Writer’s Corner (4) – Layout
Welcome to another post on my tips to new bloggers in the world of blogging. These are just helpful pointers to building and shaping your blog into how you want it to appear for your readers.
I believe one of the most important things to keep in mind is layout and appearance. Clearly, the WordPress Templates you can choose from make this alot easier for those of us who are not website building experts 😊. But, the content and visuals, still remains in our hands. Readers access blogs via desktops, tablets notebooks and mobiles and in our time constrained world, it’s important to not only capture readers, but to keep them on your page long enough to read your post. These different devices change how you blog appears for the reader. Therefore, its important to think about the quality and images you use, as well as the layout of your writing.
Tip 1
The tool bar in the top left with the white plus sign in the blue box gives a number tool options to use in order to add visual dynamics to your posts.
The above was done by selecting Media & Text in the Media area. Where you can upload or select and image and then add your supportive or descriptive text beside it.
Tip 2
You can also select where you want your image to appear in your post. Either to the left, centre or to the right as I have done hear.
First upload your image. Then click on it and a tool bar will appear above it. Click on the first image icon in that bar. This will give you a drop down list to select from.
When you click on your image again it will also be encircled by a blue line. While that line is visible you can adjust the image by widening or minimize you image to the size you wish. By just sliding your finger away from the image or pushing inward towards the laptop (in my case) in the image above.
TIP 3
The following riddle demonstrates using the ‘verse icon’ from the tool bar ( it looks like a small quill pen) in order to write your poems. The sub-headers were added by using the Header Icon. Both of these icons are found in the Text’ area. Which is the very first category of icons listed.
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickles peppers Peter Piper picked?
As in most things you have explore and try out things in order to see what works best for your until everything becomes familiar. I am still learning and exploring.
Until the next post. Happy blogging😊
Do comment if any of these tips have been helpful?
Celebration Time!
One of the things that is important to do with any goal is not just to focus on the end point but to enjoy the journey.
Back in September 2020 when I was inspired to start writing again, by writing as much as I could in October, after long periods of nothing. My goal was just to write consistently for that time.
I am really pleased to be now writing my 150th post for this blog. Writing has been such an outlet for me especially during lockdown. One of my heartfelt posts was in Writing – The Beauty In Writing!
I have been writing consistently for all three of my blogs and since the 1st October I have written 98 posts all together including my faith posts, short stories and poems.
I have also started a writing course in order to learn more and to move me towards my end goal of publishing my first book.
So as always, I’m all about personal Development and forever moving yourself forwards in life.
I am changing my circle in the process and loving my new journey.
So I am now looking forward to my next milestone which for me will be 250 posts!
Until my next post keep being the change you want to see.
Gloria (Aquene7)
Writer’s Corner (3) New Bloggers
This is a Fortnightly Post on (Monday’s) – These are just tips I have or am picking up. I remember how much of a maze WordPress was for me when I started and I am still learning.
The Blogging World is truly a massive pool filled with a vast amount of information. Yet, I remember when I first started Blogging, just getting to understand WordPress was a huge learning curve for me. There was so much to learn and understand, just to simply customise your page.
During that time seven years ago WordPress provide Blogging 101 and Blogging 201. A community in which you could learn how to customise your blog and add your link in order to get feedback on your theme, layout and changes you made. It was also a great way to build your audience and make connections with other bloggers just like you.
However, times have changed as WordPress has grown, I guess but there are still courses available, but for a small fee. If you are finding everything a little difficult to navigate then maybe this might be an option. Or you can simply search on New bloggers and see what comes up as tips. You will have to look out for when these courses become available as the last one seemed to be around December last year.
In your Dasboard Area in your navigation panel, you will see a section called ‘What’s Hot.’ Where you will see information listed. It is easy to over look these areas, but there you will see the top blogs listed and Word press post amongst other things. Check it out and just explore your dashboard.
Other Ideas to Build Community On Your Blog
- Having Themes or a Series of post. – This could be a subject matter you then breakdown into smaller chunks in order to then discuss in a weekly post. You may even decide to make it into a regular long term feature.
- If you create a series you may want to create create image to go with it, like I have above. I use Canva but there are other graphic design platforms out there to chose from. I used the free option for Canva for years. But recently upgraded to the pro version, as I have three blogs I write for. But if you are selling products and want to the designs, do ensure you look into licensing regulations regarding image use.
- Reviews: You may be a book lover or really into Podcasts. Maybe you love trying out new recipes. Reviews are informative, and they are also a great way to add another dimension to your blog. But as in anything, consistency is essential.
Happy blogging
Gloria
The Power of Vision
How often do you disqualify yourself through being overly critical of yourself?
