Welcome to my blog, the story of my continuing journey into the World of Zombie Wargames.

Monday 11 January 2016

Blogging

Whilst I don't normally take much notice of 'hits' (page views) or the number of followers I have I blog.
was surprised to fnd that with this post I'd hit 200 posts, a number I never thought I'd reach when I started in February 2012. A lot of blogs seem to have a shelf-life of about three years as the initial enthusiasm for then wanes.
 I too reached this flagging stage of enthusiasm last year, but after a two month absence due to bout of illness (thanks to all who enquired as to my absence) I found some renewed energy to continue blogging and even managed a new project and blog merely as a record of it.
I was "advised" that it was better to post on a regular basis, be it once a week, a month or whatever - this is probably the best advice I took to heart as I found that working to a deadline was definitely
beneficial to my output - I've tried to maintain this even though the output has declined somewhat !
(the original adviser now doesn't btw)
When I started the whole blogging thing there was no instruction manual, no rules of etiquette nor any blog format - by which I mean what is acceptable content. All new bloggers seem to have to re-invent the wheel when starting save for any "useful" advice that we may get from a fellow blogger.
Over the years, (which seems strange to be able to say that now  as I still consider myself 'new') I have made my own rules about blogs and blogging.
Firstly on my own blog I try to present it as best I can, foremost being checking spelling and  layout (though the latter doesn't always pan out). I don''t post what I  think others wish to see but post about what I hope will be of interest. I've found writing reports on games I've played can be really tricky as I've found found that if they're too long I get bored and as I can't write prose, I avoid the flowery bits ("Andy watched with glee as the enemy walked straight into his carefully set trap").

"Pitchers"....oops
I do try and vary the content as many other blogs do because I feel there is no point in posting the same things week after week - I've made the same building about five times and think it would be silly to pst the same thing five times ! 
But I think it is important to include pictures in any blog post (hence the random ones on here)as they not only break up tedious screeds of text but also add colour !
I've conscientiously avoided post titles that would avoid a flood of "hits" from sources other than the audience that this blog was originally aimed at. If you like to improve your own 'hits' then trying putting the word 'Boobs' into a post about all the errors you've made in something you've done !
The one thing that has kept me blogging is the considered comments that followers of my blog have made over the years (still can't get used to thinking I've been at this for four years now). I'm not talking about the "That's nice" type of comment but rather the considered sentece or two querying what I've posted about or suggesting an alternate view (whether or not I'd agree with it. Consequently I also try to comment in a similar fashion on the blogs I follow with more than a bland statement of a word or two, though sometimes it is all that can be said!




So a big thank you to all that have entertained and interested me with your own blogs, commented on my blog and kept me blogging, all of which has helped me to continue to blog and further my own projects.

And that's it for this week, hopefully I'll have somethibng else to write about next week!

24 comments:

  1. Congrats on the 200, it's not a problem to visit!

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    1. Many thanks AL, I do wonder how others keep their own blogs going for so long and keep them interesting.

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  2. Very nice. [joke]

    First blog I ran went even further with the boobs. Full-frontal female nudity and an 18+ warning! Not bad for a wargames blog. I got 1000s of hits in a single day. Though it wasn't very inspirational to me on the hobby front.

    Biggest problem I have with my blogging is OCD. I had 4 to 5 blogs now. Deleting and re-inventing. Cropping posts and binning photos. Thankfully now that I'm not just blogging for myself I've seemed to have calmed down (or it may be the long-term effects of the meds?).

    I have to admit that your gladiators are more of interest to me than the zombies (though I actually own some zombie miniatures and comment on this blog more than your other).

    Anyway, keep on rolling as they say. Or should that be blogging?

    Cheers, Roy

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    1. I had to laugh at your full frontal comment, I have had a "follower" who was interested in male nudity and naive as I am I;ve failed to understand that gladiators are also a homo-erotic genre.
      The 7YW is more interesting to me than zeds but I needed a solo game at the time I got into thism but I've loved gladiators from the time I had two plastic ones (cherilea I think) that fught alongside my cowboys and indians about 50 years ago!

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  3. Congratulations! I don't know how folks manage with several blogs tbh kudos to them that can though.

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    1. I have to agree with you on the multiple blogs thing, but I think a lot of their effort fail too.

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  4. Congratulations Joe! Does it make you feel old?

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    1. Thanks Mattyoo (I think) I felt old when I started blogging (because I am).

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  5. Absolutely spot on Joe, I had a prolonged absence from my blog due to waning interest in it rather than a waning interest in the hobby. It was blogs like yours and Bryan's (who says there can't be a north/south concord?) and some others that got me back into posting and making sure the content was a bit more of interest. Still a ways to go until I hit your heady heights but I'm working on it, keep on it matey

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    1. Thanks dGG, I just knew I wouldn't be the only one. I've always got my inspiration for the whole hobby with others that share my interest and can discuss it. Blogging, I did think woould replace the chat I sorely miss, however it was not to be and sadly a forum that I thought would help this, hasn't. Blogs like your own do inspire though so and I'm not sure what "heady heights" you're trying to attain, but keep doing what you're doing.

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  6. Congratulations! You are welcome, Zab. And I am amazed you get so much accomplished with all the Zeds shambling around the place.

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    1. Thanks Jay and yes the Zeds do keep things interesting, but I think I'm secure - until or unless they find out how to cast spells.

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    1. Thanks HW, at least it's a statistic that does ean something !

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  8. A thoughtful introspective piece. I find myself agreeing with everything you've written as I've had exactly the same thoughts myself (but have never written them down).

    The one thing that you haven't mentioned is *why* we write blogs, though I suspect that's a much bigger discussion!

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    1. THanks C60, I did suspect tht I can't be the only one to think the way I do. I have thought long and hard why people blog and as you say it's a very longdiscusssion, but the reason for my second blog was merely to get a record of my new project from start to finish - this blog however is a far bigger fish to fry.

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  9. Congrats on 200! Your blog is always a fun read and your builds are quite inspirational. Keep up the great work!

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    1. Thanks N667, I tend to write my posts (and my comments on others' blogs) with when I'm in a good mood and with a smile on my face. I too am inspired by the blogs of other.

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  10. Happy to visit. 200, well done. I can remember starting and wondering is anyone would read it.

    Which is a good thing as my blog is mostly for myself. As I am sure yours is as well.

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    1. Thanks Clint, I'm sure all new bloggers wonder if their blog will be read too (I know I did), but why we write blogs is still something I wonder about - it;s kid of like writing a diary for me, one that can be read by anyone.

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