Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Bumbling Along on the Blog

      A fellow I finished high school with had a look at my blog the other day. He made a couple of comments and a compliment. Since school days take me back to the mid fifties I got thinking about the origin of  my blog.

      Now comments and compliments send me to greater wildness. This set off reflections on how I started blogging. 

      The only thing I knew is that I wanted to write. I thought I had some weighty and serious things to say. Many of you will laugh because my blog is not that serious. I was completely naive. I did not have the Internet at my house. I had an email account and had searched the web. I had also used the word processor. 

    So I set up Hiawatha House. I thought anything I wrote would be hung out there on the net and everybody would see it. People would open their computers and there I would be! I would have the world reading my blog. This would so cool! I made 2 posts in the first 4 months. Click here to see my first post. Slowly I began to realize that nobody was reading my blog.

    So fast forward to Blogging for Dummies. A few things made sense to me in this book that was written in very simple terms. I really got hung up on URLs. I couldn't figure out what they were but they were important. One time I bumbled into what a URL was. This brought about many changes and developments but still no readers. 

     I began looking at other blogs. To this point I had not read any other blogs. I bumbled into comments and related it back the Blogging for Dummies. I read comments for a while and finally learned how to make a comment.

    I discovered stat counters. This showed that my readership was between none and very few. Finally I was very surprised to see a comment. I didn't know what it was. To say the least I was very excited.

    Another hurdle was that I did not know how to cut and paste. A friend accidentally asked me to cut and paste something and I though ah ha this is how it's done. I had done cut and paste on the word processor but it had not transferred to the blog. Cut and paste helped me advance by leaps and bounds.

    The learning curve was steep and very slow. I still spent a lot of time with Blogging for Dummies. 

     When I look back I can not understand why I persisted. I just bumbled along and made discoveries. 

     Little did I realize that I would still be blogging in 2014! Little did I realize that I would some day have written over 800 posts. Little did I realize that I would meet many other bloggers and things would develop into a  very interesting and supportive community.

    My blog has become an interesting and time consuming hobby. I can not see giving up blogging.

     Thanks to all the bloggers who have been a part of supporting Hiawatha House.

      Thanks to my high school friend for causing me to go back and reflect on what Hiawatha House has become.

42 comments:

  1. Well, you certainly have a great blog going here Red. I am glad I found it and enjoy your posts very much. I have had my blog since the early part of 2008 and still feel I am learning. I had no idea there was a Dummies book for us. I'm going to have to check that out.

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  2. I think we've all started the same way, and we learn as we stumble along. I really enjoy your blog, and I'm glad you won't be giving it up any time soon.

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    1. It's a lot of fun to make these discoveries.

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  3. "An interesting and time consuming hobby" love that Red. I am so happy I found you and I too could not give it up. Hug B

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    1. It seems the blog has to change and grow.

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  4. Gee Red, Now I am thinking back to when I first started blogging and feeling what I felt, stepping into the land of the unknown. I remember those first baby steps and believe it or not, I remember how excited I was when someone actually commented on my post. I wasn't expecting it and it was quite a thrill. I stumbled n stalled and learned eventually and I do enjoy working at this. If I write anything and it pleases someone, then I am happy. Like you, I cannot see me quitting anytime soon. Lovely post and have a wonderful day. Keep those posts coming Buddy, eh :)

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    1. It's rewarding when we have readers and they react to what we write.

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  5. I like to surf and read other blogs off comments on blogs I already read. I also leave comments and join a few if I really liked them.

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    1. I wish I had more time to read other comments.

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  6. Keith, it is great. It is Facebook and Twitter for intelligent people. It does take time but what doesn't for something worthwhile. I will still make your header fit your template but that is a minor idiosyncrasy. Have fun, I love blogging and you are different so worth keeping an eye on.

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    1. Thanks for the compliment. What I want to do with my header is put to pictures down the right side to fill out the space. Some day when I get time I might get this done.

