tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post523685713934768115..comments2023-09-29T05:32:04.308-07:00Comments on StrangePegs: Looking Back Through the Looking Glass of A to ZAndrew Leonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-61204602526926047192012-06-11T12:07:29.286-07:002012-06-11T12:07:29.286-07:00Shannon: Yeah, I tried to do that looking back thi...Shannon: Yeah, I tried to do that looking back thing, too, but I found I just didn't have time to keep doing it. Eventually, it just became following a blog so that I could see what it was like after a-z.<br /><br />That bionic eye thing may not be as far away as you think.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-1128420769678552412012-06-10T15:24:13.868-07:002012-06-10T15:24:13.868-07:00You know, I forgot to note how many people I had a...You know, I forgot to note how many people I had as followers in advance, so I'm not sure how it impacted me in that way, but I had fun with the theme I chose. Hopefully you did, too, because yours was a great theme. I enjoyed reading the posts. I've long maintained that a lot of things wouldn't exist had not some writer or screenwriter invented them first. <br /><br />One thing I do during the A-to-Z, which takes up more time, is to go back through pre-A-to-Z posts and see what they normally write. I can't follow people based on their A-to-Z posts because they aren't usually consistent with what they normally post, which is why I tried to make my posts two-fold and do what I was normally doing at that time, plus the Wild West posts. I don't know if that was a good solution, and it certainly took up a bit more time, but I was hoping people could see what my blog was actually about that way.<br /><br />I'm waiting for the bionic eye to replace the one I have macular degeneration in. Some day, some day. Until then, the brain is an amazing thing, and I hardly know there's a problem...until I get an eyelash in the good eye while driving...Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-48160474641371315862012-05-17T13:55:00.253-07:002012-05-17T13:55:00.253-07:00Callie: I did appreciate the compliment, but I als...Callie: I did appreciate the compliment, but I also have to deal with the controversy first! :P<br />I'm glad you liked my writing enough to come back!Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-57274597701201106832012-05-17T13:40:24.765-07:002012-05-17T13:40:24.765-07:00I hear the pro-cyborg argument. I just disagreed w...I hear the pro-cyborg argument. I just disagreed with the anti-zombie stance. :P In fact, I just read a book with cyborgs in it and definitely liked that aspect. I plan to read that new Cinderella book too, the name of which currently escapes me, but basically Cinderella is a cyborg.<br /><br />Anyway, I was trying to pay you a compliment: I disagreed with the anti-zombie stance but still enjoyed your writing and found it compelling.Callie Leuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535505792102190920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-59924201671769955692012-05-17T13:18:36.176-07:002012-05-17T13:18:36.176-07:00Callie: Wait! Disagreed with? Having posted mostly...Callie: Wait! Disagreed with? Having posted mostly on factual matters, what did you disagree with? Unless it was my pro-cyborg stance on the whole cyborgs vs zombie thing? I must know!<br /><br />And go poke all you want!Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-84286670764584931842012-05-16T11:56:00.326-07:002012-05-16T11:56:00.326-07:00I think a lot of people were using the month to tr...I think a lot of people were using the month to try something new or different than what they usually do. I actually bookmarked several people who struck me as thoughtful or good writers, but whose April content didn't appeal to me, so that I could circle back around to them later.<br /><br />I didn't see your blog until the end, and at any rate I think the first post I saw I very much disagreed with, but I like your writing style and your humor, and I don't mind longer posts as long as it's well-written and engaging. So btw I'll eventually be poking through your backlog.Callie Leuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535505792102190920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-86200851958103471672012-05-14T14:37:47.505-07:002012-05-14T14:37:47.505-07:00Donna: I liked your poetry. And that's saying ...Donna: I liked your poetry. And that's saying something, because I'm not much for modern poetry. But, eventually, I'll have a post or three about that.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-73790701167465052012-05-12T18:37:25.380-07:002012-05-12T18:37:25.380-07:00I can see where you are coming from, because I'...I can see where you are coming from, because I'm going back and visiting some blogs now, and they are nothing like the ones done for a to z. But in their defense, I guess mine wouldn't seem as though it was the same either at first glance, in that I am taking a bit of a break! But I often write poetry for April, and for other posts also. So mine is much like I would ordinarily do. I completed two months of blogging each day two years in a row now in March and April. Thanks for following and commenting on mine. I really enjoyed yours...very, very informative and not one I would have necessarily sought out. But I'm glad I tried it...and I liked it!Donna Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738281869266957726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-12370853964183012082012-05-11T16:13:00.934-07:002012-05-11T16:13:00.934-07:00Pish: Yeah, I agree that there should be categorie...Pish: Yeah, I agree that there should be categories, but I also understand the organizers motivation to keep people looking at blogs that they wouldn't normally look at. Still, you always have the choice to look at other blogs, so...