How often do you seem to be inspired with an idea, only to then start chipping
⭕ I’m not experienced enough
⭕I’m not qualified enough
⭕I don’t have enough money
⭕Who is going to listen to what I have to say?
But the truth is, if you wait to have everything in place before you start, you will never start!
You simply have to use what you know or what you simply have within your means at the time and start. With a view to add and build as you progress and move forward.
Your fuel to anything is your inward motivation, your ‘Why‘. If you throw cold water on it internally, you will never get going. So how do you fan the flames?
For one you must change the script and reframe that inner critic. For every reason that comes to take you away from your plan find the reason to move you towards your plan.
If Steve Jobs had listen to the leading companies in 1998 he would never of changed the world of music, communications, social media and the use of the internet. The iMac and iPod and iPhone were revolutionary in every way and his competitors hand to up their game because of his ideas.
This 2007 talk demonstrates some of Apples thought processes st the time.
Sometimes it’s best to just do it. Don’t tell anyone just action your plan and ‘crack on!’
The reaction of people can also be a sure way to cause you to doubt and second guess yourself. I have certainly experienced this in the past and regretted it. Because I found that I had inadvertently opened up myself to the negative chat or lukewarm responses of others.
Have you ever tried to get past people’s responses that play like a tape in your mind? It’s not easy. So try to save yourself any pain.
Helpful Tips or Ideas
2. Use a Planner to help direct your thoughts and map out your goals or steps on a weekly and monthly basis.
3. Write a list of reasons why you want to do what you have in mind?
4. What would it change or improvement?
5. How would this change your life?
6. How would it make you feel to see your plans become a reality?
7. What is the most important thing to remember?
Feel free to think of and add more questions? Keep them all positive like your vision board. Then get started for a New Year and new chapter😊 Happy planning.
Until my next post. Be the change you want to see.
Gloria (Aquene7)
Writer’s Corner (02) – Being Organised!
This is a Fortnightly Post on (Monday’s) – These are just tips I have or am picking up. I remember how much of a maze WordPress was for me when I started and I am still learning.
One of the key things I have grown to appreciate over the past few months especially as I have found my motivation for blogging once again, is the need to be more organised.
I would say I normally had one basic pattern to how I wrote. I would write what inspired my thoughts that morning. I literally would have a thought or an idea and it would flow from my mind to my tablet. I would then review and do my grammatical amendments or changes. Categorise, add my tags, hit Preview to see it as a reader. Make any additional changes I spotted from that, and then hit Publish.
But now that I write for more than one Blog (Three) I find that way of working less sustainable, hence a need to become more organised,
PROMPTS – These are the catalysts to your thoughts and posts. Without the thing that inspires you, you have nothing to write. So you need to capture your Prompts. It’s good to connect to challenges you may have come across or simply search challenges in your reader. There are loads to discover that are up and running out there! Join in with your own posts and connect in The WordPress Blogshere. I have listed a few links below:-
Photography – Lens Artist Challenge
EIF Poetry Challenge #13 Villanelle
Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Prompt
These would become part of your Readers Library once you have connected and you will see their posts as they are posted each week. The key here is not just to join in with your posts but also to read what others have written, and interact. Comment, Like, follow and reblog. This will help to share your voice in an extremely large pond.
NB// One thing I have seen on some newbie blogs is sometimes there is no ‘Like Button.’ Please make sure these have been selected as part of how you set up your blog.
This area is found in Settings🔸️Sharing🔸️Publicise
There you can select the platforms through which your posts can be shared and you can also turn on your comment, like and reblog buttons. Then save before exiting.
Prompts can come from anywhere. Don’t limit yourself to inspiration. Photos, social media, books, TV, conversations, children, a walk, the garden, basically life and all its contents can inspire. As long as it fits in with the main essence or theme of your blog😊 Just make sure you capture the idea in your phone or in a note book. Ideas are easily forgotten or a train of thought lost.
SCHEDULING POSTS – This set up will enable you to decide when your post go out. So you can write your post in advance and then set the date and time they go out. If you are able build up posts in this area it will give you space to write posts as you will have a buffer ahead of you.
This area is found under the Settings icon on the top right hand side.
Settings🔸️Publish there you select date and time. This will change the Publish button to Schedule in Blue. This is in the new Block post set up.
TIMETABLE – This may not be something you need at first. I know alot Bloggers, Business Leads, Podcasters and Content or Social Media writers may well have Editorial Calendars. I have added a link if you want to know more about Editorial Calenders for yourself.
For me I have simply updated my diary entering timeslots for working on my Blogs in order to maintain a timely routine on my Blogs and certain posts.
Happy Blogging everyone😊
Stepping2YourDreams 