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  7. I remember when I first started my blog in 2008, I asked some of my (very few) commenters as to how one gains followers. They told me to do just what you did: read and comment on other blogs. And I know I will check someone out whose comment makes me wonder who they are. And there you go! Isn't it a great community? I'm also glad I found you, Red. You write from your experiences and don't try to get fancy, and it's just perfect! :-)

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    1. Thanks. I started in 2008 as well. I think I found your blog from Far side!

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  8. I really enjoy your blogs. I need to get the book for dummies on blogging. I know that I am not that great at blogging and I don't have many people reading my blogs but I enjoy trying to write and get better with my writing skills.

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    1. I highly recommend Bloggers for Dummies. As time goes by you seem to always learn.I see changes in your blog for the short time I've followed you.

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  9. I for one, enjoy your blog very much, and reading your entertaining posts! I'm very glad I came across it. And I enjoy your visits to mine as well. Keep up the good work!

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    1. Thanks for the compliment. Much appreciated.

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  10. I hope you don't give up your interesting blog and hobby. I, for one, enjoy it.

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  11. PS I did click on your link but was denied entry. However I just went to the first post on this blog which is where I assumed it would have sent me. You have come a long way!

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    1. Hey, that's great that you looked up my first blog. I must check the link.

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  12. i'm so glad you live in my 'neighborhood', red. this is a great blogging world we share. :)

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    1. I like your term "Neighborhood'. That's a great description.

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  13. I enjoy your blog Red and your comments on my blog! I think you are one of my most Northern blog friends. I enjoy it when you get more snow than me but then I have to brace myself because it is coming my way! You keep on keeping on Red, like Djan says keep it real and don't get all fancy on us. I could have used one of those Blogging for dummies books when I first started:)

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  14. I'd never even read a blog when my son suggested I start one as an outlet for my writing. You've been at it much longer than me. I'd be lost without cutting and pasting. I write everything before hand and then cut and paste it into my blog. I'm glad you're still blogging, and I'm glad I found you.

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    1. The blog is a great outlet for writers. It's kind of cool when people read you and react.

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  15. I know a couple of people from high school who have found my blogs... there might be others, but they're the ones who have mentioned it.

    I have found reading and commenting on other blogs really does pay off in getting comments back. It might be slow at first, but it does work. And I get the same when I see comments on another blog from someone who regularly comments there. I'll check them out and odds are will start following.

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    1. Checking out other blogs is interesting even if you don't follow them. I also wish I had more time to read comments on other blogs.

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  16. I remember when I first started to blog I was terrified that someone might read it. I really just wanted an online journal to help me remember my life. Then I got comments...or commented on other blog...cannot remember which was first and suddenly I was thinking about these commenters when I wrote. I tried to keep my voice honest, but it was now a great challenge. I think I have come terms with a middle ground on this. I like the "homey" atmosphere at your blog. You live in another part of the world and I like the window that you opened.

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    1. You learned a key thing about trying to communicate with readers. it's a great feeling of satisfaction when that happens.

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  17. I enjoy stopping by for a visit- I am glad I found you on the net. I still haven't figured out all the ins and outs of blogging and not sure which direction I will take my blog in 2015, but I sure do enjoy meeting new people. Have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. I hope you only tweak as I like your blog the way it is.

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  18. Looking back now I think my getting started experience was somewhat similar.

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    1. Blogger really doesn't make it easy to learn the system. We can write but it's the system which is the challenge.

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  19. You have made good progress, even though it was slow and steady. But then that is how we learn, isn't it?

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  20. I tried clicking your link, but wasn't able to access that first post. I'm glad you persevered, Red and that I met you. It's interesting that we began blogging in the same year. I started on Leap Year Day, February 29, 2008. It sure took me a while to get the hang of it too. :- )

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    1. I checked the link and it worked, but another person also said it didn't work.

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  21. Its brilliant that you have written over 800 posts and good luck for many more to come!!

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    1. Thanks! Not brilliant! I just have to bumble along.

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  22. Our friendly, bumbling blogger! I love your posts!

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