Blaugust 2023

July 13, 2023 / Roger Edwards

It is a fact of life, like death and taxes, that our passion for our hobbies will wax and wane overtime. All too often, the realities of daily life just get in the way. The enthusiasm you have in the morning for a great idea, may vanish by the evening when we finally have time to do it. Furthermore, if you do something often enough, sooner or later you’ll either want to (or need to) take a break. Regardless of how much you may love that particular pastime. Hobbies take time, energy and discipline. Sadly, not only can these factors take a toll upon your ongoing participation but they can also potentially stop you from even starting. I suspect that I am preaching to the proverbial choir and that many of those reading this will have experienced both scenarios. You’ve either struggled to sustain a “passion project” and have burned out, or you’ve fallen at the very first hurdle and not progressed beyond your initial excitement to try something new.

Comment 1 Likes

categories / Blogging, Blaugust 2023, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Festival of Blogging

Thoughts on Blogging Part 18

March 29, 2023 / Roger Edwards

As a blogger we are often told by our peers not to obsess over website traffic and statistics in general. There is a degree of sense in this. We should be primarily focused on writing, maintaining an equitable schedule and staying motivated. Stats can have a negative effect on the latter. However, one cannot ignore the subject either. As a writer, at some point you do want people to actually read your material, or else what is the point? I have therefore always kept an eye on traffic and have attempted to grow my readership overtime. The results have been varied. In my experience, you do slowly build up an audience by being persistent with your writing. But you also have to promote your work, which is a job in itself. It’s also something that not everyone is comfortable with. “Therein lies the rub” as the expression goes. How do you attract readers without compromising your own standards?

2 Comments 1 Likes

categories / Blogging, Thoughts on Blogging, Part 18, Reddit, Newbie Blogger Initiative

"I Feel I Need a Holiday"

October 01, 2022 / Roger Edwards

According to Spock “change is the essential process of all existence”. I have certainly faced my share this year. The death of my mother in August after decades of declining health didn’t come as a shock, but was no less upsetting. In the immediate aftermath, I had to deal with the practicalities of arranging a funeral, engaging a solicitor to settle my mother’s estate and then determine whether I should return to full time employment or retire. After much deliberation, I chose the latter. Now that the most pressing needs have been addressed, I find myself coming to terms with my own grief, while considering my future. I am very tired, both physically and mentally. I am still waiting for the cardiologist that I saw recently to make their pronouncement on my health. However, I do feel somewhat refreshed after my recent 3 day break on the Isle of Wight. I am also thinking about moving, as well as returning to education and pursuing a qualification. I will be 55 in December and feel that I am at a major crossroads in my life.

10 Comments 5 Likes

categories / Blogging, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Things Change, Taking a Break

Time For a Change?

August 28, 2022 / Roger Edwards

The Blaugust 2022 blogging event is entering its final week and the writing theme for this climatic period is “lessons learned”. According to the event schedule “this week is a reminder that the goal of Blaugust is to refresh the content creators out there for the coming year, and not to burn them out in the process. Some folks are going to cross the finish line and immediately go dormant and others will want to process their thoughts about the proceedings. This space is reserved as a bit of a cooldown lap so that you can share your own experiences”. For me Blaugust has not only reinvigorated my enthusiasm for blogging it has also improved my writing schedule. Furthermore it has given me an opportunity to consider some potential changes to Contains Moderate Peril. Changes that I now need to decide whether to implement or not.

5 Comments 2 Likes

categories / Blogging, Blaugust 2022, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Lessons Learned, Time For a Change

Motivation and Being Realistic About What You Can Achieve

August 25, 2022 / Roger Edwards

Does this include arson, genocide and making another Air Bud movie?

I’ve written posts in the past that take quite a “scorched earth” approach to the subject of motivation and maintaining a regular writing schedule. You can come at this subject from numerous angles, offering advice couched in psychology, gentle encouragement or cold hard logic. However, I find that blogging comes down to one thing and one thing only. If you want to do it, you’ll find a way. And believe me, I don’t say this out of some misguided sense of superiority or smugness. I have skipped numerous days of blogging because I chose not to. I wasn’t too busy or strapped for ideas. I just couldn’t be bothered or wanted to spend my time on something else. That’s not to say that the encouragement of others and events such a Blaugust don’t have any impact upon people’s writing output. I believe they do. But the biggest factor determining when you do and do not write is you.

