media offering greater immediacy eventually usurped this potential. Now blogging is seen as more of a niche market activity or corporate tool.

Blogging for pleasure: At present it is the microblogging site Tumblr that dominates the bloggersphere, hosting over 400 million blogs (WordPress hosts 60 million). However, this is not really a platform for in-depth, longform writing. Perhaps that is the main reason for blogging becoming less popular. Writing competently does require both skill and time. Modern social media platforms are the opposite, offering immediacy and brevity. Plus there is far more of a focus upon monetisation and building an audience these days. Hence many bloggers are choosing to write not so much about personal subjects but are pursuing material that is marketable, such as Lifestyle and Travel blogs. Product reviews are another popular subject. Yet despite the fact that there are many commercial prospects available, current data from Google indicates that only about 10% of all bloggers generate any income. Broadly speaking the primary motivation for personal blogging is passion, fandom and pleasure.

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Amending existing posts: I wrote a blog post back in May of this year about how the RPG The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was fast approaching ten years old. At that time there was a lot of speculation but no definitive answer as to whether the game developer Bethesda were going to do anything formal to celebrate this anniversary. This has now changed and a Skyrim Anniversary Edition has now been announced. So I updated the post with an additional paragraph and added a date reflecting the amendment. I think that this is a valid policy, providing value for your readers and also maintaining your credibility as a writer. I think it’s especially important if you are writing about a news story and the facts are constantly being updated and possibly corrected. Updating or appending a post is also a useful form of self-promotion.

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Changes in traffic sources: Squarespace has an integral analytical service which provides statistics and data for Contains Moderate Peril. I even have an app on my phone that I can check if I see fit. I also have the website linked to Google Analytics which generates and emails to me very useful monthly summary of website traffic. Over the last decade, due to the success of smartphones and tablets, there has been a major shift in how people browse the internet and consume content. Over 46% of those who visit Contains Moderate Peril, do so from a mobile device. Hence it is important as a blogger to ensure that the template you use for your blog is “responsive” and adapts and optimises your content for mobile platforms. There are various sites available that can test your template and provide a preview of what your blog looks like on a mobile device. I would recommend that that all new bloggers look into this to ensure that their site is responsive, so they do not unintentionally exclude potential readers.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 14

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By the time that August rolls around this year, I will have been actively blogging and generally sharing my writing online for 14 years. Prior to that, back in the eighties, I was involved in the production of several fanzines. That was indeed a labour of love and although I was happy to write the content, the work involved in physically creating the actual pages was tough. The printing costs were also an early lesson in how writing is not an immediate path to fame and fortune. All things considered, writing has been a major aspect of my life for as long as I can remember. I used to enjoy writing stories as a child and then as I got older I discovered the pleasure of a well constructed essay. I was fortunate to have three very good English teachers during my time at school, who were passionate about their job and very encouraging.

Since the New Year I have struggled not so much with writing but more with my motivation to write. I don’t have a shortage of ideas. As ever there’s plenty to talk about. However, there seems to be an ongoing decline in longform posts, providing criticism and analysis. You’ll still find them on commercial websites such as Kotaku but they’re not so prevalent among the blogging community. Some bloggers do still tackle the big subjects and the controversies that so often accompany them but in my experience, lengthy thoughtful posts seem to be falling out of favour. Furthermore, due to the cyclical nature of popular culture and the various leisure industries, all too often you find yourself repeating yourself as a writer or covering familiar ground. The things that I enjoy and love to write about have become as partisan as other parts of public discourse, which does rob them of their charm.

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Hence, the current malaise I’ve experienced has had an impact upon my productivity. However my output has remained the same for the last six months. I usually write about 16 or so posts a month although I have recently started trying to maintain a daily schedule. However, since May I have noticed a noticeable drop in traffic to Contains Moderate Peril. Statistics are not my primary motivator when it comes to my writing but they do play a part. It is reassuring to know that posts are being read and that an audience does exist. However, after giving this matter some thought, I think the drop in traffic is due to people returning to their formal places of work and rather than losing pageviews, the numbers are simply returning to pre COVID-19 levels. So in the last week or so I’ve felt more positive about writing. I have especially enjoyed a couple of posts that I’ve written that just seem to pour out of me without any problems. 

