I'm thankful to Margo Kelly, whose blog post on this very subject reminded me that I have about 6 minutes before bedtime, and therefore 6 minutes left of February 1 in which to get my post up for this blogfest! I am a one, aren't I?
Seeeriously, this blogfest is happening today, it is hosted by Teralyn Rose Pilgrim, and I am participating! The whole idea of this blogfest (and a brilliant idea it was, too!) is to give us the opportunity to have our blogs critiqued, and to return the favour for other participants. Because we all know it's important for our blogs to, err, not be crap! Yeah. So, without further ado, here is how it works, in the words of Teralyn herself (but in a different font):
To Get Critiqued:1. Include your name in the linky list below.2. On February 1, post your request for critiques. The critiques can come from anyone, even people not involved in the blogfest.3. If you want, specify what kind of critique you’re looking for.4. Specify where you want to receive the critiques: in the comments where everyone can see them, or in your email where it’s more private.5. You can delete comments after you’ve read them, or keep them up.To Critique Others:1. Click on a blog from the linky list and read what the writer wants you to critique.2. You can make comments on:a. Appearance: Does it appeal to you? Is it too busy, or too plain?b. Layout: Is it difficult to navigate? Is it cluttered, or sparse?c. Frequency: Does the blogger post too often? Not often enough?d. Content: Are the posts interesting? Unique? Are they focused, or all over the place?e. Quality: Are the individual posts too long, too short, too sloppy, or too generic?3. Be sure to check if the blogger wants you to post the critique in the comments or send an email.
Right. Now that that's out of the way, let me have it people!! Tell me what's right and what's wrong. Don't hold back. I want to know what works and what doesn't! And indeed I shall return the favour if you are a participant!
i love your blog.If you want to earn money from your blog then type "earn money" in the search option of www.clubnxt.blogspot.com .Now i am following your blog.Sending you loads of love:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, but I wouldn't want to annoy everyone with ads, I get annoyed enough as it is by ad-riddled sites. hehe
DeleteAppearance: I like the simplicity of the header and the body against the colorful background. I think the background pattern could be one that's more seamless, but that's just me being nitpicky :)
ReplyDeleteLayout: I think it's fine as is. Just enough white space!
Yes, I've thought that myself - I did have a different picture in the background previously, some of my art, but this one is one of my photographs. I had to make it smaller to fit in some of the actual pattern, but as a result it became "un"seamless :) Thank you for your critique!
DeleteWell, might I just say ... the one VERY RIGHT THING about your blog ... is MY NAME appearing in your post! haha! YAY me!
ReplyDelete... oh wait ...
This isn't about me. Oops.
I do love your blog. I like the appearance, the postings, and everything else. I have no criticism. :)
Thanks Margo :D
DeleteWhat a cool idea for a blogfest! That means our platforms can be in question too, then. Thanks for the highlight! :)
ReplyDeleteYep, I thought it was pretty cool too!
DeleteI like your blog. I like the way it is laid out, the white back ground with black letter makes it easy on my old eyes. ;) I like the bright splash of color. Your posts are always interesting.
ReplyDeleteI honestly can't think of any thing that I could possible critique.
Thanks Judie :)
DeleteIt was Margo who reminded me, too. I'm taking part under my Kelda pen name. Gosh, I'm trying hard to bring up a constructive criticism. I pretty much love this blog. Erm . .. No, I've got nothing. Keep on doing what you're doing.
ReplyDeleteGood on Margo, she's saved us all! hehe
DeleteThanks for the feedback. :)
LOL, this may be the first time in a long time I've seen your background since I usually read on google reader.
ReplyDeleteI like that the color is all on the edges, matches the inside color scheme, and that you have plenty of white space. I also love that your side bar isn't too busy. I'm trying to trim mine down.
And I've always loved your blog, that's why I keep following.
I did have two sidebars, but found some advice that said you only need one. But now I also find it hard to decide what to do with all my stuff that I want to have on it. :)
DeleteThank you!
