Here goes nothin':
1. When did you begin your blog?
I started this
blog in August 2010. (Yikes! It's been 2.5 years already?!?) There was a time last year though where I
"fell off the face of the blogosphere" for about 7 months so it's not
like I have been blogging consistently for 2.5 years.
2. What was your
original purpose for starting a blog?
Well, Ma is a writer and was feeling uninspired by
writing about the same things at work every day. She thought maybe writing something different,
using a MY voice would help bring back the inspiration.
3. Is your
current purpose the same?
Yes and no.
If not, what's
different?
The focus for
the blog. Originally it was just for fun
- a place where Ma came to write when she was feeling mired down in (boring) work. But now, as I, "the great and powerful
Oz the Terrier" mentioned in my new year's blog resolutions post, I want Ma
to focus on writing My Poems as well as visiting and writing about Dog-Friendly
Florida (something my good friend Gizmo over at Terrier Torrent also discussed
today). I also would like to find a way
to help my favorite local shelters through or on my blog!
If so, how do
you feel you've met your goals?
Well, Ma sure
found a different voice and perspective!
She says that trying to see the world through a dog's eyes has been fun
and has brought more creativity back into her life. (I'm glad I could help, Ma!)
4. How often do you post?
Like I said
before, we weren't always consistent.
But, in my blog resolutions post I promised to blog and comment more
consistently. Since January 1, I have
been blogging about every other day.
5. Do you blog
on a schedule or as the spirit moves you?
At one point, I
was blogging on a schedule (ah, the good ole days) and I am trying to get Ma
back on a schedule, even if it's only every other day.
If you publish
on a schedule, why? How strict are you
about your publishing deadlines?
I know from work
experience that I am deadline driven (as well as prey-driven, but that's
another topic) so it only makes sense for me to write and publish on some kind
of schedule. Honestly, I am not going to
chew my own paw off if we miss a day, but I feel it's best to hold Ma accountable to something.
What do you do
for inspiration when it feels like you've covered every topic?
BOL! If you know
me then you know I never shut up on any topic!
I can talk a topic to death if I wanted to!!
But usually, if I don't have a "story" in mind...I relax and
write a poem.
6. How much time
do you spend writing your blog per week?
How much time visiting other blogs?
Gosh, I lose
track of time when I write because I love it so much (even when it is boring
work). I can get lost in writing. Sometimes, like for my last poem, I woke up
in the middle of the night with it in my head and I had to have Ma get out the
notepad to write it down!
Visiting and
commenting on other blogs is another resolution...because I needed to do more
of it!!!! I think I am doing pretty good
so far, even if we are only 10 days into the new year. I have made some wonderful new friends
already!!!
7. How do you
measure the success of a post and of your blog in general?
Who doesn't love
lots of comments?!? But I think the
quality of the comments outweighs the quantity.
And yes, I check the stats weekly
to see which posts got more traffic and shares but I really believe what's
important is the relationship with the other person, dog, blogger, etc who is
visiting.
8. If you could
ask the per blogging community for help with one issue you're having with your
blog, what would it be?
Uh....uh....can
you come back to me on this one?
9. What goals do
you have for your blog in 2013?
In summary, I
would like to keep Ma on some kind of schedule (where is the Human Obedience
School when you need one?), blog and comment on other blogs more consistently,
focus on My Poems as well as focus on more Dog-Friendly Florida posts. I would love for my readership to grow so I
can make even more friends!
Hi Oz we scurried over from Poochie Project glad you took the challenge. You made mention of being able to help your local shelters. I would suggest looking at http://www.firstgiving.com and seeing if your shelters have a page there. It will walk you through the process of setting up a link to put on your blog and then people can donate through the link and first giving takes care of makeing sure the rescue/shelter gets the donations.
ReplyDeleteI am sure the are a lot of other ways to help out your rescues/shelters. Attend the events they have and blog about them before and after it gets them attention they might not have gotten.
Do they have a website link back to them from a post you did about the shelter/rescue or one of the animals there.
Have a Chittering Good Day,
Jo
Thanks Jo for all this great information! I really appreciate it. I am going to check out that link now!
DeleteWell you have one fantastic blog and I think you doing a great job! "Deadline driven" I can sooooooo relate from my past newspaper life!
ReplyDeleteNo matter what you write, the deadlines just loom, don't they? Thank you for your kinds words about my blog. *blushes*
DeleteHa, I have the 'never shut up' problem as well! For each (serious) blog post I write, I have about double the amount in 'notes' that never made the cut. Being ruthless is hard, but sometimes necessary.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I write and then I edit, edit, edit to get all my ramblings out of there.
