That Awesome Blogging Experience

 Cape May, NJ

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Lange of Inside Out.

That Awesome Blogging Experience

In last Monday's post, I posed the question, 'What elements are key to a successful blog?' Your answers were great, and I appreciate your input and the dialogue that came about. I gained valuable info, and I hope that you did too. Some highlights from what you shared include:

• Blogs that make you come back again
• Make them an enjoyable and productive experience
• Catchy titles and interesting openings
• Not too long
• No preachy blogs
• Like to hear the writer's voice
• Helping others is your success
• Quality and interesting content
• Good presentation
• Faithful posting schedule
• Short loading time
• Topics that generate dialogue
• Weekly features and links

If you haven't had time to check out the original post and comments, take a peek here. Please also feel free to add your two cents, even if you did before. Reading your comments sparked more thoughts and ideas for me.

As I've mentioned before, I started a blog so that I could add blogging to my resume. I didn't mean it as impersonal and generic as it sounds, truly, I just wanted to see how it all worked, get some experience, and then maybe I could apply for one of those ads for bloggers and gain extra income. I realized that I needed a focus, so I decided to create a blog for writers, offering encouragement, links and other good stuff. I have a writing mentor/friend who has encouraged and supported me for years. I figured if I could help someone else, even just a fraction of how this friend has helped me, it'd be a good thing. So that's where I started.

I had no clue, NONE, that such an extensive community of writing bloggers existed. I know, you're thinking, where did I live, a cave? Okay, so pretty much. Anyway, here we are now; my blog is over a year old, and I've gained all these wonderful blogging friends. That would be you:) I've learned a lot from all of you on this journey, thank you! I am looking forward to continuing the ride; I hope that you will join me.

More Fun Stuff

Benedictions is the place Emily Benedict calls home in the blogging world. A fellow writer and chocolate lover, she surprised me with the Blogger BFF Award. What a treat! Thank you, Emily, I needed the boost this week. Benedictions is a great place to stop and gain great writer-ly information, moral support, links, and other goodies. Check out Emily's book, Only Angels Are Bulletproof while you are there.

Tyrean Martinson of Tyrean's Writing Spot is the source of of another surprise, the Blogger Buddy Award. Thank you, Tyrean! Tyrean's Writing Spot is "A Place to write, think, pray, and hum like Winnie the Pooh." Now how can you go wrong with that? Tyrean shares her writing journey in an honest and fresh way and gives me food for thought.

I offer these awards to you, my Awesome Blogging Experience friends. You know who you are, the faithful ones who stop by and comment on a regular basis. I appreciate that commitment and sacrifice more than you know. Please choose one and if you like, pass it along.

What about you, my Awesome Blogging Experience friends? Care to share thoughts about your ABE with us?

Have a wonderful and blessed week. Happy Writing!                                                                                         

Cape May, NJ, photo courtesy of Rebecca Lange of Inside Out. Copyright 2010, Rebecca Lange. Thanks, Beck! :)