Fun blogfest. Hmmmm - I like your blog. I would however, move your "followers" to under your "find me" icons. I like having those at the top. It's easy to find and people are sure to see it if they only read one post. If I don't have it right there, sometimes I forget. :)
ReplyDeleteGood tip, thank you! I've had a hard time trying to decide how to arrange all my "stuff" in the sidebar since removing the other sidebar. ;)
DeleteHey! Haven't looked at your blog in awhile except via Google Reader! Of course I love your content and read along but design wise maybe switch it up if you have a mind to? btemplates.com?
ReplyDeleteI do switch it up occasionally, but I like to keep the general layout similar so as not to shock people too much. hehe. Thanks for your feedback Jon!
DeleteI like the title of your blog. I like that you state what your blog is about in your header. I like that you have a bio and that its brief. I would suggest making a separte page for your links and using that space for your archive.
ReplyDeleteThat Margo I tell you...I completely forgot to put a post up this morning for the Critique Blogfest until I saw Margo had commented.
I joined your blog and I look forward to reading your posts!
Good tip about the links - I can probably add them to my "cool stuff" page, and maybe rename that to "links". I dunno. ;)
Deletefabulous pictures! solid posts.
ReplyDeletei've seen a lot of bright white today. as a singer, songwriter, traveler i bet you have colorful walls and stories and personality to match! bring it into your blog. be bold or subtle, it's all about you.
other than that, bravo =)
Thank you for the comments, and I'll definitely think about your 'colour' pointer :) Often I am pretty plain with how I write things, as in the colours there. But I have actually found that some fonts won't allow you to change their colour (in Blogger, at least). Maybe it's the browser I use?!!
DeleteInteresting concept, don't have the time to join in and scared I might upset a few people with my direct approach if I did! LOL. Anyways, I like your blog, the header, the regularity of your posts, and while I have more of a tendency for random topics, and length, I'm sure a lot of people like the consistency of your posts (from what I've noticed) and the regularity of some subject matter, like the music thing on Sundays. While I'm not opposed to the colours in the background of this page, I don't like any background anywhere being tiled. I would try and see what it looks like with just the pic itself, or maybe get something similar as someone said already, that's seamless. I also like that you jump into lots of projects with gusto and stick to them. One can tell that you enjoy the world of blogging. :D
ReplyDeleteWell, people are definitely looking for honest feedback here, so I don't know that you'd upset them. ;) But I know some people can't take criticism, so maybe you would. hehe
DeleteI guess I consider most of my posts to be pretty random, as I have purposefully avoided making any kind of rigid blogging schedule, because planning too much out never makes me comfortable. ;)
Thanks for the comment on the background image, I've been aware of it myself but kind of ignored it. haha. If you read comments above you'll see you're not the only one who noted this! So it's something I will think about changing, for sure.
Thanks for participating in my blogfest!
ReplyDelete1. I've always loved that you post upcoming blogfests. I visit your site regularly to see them.
2. Love the background. I like that you switch backgrounds every now and then; usually I wouldn't, but your heading is distinct enough that I don't feel like I've been plopped into someone else's blog.
3. I would rather see your Most Popular Posts then links to other blogs, especially since you have to many of them. Perhaps you could move that up?
4. It took me a while to figure out what Writing+Music was about because I had to scroll down so far to read about your music. Maybe you could have a line or two at the top describing it.
5. Your content is always interesting.
6. I like how you're so involved in the writing community (the fests, commenting on other blogs, participating in challenges) and that you make it easy for us to follow suit.
I hope that was helpful!
Thank you! I'll think about that popular posts thing. I've also considered displaying less blogs on my blogroll, but I do like to have at least 10 (in the main one), so...yeah.
DeleteCheers so much for the feedback :)
I think the only thing I have to say on this is that the blogs I go back to over and over again are the ones where the author of the blog puts themselves into the posts.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean - when you get to know people's personalities through their posts, that is a good thing! Thanks for the comment :)
DeleteBasically... we all love you :)
ReplyDeleteLX
hahaha, thanks Laura ;) x
Deletea. Appearance: I really like the appearance, especially the abstract background and the header/body font.