Comment 1 Likes

categories / Blogging, Blaugust 2022, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Motivation

You Are Your Own Brand

August 12, 2022 / Roger Edwards

A joke about brands

I’m sure I’ve written directly or indirectly about this subject in the past but some things bear repeating, so here goes. You are your own brand when it comes to blogging, streaming or podcasting (other forms of content creation are available). It doesn’t matter if you write exclusively about some niche market subject or produce videos solely about a single aspect of fandom, your personality will inevitably bleed through into the content you post and your audience will sooner or later pick up upon it. Humans are social creatures and we are naturally curious about each other. I certainly am. I follow numerous blogs and a substantial part of their appeal is their individual and unique styles and personalities. I will happily read blog posts or watch videos about subjects I’m not especially interested in because I like the content creator and the way they express themselves.

2 Comments 2 Likes

categories / Blogging, Blaugust 2022, Newbie Blogger Initiative, You Are Your Own Brand, Brand Continuity

Draft Posts

August 03, 2022 / Roger Edwards

If you write in any sort of capacity, you will no doubt have a virtual folder somewhere that is filled with draft posts. Posts containing ideas that either ran out of steam or never quite coalesced to your satisfaction. Such posts may be just a few words long or a fully developed article. A list of bullet points, a lone paragraph devoid of context or an unedited stream of consciousness. Yet whatever the posts format it remains incomplete or unpublished. Sometimes the reason for abandonment is clear. The premise was wrong, the moment has passed and things have moved on. Perhaps the subject has been sufficiently elsewhere. Hence these posts languish in blogging purgatory. Undeveloped but conspicuously not deleted. Who knows, maybe you’ll return to one or two of them some day. Sadly, the reality is quite different. Once a post is consigned to the draft folder, it seldom escapes. Just like people from poverty.

3 Comments 4 Likes

categories / Blogging, Blaugust 2022, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Draft Posts

Getting Your Writing Environment Right

August 01, 2022 / Roger Edwards

For my first post of Blaugust 2022 I am returning to the subject of your writing environment, as I believe it has a significant bearing upon one’s writing (or whatever other content that you create). This is the third time I’ve tackled the subject. I initially wrote about my new desk in 2016, when I first tried to set up the spare bedroom as my office. This plan was partially thwarted by the arrival of my twin granddaughters, who needed to use the bedroom when they stayed overnight, resulting in a logistical compromise. I published a second post four years later and by that time the children’s cots had been replaced by a single spare bed allowing me to use the room as a proper office. As of today, my desk is now pretty much how I want it and provides a suitable environment for me to write and conduct research. It also accommodates a lot of my leisure activities as I am a PC gamer.

2 Comments 4 Likes

categories / Blogging, Blaugust 2022, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Your Writing Environment, Desk

Get Ready For Blaugust 2022

July 15, 2022 / Roger Edwards

Yes, it's that time of year again. When our community of bloggers, streamers and podcasters come together for Blaugust 2022. The event is intended to celebrate independent content creators and their work, as well as encouraging those who are new or and returning to the field. Blaugust 2022 is all about offering a helping hand, sharing each other’s work and having fun. It is an event I participate in every year and one that I find personally very beneficial. It is a great way to meet and support new writers and make friends. I also find that Blaugust is key to revitalising my own enthusiasm for writing, which flags from time to time. I’ve been blogging in some shape or form for over 15 years and like any hobby, my relationship with it ebbs and flows. At present I’m not writing as much as usual and finding it harder to find subjects I wish to explore.

Comment 0 Likes

categories / Blaugust, Blaugust 2022, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Blogging

Another One Bites the Dust

July 10, 2022 / Roger Edwards

About three years ago, I wrote a very similar post to this one. Titled “Ride off into the sunset” it was an account of bloggers leaving or retiring from the community. Especially those who are established and part of the proverbial furniture. I referenced Zubon from Kill Ten Rats as an example and naturally invoked the mantra that nothing remains the same forever. Many of us go through periods of our life where a specific activity or pastime galvanises us into action. We focus on that activity for sometime and it becomes an integral part of our life and even identity. However, eventually we move on usually because such a hobby isn’t sustainable. Modern life makes too many demands upon our time. Plus we all change as individuals. What delights us today may well depress us in a year’s time. This was the thrust of that post and I now find myself in the sad but inevitable situation of writing it again.

Comment 1 Likes

categories / Podcast, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Blaugust, Geek to Geek Podcast, Beyond Bossfights

Thoughts on Blogging Part 17

June 20, 2022 / Roger Edwards

I am currently having a R.J. MacReady moment

I was sitting in my office over the weekend, half-heartedly typing up a blog post about table manners and dining etiquette, when I paused and lapsed into a state of self examination and introspection.