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Today the Blaugust 2021 Festival of Blogging was formally announced. I shall compose a more comprehensive blog post “bigging up” this enjoyable community activity in the next few days. However, it has already had a positive effect as new members have signed up to the event and also joined the Discord server. Meeting new writers and sharing ideas is a major shot in the arm and provides a lot of encouragement and motivation for all concerned. It is important to encourage more people to write and express themselves as it is an invaluable life skill. Plus there is a natural attrition that happens within the blogging community. Writing is a commitment that takes time and effort and real life often competes with both of those things. Hopefully this year’s Festival of Blogging will be well attended and received, drawing attention to the merits of writing, ensuring that our community continues to survive.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 13

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I mentioned not so long ago the possibility of a website revamp. I was concerned that the general layout of the blog was not optimal and that readers couldn’t easily find old material. In the past I even went as far as to write a guide to navigating through Contains Moderate Peril and using the categories to find old posts. Well I got a few emails and Twitter DMs about this and it would appear that folk like things just as they are. So I have reviewed my position and decided to leave things as they are at present. I did a little digging though my website stats, both from Squarespace and Google Analytics and it would appear the summary blocks at the bottom of each post are used and that the bounce rate for my site is not exactly as it first appears. Seems that readers do peruse other articles and the search facility is being used more often, especially for finding film reviews. So if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

However, although I no longer have to immediately worry about overhauling my website, I do currently have an issue with productivity. I used to write a blog post everyday but that hasn’t been a regular fixture for six months or more. It’s not that I have a lack of ideas or material. On the contrary, I’ve pages of notes on films that I’ve watched recently that can easily be used for a review. I also have numerous lists of bullet points and prompts for blog posts on gaming and a wide range of other subjects. The main issue at present seems to be a question of motivation and actual physical stamina. The latter is a matter under current medical investigation which I may write about shortly. The issue of motivation is a perennial problem for bloggers. For me, it comes down to a mixture of discipline and routine. I do my best writing in the morning and free from disturbance. Effectively I need to get up and write straight away and sadly I haven’t been doing this. 

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As previously mentioned, I’ve been using the statistical analysis of traffic to Contains Moderate Peril and have been trying to find out exactly what data it can yield. Squarespace has a default analytical package that produces some interesting information but Google Analytics proves to be the more detailed of the two. Despite now only posting every other day, traffic to the site is growing at present. Popular UK TV station Talking Pictures TV, which broadcasts a lot of vintage, classic and niche market film content, has inadvertently caused an increase in visits to my blog. Many of the films that they show, I have existing reviews for. Viewers are perusing Google, searching about these titles and finding my work. All of which indicates how review posts can have shelf life beyond their immediate publication. Hence an increase in review posts may well prove beneficial in generating further traffic and growing the overall site audience.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 12

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Due to the ongoing Global Pandemic, many people are now finding themselves working from home or having to stay in for health or childcare reasons. Hence there has been a marked increase in online leisure activities. Steam has been hit by a record number of concurrent users and Netflix and Amazon prime have both seen an increased demand upon their respective streaming services. If you’re not commuting then you are freeing up a substantial amount of hours each week. This potential abundance of “free time” along with a practical need to channel your energy into something to prevent yourself from going “stir crazy”, presents some interesting opportunities. Many people who have previously expressed an interest in writing and content creation now have the leeway  to do so. Naturally, as a writing enthusiast and a long time blogger, I am happy to encourage such activities.

I have been part of a wider content creating community for over a decade now and it struck me as soon as this situation developed that a lot of people were going to find themselves quarantined at home with time on their hands. Leisure time is usually a premium commodity these days but I suspect that a lot of people will not be prepared for such a rapid change in fortune. Plus having to work at home, possibly cheek by jowl with your entire family, is going to require some sort of “safety valve” to release the stress such confinement inevitably brings. So in many respects now is an ideal time to start a new hobby. If it is pursued in a measured way then writing, podcasting, live streaming or creating videos may well provide not only a pleasurable leisure activity but also a means to interact and communicate with others. Something that we have taken for granted up until now.

