Today's the day! And, it's not too late to join in to have your blog critiqued and to critique other people's blogs, CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS & LIST OF PARTICIPANTS!
You can feel free to leave comments below regarding my blog's:
a. Appearance: Does it appeal to you? Is it too busy, or too plain?
b. Layout: Is it difficult to navigate? Is it cluttered, or sparse?
c. Frequency: Post too often? Not often enough?
d. Content: Are the posts interesting? Unique? Are they focused, or all over the place?
e. Quality: Are the individual posts too long, too short, too sloppy, or too generic?
And anything else you'd like to critique ... well ... except my weight. Any comments about my weight will be deleted right away.
YAY, thanks for reminding me this was on!! haha.
ReplyDeleteNow to critique! Quite possibly I'm blind, but do you have an official website? If so, is it linked on your blog? If so, where? Other than that, I have nothing to criticise really. I really like your colour scheme (easy on the eyes, and that is really important for me, someone who spends most of her days on a computer & is trying to avoid eye damage where possible!), your posts are generally nice and "bite-sized" (not huge novellas I have to spend an entire day reading), and I like that too. So yeah, I'm no expert of course but I will say I like what i see!
PS. I love how I don't have to click a pop-up box, or put in a captcha (however you spell that), to comment on your blog! To me this is important too.
ReplyDeletea. Appearance: Does it appeal to you? Is it too busy, or too plain? It's plain but I prefer it that way. I hate having to figure out what's part of the post and what's not. This is perfect for me.
ReplyDeleteb. Layout: Is it difficult to navigate? Is it cluttered, or sparse? I like that it's sparse. I also like the blog post on white-ish background and not a dark color. I also like that your follower gadget is at the top so I don't have to look around for it.
c. Frequency: Post too often? Not often enough? I think you post perfectly. I don't have as much time to check out blogs so I wont visit those who post too often unless I'm really close with them.
d. Content: Are the posts interesting? Unique? Are they focused, or all over the place? I like your writing related posts. Good here.
e. Quality: Are the individual posts too long, too short, too sloppy, or too generic? I don't have a post of yours in front of me but I don't recall it ever being too long.
Wow, what a great idea and brave too. I really enjoy your blog just as it is. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Margo!
ReplyDeleteMy critique of your blog, as requested.
a. Appearance: Does it appeal to you? The colors are fine, but I like a more "wide" middle column because I'm a little claustrophobic when it comes to reading in small places, not because I consider it a design flaw by any means.
b. Layout: I like the layout, with the lighter color on the left column. Left column could be wider as I mentioned above.
c. Frequency: Your frequency seems to fluctuate at times, but that's okay. You went from posting almost everyday at the beginning of last year to about every other day consistently (according to your archives). I wish I had as much material to post! Congratulations.
d. Content: You definitely have topics that I love. Following! :)
Hi Margo,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is clear and easy to read. You ask interesting, thought provoking questions which I like. It helps me to feel as if the whole process is a developing conversation.
What sort of material do you write? You mention your agent, but what's the project they're representing? I want to share your excitement about your work but I don't know anything about it.
The twitter box doesn't fit in the column, and the green is a little bright.
You've got a beautiful style of writing. I look forward to reading more.
Kate
happenence.wordpress.com
i get a feel for the person behind the blog by their design. you are direct and solid, with strong blue and the cool silver washers. your posts are informative and good lengths with pic and reference enhancements.
ReplyDeleteonly suggestion, neaten up the sidebar, less is more.
(i could stand to do that, but i'm a patrack at home too =)
I like how you've got all these different colors, but they're neutral and they complement each other. Your posts are short and usually contain pictures, which is nice.
ReplyDeleteHi Margo,
ReplyDeleteDebs/Kelda here. I've always loved the posts here. The content is great.
Suggestions, maybe I'd put the blogger icons, and awards below the archive. Perhaps edit them, too. They're great, they're fun, but it depends who you're targeting the blog too, just to fellow writers or to potential readers, too.
hope that helps.
Hi Margo,
ReplyDeleteI just signed up-better late than not at all. I will be back this evening after work to give you my ideas and to post on my blog what I would like critiqued (and to critique others). You had a nice turnout.
Thanks for the advice about writing some of my A-Z challenge post now.
