The Reblog

So maybe this would be something that fellow bloggers can help me understand.

That is the REBLOG.

I’ve seen it used. I know that two posts of mine have been reblogged by others.

Still… what would be the point? Why aren’t bloggers blogging any more??

Granted nobody wants to be accused of stealing one’s creative works. And nobody wants to go through any bitter arguments. But reblog?

I guess I am too old school for it. If I had seen something that I thought I would share with you here, then you know that I would provide you the URL for it.  

Technology and its ways are moving so fast. I wonder if I will ever be able to catch up with it??

Maybe there are some benefits to it that I am not getting or understanding.

Maybe there is something more to it because I think its just another way of being lazy. But that’s just me.

I’d rather provide for my followers rather than clicking a few buttons and EXPECTING them to go read something else.

It could be that I just prefer my own creative content.

So if you have any answers, I’m all ears to the comment section below.

Thank you in advance.

 

A Year And Beyond

Well, it’s been a year now since this blog got started. A little more than that by now, but ehh… it’s been a full year.

I would have to say that I am really happy with what has happened in this blog and I most certainly do intend on continuing on with my blog post writings.

Over 200 posts and 8,000 views- its something that I never thought would have been possible. But here we are.

I hope that this blog has been at least helpful, or in the VERY least, entertaining. I would say that it has been quite successful.

I can’t believe the year snuck up on me like that though.

For those of you who have been following, I thank you. And for those of you who have been with me most of this journey, your support actually is encouraging.

So now with a year behind me, there will be more to come in the near future. All I can really say is thank you from the bottom of my heart, and STAY TUNED.

Spam

As of lately I have been really pulling my hair out because of spamming comments. Just in the last month I have deleted more comments that have been sent into the queue than any other time.

Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems (including most broadcast media, digital delivery systems) to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately. Clearly there are a lot of these comments that have had some kind of advertising along with them. And it’s getting tedious to deal with.

Right at a point where I could see through the site stats that more and more people were reading different and various posts on this blog, along came with it the spammers who just post their comments to indiscriminate blog posts. And to me, it wouldn’t make sense for their words to be placed where they were. Their words didn’t line up to the content that was available.

A few months ago, I was averaging about 15-20 per day. Now I think that the average has gone up to about 40-50 per day. I think that is really great. But is it all real?

Ugh…

I think that what is most disappointing as well as disturbing is the fact that some of these comments did actually fit. They were words of really high praise. Comments that were so positive and encouraging as well as rewarding- only to realize a few weeks later that they were spamming comments. Because later those same exact words would come in other comments. Same words, same user name, different blog post.

So honestly I have been very confused because some of these comments, I cannot tell whether they are or not genuine. I know that I am not the only one out there that deals with it. We ALL get spam e-mails.

It just takes the wind out of my sails that now I’ve realized it and probably allowed one comment too many and now its everywhere. And what makes it even worse is the fact that the lines are now blurred that I cannot distinguish from a random user who is honestly trying to leave a comment versus someone leaving spam comments.

As it stands, I have somewhere between 80-90 comments in total. Including my own replies to others. And yet it all makes me want to look back and try to figure out whether or not those comments which are still remaining are spam. Some are more obvious than others.

So it is completely annoying. Perhaps there is some kind of setting that I’ve missed to deal with this situation. Something that I am unaware. I’ll look into it.

 

100

And just like that, after writing the post of “Poetry & Prose”, I come to this post.

MY 100TH POST on WordPress.

Not sure what I thought I was going to do about it when I noticed that I was getting closer and closer to this mark. I know that by now I could have passed this point many days ago, but I decided not to write about the negativity that was going on in my life and just vomit it all over my blog. I think that definitely would have made the 100th post a very long time ago. But I made the decision to wait until things were much calmer. I’m glad that I did.

Starting this blog back in February, I was not sure how long it would take me to get to 100 posts. Just the other day, I saw another blogger who had reached 1,000!! I could not even fathom it. But here I am, with many subjects written and I’ve reached this point in less than a full six months.

A lot of the content is not uniformed by any stretch of the imagination. The content spans from life experiences for sure. Some funny, some heartbreaking, some to be sought as a learning experience for others and as a warning, and yes…. the contest entries and personal blog posts that were sent to people vicariously.