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“Sod off and go and do something constructive, instead of continuously bothering me, you sweaty galloot”

For the sake of my example I shall focus upon writing but obviously the points I hope to make are applicable to other forms of content creation. Writing your thoughts down regarding any subject provides a sense of focus. Often when we marshall our thoughts it leads to a clearer understanding of a subject. It is also a process that we can control 100%. Such things are good for your mental wellbeing while we’re all in lockdown. If you start a blog and write regularly, having a schedule provides a clear routine. Structure is beneficial when in self isolation. Plus writing more often will improve your literacy skills. And then there is pleasure to be found in sharing your words with others, building an audience and becoming part of a social community. No matter how niche your chosen subject may be, there’s always an audience to be found. It is often this interaction that is the most rewarding aspect of writing and it subsequently fuels your creativity and desire to continue.

So if you’ve always toyed with the idea of blogging about your favourite games, movies or your cats, then why not grab yourself a free account over at wordpress.com and give it a go. Alternatively maybe you’ve always wanted to do some live streaming? Well now’s the time to do it. It’s not that hard to figure out. Even I’ve managed it. The same goes for YouTube. The barriers to entry are very low and there’s a wealth of online help available to get you started. It would be great to get a positive from a negative and see a resurgence in all kinds of content creation during these difficult times. And if you still need a nudge or the safety net of a community that you can draw upon for advice and guidance, then I wouldn’t be surprised if you see a lot of online communities rally and offer a helping hand. Don’t pass up on a golden opportunity. What would you prefer? To look back on 2020 as the year you were terminally bored while you holed up for 3 to 4 months. Or for it to be the year you started a new hobby that got you through a difficult period? The choice is yours.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 11

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The New Year is often a time for revised plans, renewed ambitions and a desire to get back on the proverbial horse when it comes to content creation. More often than not, many of these lofty ambitions wither on the vine or fall victim to our propensity for indolence. Which is why I think it is prudent to ensure that any goals that you set for yourself are realistic and attainable. If for example, you have just started blogging, then it is wiser to focus on developing and maintaining a writing schedule, rather than trying to get a million page views in your first month. Impossible goals lead to disappointment which can then crush your optimism. Measured, targeted achievements, obtained over a credible time period may not seem so satisfying but they get the job done. Which is why I have given a great deal of thought to my own blogging goals for 2020. I am not going to alter or replace the blog template, nor am I going to embark upon too many side projects such a streaming or creating video content. Although I’d like to do such things I cannot sustain them or cope with the volume of work they will create. This year I am just going to try to create as much written content as possible and focus on expanding brand awareness.

For years, I’ve been using Microsoft Word as my primary means of writing blog posts. It serves my needs and is a very robust piece of software, filled with bells and whistles that I seldom ever use. However, there can be some compatibility issues from time to time but these are seldom the fault of Microsoft. Contains Moderate Peril is hosted via Squarespace and they’re constantly tinkering with the “backend”. I often log in to post an article only to discover a subtle change to the UI. Until recently I could import a Word Document without any formatting issues. However, a recent change now means that additional spaces are added between paragraphs and hyperlinks are lost. No doubt Squarespace will alter this in the long term but it makes for extra work in the meantime. Hence, I have started using Google Docs to create posts. At present there are now issues when I copy and paste the content into the post editor and then there’s the added bonus of accessibility. Google Drive allows me to access my draft documents from anywhere. At present, I spend a lot of time at my parents house. Using Google resources means I can write on the fly and be more productive, despite being away from my home office.

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One of the keys to finding an audience is to promote your content on social media. It’s not something that everyone is good at and it can also make you feel very self conscious. One aspect of social media is that you are shamelessly drawing attention to yourself and that’s not to everyone’s liking. But it is a necessary evil so its best approached as a job. Out of all the various social media platforms, I find that Twitter is the most efficient means to promote my writing and generating traffic. However, to gain any traction requires a sizeable following of like-minded people who share common interests. I initially gained my Twitter following between 2010 and 2013 and it was mainly down to holding regular giveaways. I offered game codes, Blu-rays and DVDs as prizes and made leaving a comment on the post and following me on Twitter, as part of the means of entry. It broadly worked. Although some people would follow and then later leave, most seem to have stuck around. I wish to increase the size of my Twitter following so am going to reinstate the giveaways and hold them monthly. As I said earlier it can feel a bit  of an impersonal Quid Pro Quo but I feel it is one of the more socially acceptable means of promotion.

