The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: darkbrowneggs on December 21, 2013, 09:16:26 pm
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I am thinking of starting a blog / log / web of my intended journeys
Do you think this is too slow and serious a start? And does it make interesting reading or not really?
I am not sure whether to make it rather jokey, or tell it how it is. On the other hand there is no point telling it like it is if no-one finds it interesting enough to be bothered to read.
This is my first attempt at writing anything other than strictly "useful" technical stuff on antiques or poultry so I really don't know how to pitch it.
http://worldismylobster.moonfruit.com/ (http://worldismylobster.moonfruit.com/)
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I would LOVE to follow your blog as id love to travel for a couple of years once the kids leave home.
I only follow 2 other blogs, both are doing something I would like to do. so yes, id read it :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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:innocent: Forgot to put on the link
http://worldismylobster.moonfruit.com/ (http://worldismylobster.moonfruit.com/)
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I was thoroughly enjoying this and disappointed when I realised I had got to the end. You MUST continue it.
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This is wonderful and you should totally do it! You might wind up with a book after a while :thumbsup:
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If you hover over the
The Story so Far
at the top right hand corner further pages should come up. I will get a better option sometime soon.
Should the "sections" be longer do you think?#
And many thanks for the positive replies - most heartening :eyelashes:
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its ace, I could keep reading...
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Brilliant, Sue! Keep the sections about that length- can't wait for the next episode. :excited:
Remember to date them.
What vehicle did you go for eventually?
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You'll have to wait and see :innocent:
I will have to stop typing now as my one thumb is giving me a bit of gip :relief:
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It's great. More please :-)
And more photos :-)
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Well Sue you asked for honest, for a blog, I think it's too lengthy. A blog is something I would expect to be able to dip into quickly but perhaps I am in the minority.
It is definitely interesting but more book like to me. As a book I would love to settle down in front of the fire read it, which isn't something I would think about doing with a blog.
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Your topic is definately interesting to me but surely your target blog market is relatively small..
Can I ask why you decided to blog about it?
In your situation I would focus on living it.
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I would say this is not blog style or length, it reads well but it is more a memoir or a non-fiction book in the way you are writing it, and a factual account really has to be that way. I don't think those that read blogs want long stories, they want entertainment and it's a different intention behind the writing. The book starts at a beginning, tells a story so far and you read down pages from start to end. A blog is back to front, tiny pieces with the newest at the top so it needs to stand alone and may attract the reader to go further back with you and catch up, but each piece is your first and only introduction to new readers. Once you've been going 6 months it will take a lot for folk to go backwards, read up the pages piece by piece to make a whole, most won't which is why the "tale in the pub" style works, they can snack on you but don't need the starter and main course to get to the dessert and coffee, they pick peanuts or crisps at the bar, take a biscuit or perhaps a sweetie off the table between you, but that's it. A few may take a biscuit and come back later on for soup, the swirling of it all together at the end, but most will just get on with their lives satisfied with that moment in a shiny wrapper.
It comes down to why you are writing it, to keep an account of your journey and offer it to share to people over the timeframe of making friendships (their commitment to read a book, chapter by chapter or all in one sitting) or to feel like you are still in touch while you're on your own, but needing to be appealing to that audience of strangers (a blog). The style at the moment is the former, it won't do both.
At the end of the day, though, while you consider who you are writing for, you are really writing for yourself, letting your experiences flow and wanting to see the memories held somewhere, be it entire in the hands of a few or scattered in the hands of many. So the question is, what style suits your need, and forget whether anyone will like it as long as you do and it meets your need to express and record your life at a key change point. That's what writing is, in essence, your creative expression. Do what you need to do and let the readers find you that suit the style.
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Thanks Bionic
It isnt meant to be a blog as such which is why I am doing it so you start from the beginning rather than the end. Possibly, if it turns out to be an interesting read it could potentially be my first foray into writing. Time will tell as to how things turn out.
Q - Thanks for your comments also. I have to admit I have never really been quite sure what a blog is and don't personally follow any.
But part of the reason for writing is that lots of people I know have asked to be kept up to date with what I am doing on my travels, and yesterday just seemed a salient point to start as I am at a hiatus waiting for the "bus". Once on my travels I imagine I will have time to write in the evenings as I am certainly not a "party animal" and long walks are not going to be on the cards, and presumably TV will be trickier to access and hard on the batteries to view
Ellied - we cross posted but yes at the moment its for people I know to keep them in touch with what I am doing, but if I am going to make the effort to write it I would like to know the style of writing that will be as you say entertaining.
Everyone else - if you do have time to take a look at what I am doing then I really would be grateful for your thoughts. Positive or negative - I shall take them all on board.
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these are the 2 blogs I follow, if it helps. I love the photos too.
http://lifeafterubique.blogspot.co.uk/ (http://lifeafterubique.blogspot.co.uk/)
http://sianthom.blogspot.co.uk/ (http://sianthom.blogspot.co.uk/)
keeping a diary is a lovely thing to do and look back on.
