Spring Bloggiesta 2014 Wrap-Up

(About Bloggiesta)

I wasn’t sure whether to join in at all, since I’m sick again, but then, my blog does need some maintenance:

• write that one review I’ve been trying to for the last two days, DONE!
• backup blog and template, DONE!
• change the background (& theme details) to something more spring-like DONE!
• see the challenges if there is something I should/could do, if not now, then in the future DONE! (G+, About Me, FTC)
• do some maintenance and updating on something else, which I like to keep private and separate but it sort of belongs to the blogging area. DONE! (I made some icons, changed theme, updated archive, but still need to update/revamp the master list. I know you don’t know what I’m talking about, but I feel good about how much I’ve done.)

Extra things I’ve done:

• removed my tumblr button – I felt like there is no point in having my tumblr linked here, since I rarely post anything bookish there.
• Updated my blog footer, copyright etc.
• Updated my G+ profile, joined G+ boggiesta community
• Changed my Booklikes theme
• caught the 2nd half of the Friday twitter chat, although I was mostly lurking, but I learned a few things.
• Updated all my pages (except Cat Diary, which didn’t need an update)

Things to do/remember for the future:

• Put the FTC disclaimer on the top of my ‘for review books’ reviews (I have so far been putting it at the bottom, same font as the post with the world ‘Disclaimer’ bolded.)
• Take a creative photo of myself on a good day and put it on my About Me page

All in all, I can say this was a successful bloggiesta for me. How about for you?

Spring Bloggiesta 2014 Sign-Up and To-Do List

What the title says. Want to learn more about Bloggiesta and join in?

I wasn’t sure whether to join in at all, since I’m sick again, but then, my blog does need some maintenance:

• write that one review I’ve been trying to for the last two days,
• backup blog and template,
• change the background (& theme details) to something more spring-like
• see the challenges if there is something I should/could do, if not now, then in the future
• do some maintenance and updating on something else, which I like to keep private and separate but it sort of belongs to the blogging area.

Things I would like to do, but I know I won’t because they are either not that urgent and/or I know I won't be able to do it because of the current state of my health:

• twitter chats (probably won’t muster the strength for any of those, although, who knows, maybe I will)
• create one or more drop-down menus (not really necessary at this point since my current blog layout has enough space in pages tabs)
• crosspost old reviews to Goodreads and Booklikes (my reviews from the last two years or so are all crossposted; most of the older ones, however, are not and it’s unlikely ever to happen, but maybe some day.)

There you go, my goals and not-goals. What are yours?

Bloggiesta Fall 2012: Goals and Updates

 
Suey from It’s All About Books and Danielle from There's a Book are hosting Bloggiesta Fall 2012 edition September 28th through the 30th.

Bloggiesta is your chance to (copied from Suey's post):

spiff up your blog

try something new on your blog, fix something, add something or delete something

catch up on reviews, Google Reader, email, or anything else that's out of control

work and party together with other bloggers

learn new things from blogging experts

join several mini challenges and win prizes

have fun for three days blogging and connecting with your blogging friends!

MY GOALS:

What I should do:

• link and cross-post the majority of my hundred and something book reviews to Goodreads (a task left over from the last Bloggiesta)
• come up with a way to more prominently display my ratings and update the reviews accordingly or at least use it in my future reviews (currently my ratings are only displayed as labels, and I've noticed through the comments I get that a lot of people seem not to notice them. My bad, so it's time to correct it. Also, after two years, I only yesterday (*head desk*) realised labels don't show in Google reader, so people who read my review there have no idea about my rating)

Instead, I want to:

• make a new blog header and a matching button, finally
• change my blog theme to something more autumn-ish
• learn how to make drop-down menus and make at least one

Anyway, I will:

• back up my blog
• update review policy
• try to participate in one twitter party (probably the Saturday one, because the time suits me most)
• see what the challenges are about and maybe do some
• see what is with this feedburner going away and do something about it

UPDATES:

I will update on Twitter (@StrangeNewWords) and below for the previous day:

Friday, September 28:

Things done: 0

I didn't have much time, but I did play around with making a new header. I figured out some solutions for what I want. However, it's quite a time-consuming task, so I'll leave it for sometimes in the future.

Saturday, September 29:

Things done:

I gave my blog a fall makeover and updated my review policy. I read some mini-challenges posts, but I didn't officially do any. However, I learned a lot and made a mental note of some ideas for the future.

Heidenkind's (as well as Ivana's) post on the feedburner issue was very informative and helpful, but after some consideration I decided to wait a bit. I backed-up my e-mail subscriber's e- mail addresses and I'll keep an eye on the situation and in case feedburner shuts down completely I'll most probably switch to FeedCat.

I also researched making drop down menus; there is a ton of advice, tutorials, etc. on the Internet, and some of it is really comprehensive and easy to follow, but as the task requires quite some time, patience and focus I'll also leave it for the future, too.

Lastly, the twitter party was lots of fun, although I had to quit somewhere in the middle because I had some things to do around the house. I met some nice people and learned a few things, too, so it was great.

How was your day two? Have you accomplished what you wanted and had fun? I hope so!

Sunday, September 30:

Things done:

I basically finished making new rating graphics, I only need to polish them a bit to make them look all pretty.

WRAP-UP:

I actually got quite a lot of things done. However, I still have to do the big and tedious task of linking/cross posting/updating the reviews. I think I'll just have to do a little bit each day and I can get it done in a week or two.

Overall, I really enjoyed bloggiesta. I managed to do some work on my blog and I got some ideas for the future.

Most of all, bloggiesta gave a huge boost to my enthusiasm for blogging which has been a little low lately.