I am also currently experimenting with Instagram to see if I can develop a presence there. I have an existing account that I have so far used just for family related content. However, I have now purged this of photos of my Granddaughters and such like and warned existing followers that I shall be changing tack. The idea is to try and create a community of followers and to focus on movies and TV. The medium lends itself to posting a screen capture of a scene from a classic film and then throwing it open for comments. This could also be used to promote existing film reviews that I’ve written. Of course it may not work and this may not be the right use of this platform but it’s worth a try. Social media can be flexible but it can also be an online cul-de-sac. In the past I’ve experimented with Facebook and building a community there. I had a website plugin that easily facilitated posting exiting blog content direct to Facebook. But I found that instead of bringing readers to my blog, it simply developed into a separate online presence of it own. as I didn’t want to have to manage multiple communities I stopped doing this and now just use Facebook to keep in touch with friends who have emigrated.

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But no matter what ideas you can come up with to increase your readership, the fact remains that the best way to grow your blog is to just keep writing and posting new articles. Google seems to bear this out, as my film reviews are frequently found via online searches and make up a substantial amount of my overall blog traffic. It is a somewhat clichéd old adage but “if you throw enough crap at the wall, some will eventually stick”. Write about what you enjoy and just stick with it. Talk to other bloggers or comparable content creators. Keep at it and you will develop a style and the standard of your material will improve. But above all, just keep writing. Find a time of day that works for you and get your thoughts down on virtual paper. Remember, each blog post doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. Three coherent paragraphs should suffice. But a degree of determination and self discipline, so that you do actually do some writing, will yield results in the long run. It’s also rewarding to set a New Year’s Resolution, or long term goal that you do actually achieve.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 10

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“Dear Sir, please send fish. Best wishes, Binky”

The end of Blaugust Festival of Blogging 2019 presents the perfect opportunity to write another entry in my “Thoughts on Blogging” series. According to the Blaugust schedule this is the “lessoned learned week”, although I’m not too keen on that specific phrase. It sounds too much like the sort of bogus, sombre platitudes that politicians trot out in the wake of some national tragedy. But such is the nature of semantics and such is the curious fashion in which my mind works. So rather than worry of the wording, I’ll just simply reflect upon the past month and consider what it means for my writing, both present and future. Because I do believe that over the last month, I have had a minor epiphany with regard to my relationship with blogging.

A month and half ago, I was feeling unmotivated and not particularly disposed towards writing on a regular basis. Yes, I have had demands on my time and a degree of stress brought about by real world issues. But that’s life. There’s always something going down. And such negative mindsets often end up becoming self-fulfilling prophecy. However, along comes Blaugust offering a shot in the arm (or a kick in the butt), as it always does. I find that groups are better at fostering a sense of enthusiasm and momentum for these sorts of activities. So I got busy writing. I composed a few posts that offered advice in the hope that my experience may be of use to others. I also began writing about the things I enjoy again. Only this time it was mainly due to passion, rather than a sense of obligation. I stayed the course and felt good doing it.

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“Good for you”…

Blaugust has confirmed a few suspicions I’ve harboured about my own style of writing. I don’t do brevity. If a point is complex then take as much time necessary to explain it properly. Write what you believe to be right, not what you think people want to hear. If you find yourself on the wrong side of a prevailing consensus, then so be it. In fact enjoy the perspective. Also, stop wasting your time waiting for that article you’ve always wanted to read, that says that thing that you passionately believe. Just go write it yourself and be done. Blaugust has also once again proven that I work better to a plan and I need to be organised. Time can be found to do things, if you deem them important enough. I believe Scotty said something like this and who am I to contradict the greatest engineer in fiction?

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“Bullshit, Mr Han Man”

So what next? Well I intend to keep writing. Regularly. I see no reason why I can’t continue as I have throughout August. There’s always a film to review or an article over on Massively Overpowered that is wrong and needs to be rebutted (I jest of course. Or do I?).  I’m also going to dust off my notes and get back on track with writing my book. The one that is planned, researched and just needs writing. And I believe that a podcast is due. So I’m going to send out emails invites to pressgang some guests and set a recording date. Life is too short and I’m getting old and need to stop being excessively diplomatic and accommodating to other people. To paraphrase a quote from Enter the Dragon “we forge ourselves in the fire of our will”. So unless I hear cries of “Bullshit, Mr Han Man”, I’m just going to crack on and do my thing. Which is write (with emotional content).