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Sue, as I said before, I really like this, but it is something I'd read on my kindle rather than online. You have the makings of a very interesting book here and my personal opinion is that a publisher might not want it open to the GP before it was completed and published. If I was this good at writing I'd put these first three chapters to a few publishers and see if you can get one of them to take it on, or at least give you professional opinions on it. I've just forced myself to read two books on my kindle (because I'd started so I'll finish ::) - can be a hard mantra to follow sometimes :innocent:) and they aren't anything like the quality of writing as this.
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I love it, the first page anyway :thumbsup: It is long and book-like to read while flitting on line so I've bookmarked it so I can read the other chapters with a cuppa later.
It will be great following the adventure with you and Phoebe as you travel. It would be nice to have some piccies in there too.
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Many many thanks all. First for taking the time and trouble to read it and even more to write back with helpful comments and suggestions.
Potentially it looks as though there may be enough to interest people to make it worthwhile perhaps thinking of doing something on Kindle. I will need to look into it, and I also need to be certain this is something I want to do. I am enjoying it at present, but I have to see if that enjoyment lasts.
The idea of this new phase in my life is that I am doing things which I enjoy and which make me happy. I have had too many years of doing things which had to be done. But for the moment it is a pleasure to write, though of course I am still having to sort out the paperwork on the house sale, get the money from the auctioneer, liaise with the folk who are selling me the bus, think about if I need to buy another property, consider if I need to put anything into store and if so organize somewhere, pack up the things which are being kept for my niece and nephew....... well you all know the score of day to day living.
But I have done another half page and will try to complete the page before the days end. So check it out if you would like
http://worldismylobster.moonfruit.com/#/one-thousand-and-one-lots/4581612155 (http://worldismylobster.moonfruit.com/#/one-thousand-and-one-lots/4581612155)
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Long ago, before we moved to this farm, our friends and neighbours said "Keep in touch." That's harder to do as the years roll by, for everyone's lives go in different directions and sometimes illness or children or a new job overwhelm one. What I've continued to do, which has apparently been quite popular, is what I call an Update - every now and again when something odd or funny or interesting happens I add it to a draft e:mail and when it's about six paragraphs long I send it off on its merry way across the ether. Sometimes this happens within three or four weeks, sometimes longer when things like lambing intervene. Some of the recipients never respond during the year but always send a Christmas card mentioning the Update, so I guess it's enjoyed by some (if not all) of them.
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sue
i found the time last night to go back over things i had bookmarked over christmas to read including your journal.
It was excellent and i cant wait for more of it, i agree its not really a blog but as a journal and a record of your new life it is awesome.
Very looking forward to all future installments...
Take care may you and thebus have many happy adventures together...
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Thanks Bloomer. :thumbsup: There may be a slight hiatus as I have the flu. Well probably just a bad cough and chest infection.
I could do with getting over it as Monday we start packing the last bits to go into storage and I hope to be off this time next weekend. :fc:
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YAY
for travelling not the cold...
when you make it to central scotland shout loud and someone will feed you and make you welcome!!!
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Ditto mid-Wales
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Suzie :eyelashes: you have seen the size of Thebus. Will he get to you? He took up most of the lane from my house to the top crossroad. :innocent:
By the way is anyone near Cymyoy? NP7 7NU and if so what are the lanes like there. On google earth they look exceedingly narrow.
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When I start to read a book it has to have me in the first chapter. When reading I can see the picture the writer is talking about, draws me in wanting more. Your blog does that and I look forward to more. :excited:
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That's great Thanks Sabrina. It was one thing I had worried over as to whether it was a strong enough start. A journalist / writer I met casually a few months ago had a look and said the first few chapters would be good enough for infil but to start with something else
But the thing is I have to have some sort of confidence in how I am writing it. So I think I will stick to what I am doing, and then the proof of the pudding will be in whether people want to carry on reading which most seem to, well those who have been kind enough to give feedback on it.
Many thanks all - I shall plough on, but the next few days might be a bit boring, what with feeling too ill do anything much and next week will probably be taken up with putting things in store etc, I can't imagine anyone would want to read about that. Or would they? What do you all think
Shall I write about my cold which had me in a bed similar to Tracy Emin's but not so valuable? And probably not so well used!
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I just caught up on reading it and am enjoying it very much. I think your voice and personality give it a lot of appeal together with your interesting story, so I hope you don't try to change the style too much :thumbsup:
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Loving every word of it..
I like the diary style.
It may even encourage me to write blog a bit more often ;)
Keep it up and enjoy thebus.
If you ever get as far as Spain............. :wave:
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Thanks Jack - you may well be on my list, assuing I learn to drive Thebus properly ::)
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Just read it and have to say I loved it! Still giggling about your descriptions of poor phoebe trying to get up the steps. She sounds so lovely, you must post a picture of her :)
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am thinking pheobe may need a carpeted ramp or something...
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That's great Thanks Sabrina. It was one thing I had worried over as to whether it was a strong enough start. A journalist / writer I met casually a few months ago had a look and said the first few chapters would be good enough for infil but to start with something else
I would agree IF you were writing a book but you are writing an account of your journey as it happens. Later on, if you decide to put it all in book form, then you would probably need to start with a strong anecdote but you can't do that until something has happened.