<br /><br />And sure thing!Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-43569710295424533572012-05-09T20:04:50.144-07:002012-05-09T20:04:50.144-07:00Yea I tend to agree. It was way more effort than r...Yea I tend to agree. It was way more effort than return. I didn't have TIME to check out many other blog posts, and I wish it had been organized more effectively. By genre, perhaps.<br /><br />And because I didn't have time to check out other blogs, I didn't get many new followers. <br /><br />I enjoyed the challenge of writing every day but all it taught me really was that I'm better when I do not write every day (or at least do not publish it, just to publish it). <br /><br />I am delighted to be done with it and back to the joy of reading things I discover and writers who put effort into their stories and language, pacing and tension, humor and information, mood and emotion. <br /><br />Thank you for not giving up on me!Pish Poshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13777846744497845820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-61590402819247653352012-05-09T16:03:25.473-07:002012-05-09T16:03:25.473-07:00baygirl32: Well, contrary to how it may have come ...baygirl32: Well, contrary to how it may have come across, I don't have anything against short, nothing posts in general. And, if that's your style, you certainly shouldn't change it for a challenge. But, if you don't normally blog that way, then you do it for the challenge, how can I get an idea of what your blog is really like? That's what I'm talking about.<br /><br />That corgi: (I love corgis, btw) Again, this is the kind of thing I'm talking about. I didn't choose many new blogs to follow, because most of the ones I came across didn't post about anything. They were short and easy to read, yes, but they weren't really -about- anything. I passed over them during the challenge as being uninteresting. But what if the blogger in question usually posts deep, interesting posts but changed his/her format for the challenge to attract more attention. I won't be back, because of the lack of content during the challenge. The blogger may have picked up some people based on the short style but, after the challenge, I think most of those people will feel bait and switched because they thought that blogger was one thing when, really, that blogger was another thing.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-87573205601284528252012-05-08T17:22:27.196-07:002012-05-08T17:22:27.196-07:00Visiting from A/Z post challenge reflections. You ...Visiting from A/Z post challenge reflections. You brought up a lot of interesting thoughts with it. I am of the opinion that blogging is not a popularity contest so up until Blogger changed their format recently, I didn't even have the followers widget on my blog because I didn't want blogging to be about numbers. In the old days you used to be able to follow a blog by clicking on "follow" at the top of the page; now that option is not available any more so I had to put the followers widget back on my blog because several people expressed an interest to want to follow my blog as a result of finding it through the challenge. <br /><br />I visited a lot of blogs during the challenge and left comments, but didn't necessarily follow the majority I visited. I did visit and left comments to anyone new that visited during the challenge.<br /><br />I have to be honest, long posts unless they captured my interest in the first two or three paragraphs I just moved on to the next blog. There were less long posts that held my interest in this particular challenge.<br /><br />Did I do a few frivulous posts? I did. But on average if I was not participating in this challenge I only put up a blog once or twice a week at the most because I don't want to overwhelm my readers with too many. So to keep my faithful readers and to keep the flow of comments, I kept some short simple ones.<br /><br />All in all, it was an interesting challenge. The jury is still out on whether I participate next year. It was fun and I did pick up a few new followers and followed a few new blogs but it was very time consuming.<br /><br />again, congrats for finishing!<br /><br />bettybettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06323135450742337670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-10172113944253323772012-05-08T15:53:35.365-07:002012-05-08T15:53:35.365-07:00I'm guilty of writing short nothing posts duri...I'm guilty of writing short nothing posts during the challenge - but I often write short nothing posts not during the challenge, so I guess it balances out somewhat :)<br /><br />congrats on finishingbaygirl32https://www.blogger.com/profile/01355816922022246751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-18514993020489508192012-05-08T13:03:00.838-07:002012-05-08T13:03:00.838-07:00EvalinaMaria: Thanks for stopping by!EvalinaMaria: Thanks for stopping by!Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-58957905243419510802012-05-08T13:02:18.096-07:002012-05-08T13:02:18.096-07:00Briane: I don't necessarily think you shouldn&...Briane: I don't necessarily think you shouldn't write about things you normally wouldn't post on, but you definitely shouldn't do it in a way that's not how you would do it.<br /><br />I think "too long" is a lie. Sure, most people don't want "too long," but, then, most people don't read at all, so what does that matter? If it's well written, people will read it. -I- like your long posts.