Thoughts on Blogging Part 9

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The last three months have been problematic from a writing perspective and my productivity and motivation have both suffered. I struggle to find appropriate time to sit down and apply myself to writing and when I do, I seldom have the correct mindset to stay focused for long. Yet due to the back catalogue of content available on Contains Moderate Peril, there is still regular traffic coming to the site. Ironically, despite my low productivity, I have started receiving an increase in blog related marketing and have received numerous emails regarding “collaboration”, “featured posts” and “SEO optimisation”. All of which I have no interest in. However, the point remains, I’m not writing as much as I used to and I miss it. The same can be said for podcasting but that’s a tougher problem to fix. It is more labour intensive than writing, so the logical thing to do is to focus on the former and not the latter to fix.

Fortunately, Belghast over at Tales from the Aggronaut recently announced Blaugust 2019; a yearly festival of blogging designed to bring together and encourage new or lapsed bloggers. It’s a great opportunity for people like myself to renew our motivation and get back into the writing saddle, so to speak. The event also provides a practical forum for people to share information along with their personal experiences and to help and support each other. It also offers a timely reminder that long form writing and the art of essay writing is far from dead, despite what some members of the internet commentariat would have you believe. If you’ve ever thought about blogging, podcasting, live streaming or generally creating some form of online content, then you’ll find encouragement via Blaugust 2019. There’s plenty of time to get ready as activities don’t start till the 28th of July.

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Now I don’t know about you, but I am far more likely to let myself down, as opposed to other people. If I set myself a goal or a deadline and I fail to achieve it, I’m far more accepting of it as the only person who has been incommoded by my actions is me. However, if I make a commitment to someone else or group, I honour such undertakings due to all my cultural and emotional baggage. It’s just something ingrained in me like being on time or saying please and thank you. Hence, I have agreed to participate in Blaugust 2019, not only as a contributor but as a mentor as well. The net result will be that I’ll take part in the entire event and write something every day for the duration. As a result I have already started drafting blog posts and provisionally planning a publishing schedule.

I have watched several videos on You Tube recently about learning, organisational skills and applying yourself to your hobby or pastime. However, despite a lot of good practical advice, most ultimately state that there simply comes a point where if you want to succeed in what you are doing, you have to “just do it”. Now that may sound a little glib, underwhelming and too similar to Nike’s awful corporate branding mantra but there it is, an undeniable reality for those with a rational mind. So I’m going to try and abide by this statement of the obvious and get back into the habit of just sitting down and writing. It doesn’t have to be Shakespeare or reinvent the wheel. Writing is primarily an expression of ourself and I’d rather do it to some degree, than not at all. Roll on Blaugust 2019.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 8

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I wasn’t expecting to write another entry in the Thoughts on Blogging series so soon, but something came up that grabbed my attention and got me thinking. A simple question that’s often asked about blogging and one that has many layers to it, as well as numerous answers. A new blogger who recently joined the Blaugust discord server asked for help “getting traffic to their blog”. An enquiry that gave me (and possibly others) pause for thought. Because we all to a degree want to attract traffic to our blogs. But I also think bloggers are too coy about this this subject. We’ll say things like “I write for myself” or “it’s not about the numbers” and although I agree with these points, building an audience is important. Let’s be honest, it can be somewhat disheartening after writing a lengthy post about a subject close to you heart, for it to fall flat and not attract any traffic. As discussed before, often it is the casual blog posts written in a hurry, that can be the most popular and the articles you’re most proud of can go unnoticed. So let us be honest. I think most bloggers want to grow an audience and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that it provides.

So let us consider for a moment, the question of attracting traffic to your blog. First of all, what is your motivation. It’s an important question because it determines how and what you write, the kind of audience you pursue and the niche you are going to try and fill. If you are writing for pleasure, because of a sense of fandom and to contribute to a community then you’re mainly looking to connect with a specific group and be of service to them. This makes finding your audience very specific. You produce content that is relevant to the community you are part of and promote it via the platforms that community uses. If you are writing for financial gain or to achieve some sort of “internet fame”, then your content is governed far more by pursuing what is popular, affiliating yourself to the latest trends and getting “noticed”. You therefore may seek to court controversy and become involved in high profile disputes. What you wish to achieve very much determines your path. It is not unlike the differing roles of the tabloid press and broadsheet newspapers.

