Dec 21, 2015 / Community Pool

Community Pool

The place for advice, feedback, and friendly blogging chatter.

Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/63057306@N04/5734415538">Beachfront Solutions</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(CC BY-SA 2.0)</a>

The Community Pool is now closed for the holidays! It will reopen (in a new post) on January 4, 2016. Happy new year!

Have you just published a new post and are dying for some feedback? Did you recently start your blog and could use some layout or design advice from your more seasoned peers?

Did you just start blogging and you’re not sure how to get going? Has your blog been dormant for a while but you’d like to give it a jolt of life? Join our free Blogging 101 course (or any of our other offerings at Blogging U.).

Tap into the wisdom of The Daily Post blogging community and leave your question here in the comments. Others can then click through and offer input either on your site, or in the comments here (feel free to indicate which you’d prefer).

To help us make the Community Pool a productive space for discussion, here are some tips you might find useful:

TIP: To keep from losing your place in the comment thread while you visit others’ blogs, right-click on a link to open it in a new tab or window.

  • While you’re not required to, we encourage everyone who requests feedback to also reply to at least one or two other bloggers who need some help. Spread the love!
  • The Community Pool comments section can get quite big — and starting duplicate threads doesn’t help. Thanks for not posting the same question more than once!
  • If you’re looking for quality feedback, be as specific as you can. Questions about a particular post tend to draw more comments than ones about entire blogs. Questions about specific design elements are more likely to be answered than ones asking for general layout advice.
  • We discourage leaving links without a more substantive message or question. These are often overlooked by other bloggers, and we frequently remove them to make the comment reading experience smoother.
  • Please keep all comments civil and constructive. The idea is to have fun — it’s a pool, after all!
  • If you haven’t looked at our Commenting Guidelines in a while, now might be a good time.
  • No running on the deck.
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  1. I never read much but always like telling stories. As a result I started a blog two years ago that has failed to attract much of a following. My stories are written in a style that appeals to me, but I really don’t know much about writing. I would appreciate a critique of the following piece and welcome suggestions on how to reach more people.

    Tainted Joy

    Thanks—gene

    Liked by 7 people

    3. Social media plays a large part in your following. As a Freelance Writer my entire career is built on word of mouth so I learned early on to make my presence known.

      Make sure to engage potential readers and encourage established readers to continue to read what you write! Social media is also a great way to get quick feedback and develop content FROM your readers.

      Liked by 2 people

      2. If you decide to use Facebook, Twitter, instagram, or LinkedIn please invite me follow. Links in my blog menu!

        Like

    4. I read a lot but generally don’t respond and I have the sense that you and I are members of the same club.
      While I have a limited numbers of regular readers and the story I’m writing keeps me entertained, it hasn’t reached other than the patient, dedicated and determined few. Since my goal was neither noble or needy, I am a bit awash in the sphere of blogging.

      Liked by 1 person

      2. The Daedelus Files is the one I’ve been posting since August. I rarely check pegasusfiles but found it interesting that someone had said they liked it. I f you find thedaedelusfiles let me know, OK?

        Liked by 1 person

    6. Hi there! One thing that has helped me is I created a Facebook page just for my blog. All of my posts go on there. Then I share it to my regular Facebook timeline. I also lost other things on that Facebook page that are inspiring and interesting, so that when I post a blog I have written, people are already engaged in the content on my page and my blog post shows up in their feed.

      Posting to this form has helped me some as well. But social media is really a good way to promote a blog.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you Raeanne. I do have a Facebook page that is dedicated to my book. I also post links there to my blog. Until lately that is where all my blog visits seem to come from. I have been attempting to reach out on WordPress Reader and starting to see some results.I’ll keep plugging along with it 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Hey All,
    It’s been awhile since I’ve posted on here and it’s been awhile since i’ve blogged in general. However, I’m back with a new review that I have spent more time on than I should have. I recently watched Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a film I have been following for a little over 3 years and now that it is finally out I can truly say that it was worth the wait. check out my blog for the epic review of this incredible film and perhaps check out some of my other content and perhaps give my blog a follow.

    https://ryanwatchesfilms.wordpress.com/

    Cheers,
    Ryan.

    Liked by 5 people

      1. I have tried to keep it spoiler free but just as a precaution I suggest you keep away from it until you watch the film! Nothing that will ruin the film but I do go into detail about the characters roles in the film! 🙂

        Like

      2. Duly noted and thanks for the warning. Will check it out in a few days. Yes, I’ve really asked the internet not to spoil it for me and so far the internet is listening. ^_^

        Liked by 2 people

    3. Nice seeing you back Ry. I can’t wait to read your review. I remember your James Bond review which sparked major debate at my house, but i enjoy your style of writing & If you were as detailed as previous reviews i am sure to enjoy!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Cheers, it’s nice to be back! Don’t worry I spent more time than I should have on this review but there were still many points I could have made.

        It’s really nice to know you enjoy my writing style and it’s interesting that one of my reviews has enabled debate at you house. It’s nice to know that what I’m writing is valuable enough to talk about.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Cheers and salutations, all—I’m Leisel from geeky food blog Skill Up Skillet and I come bearing good news and bad news.

    The Good: I celebrated the first anniversary of my first blog post on 12/18! To celebrate, I picked my giveaway winner, shared my annual blog stats, and compiled a Best/Worst of list. I also shared my plans for the future. Even if you’ve never stopped by before, this is a great post to get you started: http://skillupskillet.com/2015/12/18/level-up-skill-up-skillet-is-1-year-old-a-look-back/. I also whipped up a to-die-for Death Star Waffle recipe you don’t want to miss: http://skillupskillet.com/2015/12/18/banana-chocolate-death-star-waffles/. If you’d like to stop by and check out either post I’d be really appreciative.

