“How was Father’s Day?”
“Fantastic. I spent all day “playing” with Blogger templates, and FeedBurner. Good thing my husband’s computer is in the same room as mine, (the kitchen) otherwise we wouldn’t have seen each other all day.”
“Well, Gutsy Writer, looks the same. Why didn’t you change it?”
“Let me tell you what happened. It’s a bit like my shopping for cereal story.”
The first time I strolled down the cereal aisle of my local U.S. supermarket, after a year in Belize, my head started spinning, and my knees felt weak.
“Need help finding something?” a sales person asked. I looked at him and said,
“There are too many choices. I don’t know which one to pick.” I could tell what he was thinking and stood there like a statue, way too long compared to the average shopper. The poor kid shrugged and left.”
Photo from Flickr by a touch of dutch.blogspot.com
I like having choices, but I also like goals. Now my blogger friend, Gramma Ann, seems far more bold than I am. After I complimented her on her new blog template (which you should go take a look at), she said:
“There are many varieties to choose from. I found them very easy to download to my blogs… As I always say on each one of my blogs, they were created for my own entertainment.”
“GUTSY AWARD” for Gramma Ann
GUTSY WRITER BLOG SCHEDULE:
- JUNE 24th , I’M HOSTING RITA GOLDEN GELMAN’S BOOK TOUR. Her new book: Female Nomads and Friends: Tales of Breaking Bread Around the World. Many of you love to TRAVEL and experience ADVENTURES in other countries, just like I do, and one of my “followers,” has FOUR tales published in the book. Guess Who?
- JUNE 29th, GUTSY BLOGGING FOR WRITERS. Learn how to build your author platform, Watch highlights from a video/podcast of my presentation at the CWC (California Writers Club) to help build your author platform. Also Angela Ackerman, from her amazing blog: The Bookshelf Muse, has tips on why writers need a blog: “Everyone has something to offer and knowledge to share.”
- JULY 5th, HOP ON OVER TO SHE’S COOKIN’ where I shall guest post about the amazing one star Michelin “Restaurant du Vieux Pont,” I experienced in the quaint old village of Belcastel in southwest France.
I’d like to offer you one helpful tip: If you haven’t already added FeedBurner to your blog, I recommend you don’t wait as long as I did. People can subscribe to your blog and more. I should have followed Shirley’s advice from 100 Memoirs, a long time ago.
What’s important to you in choosing a template for your blog? If you use WordPress, and the Thesis or Headway themes, I’d love to hear your opinion.
Oh, Sonia, it's been too long!
I started with a basic Blogger theme 2 years ago. It was probably called 'basic'… or something similar.
After a few months I tweaked it a bit – mainly colours – but nothing major.
Then, after about a year I got into HTML and tweaked not only the colours but the number of side bars, the header and all sorts.
Oh, the control!
I must admit I am finding it a bit dull now, but one of my fave bloggers changed their template completely some time ago and I didn't like it. I rather think that others would feel the same if I did that… which is the ONLY reason why I haven't changed it.
As a writer I am concerned that by changing it I will change my 'brand'… not that I have a publisher yet as I am still unpublished… but it dwells on my mind.
I turn 40 next month… so I might just have a 'mid-life crisis' and change everything ;0)
(Love your blog… you write so wonderfully!)
I use WordPress – easy to use and with far fewer problems than Blogger. Also it's open source.
I like a blog template that allows me to have colours and columns. My last one had a header where I could upload my own pics. This one doesn't – a cleaner look perhaps?
Hi Sonia,
Thank you for considering me for the Gutsy Award. That was so nice of you to notice the templates on my blogs.
How do I choose the templates for my blogs? I try to choose a template that goes with the theme of the blog. Oh yes, my blogs do have themes, well, all except "Butterflies and Candles." On it I sometimes post about things going on in my life, and at other times it is like a butterfly flipping from one thing to another, however, it is also some what like a candle as well, it will glow for a while, and then flutter until the flame goes out, waiting until I light it again.
Thanks again for the cute little Gutsy Award.
Ann
I want to cange my template, but I am too afraid to. The last time I tried I almost lost EVERYTHING.
Can you imagine? All that work, gone. The back up template download was corrupted, too.
Luckily I eventually managed to get it fixed with only a few bugs to work out. But it scared me enough that I'll probably leave it alone, or test everything on my test blog first.
Thanks for calling my blog amazing! You are the sweetest gal ever!
Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse
Oh, the challenges that come my way. I'm not to "gutsy" when it comes to blog design or format. I have something simple that works for me and I'm afraid of causing new problems if I make changes. I do enjoy seeing some of the fancy things that others know how to do.
Oh, I'm changing from Blogger to WP.
Had enough of Blogger…
A guy from Finland is doing all the work for me.
I hope my own site (yes, BLOGitse domain) is ready latest end of this summer (not next)… 🙂
I'm back from Finland (everything is fine which I'm really happy about – I have one year for the next check up).
We live with boxes – too little space to put all our stuff…we have to buy cupboards, sigh! but it's nice to be back in Casa.
Have a nice day!
BLOGitse
Blog redesign must be epidemic! I spent all weekend doing the same for my blog!
I'm terrified that I will lose all my blog if I put in a new template! If that happened, I would have to go lay in traffic with my laptop! LOL!
So many designs! So many formats! So many technical frustrations! Ugh!
Good luck with your templates!
Ok, I'm going to need to go to the two week training on FeedBurner and RSS… not "getting" it!?!
I actually had a blogger friend design mine…just told her what I was thinking and she created something that she thought represented me…from what she had read about me over the years. I am really happy with it!
Hi Sonia,
Well, you know I'm in the middle of a blog migration from blogger to WordPress that is not going well.
I have techies doing it but somehow the comments to my posts aren't moving over with the posts and I want them! They are the life blood of my blog and I treasure every one someone took the time to send me!
Ah, mysteries. I hope they figure it out soon.
Miss Footloose, lost in space…
I am tired of the picture on my blog home page. I'm hoping that my son will help me change it when he comes to visit. Thank God for web-and tech-savvy children!