“Isn’t Contains Moderate Peril supposed to be about gaming, movies and popular culture”? “Yes”, I replied to myself via my inner monologue.

“So what the hell am I doing writing about table manners, then?” my inner contrarian retorted.

“Well it is part of our culture, although I wouldn’t argue that it is a defining aspect of the zeitgeist at present” my conciliatory alter ego responded.

“Frankly, I’m getting bored with all of this per se” a third voice stated. It was at this point, I stopped arguing with various facets of my id and went to the pub.

Comment 2 Likes

categories / Blogging, Thoughts on Blogging, Part 17, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Ambivalence

Thoughts on Blogging Part 16

March 31, 2022 / Roger Edwards

March has been a challenging month for several reasons and as a result I’ve written very little. Furthermore, the recently revived podcast has also ground to a halt after just six episodes due to scheduling issues that are beyond myself and Brian’s control. At the end of February, Google made changes to their search algorithm which have had a major impact upon traffic to Contains Moderate Peril. Visits are down by over 20%. I’ll make no bones about the fact that this has really pissed me off. Several years of growth has been unceremoniously swept away at the drop of a hat. So all this, plus the rapidly changing situation regarding my Mother’s care, has found me ill disposed towards writing. To be clear, I’m not talking about writer’s block. I have plenty of ideas and a folder full of draft posts. I just haven’t wanted to write because I feel that I’m just spitting in the wind.

Comment 8 Likes

categories / Blogging, Thoughts on Blogging, Part 16, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Burnout, Motivation

Thanks Google Page Experience Update For Desktop

March 01, 2022 / Roger Edwards

Last Tuesday, I noticed a drop in traffic to Contains Moderate Peril. As I’m currently only writing every other day, I assumed that it is normal to have occasions when visits to the site may decrease. However the decline has persisted and to date, works out broadly as a 20% reduction of traffic to my blog. At present, I have a lot going on in my life so blogging and website growth are not my highest priorities. However, I am a firm believer in cause and effect and so a situation like this must be down due to other external factors, rather than just the capricious nature of my readership. So I searched online to see if Google had made any changes and I subsequently found that they had rolled out an algorithm update starting on Tuesday 22nd February 2022. Apparently Google Page Experience Update For Desktop “is designed to highlight pages that offer great user experiences. Page experience remains one of many factors our systems take into account. Given this, sites generally should not expect drastic changes”. I beg to differ.

Comment 1 Likes

categories / Blogging, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Blaugust, SEO, Page Experience Update

Supporting Content Creators

November 29, 2021 / Roger Edwards

I was perusing the various YouTube channels that I subscribe to recently, enjoying a broad range of high quality content, when I suddenly realised that the majority of them had some sort of optional monetisation scheme associated with them. By realised I mean that it suddenly clicked with me that so many people are trying to raise funds to pay for their production costs. It’s certainly something I can identify with. I’ve been running a blog since 2007 and even that can be a money pit. There’s domain registrations, hosting costs, design work etc. It was even more expensive when I was producing a podcast. That incurred further hosting expenses and then there was the hardware to buy. So I fully appreciate the situation that many YouTubers find themselves in. They spend their own precious time and money creating quality material that many consume assuming that it is all just “free”.

Comment 2 Likes

categories / Content Creators, Patreon, YouTube, Subscription, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Podcasts

Blaugust 2021: Lessons Learned

August 30, 2021 / Roger Edwards

It is the final week of the Blaugust 2021 Festival of Blogging event and the current theme and writing prompt is lessons learned. As a long term writer I do not have much to say on this matter. That’s not because I know everything and think there’s nothing new for me to come to grips with. You can always discover relevant and pertinent advice throughout your blogging journey. However, I do now have a fairly orderly writing regime and it serves my needs. The thing that most often derails this process are other demands upon my time. Overall, I think I have a positive approach to writing and it continues to bring me many benefits. With regard to lessons learned, I find it far more interesting to read others' thoughts on the matter. Especially those who are new to blogging or are trying to rekindle their passion for it. Krikket, Blockade85 and Aywren share some personal thoughts based upon their unique experiences.

