Forget everything you learned in school: Blogging isn’t English composition as you know it. Blog like you’re writing a term paper and you’ll make it boring. Here are some tips for tightening your writing for impatient online readers.
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A Quick Note to Any Mutual Readers
This is a quick update for fellow bloggers – you might notice my Links page doesn’t list you. That’s not because I’m not feeling the love anymore, rest assured! I just have some construction going on. This is mostly the result of upgrading (or “Upgrayding,” as they might’ve said in the movie Idiocracy) to the latest version of the Primepress theme.
I plan to restore normal linkage as soon as my meager HTML and CSS skills allow.
Seeking Tips on Policies and Other Unfun Stuff
I’ve had a lot of link requests from other bloggers and businesses lately. That makes me think it’s time to put some serious thought into re-designing my links – and putting into place some sort of policy about who I link to. Essentially, I don’t want WanderingJustin.com to become a wilderness of linkage. I want each link to truly be important and trustworthy.
Here’s the thing: I have a few online friends who automatically get links. They’ve contributed technical assistance to the blog, along with immoral support. They are a shoe-in to survive the Great Wandering Justin Link Purge.
There are some sites that I use as resources, and that I recommend highly to others. Those, also, will stay. There are some that I read for fun. Not many, but a few. I think there are few enough that they can stay.
Now comes the hard part: Links that promote businesses or service. This is a thorny situation because I genuinely believe in some businesses and services, like those seen in what’s currently my Tour Operators page. Those are hugely valuable.
Most of the organizations that have approached me … well, I haven’t used any of them. I’ve done a little due diligence, and most seem to have some value and be on the up-and-up. But if I offered a link to each, you can see how WanderingJustin.com could become the link farm I fear. My thought is to have a page devoted to these sorts of businesses. Maybe offer some space and a small [...]
The International Blog My Trail Day Round-Up
Alright, you might remember that Jan. 8 was the inaugural International Blog My Trail Day. Here’s a look at the best and brightest posts from those who participated.
Let’s start with all-around mountain bike mensch Mike, who writes the excellent mtbikeaz.com site. He’ll take you for a tour of his go-to trail at Pass Mountain.
And Teresa, aka Mountain Biking Girl, has herself a case of Cabin Fever. That’s the name of her new favorite trail. Desert rats like me are jealous. Why? Well, take a gander at that beautifully wooded singletrack and compare it to the lunar landscapes we ride!
And Colin, Teresa’s fellow Canadian, can’t even make up his mind. Check out his list of local trails! Jeez. Those cats north of the border have it all. Next thing you know, they’ll have great seafood, everybody’ll love hockey, they’ll have great skiing … oh, wait a second. They already do. Rats.
I really want to give this International Blog My Trail Day thing another go. Should I keep the date the same, or maybe move it to spring so we can have another shot at it again soon?
Jan. 8 Named International Blog My Trail Day
Alright, bike bloggers: I’m making a decision, and I hope you’ll join me in making this happen.
I do hereby proclaim Jan. 8, 2010 to be International Blog My Trail DaySM. Here’s the idea – I want every single mountain bike-loving blogger to post about their favorite local trail. I want to hear about all the go-to trails for all of you – that one that’s closest to your house, where you first learned to ride, where you’re training for an epic race or you see snakes and javelina on every ride.
SO I WANT YOU!
Tell the world all about it. Throw in a map. An elevation profile. Some photos. A short bit of video. Whatever you got. Put it in Twitter. Post about it on Facebook, Blogger, WordPress, Typepad, whatever ya got. If you won’t have a blog, I’ll offer up to three guest posts right here at WanderingJustin.com.
Here’s a Facebook page where you can become a fan to let everyone know you’re joining.
This is a great chance to show the entire world your trail, and to remind trail advocates, planners, decision makers and all sorts of official folks how much you care about your sport – and your trail.
Oh, yeah – another thing. To those who say I can’t just make up an international day of anything … I just did. It worked for International Talk Like a Pirate Day, and I hope it works a tenth as well for International Blog My Trail Day. Arrrrr.