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If therefore, you are pursuing the former of these two options and say for example wish to establish yourself of part of The Elder Scrolls Online community, then the best approach would be to produce content regularly. Ensure that your material is engaging, interesting and relevant. Maintain a schedule and stick to it. Google likes sites that do this and you will fair better in search rankings as a result. Your readers like consistency as well. Promote your work via social media, forums and other platforms. Interact with your audience, answer comments and provide your own views on the work of your peers. Riffing off other bloggers posts is always a good way of raising your profile. Discuss, debate and participate. Know when to argue a point and when not to waste your time. Do your research if your posts require factual accuracy and always link to your sources. Then do all the above continuously for several years (possibly nearer a decade) and you may gain some traction and build an audience.

And now let us consider the alternative. Regularly create content but couch it in hyperbole and click bait style of headlines. Be controversial, outspoken and outrageous. Attack those with opposing views and always make clear what you don’t like and won’t tolerate. After all, it’s a lot easier to be critical than constructive. Utilise all the rhetorical tricks of the trade; ad hominem and strawman arguments, gaslighting and “whataboutery”. Jump on any passing bandwagon regardless of whether you believe in it or not. Similarly have an opinion on anything and everything. Shit post, hangout in all the wrong places (specific subreddits, 4chan and 8chan) and always ensure that if there’s a divisive situation, you’re associated with it. Don’t deal in facts but in feelings. Ignore such concepts as the burden of proof, feel free to contradict yourself, switch sides and generally not be burdened by constricting concepts such as integrity. Make people angry then point them in the direction of the alleged “cause”. If you follow this plan, you’ll get noticed and you may gain an audience. But there’s a price to pay. You’ll have painted yourself into a corner and will forever be associated with your “persona”. Plus a lot of people will think you’re an asshole.

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Obviously, I have presented two ways of building an audience and would like to make it clear that there are naturally alternatives and variations on both discussed routes. I must admit I do find it surprising that people still think that there’s a quick and easy way to “success”, be it with blogging or any of the other ways of sharing content. Live streaming, producing You Tube videos, creating podcasts and blogging have all gone through a lot of transitions over the years and I suspect the days of any of them being a quick way to get rich and famous have possibly gone. The only constant I can really think of about “audiences” is that they can be both loyal and fickle. Core readers will stick around because ultimately, they have a sense of rapport with the author. Yet if you write less often then people will naturally go elsewhere. There’s been a notable dip in this site’s traffic in the last fortnight because I haven’t been writing. As to the newbie blogger who posted the original question, I hope you find the path that right for you. I’d be interested to learn what their thoughts are on traffic if they’re still blogging in a year’s time.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 7

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I decided to take a short break from blogging last week. I have a lot on at present and the only time I’ve had available to write has been in the late evening. I prefer to write in the morning as I’m more focused and motivated. Plus I haven’t really had a lot of positive things to say of late about the two primary subjects of this website. Broadly speaking there’s not a lot of going on in the video games industry that enthuses me. Similarly, the current crop of film releases have hardly distinguished themselves. At present when I do get writing ideas, they tend to be obscure niche market subjects or commentary on social issues. For example, I’m thinking of writing a post about my continuing enjoyment of the Japanese TV show Takeshi’s Castle. I’m also forming my thoughts for an article about how society’s relationship with wildlife may be “broken”. Stuff that is interesting to me but may not be ideal material for readers of Contains Moderate Peril.

I recently wrote about how the blogging community intermittently loses long time contributors when they decide to “retire”. I have been reflecting upon this of late and wondering whether I should be doing the same. This has mainly been due to a lack of motivation on my behalf. However, as I know exactly what the causes of this problem are (they’re mainly logistical issues), I eventually settled for a short break instead. I know that as soon as I “pack in” writing, I’ll get the bug again shortly afterwards. There is only so much a person can do to organise their life, especially when there are random external factors that can throw a proverbial spanner in the works at any time of day. So I have two choices. Accept the fluidity of things and write as and when I can. Or try to stick to my current schedule, fall behind, get frustrated and eventually throw in the towel. The logical things is to adapt and embrace the former option. So that is what I shall do at for the present. The daily writing schedule has got to give.