Comment 4 Likes

categories / Blogging, Blaugust 2021, Blaugust, Lessons Learned, Newbie Blogger Initiative

Blogging: Do or Do Not

August 25, 2021 / Roger Edwards

We are currently in the third week of the Blaugust 2021 Festival of Blogging Event. The current theme and writing prompt is staying motivated. Several of my colleagues have already tackled the subject. Kaylriene, Krikket, Naithin and Wilhelm Arturus. There’s certainly a lot to say on the point and people deal with it in their own, unique way. But to cut to the chase I think Bhagpuss has hit the nail on the head and has touched upon the heart of the matter. “If you need to go looking for motivation then you're already in trouble”. Yes, that’s a very good point. Blogging or writing creatively is both enjoyable and rewarding. But it requires focus and effort. Hence for a lot of people the prospect of doing it to a schedule is daunting and effectively determines how they continue to blog. But that’s fine. There is nothing wrong with being an intermittent blogger. I follow numerous blogs of that kind. However, if you desire to write daily or on some other regular basis, then one of two things will happen. You will either do it or you will not.

Comment 2 Likes

categories / Blogging, Blaugust 2021, Blaugust, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Motivation, Do or Do Not

Thoughts on Blogging Part 15

August 22, 2021 / Roger Edwards

At the time of writing we are halfway through the Blaugust 2021 Festival of Blogging event. Whenever the subject of personal blogging is raised, there are those who immediately declare that “blogging is dead”. According to Google, out of 1.7 billion websites that currently exist worldwide, 500 million or so of those are blogs of some kind. These generate over 2 million blog posts daily. So I wouldn’t say that blogging per se is done and dusted. However it certainly has evolved considerably over the last 15 years. At the start of the current century blogging was a novel activity providing the means of keeping a personal journal online. Inevitably, popularity and ubiquity led to commercialisation and a necessity to monetise. There was a period of time when clicks, traffic and advertising could generate popularity as well as an income. But other forms of social media offering greater immediacy eventually usurped this potential. Now blogging is seen as more of a niche market activity or corporate tool.

Comment 2 Likes

categories / Blogging, Thoughts on Blogging, Part 15, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Blaugust 2021, Blaugust, Blogging is Dead, Responsive Blog Templates

Blaugust 2021: Getting to Know You

August 10, 2021 / Roger Edwards

According to the Blaugust 2021 Festival of Blogging schedule it is “getting to know you week”. Although I have been knocking around the blogging community since 2007 it would be extremely arrogant of me to assume that people know who I am. Plus, as I am allegedly a mentor in the Blaugust event, it is both polite and proper to introduce myself to those who are new participants. I’ve never been especially keen on the whole standing up and introducing yourself thing that comes up from time to time in one’s social and working life but it is a necessary evil. Whenever I used to attend training courses for work, I’d always go first when it came to introductions, just so I could get it out of the way. So with all that in mind let’s tackle this now. Here are a few minor facts about me so that people can “get to know me”, so to speak.

2 Comments 3 Likes

categories / Blaugust, Blaugust 2021, Blogging, Newbie Blogger Initiative, Getting to Know You

Deciding the Scope of Your Blog

August 09, 2021 / Roger Edwards

One of the most helpful pieces of advice you can give someone who is just about to take up blogging for the first time is “write about what you know”. Expressing opinions and views on subjects that you’re familiar with or especially knowledgeable enables you to write with confidence. Stepping outside of your comfort zone is a more complicated proposition, unless you're writing to specifically document your learning experience. Which is why most of the people that I know who maintain a blog tend to write about the games they’re currently playing. Sometimes if someone is especially enamoured with a particular title, that single video game will be the sole focus of their blog. I did this in 2008 with Misadventures in LOTRO which catalogued my experiences playing the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online. It was a fun starting point and being focused on a single subject, kept me engaged with my writing.

Comment 2 Likes

categories / Blogging, Blaugust 2021, Blaugust, Newbie Blogger Initiative, The Scope of Your Blog, Single Subject Blogging, Niche Blogging

Should You Monetise Your Blog?

August 08, 2021 / Roger Edwards

If you search online for advice on “how to monetise your blog” you’ll find a wealth of articles claiming to have all the answers. There’s a veritable cottage industry out there offering guidance and help on how to make money from your writing. Such posts range from proven business advice to utter bilge peddled by the worst sort of snake oil salesmen. Yet good or bad, there is a strong demand for this sort of information because blogging is still perceived by a lot of people as a means to make money. It would appear that the idea of setting up a blog, making a living off it and quitting your day job is still a common goal and the various “lockdowns” we’ve all experienced in the last 18 months have only boosted such perceptions. Some people have been successful with their home businesses in 2020, although I would argue that the market has been anomalous, to say the least.

Comment 2 Likes

categories / Blogging, Monetising Your Blog, Blaugust 2021, Blaugust, Newbie Blogger Initiative

Filtering by Category: Newbie Blogger Initiative