ReplyDeleteb. Layout: Clean and it's easy to find stuff.
c. Frequency: I like it.
d. Content: Consistently awesome.
Thank you Eagle! I appreciate your comment :)
DeleteHiYa! I like your blog and wouldn't change a thing. I like that you changed it, love that you post your art, photographs, music, etc. But I'm not here to critique, just saying hi.
ReplyDeleteThanks Danette :D and hi right back atcha!
DeleteOkay, let's see... your layout is clean and easy to read... your subject matter is diverse, which is good because posting the same sort of things all the time can be tedious for readers, unless your blog is specifically devoted to one subject... you're obviously a big supporter of blog community with the shared links and sidebar lists. The repeating images on the sides are a bit distracting, but that's a very minor quibble (normally I wouldn't eve notice, but we're critiquing here)... and finally, I like that your personality comes through in your posts, something many blogs lack. All in all, your blog is reader-friendly, interesting and personable.
ReplyDeleteHi Trisha -
ReplyDeleteWow - thanks for my crit and I'm sorry to say I that I don't have anything to add...all the previous comments covered my thoughts and more.
The best part though is that you have given me even more ideas and directions for sorting out my own blog! Check back with me - changes they are a comin!
I will also follow you...
You're welcome, glad you found the helpful! And thanks for stopping by my blog :D
DeleteThanks for stopping by my blog, and thanks too for the comments. I haven't yet read much on your blog (I'll be back), but I like your drawings - I really wish I had your skill.
ReplyDeleteThank you - my drawing skill is limited to mostly women...any men I draw tend to be rather womanly. hehe.
DeleteI agree that your drawings are beautiful. I love how fun your blog is. I can't help but smile. The colour works although the background could blend better at the seams. I think that the headings colour matching the background is good, it unites all the blog together. Your trip around New Zealand sounds amazing and you tell it really well. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your adventures.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! thanks for the comments on my blog - definitely thinking about my background image, but not decided on what to do yet. ;)
DeleteI love a personalized blog like yours. Great colors and the font is easy to read.
ReplyDeleteNot too busy. The sidebars work for me. Good source for the writing community, I say.
Thanks Huntress for your comments! Much appreciated :)
Delete- Your blog sidebar is clean and uncluttered, and though I said I couldn't find your email, now that I look at those icons again, I can see the @envelope symbol easily!
ReplyDelete- I think the length of your posts is just right - some people's posts are WAAAAY too long!
- I like that your background isn't generic (like, ahem, mine! I've seen mine on several other blogs!), though I'm not really a fan of the tiled look. That's just a personal preference though :-)
- You post pretty regularly.
- Content is good. I mean, you don't just post for the sake of having a new post up. You actually say something!
Thank you Rachel! :) And yes, the tiled look has to go, if all this advice is anything to go by. hehe
DeleteI love your tags on the top and all the helpful links on the side bar.
ReplyDeleteDesign wise, your blog is easy to read and not hard on the eyes. I prefer more subdued background though, but that's just me.
I believe a blog should reflect the personality of the owner and you are doing just that. :)
Thanks for your thoughts Akoss! :)
DeleteYour blog reflects your personality and talents which make for good reading :) I like that you take the time to comment on other blogs as if we're not here to support and encourage others on the journey, what's the point?
ReplyDeleteHi, Trisha!
ReplyDeleteI just thought I'd pop over and check out your site since you were kind enough to give mine some good feedback.
For the most part, I've stayed out of critiquing others' sites because I don't feel I really know enough about blog design to be playing critic. I've been listening, not talking.
Looking at your site, I'd say we have similar tastes and preferences for clean, simple design, allowing our writing to speak for itself.
Nice job!
I like your title and the brief, succinct description of your blog. The look is beautiful - simple, clean, something very crisp and calming about it that really appeals to me after some of the over-saturated and frenetic experience of too much surfing. And you seem really plugged into the digital blogging community. I am in awe of that! Your blog certainly lives up to the title, but my own personal preference is to have a clearer sense of focus to the content. Like I said, that's my preference.
ReplyDelete