So, thanks to Suey and Danielle for hosting and all the mini-challenges hosts for great post, and all my fellow participants for making this such a great experience. I'm already looking forward to the next bloggiesta!

Bloggiesta Fall 2012 Edition

Suey from It’s All About Books and Danielle from There's a Book (where you can also find the sign-up linky) are hosting Bloggiesta Fall 2012 edition September 28th through the 30th.

Bloggiesta is your chance to (copied from Suey's post):

• spiff up your blog
• try something new on your blog, fix something, add something or delete something
• catch up on reviews, Google Reader, email, or anything else that's out of control
• work and party together with other bloggers
• learn new things from blogging experts
• join several mini challenges and win prizes
• have fun for three days blogging and connecting with your blogging friends!

I'm so excited! I already know some things I want to do:

• link and cross-post the majority of my hundred and something book reviews to Goodreads (a task left over from the last Bloggiesta)
• come up with a way to more prominently display my ratings and update the reviews accordingly (currently my ratings are only displayed as labels, and I've noticed through the comments I get that a lot of people seem not to notice them. My bad, so it's time to correct it.)

These are two really big tasks, but I'm sure I'll think of some more things to do when I see the challenges and other people's posts.

If you want to work on your blog and have some fun while at it, you can sign-up here.

Bloggiesta Wrap-Up

My first Bloggiesta is behind me and I had a great time participating.

I managed to:

- write a review

- create a page for Reviews by Rating

- add genre tags to my reviews and tidy the rest of the labels

- update Cat Diary posts with the new image and introduction

- visit some blogs and meet some amazing bloggers

- slightly rearrange my sidebar gadgets

I haven’t got around cross-posting (and linking) my reviews to Goodreads, but I will be doing that in the next days (or probably weeks). I might also do some of the things I learned through mini-challenges.

I would have also liked to comment and connect with other bloggers more than I did. I wish I had more time for that. I need to improve my socializing.

The best new thing I learned about is Window Live Writer (thanks to Jacinda’s mini-challenge). It seems a great tool for easier and faster blogging. Unfortunately, my laptop is on its last legs, so I am avoiding any new program downloads, but I am definitely going to try WLW when I get a new one.

Overall, I had a great time! I did a lot of things and got some ideas what I still want to do in the future.

Thanks to Suey for hosting!

Bloggiesta: To-Do List & Updates

Bloggiesta  is hosted by Suey of It’s All about Books and the1stdaughter of There's a Book from March 30 – April 1, 2012.

To-Do List:

- write that review I've been putting off for a week Done!
- cross-post my reviews to Goodreads

- link my reviews to Goodreads

- add genre tags to my reviews Done! And I tidied up the rest of the tags along the way.

- create a page for book reviews listed by rating Done!

- update Cat Diary posts with the new image and corrected introduction Done!

- schedule some Book Nook posts if I have time

- and, of course, meet some new bloggers and make new blogging friends Done! 

I might do some challenges if I can. Maybe I will also do some other stuff that comes to my mind or I learn while visiting blogs of my fellow Bloggiesta participants.

I was also planning to fix the captcha which wouldn’t turn off, but I have already done it. If, however, you are still prompted to fill in word verification as you comment, please let me know, so I can go try and fix it again.

There is also something wrong with my comment form, as it shows comment message below the comment box instead above it when someone already comments. I noticed this on other blogs, too, so I will try to find a solution for this too, if I have any extra time (and I will share it if I find it, of course).

Updates:

Apart from crossing off the completed items on my to-do list above, I will only be updating on Twitter (@StrangeNewWords).

Wrap-Up:

I will post my final thoughts on Monday.

I Need Your Opinion

Bloggiesta is almost here and I’ve started to put together my to-do list, but I need some help from you.

What I plan to do:

- cross-post my reviews to Goodreads

- link my reviews to Goodreads

- update Cat Diary posts with the new button/picture (which I’ve already made)

- try to figure out how to turn off the self-resetting captcha and fix it

- try to figure out how to repair the comment form (because my personal message shows below it, instead above it)

- do some blog hopping and meet new blogging friend and maybe learn some useful things

- maybe schedule some Book Nook posts if I have time

Now, there are some things I am not sure about:

- adding genre tags to my reviews – do you find them helpful?

- since the number of my reviews has got quite large, I thought I might create another page for listing my reviews in order of rating. Do you find it useful? It is something I would like to have when browsing through some blogs – sometimes I just want to see all 5-star rated books and it’s tedious to check the entire list for ratings.

- on related topic: as you might already know, my reviews are listed alphabetically by author. Would you like to have them listed also separately by title?

And if there is anything else you miss or find redundant on my blog, or if you have any suggestions what else I could do to make it better for you, please let me know in the comments.

I apologise for word verification, and I truly appreciate your effort if you decide to comment. I am an anti-captcha advocate myself, so I hate you have to face it on my blog. I tried to fix it as soon as I learned about Blogger resetting it, but it doesn’t want to turn off, there must be a glitch or something. Fixing this is on my to-do list, as you can see.

Bloggiesta - I’m in!

It’s All about Books and There's a Book will be hosting Bloggiesta from March 30 – April 1. I try to catch up on things and improve and update my blog regularly, but there are some things I have been putting off, so I will take this opportunity to finally do them.

Bloggiesta is a great opportunity to learn new things, pick up some tricks, make new blogging friends, and improve the blogging experience overall. I was a Bloggiesta lurker last year, but now I am officialy joining in for the first time. I don’t know how much time I will be able to spend on it, but I am sure I will have fun.

If you want to participate, you can sign up HERE.