<br /><br />I'm glad you liked my series.<br />(Snoopy is the ultimate philosopher. Other than Yoda.)<br /><br />Rusty: Actually, I didn't wonder, because you generally get to all of them. Wow! I think I like being compared to dessert. <br /><br />I used to do everything like that, saving the best for last. My wife has caused a shift in me, because that would often mean I never got to those things. I've learned to start balancing that kind of stuff.<br /><br />And it's true, you never know the difference one person can make, which is why I made the distinction of "looking at the numbers" and quantity vs quality. I don't know what kind of quality I brought in, yet, so I have no way of evaluating that part.<br /><br />Arlee: Not to delve too deeply here, but the way it looks to me is that the "fluffy," cheerleader type blogs attract a lot of people. I understand that, but I also have no patience for it. Yes, this is a personal thing. Positive thinking is highly overrated (did a post on this, and there is a -lot- of science to back that up), and I don't need a bunch "yea! yea!" stuff. I understand that other people do. So all those blogs out there that spend all of their time telling me "you can do it" wear me out. Generally, I find they are very light on anything I would call actual content and spend a lot of time just re-posting the same lists of things over and over which invariably say "stay positive." Anyway... I'm heading into a rant, so I'll stop now.<br /><br />I do do a lot of series; however, I don't think a singular thought or idea should be broken up over several posts unless there are sub-thoughts to it.<br /><br />Mark: Thanks for stopping by! I hopped over to your blog, but I need to do some more looking around. I'm sure you'll hear from, though. (D&D has a role in my book.)Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-42885719127747564872012-05-08T11:04:06.645-07:002012-05-08T11:04:06.645-07:00Greetings,
Came here by way of Elizabeth Twist - ...Greetings,<br /><br />Came here by way of Elizabeth Twist - so now I'll be setting up camp and reading your posts. So glad to find someone with a good analytical approach to reviewing and posting.<br /><br />Well done.<br /><br />Kind regards<br /><br />Mark KMark Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13002166292175980928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-401267102649023532012-05-07T21:53:42.429-07:002012-05-07T21:53:42.429-07:00Whew! There is a lot of content here. What I ofte...Whew! There is a lot of content here. What I often tell one of my dearest blogging friends is: "You could have broken that post up into smaller bites and created a series out of it." In other words a book is a certain reading experience, a magazine article is another, and a blog post is another. What you get from your audience depends on what they are buying. <br /><br />I don't have a problem with short clever posts or a brief post with a deep thought or concept or bit of information. I agree with you on the trivial posts, but I didn't sense that as much as you portray in your post here. Perhaps its partly due to my role as a co-host of this massive event. There were a lot of wonderful blog posts that I know I missed, but I found many that struck me as unique, thoughtfully composed, and entertaining. <br /><br />It would be cool if somebody did a study of the hows and whys of the things you mention about gaining followers, getting comments, etc. There are so many ways to approach blogging and many different payoffs that bloggers are looking for. I guess we each have to figure out what we really want and then figure the best way to get that.<br /><br />Over all--aside from not having enough time and being generally tired (and that's a whole 'nother personal deal)--I had a blast. I got lots of wonderful comments, many new followers on all four of my blogs, and discovered more cool blogs that I had heretofore not discovered. It was a challenge as it should be, but it was rewarding.<br /><br />Thanks for your assessment. And if you get some more answers to your ponderings, I'd like to hear what conclusions you reach.<br /><br /><br />Lee<br /><a href="http://afarawayview.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> A Faraway View</a><br />An A to Z Co-host blogArlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-11821802915344006182012-05-07T17:22:19.063-07:002012-05-07T17:22:19.063-07:00Sigh. You know, Andrew. I wonder if you ever wonde...Sigh. You know, Andrew. I wonder if you ever wonder about why I get behind on your posts when I don't do others. Well, you may not have noticed, but just so you know, I enjoy yours a great deal and tend to kind of save them for later. I want to settle back and feel like I don't have anything else to worry about and spend a bit of time thinking about what you wrote and otherwise enjoying it without worrying about all the other posts I still have to go visit. <br /><br />If I think about reading blogs, yours is often the dessert. My problem, I think, is that when I feel really bad, or get really busy, I often skip dessert. I don't do it on purpose, it just works out that way. <br /><br />Anyway, I dug your reflection, and I find your comments about the new followers and the shallowness of many posts interesting. But, you never know how just one person can turn into a superfan or something and bring you huge rewards down the road.Rusty Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09887821877521181811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-11741438094628502132012-05-07T09:13:13.730-07:002012-05-07T09:13:13.730-07:00I think the best way to handle all these blogfests...I think the best way to handle all these blogfests is to claim that you're taking part but then just do your own thing. Wait, I definitely shouldn't admit that.