Help Me Help You: Let's Build a Better Blog

Last Friday evening, my graduate school cohort assembled to celebrate Emily H's birthday.  After watching far too much Cake Boss and Food Network Challenge over winter break, I decided to bake a five-layer, half-funfetti, half-devil's food birthday cake with cream cheese filling and chocolate icing (topped with sprinkles, candles, and a frosting "E-hat," like an E with a carrot ^ on top, which is statistical notation for "predicted Emily" - yes, grad students are nerds).

Unfortunately, soon after the party began, this happened:

Happy Birthday, Emily H!   Make a wish before you blow out the candles on your  beautiful   unique  structurally unsound, homemade birthday cake pile of delicious icing and crumbles!  (Photo courtesy of E.H.)

Apparently, there is no photographic evidence of the intact baked good, but I assure you it would have given Buddy Valastro a run for his money :)  Most of the cake was salvaged by Sarah and Maria, the majority of the candle hazards removed from the rubble, and everyone enjoyed a ladle-full with the birthday girl.

..............................................................................................................


During our phone conversation Monday night, my Boyfriend made the astute observation that my opinion of blogs seems to have flip-flopped recently.  He's right, I have historically expressed disdain for self-promoting, grandiose blogs - it's as though the authors actually believe that other people (some sort of blog-oriented sphere) care what he/she has to say about [celebrity fashion/quilting/video games/cute kittens - OK, maybe kittens are acceptable].  And now (gasp!) I am one of those authors!  What changed?  Why did I become a believer, a follower, and finally a blogger?

Taa Daaa! Blog!

Well, I read some really awesome blogs.  In fact, I blame Miss Lauren of the Pittsburgh Half-Marathon Con for leading me to these sites in the first place.  You can find links to my favorites on the right side of my own little corner of the internets  ---------------------------------------------------------->

What has made these blogs special and meaningful for me is twofold:

1. I can identify with the bloggers.  The topics they cover are relevant to my life and the authors are down-to-earth, approachable.
   
2. The posts are really, really well done.  They are smart.  They contain lots of interesting, useful information.  Plus, the photos and stories and fun stuff are super appealing.  
   

I would love for this blog to follow that example.  In other words, I want to write a blog that I would actually want to read.  Which hopefully means it'll be a blog that you actually want to read.

So, I pledge to do the following:

Firstly, I will post more and better pictures, especially of food.

Banana squash, asparagus, turkey bacon, and bay (aka Argentine) scallop risotto

Seeing pictures, actual evidence of other people's culinary triumphs (or failures), fitness triumphs (or failures), and general life pursuits, often inspires me to take on a new challenge.  And when those pictures make the food look delectable, the fitness look extra invigorating, or the other random stuff look really fun, it works even better.  So, I will develop my photography skills (still lives and action shots) to the extent possible with my little silver Cannon PowerShot SD1100 IS.

Oh no, a scratch!  I'm so sorry, baby camera!

Secondly, I will enforce order and organization in my posts.


In the words of Tim Gunn, "Edit!"  If the posts are crowded and confusing, they'll be harder to read, and therefore readers will be less likely to read them.  So, I will work to impose my own newfound sense of order on this blog.  Hopefully, it will fall somewhere between "Dear Diary" format and a PowerPoint presentation.  Expect a lot of bullet points and maybe some tables and charts (jk jk :-D)

Thirdly, I hope to post on topics of relevance and value to you all!

Future post topics include, but are not limited to:

• Cross-Training: Friend or Foe?
• Living in a Runner's Paradise
• Healdsburg Half-Marathon Race Report
• Sticking to the Plan!
• My Nutritionist Manifesto
  

More than just egocentric prattlings, I plan for these posts to contain interesting information presented thoughtfully that might actually spark discourse amongst readers.  Or, at least some of the time!

I'm not expecting to start a revolution or collect the impressive followings of the bloggers who've inspired me.  But, I would like to create a product that I can feel proud of, and one that you all will appreciate.

On that front, I'm looking for some feedback...

At the end of every post, I am going to include a reader question!  I've noticed this tactic being employed to great success on other blogs.  If you feel so compelled, then please, by all means, add a comment.  It can be in reply to the question or not, a reaction to the blog or a completely unrelated thought.  Whatever the comment, it will help me build a better, more engaging blog.  Don't be shy!



I should say that my former reservations about blogs are now relegated to Twitter - who seriously wants to hear everyone's every waking thought??  But, this cynicism comes from someone who regularly updates her Facebook and gchat statuses (stati?), and now, of course her blog.  So, perhaps I should not be so quick to judge.



Hope everyone is having a beautiful, active, and productive week!  Can't wait to hear your comments, and I'll be back with a new posting this weekend!





 Don't be scared to post a comment - I'm pretty nice!


Today's question: What do you look for in a blog? What elements of other blogs have worked for you, and what haven't?  What topics would you like to see me address, what do you wish I would avoid?  When it comes to blogs, what makes you click back for more?