Author Topic: Honest Critiques please.......  (Read 11363 times)

darkbrowneggs

  • Joined Aug 2010
    • The World is My Lobster
Honest Critiques please.......
« on: December 21, 2013, 09:16:26 pm »
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/



« Last Edit: December 21, 2013, 09:43:18 pm by darkbrowneggs »
To follow my travel journal see http://www.theworldismylobster.org.uk

For lots of info about Marans and how to breed and look after them see www.darkbrowneggs.info

shygirl

  • Joined May 2013
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2013, 09:40:58 pm »
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:

darkbrowneggs

  • Joined Aug 2010
    • The World is My Lobster
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2013, 09:42:43 pm »
 :innocent:   Forgot to put on the link


http://worldismylobster.moonfruit.com/
To follow my travel journal see http://www.theworldismylobster.org.uk

For lots of info about Marans and how to breed and look after them see www.darkbrowneggs.info

Lesley Silvester

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • Telford
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2013, 10:01:23 pm »
I was thoroughly enjoying this and disappointed when I realised I had got to the end. You MUST continue it.

Thyme

  • Joined Apr 2013
  • Machynlleth, Powys
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2013, 10:09:52 pm »
This is wonderful and you should totally do it!  You might wind up with a book after a while :thumbsup:
Shetland sheep, Copper Marans chickens, Miniature Silver Appleyard ducks, and ginger cats.

darkbrowneggs

  • Joined Aug 2010
    • The World is My Lobster
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2013, 10:55:56 pm »
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:
To follow my travel journal see http://www.theworldismylobster.org.uk

For lots of info about Marans and how to breed and look after them see www.darkbrowneggs.info

shygirl

  • Joined May 2013
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2013, 11:06:37 pm »
its ace, I could keep reading...

doganjo

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Clackmannanshire
  • Qui? Moi?
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2013, 11:12:40 pm »
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?
Always have been, always will be, a WYSIWYG - black is black, white is white - no grey in my life! But I'm mellowing in my old age

darkbrowneggs

  • Joined Aug 2010
    • The World is My Lobster
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2013, 11:40:55 pm »
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:
To follow my travel journal see http://www.theworldismylobster.org.uk

For lots of info about Marans and how to breed and look after them see www.darkbrowneggs.info

suziequeue

  • Joined Feb 2010
  • Llanidloes; Powys
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2013, 06:41:50 am »
It's great. More please :-)


And more photos :-)
We do the best we can with the information we have

When we know better we do better

Bionic

  • Joined Dec 2010
  • Talley, Carmarthenshire
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #10 on: December 22, 2013, 08:17:18 am »
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.
Life is like a bowl of cherries, mostly yummy but some dodgy bits

Q

  • Joined Apr 2013
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #11 on: December 22, 2013, 08:41:59 am »
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.
If you cant beat 'em then at least bugger 'em about a bit.

ellied

  • Joined Sep 2010
  • Fife
    • Facebook
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #12 on: December 22, 2013, 09:03:45 am »
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. 
« Last Edit: December 22, 2013, 09:16:01 am by ellied »
Barleyfields Smallholding & Kirkcarrion Highland Ponies
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darkbrowneggs

  • Joined Aug 2010
    • The World is My Lobster
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #13 on: December 22, 2013, 09:12:44 am »
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.
To follow my travel journal see http://www.theworldismylobster.org.uk

For lots of info about Marans and how to breed and look after them see www.darkbrowneggs.info

shygirl

  • Joined May 2013
Re: Honest Critiques please.......
« Reply #14 on: December 22, 2013, 10:01:57 am »
these are the 2 blogs I follow, if it helps. I love the photos too.

http://lifeafterubique.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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