<br /><br />You've hit on so much here that I want to comment on, so let me take some highlights:<br /><br />1. Attracting readers to your blog by posting something other than what you usually post is dumb. When you go back to the regular stuff, they'll fade away. It's like Sweeps Month on TV -- stunts and musical numbers and such that don't demonstrate how good a show actually is.<br /><br />2. People who complain about long posts. I worry sometimes that mine are too long. Heck, most of my COMMENTS are longer than many people's posts. There's a reason for that: My blogs are actually my main writing. The books and such are secondary to me, for a variety of reasons (mostly financial). <br /><br />So for a while I focused on getting shorter posts that people would read, and then I began to wonder why I was doing that -- why I wasn't writing what I wanted to write simply to attract readers. So I stopped. Now, I make 'em as long or short as I want and if you don't want to read it, well, your loss.<br /><br />People are always saying "Too long" or "This is so long" but nobody said that about SEVEN BOOKS of Harry Potter, and as for me, I like longer posts, even if I can't read them all at one sitting -- if they're good.<br /><br />So the A to Z stuff is helpful as an organizing principal and getting people to take a look at your blog, but, in the end, it's just like that philosopher said: "To thine own self be true."<br /><br />(That philosopher, I think, was Snoopy.)<br /><br />I liked your A to Z posts, Andrew. They were extremely informative and thought-provoking.Brianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01616494058636881575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-77752539547372842532012-05-04T16:25:01.977-07:002012-05-04T16:25:01.977-07:00Grumpy: I thought about a superhero thing, but I c...Grumpy: I thought about a superhero thing, but I couldn't decide how to narrow it beyond that. Like Star Wars, it's too broad for me.<br /><br />Alex: I think you can be, yes, I just think most people weren't. I liked your series, though. It was clever and a nice gesture to your pals.<br /><br />Michael: And you barely managed to stay focused on that :P<br /><br />S.L.: Well, I didn't say, yet, that it wasn't worth it to me. I said just by looking at the numbers versus the time I put into it, it says it wasn't. However, it's impossible to measure the qualitative difference it may have had at this point. That will take more time to know.<br /><br />I'm glad you stumbled in here as well :) and I quite enjoyed your series!Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-43837562420624654632012-05-04T15:40:13.564-07:002012-05-04T15:40:13.564-07:00I for one was really glad your posts were in depth...I for one was really glad your posts were in depth and analytic. I think that's what made them interesting. And I'm really honored that you followed my blog. Though my posts may not equal yours in length ever time, I try to make sure there's content in them. I want to write about something worth reading because, in the end, isn't that our responsibility as writers.<br /><br />Of course, that may not matter to all bloggers, since not all bloggers are writers in their "real" lives. But it matters to me. <br /><br />I'm sorry you didn't feel the challenge was worth it for you, but I am glad you participated so I could find your blog.S. L. Hennessyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06514651403542719387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-52412700690223144922012-05-04T12:00:38.794-07:002012-05-04T12:00:38.794-07:00I didn't mind the A to Z challenge at all. I l...I didn't mind the A to Z challenge at all. I liked the structure and it gave me something to focus upon which is what my brain sometimes needs.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-74015308167093981402012-05-04T11:37:53.958-07:002012-05-04T11:37:53.958-07:00I think you can still be true to yourself even wit...I think you can still be true to yourself even with shorter posts. I came back to read, but I know most skipped longer posts. Some had themes which worked as well. And I tried to stay true to my blog with my theme.<br />Random following doesn't work. Connecting and commenting does though.<br />Be sure to add your link to the list on Sunday. We want all the feedback.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-84286363770500858422012-05-04T11:25:29.731-07:002012-05-04T11:25:29.731-07:00If I were going to do that again I'd need a be...If I were going to do that again I'd need a better theme. Just flogging my book all month I think got boring to everyone--including me. Maybe next year I could do a Superhero/Supervillain a day or something. That might be more fun.<br /><br />Yes the blogs I tend to read are ones that say something more substantial than "A is for Apple." Or that in some way relate to my interests. I kept meaning to go visit some of the blogs. I tried following a bunch but it seemed like the whole Friend Connect thing worked only sporadically so I think I missed a bunch. I did get some "followers" but not many actual followers and most of the ones I did get were because I followed them first, which is still the best way to get followers unless you're already famous.<br /><br />Anyway, the posts of yours I did read were pretty interesting, so kudos.PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.com