I absolutely love this blog! The colors are great! Everything is cohesive and organized. Great use of pictures and the popular post sidebar is fantastic! The twitter widget colors really standout. The posts are of interest and represent quality writing.
ReplyDeleteHi Margo - thank you for your visit and comments on my blog.
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog layout - it's clear and concise. I'd like a little more space in it. It feels like a very well organized studio apartment - everything has a place and is in it. (That's a compliment by the way - just in case you are wondering). I really like your content and how you make it easy to follow.
Margo, the number one thing I have always loved about your blog is the content. You always have something interesting to say and you do it in small bites. I also have always liked your honesty in your posts as I feel like I'm seeing you in your posts (something I'm trying to do more of in my own posts). I like that you have a list of your popular posts and state what you write about in your header. The only thing I would consider changing is putting your bio before the different ways to follow your blog. I prefer when ways to follow a blog are grouped with twitter/facebook. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteI think your blog page is easy to read and navigate. I always enjoy your posts. I don't think they are too long. I'm certainly glad to have found you.
ReplyDeleteGreat posts, but I'd like it if the main column was wider? But as always, content trumps everything else!
ReplyDeleteThe colors are easy on the eye, the font is perfect.
ReplyDeleteNo 'busy bee' stuff like ads. (pet peeve)
Your blog is informative, concise, and very organized.
Links work and posts are Goldilocks, not to long, not too short. Just right.
I think your blog has very nice, clean lines. I would agree with Trisha though, that you might want to add a link on the side for your books, as well as moving the archive toward the top (to make it easier for readers to search your material since you've stated the purpose as sharing tips and reviews). I love the tag line!
ReplyDelete~Kate
a. Appearance: I like the appearance. It's clean and neat. :) b. Layout: Same as above. Some of the things are cut off in the sidebar (at least with my browser) but they're still visible. c. Frequency: I don't care about frequency--content is a bigger issue. d. Content: I always enjoy reading your posts! e. Quality: I like the length; they're relatively short (which is always nice) and organized.
ReplyDeleteA very educational blog. I'm not sure I can come up with any constructive criticism.
ReplyDeleteYou have a nice blog, Margo. Elegant and simple. Colors compliment and yet you have a nice contrast. Thank god you don't have one of the black post areas with neon colors or what not. I find those so hard to read without my eyes threatening mutiny and hiding in my bedroom.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I've visited so length of your posts I can't comment on. My personal feeling is the content and presentation of that content is what's important. I don't mind reading a longer post--where's the race? I like to read blogs for the content and not have to make it short because a reader has 150 other blogs to visit that day, and can only absorb 5 sentences before eye glazing, lol!
I know some of my guest posts have gotten a bit long and I'm going to have to lower the counts but then mine is about the author and their books.
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
Ps. I just read the comments. I have a wide flat screen so your blog is intact, sidebars and all.
ReplyDeleteThank you for participating in my blogfest!
ReplyDelete1. Your posts are educated and informative. I feel I could learn from you.
2. I love your heading "sharing a passion..." etc.
3. Your "About Me" is clear and to the point. I know what your blog is about after reading it.
4. I like how your popular posts have snippets of the post instead of just the title. It draws me in.
5. The only negative thing that stands out to me is that your blog is very plain. You could add some pizazz to it.
I hope some of that was helpful!
Hello Margo, thank you visiting my blog and for the feedback you gave. I love the color scheme of your blog and how simple and organised it is.I also like that your blog awards are displayed. I wish the centre column where wider though.
ReplyDeleteLooks good to me. Not my favourite colours, but it would be very boring if we all had the same colour schemes and yours is distinctive and easy to read.
ReplyDeleteHey Margo! I like the colors. ;) I also appreciate that the background isn't super busy and distracting. It says, "The words are the important thing here."
ReplyDeleteAnd I always think your posts are the perfect length.
Oh my! EXCELLENT feedback people! Thanks for the input. I will evaluate and make some improvements ... soon. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Charity. The content is the strength here, and that's most important.
ReplyDeleteFor Blogfest Critique
ReplyDeleteI like this, but the one gripe i have is the thin nature of the main section. I feel it's a buit of a waste and makes reading the content harder than it needs to
The sidebar is great though
Matt (Turndog Millionaire)
Okay people ... changes made ... :-) well, the ones I agreed with anyhow ... bhwhahahaha!! Thanks for the feedback! If you think I missed something important, please let me know!
ReplyDelete