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If all goes to plan, I’m hoping to resume writing again this week. I have several film reviews outstanding that I can finish off and post. I find these a lot more straightforward and relatively easy to collate, compared to more complex “think pieces” about gaming and its associated industry. Film reviews have also proven to be a good source of traffic for Contains Moderate Peril over the years, as unlike gaming related articles, they’re not time specific. I’m also going to pursue the more niche market articles I mentioned earlier, because the alternative is simply not to write anything. I’m sure I’ll produce more material about gaming when a subject, or angle presents itself that I find interesting. However, beyond this immediate plan, it’s best not to speculate. My caring commitments are currently in a state of flux due to illness and associated medical problems. So there’s still plenty of scope for arrangements and schedules to change.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 6

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As January comes to an end, I am pleased that I have so far managed to maintain a daily writing schedule. I hope that I can continue in this vein throughout February. As ever the actual process of sitting and writing has proven a somewhat mixed bag so far this year. Some days the word simply spill out of me and a blog post potentially writes itself. On others, composing just three coherent paragraphs is like pulling teeth and much time is spent procrastinating and getting side tracked. But a mixture of self-discipline and a degree of pride have helped oil the creative wheels and kept the content flowing. Whether any of it is any good is for others to decided. However, it was nice to find one of my posts quoted in an article over at Massively Overpowered. It means that at least someone is reading my work and pondering upon the points therein. Writing is after all a means of communication and sharing ideas so it is rewarding to know that you’re not just yelling into the wind all the time.

I like to write about a broad spectrum of subjects, but naturally I self-edit my posts and so some content remains unpublished. I try not to do too much politics or social issues although I’m not averse to expressing an opinion. But sometimes you have to refrain from “indulging” yourself and focus on the meat and potatoes of your writing. For me that is still movies and video games. I have no problem with constructive criticism and analysis of the things I enjoy, but I am cognisant of not perpetuating a continuously negative narrative. Hence, I endeavour to be as even handed as one can be, despite being human and therefore having personal bias. Frankly it’s just lazy writing to sit in the balcony and barrack the stage continuously. Yet as a culture, in recent years we’ve become far more focused on what we don’t like, what we’re against and what we think is beyond the pale. Actually expressing positive sentiments or extolling the virtues of something you enjoy is bizarrely frowned upon in some quarters or seen as sappy.

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Moving forward into 2019, I have several ideas regarding developing further recurring themed posts. At present I use Thoughts on Blogging and Diary of a Podcaster as means to provide commentary on both mediums as well as update readers about my own endeavours in these areas. I also use the Classic Themes posts as a vehicle to explore my love of film, TV and video game music. After some thinking I’m considering writing regularly about various common tropes and archetypes that occur in movies. I also had an idea about a similar game related series of articles, where I could focus on mainstays of the industry and how certain mechanics become established. I’ve also reflected upon my need to write more about books, graphic novels, obscure TV shows from my childhood and a wealth of other topics. But all such ideas have to be realistically tempered by the time I have available and my desire to pursue other interests. All things considered, I should be able to sustain my writing schedule for the next month. But ideas for content is only half the equation. The other is motivation. That is a far more nebulous commodity. However, one positive thing to consider is that February is a shorter month than others.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 5

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This week, a rather high profile sub-reddit associated with the Star Trek Online community, changed its status to “private” as a means of protesting against the state of the game and the way developers Cryptic are handling things. That matter was surprisingly resolved within 24 hours after an olive branch was extended from the STO community manager on reddit. However, it is not the protest itself nor the state of the game that I wish to focus upon, but the importance of /r/stobuilds as a shared community resource. A lot of STO players enjoy optimising their builds and tweaking their loadout and this site it the place to go to share such information. There is also a group of hardcore players that dig deep into the games data and comprehensively crunch number and generate useful information. Hence if a resource such as this was taken offline for longer period of time, it would have a tangible impact upon players and the wider community.

Now not every fansite, blog or player run resource are of a comparable size and significance, but I would cogently argue that they all contribute to their respective communities in essentially the same manner. They’re sharing information, enthusiasm and support for the things that they love and are entertaining and communicating with others. A fellow blogger who wrote a popular MMO fansite, once told me that they considered their writing as a public service in a way. I do not think the remark was a reflection of their vanity. It simply showed that they enjoyed participating in a wider community and sharing what they knew. However, they also remarked that once you find yourself in a position where your work becomes important to the wider community, you can become a “prisoner of your own success”. This then raises the spectre of “obligation” over writing for pleasure. If you’re creating guides for an MMO or data mining the latest patch, then you can end up in this position.