DeleteHey Oz the Great, Jet here. Hi Miss Gina.
ReplyDeleteNever knew you had 2 writers in the family! Like your goals... hope to chip in on the FL stuff when possible. We agree, we appreciate the quality of the comment v. the quantity.
Thanks for sharing, we so enjoy learning more about our pals.
Sending Jetty kisses and JJ hugs...
Hi Jetty! I hope you will be able to join in the Florida stuff too!! Maybe someday we can meet somewhere and play!!
DeleteWe're a bit deadline driven, too! We never know what you're going to say, Oz, but we always know it will be entertaining!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you whole-heartedly about the commenting. I even mentioned it in my post today. I would rather know how I made somebody think or feel, than just read a cryptic two word reply that really means "I don't care what you said, but come and read my blog." I'd rather have no comment than one where the reader really didn't even take the time to think about what I wrote. The funny thing is that most of the people who replied about that in my post were really concerned that I thought it was them. The ones I meant won't get it, is my guess. And I do understand that sometimes people don't have time to write as much as they want or know what to say about some of the pictures. That wasn't really what I was talking about!
You are always too kind with your comments! I'm always so happy when you stop by and leave a pawprint!
DeleteYes, the comments should be like a conversation not just a passing "hi". Then at least you know you have made a connection and have made a friend. Isn't that why its called "social" media?!?
WooHoo, I'm one of your new friends Oz! Great job in answering all those really hard questions dude! :-) I love your poems and can't wait to read more of them! Good luck with the New Year's Resolutions, those are certainly tough to keep!
ReplyDeleteThanks Goose!! Those questions were hard to answer...well, some of them were anyway. I am keeping my paws crossed that I can keep my resolutions! I am enjoying it so far!
DeleteThat's a really good article, my woofie pal! My Rumblemum says she can relate to the 'different voice' for writing thing you talk about, and it sure is fun for her. I'm a lot like how she used to be when she was younger, so it makes her happy to be sassy and silly through me!
ReplyDeleteOh, Rumbles...I think it is just fun for them to pretend to NOT be human for a little while. We anipals can be so much nicer than their species sometimes.
DeleteSassy and silly are two wonderful things to be! You all keep up the great blogging - you are one of our faves!
i go back & forth between my voice & Gizmo's...originally it was all him, but I don't htink I do "him" all that well, so mostly it's "me" writing these days...as for commenting, I think i'm getting better...at first i was leaving those "hi there" comments just so folks knew i was out here and reading them...i hope that those i follow regularly know that now...i try to comment when i think i have something to say or when it is my first visit and i want to let the blogger know that i just found them...i hope i'm starting to add more to the conversations these days
ReplyDeleteHi Gizmo! Hi Beth! I wouldn't say that you don't do Gizmo's voice "all that well"...you do. Maybe you just need to find a way to differentiate his voice from yours a little bit more, so it feels "truly Gizmo".
DeleteYou add a LOT to the conversation! You're one of the bext conversationalists around, pal! It's why we love you!!!
Great site, so well done! Your responses gave me several things to think about.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd love to know when you find that special obedience school - I might need to go!
HI Coralee! Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words. When and if I find that obedience school I will surely let you know!
DeleteHi Oz - I loved your answers. Thanks for joining the Challenge! Your adventures in pet friendly Florida sound like a lot of fun. If you'd want to, we'd love to have you guest post about your adventures over at Take Paws. Our readers always love to hear what the other pets are out doing, and it would give my audience a chance to meet you, too!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have lots of fun in 2013 and if you do find that obedience school, please don't tell Ty and Buster about it!
Hi Amy! Thank you for your kind words! The Challenge was fun.
DeleteOh, I would love to guest post over at Take Paws one of these days. I would have to go on a great adventure in Florida for sure!
I hope you have lots of fun in 2013 too! And don't worry, I won't tell Ty and Buster if I find that obedience school!
I think the quality of comments is definitely more important then the quantity, but I do sometimes like to just stop by my regular blogs to say hello.
ReplyDeleteI like that...Human Obedience School. I think my dogs would like me to enroll as well.
Good luck with your poem writing this year!
I commend you on your awesome blogging goals for 2013. Sticking with a schedule is pretty tough for me as well...I have to, unfortunately, limit myself to only 30 minutes a day reading and commenting on other blogs. Hence, the tardiness of this comment! :( Keep up the great work, Oz!!
ReplyDelete