There are some subjects that I posted in this blog that got more views than others. And of course, it has always kept me guessing. Just when I think that I am writing about something that is going to shake up the world, something else grabs their attention and the view counts on other posts soar by the tens and twenties day by day.

I didn’t set out to become something of an online professional. Neither do I claim to be. I just can write about my own experiences, thoughts, and feelings at the time. Many of which I hope deep down in my heart, have helped some reader.

As of this hour and the last time that I checked, I have over 1,800 views and very close to 1,900. I wonder what 2,000 will feel like? Stay tuned!

Over 20 comments have been left on various blog posts. And eight people decided to subscribe and become Disciples of Dambreaker. To them, I can never say “thank you” enough.

But a special thank you to the people whom I call “my blog father and mother”.

After reading Frothtonomy enough times, I actually made the decision to begin a blog of my own. The author of that blog here on WordPress gave me the influence to these 100 posts that exist today. He is “my blog father”. Thanks for being so moist, my man!!

Shortly after I began this blog, I became a colleague/friend with J.S. Chancellor, who is actually an author of wonderful fiction. I give her special recognition because she helped me along the way with how WordPress functions and could actually work better for me. She is “my blog mother”. Always willing to help and never holds a grudge when I ask her silly questions- especially when the answer was right there in front of my face. She’s been there to simply POINT at it and smile. Thank you, my wonderful friend. My heart always shines a place for you and your friendship.

These two people have their blogs in the list of links in the Blogroll on the left side of the page.

At some point, I began to include images in my blog posts. Then I began to add memorable quotes from well-known people or dialogue from popular American films that was in relation to the content of each blog. I don’t remember exactly when I started doing that, but I believe it has helped fill the blank void of just words on a screen.

To those who inspire, thank you. To those who have been supportive, again… thank you.

For those just seeking information, YOU’RE WELCOME!

This means at least a little something to me that I have 100 posts. Who knows how far this will go?? I enjoy it, and comments and questions are always welcomed. I am looking forward to the next 100 posts in the future.

So I sign off of THIS particular post, with all the love in my heart for those who are there and have been there.

Thank you & Much Love to All!!!!!!!

Why Have A Blog?

“I want to start a blog, but what should I write about?”. I receive this question more than you know.

A lot of people have been asking me personally about whether or not they should have a blog. It seems as if they have already made up their minds about it, but they just do not know what exactly to write about.

I think that it is a fair question to ask. A lot of people now are writing in online blogs. And a lot of people do it for a lot of different reasons.

Some use their blog as an attachment to their careers. Writers and authors who want to keep their minds fresh for their personal projects and aren’t working on them, want to be able to keep their creative writing minds flowing.

Other people use blogs for the purpose of free advertisement. Whatever it is that they are trying to spread the word on, they use a blog now because most blogging websites are free to join.

I’ve even seen blogs created for the purpose of being able to keep in contact with masses of people. Their posts update from time to time on what is going on with their lives and instead of writing individual e-mails over and over again, or using mass messages which may have limitations, they choose to use the blog to get their information out there.

And still there are those who just use it as a hobby. They post creative ideas and writings and want to be able to put their personal work some place where they won’t lose it, as well as be able to share it with others.

There are countless reasons as to why a person uses a blog. This blog has used all of the above. I do not get paid for blogging, and I doubt that I ever will. And that’s just fine. Writing is good therapy in the first place, for some.

But you want a blog that will be something that everyone can read, right?? Of course you do! You want it to be something that people will actually come back to read it because they want to read it. Especially after the first initial impact that was made from their first time visiting.

The most important part of any blog is what you have to say and how you say it. People will return to your blog if they like what you write about a specific subject and they like your writing style.

With that in mind, your blog should be written in a tone appropriate to your blog topic. Keep it personable so as to invite interaction through blog comments and links back to your blog.

So the important question you should ask yourself is “What is it that I want to say?”.

Are you going to list your family’s favorite recipes and concentrate on that subject, or are you wanting to do a “How To” blog and share with the rest of the world your knowledge on how to do stuff?

Once you figure that out, the rest is pure gravy. You can find just the right blogging website to suit your needs. Then you just write, write, write!

The people will come, slowly but surely.

Good Luck.