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I have a plethora of websites and blogs, bookmarked in my web browser. Most are run by fans and despite the fact they are amateur publications, many are of an extremely high standard. In fact, they often put the professionals to shame. Such blogs are often done by sole individuals, busy couples or over stretched collectives who are passionate about their subject. A lot of people benefit from the hard work that they put in. The recent LOTRO renaissance has highlighted for me just how many great fan-based resources still exist, but it has also reminded me of how many blogs and podcast have retired of “faded” over the years. The absence of some are still sorely missed. Expressing yourself through written words is more labour intensive than producing content for other platforms. It is less ephemeral due to the thought and consideration that good writing takes. In some respects, the bloggers surrounding certain games are a microcosm of the of the wider community.

There’s been a lot of talk of late regarding preserving video games history. It is indeed an interesting proposition because it is in historical terms such a relatively recent phenomenon. However, if you wish to preserve games per se, as we currently do with other art forms such as movies, music and books, then surely preserving their associated impact on popular culture is equally as important? Fifty years from now when it can be safely assumed that World of Warcraft should have run its course, having access to the myriad of websites and fan resources that evolved around the MMO will be key to understanding the popularity of the game itself. Surely, such a concept logically extends to blogging around any aspect of popular culture? Naturally not every site or blog is destined to be of paramount historical importance, but all contribute in their own unique way to bigger community picture. Consider that next time you write, and it may help motivate you. Or it may do the opposite.

Thoughts on Blogging Part 4

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Spending time in the company of others who have similar interests and passions can be an invaluable shot in the arm and a great source of motivation. For example, I recently joined a Facebook group associated with The Evolution of Horror Podcast. It’s an absolute pleasure to be able to pick over the bones of a movie such as The Wicker Man and explore its finer points. You don’t have to adjust your level of conversation for fear of boring people, or dial back your enthusiasm due to concerns of being labelled a nerd or fanboy. Finding these online havens where you feel comfortable are invaluable, regardless of whether your passion is sport, knitting, Lepidoptery or Phrenology. Remember this point. I shall be returning to it shortly.

Those who are familiar with my writing, will know that I’m a firm advocate of blogging, podcasting and other forms of online content creation. Such undertakings touch upon so many positive things. Learning new skills, personal improvement, sharing ideas, building communities and making friends. Content creation can also bring a degree of self-discipline, provide a means to navigate the complexities of day-to-day life, as well as help rationalise and collate one thoughts and opinions. However, despite all these advantageous aspects, sometimes just taking the first step on some new project can be a major obstacle. Similarly, it is very common for bloggers, streamers and the like to run out of momentum after an initial burst of spontaneity and motivation. I should know, as I’m really struggling with my writing schedule at present.

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We’ll here’s some good news. Returning to my initial point, it appears that someone has grasped the nettle and decided to run an event to help bring together and motivate new and existing online content creators. Belghast from Tales of the Aggronaut will be running Blaugust Reborn throughout the month of August. An event that encompasses all the best aspects of the Newbie Blogger Initiative and his own Blaugust writing festival. The aims of this event are simple; to encourage people to take that first step into online content creation, nurture them, as well as share resources, pass on advice and welcome people in an existing community, thus reinvigorating it. Some veteran bloggers will be acting as mentors. Others (such as myself) will be creating bespoke material and supporting things via this blog. There’s also the obligatory Discord channel which allows participants to stay in touch and access useful links and material. Throughout the month there’ll be creative prompts and activities.

I am very pleased that an event of this kind has returned and am happy to be part of it. I’m hoping I can round up a few folks and may be record a bespoke podcast of some kind. But most of all, I’m looking forward to reading new blog posts and watching new streamers. There’s nothing more catching than enthusiasm and watching someone do something that they thought was going to be so hard, only to find out that it was actually not so bad and even fun. I also think that it is especially important in these troubling times to keep the art of writing alive. Furthermore, this forthcoming Blaugust Reborn event has broadened its scope and isn’t limiting itself to merely encouraging game related content. The skills required to create online material remain the same, irrespective of what you are a fan of. So why not take the plunge and join in with Blaugust Reborn? See you over at the Discord server.