Great Big Travel Literature Giveaway:Today’s Prize, The Calligrapher’s Daughter (See bottom of post for details)
A Little Celebration for A Literary Birthday
Yesterday was the one-year-anniversary of the beginning of this blog about travel literature and movies. Actually, I learned a lot more than ten things about blogging in my first year on the job, but I don’t want to keep you here all day, now, do I?
- People like posts that list 10 things. This is related to why they watch car races and trapeze acts. They’re waiting for disaster. They read fervently hoping you will run out of steam by “8″ and they can cry triumphantly, “LAME!”
- On WordPress, choosing a theme is the equivalent of gettting married. You’re going to spend a lot of time together, so take time to get acquainted. Both of you need to be flexible. Give a little on color, get a little on SEO.
- It takes more time than I thought it would. Writing a blog about Travel Literature means you have to read a lot of books. Some of them are really long books with no pictures. Duh!
- Guest Bloggers are life (and blog) savers. I truly could not have kept the flow going here without the help of a long list of guest bloggers. (I’m going to go back and tag each guest post with “guest”, so you can find them). I LOVE every one of them.
- Twitter is myfriend. People will come and see what’s behind the link you drop there, but only if you work extra hard at a clever come-on. ‘See my post on “x”.’ is not clever.
- Stumble Upon is my friend. S.U. has consistently drawn more traffic to my blog than any other source.
- Friendship is a two-way street. I spend more time helping on-line friends than writing posts.
- There is terminology to learn. A post is a one-time thing. A blog is forever (or until you run out of ideas.)
- (Lame, yet?) To expand upon Woody Allen, 98% of success is showing up more than one day, which is how long it takes most would-be bloggers to run out of ideas.
- You will never get to read everything in your RSS feed, so get over it.
Coda: Sadly, most people who are reading this post have never been here before, and will never come back again…unless they are moved by my (nearly daily) appeals that go something like this:
If you liked this post, please add A Traveler’s Library to your RSS Feed by clicking that big orange button up at the top of the page. If RSS sounds like a snake to you, perhaps you would prefer that I send you a personal message every day. I can do that. Subscribe to A Travelers’ Library by Email by clicking on the blue type. And this month, if you subscribe by e-mail, you get THREE chances at the Grand Prizes in my Great Big Travel Literature Giveaway.
And if you want to see another post about blogging go here.
Korean Palace Garden
Don’t forget to enter the Great Big Giveaway by leaving a comment here, and win a book that takes you to KOREA: The Calligrapher’s Daughter by Eugenia Kim.This beautifully realized book traces the history of a Korean family that survives Japanese occupation and the Korean War. See my review here. Only one day to enter–drawing at midnight tonight MST. Don’t forget–Mention the name of the book in your comment if you want to win it. (See contest announcement to review rules)
Pictures are both through Flickr, with Creative Commons license. Click on the picture to go to the photographer’s page.
PDF Tags: A Travelers Library, blogging, BlogSherpa, Calligrapher's Daughter, Korea, Stumble Upon, travel literature, Wordpress
I couldn’t agree more with this list. Certainly the hardest thing about blogging is continuing to do it.
.-= Anil´s last blog ..Compelling Reasons Americans Shouldn’t Make Their First International Trip One To Europe =-.
So true! It is definitely a challenge to be consistent with blogging AND even more of a challenge to consistently provide interesting content that other people would want to read. Keep up the good work! (New reader btw)
KOREA: The Calligrapher’s Daughter by Eugenia Kim
Twitter: willmydoghateme
says:
Happy one-year anniversary! You’ve done a great job with this blog, which keeps improving month by month. You’re my blogging role model — honest.
Twitter: WanderingEds
says:
brilliant list. websites take WAY more time than they appear to – and so do books!!
.-= jessiev´s last blog ..Photo of the WEek January 11, 2010 =-.
Happy Anniversary travel blogger!
I am glad that not only you post very interesting things on your site and blog, but you also help lots of people by answering their questions and replying their comments.
I have been getting quite a few tips here to my website! thank you very much.
Twitter: chezsven
says:
I remember reading your post about Korea: The Calligrapher’s Daughter. I enjoyed it. I love the concept of this blog. I’m sure people do return, the way I do! And, I love the heart that leads people to the blogs of commenters. Unfortunately, I started mine on Blogger and it does not offer a neat gadget like that, one thing I learned about blogging to add to your list.
I agree with you on how much time blogging takes. I don’t think non-bloggers realize. Today, the incorporation of five photos took me an hour, but I wanted it to look as nice as possible.
Reading other people’s blogs also takes a chunk of the day. It’s fortunate we have no guests at the B&B, because vacancy in winter allows me to explore my inner writer more assiduously …
.-= Alexandra´s last blog ..Ballston Beach Brings Back Memories … =-.
Aww.. you do a nice job with your blog. It has a great back-log of reviews that is searchable. I love that it’s searchable. I think catchy headlines make a blog, but quality content keeps people coming back. I’d love to read The Calligrapher’s Daughter. Books are my friend.
Twitter: colleeninca
says:
Nice Top 10, and Happy Anniversary!
My friend Jill over at Fizzy Thoughts read “The Calligrapher’s Daughter” and raved about it. I’ve been wanting to read it, so would be happy to win your give-away.
Jill created a list of books she’s read by country that might interest you: http://www.fizzythoughts.com/r.....-the-world
Twitter: pen4hire
says:
Colleen: Thanks for introducing me to Jill. Boy, she really reads a lot of book! I can’t finish that many in a month.
Laura,Rachael,Jessie and Anil: Thanks for your comments about A Traveler’s Library. Much appreciated.
Alexandra: I’m very appreciative for the time you spend commenting on other people’s blogs, and I try, but don’t do as well as you.
Edie: Thanks, sincerely. I experiment a lot, so be careful–don’t copy the experiments I try that go awry.
Brandy: Always happy to see a new face. Welcome!
Love your picture in the bathtub! I enjoy reading your post regularly. Since you come at the top of the list of RSS feeds in my outlook mailbox, I read your blog nearly every day. I’ve bought some of the books your recommend. And I’d love to win The Calligrapher’s Daughter at midnight tonight!
Libbie
Hey, stop talking about me!
I did love The Calligrapher’s Daughter, both for its beautiful writing and its setting. That was the first time I’ve traveled to Korea via a book.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I’m looking forward to checking out more of your posts.
As a new blogger, your tips were really useful to me. I can’t believe you’ve developed this well-stocked, thoughtful blog in one year.
Twitter: travelwonders
says:
So true. As I read each point I thought, “yep, that’s me”. Very incisive and perceptive post.
.-= Mark H´s last blog ..Photo of the Week – Little White Church (Elbe, USA) =-.
Twitter: alisabowman
says:
Happy anniversary. Your lessons are all right on!
.-= Alisa Bowman´s last blog ..Hey, It’s Don’t Read This Blog While At Work Day =-.
Twitter: jennifermarguli
says:
This is a fantastic top ten list Vera. And i am one of your readers who comes back often!
Happy Anniversary, Vera! Yes, blogging does take a very long time, but your hard work is definitely paying off in not only a well laid-out blog, but a very instructive, intelligent one!
Twitter: pen4hire
says:
Thanks so much, Sheryl. It is so nice to be appreciated.
Thanks for this list. It definitely gave me some things to think about and congratulations to you on one year of successful blogging.
Vera, thanks for the book The Calligrapher’s Daughter, which I received yesterday. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Libbie
Twitter: pen4hire
says:
You’re very welcome, Libbie. It came faster than I thought it would. I appreciate knowing.