    The Bad: Due to some significant financial issues for the coming year I will be forced to cut my recipe posts back to bi-weekly. (You can read more about it in the Blogversary post.) I’m sure you can see how having to cut back 50% could significantly hinder the growth of my blog. Also, our roommate/live-in housekeeper was negligent and tossed my metal frosting tips in the wrong side of the sink and turned the garbage disposal on. Now I have no frosting tips and a garbage disposal I can’t afford to fix. You can start adding expletives here.

    How You Can Help: Check out the new poll on my blog and let me know what other kinds of features you’d like to see. I’m looking into accepting guest contributions, geek link sharing, gadget reviews, that sort of thing. Have another suggestion? Let me know; I refuse to go gentle into that good night!

    Liked by 3 people

      5. Hi guys, I’m Liz from Peonies and Pretty Things http://www.peoniesandprettythings.com and I’m so happy to have found this forum! The Zero to hero workshop sounds perfect and I’d love to take my writing to the next level.

        Within my blog you will see 80% is dedicated to interior style and the remaining 20% centred around lifestyle.

        As for me, I’m very new to WordPress and blogging in general and would welcome your thoughts and suggestions, plus make some new blogging friends!

        Thanks for making this forum readily available to fellow writers and readers. Liz 🙂

        Like

    1. Just had a look. I like your poetry and your Home Page magazine style look. I’m not sure about the black personally speaking as I think for the content you may want a more inviting color, but your writing is excellent!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Wow very interesting! Love how concise it is and I definitely did not lose focus. It’s really interesting and the best part of it was how the prisoners did it – their 6 months of planning and fake heads and saws and climbing. Wow. I’d love to hear more things like that… unexplained mysteries? That could be a new category on your blog maybe! 😛

      Liked by 1 person

    3. Hey! I like Ur blog it looks so cute. I do suggest you to put Ur like and comment buttons outside thought because more people wont open every post to like them. Just an advice!

      Liked by 1 person

    2. I think it’s fine if you decide to write about something else other than the masterpieces, for a change. I don’t think that you should let “consistency” hinder you at all 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. I smiled at one of the lines in your post that caught my eye — “I have the next 10 years to make the most of because let’s be honest, past 30 you are old”.

      I’m not past 30, but it doesn’t seem that old to me. 😉 You can still enjoy life and have adventures after 30. “Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter” — Mark Twain. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  20. I am man of interest.. I write up many poems and stories jus to entertain others to give them happiness n laughter. Therefore I would seek ur pior how to reach my blogs to more people… thanks

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Hello Swimmers! Happiest of Holidays to you all!
    Its Megan over at The MomHood or newly named “The Hood~MLJ Photos”

    I’ve been working hard these past couple days and spring cleaning the menus and categories. NOW you can view all the posts and photos I’ve shared throughout my 6 month journey all in one place. Head on over and have a spin through the new menu’s and please stay warm since its winter in my neck of the woods! https://themomhood.wordpress.com/
    Also, Prompt Stomp is all new this week with a Photography AND Writing prompt! I would love to see all of you join (PS won’t return until the new year so you have a little extra time to gather your entry if you join in) https://themomhood.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/prompt-stomp-week-12/

    I hope all of you are having a wonderful week!
    Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
    XXOO Megan

    Liked by 2 people

  22. Hi! I am a high school student, I was inspired by my seniors to express my thoughts on WordPress. I write when I feel to and I would love some feedback. :3
    Thank You ❤️
    Yamdeeyoumar.wordpress.com

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Love your poems! Some are just so sad like the one about the mother and child D: They really hit home. I’d add some extras to the site though, like maybe a tag cloud for some organization, or like a list of the top/recent posts… things like that. Happy blogging 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    3. I notice you use a punctuation mark at the end of every line. That is not necessary. Only use the comma or other mark when the reader should pause. As you have it now, readers will pause in the middle of a phrase.

      Good luck with your poems.

      Like

    1. Yes. This pleases me greatly. Also, you’re a gamer if you want to call yourself a gamer; being a gamer doesn’t have to mean you’re any good. All’s good as long as you’re enjoying yourself.

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Hey! please check out my blog short16blog.wordpress.com I have a bunch of short stories that really need some feedback! It would be wonderful if you checked them out, thanks!

    Like

  27. I’m a newer blogger and I’ve been posting quotes/encouragement for the last 3 weeks along with other things to help people. I would love if you took the time out to check out my blog and the post up there comment, like and interact with me and the readers. Thank you in advance and have a great week and holiday. Below is my most recent post for encouragement. https://kjwilliamswrites.wordpress.com/2015/12/20/inspiration-for-the-week-week-3/

    Like

    1. I love quotes…one thing about your blog that I dislike is that I have to click on another link in my reader to see the whole post and find that if I have to do that and I’m in a hurry I rarely do whereas if I can read the whole post and comment I will. Have a good one!!

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Hellooo! For the record, I’m an international student at a university in Saudi Arabia. I just finished my classes and will have my finals around 2 days. I wrote about my thoughts and experience as a student here in a recently published post which you can find below. I’m dying for feedback, whether it be about the post or otherwise.
    University: First semester in review.

    University: First semester in review.

    Thanks 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hey! You’ve got an interesting blog. You’ve got an interesting story, and I look forward to reading more content of yours. 🙂
      Also, I am rather impressed by your mastery of the English language. Until I got to the end of your post, I had no clue that it wasn’t your first language.
      Happy blogging!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you 🙂 I like your layout for your blog its very clean! Also on your post “Breathe” I liked how you added in that quote – you should do it more often. But love your inspirational posts and it certainly would brighten anyone’s day!

        Liked by 1 person