Review My Blog Please

[Sane_Man]

I am a complete and utter newbie when it comes to blogging. I was encouraged to start a blog and just write. I don't know how to get all the fancy features I've seen on others blogs, or even how they work, but I'm learning.

I want it to be a simple and easy to navigated blog. I don't want anyone to be overwhelmed by too many features. To me the content of the posts is the most important thing.

Any reviews will be very, very helpful and much appreciated.

http://www.damienfitton.blogspot.com/

Thanks very much.

[Sidney Bristol]

Hi Damien! Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging, here's hoping you catch the bug. Keep in mind these are my thoughts about blogging/website/etc, and you are free to love or hate them.

Things I think you're doing well:
* Tags, labeling the blog posts is spot on! Don't be afraid of labeling lots.
* The layout is simple and clean, which you said was your goal
* The blogs are engaging in the way they're written, very conversational

Things I think could be changed:
* The background image scrolls with you, and then ends. Try making the background a fixed image so you don't lose it, or finding a new image. The white and beige is a combo that works, but aesthetically it doesn't give you any "eye candy"
* Move your little "about me" section up to the top of the side bar and add a nice head shot of yourself.
* Expand your bio so when a reader wants to know more, there's a little something quirky or engaging.
* I would suggest adding two to three pages: About Me, Contact and WIP - You want to be able to tell people more about yourself and why they should care about your blog. Agents/Editors always say they want a Contact option, some place where they can see if you're on twitter, facebook, goodreads or can just email you. WIP is up in the air. I use this one because there are enough people who ask me what I'm working on that I want to make it easily accessible. I've been shocked at the hits on my version of this page.

I think you've got a great start! Keep up the blogging. If you find topics hard to come up with, do some blog mems, like Teaser Tuesday or Friday Finds. There are a lot. I personally do three a week.

[kevin the wolf]

Hey Damien, Thank you for this blog. Well written, good subjects, nice layout. Keep it up, I will follow for sure. The suggestion I would have is frequency. Write more and often.

Kevin The Wolf
http://beautifulshadows1.blogspot.com/

[rosepetal720]

You could write more in the "About Me." This part is supposed to sell you and your blog, so feel free to make it interesting.

I like the simple text on the white. I don't like the brown background, though. You can add some color and still make it simple.

"Writing Journey" is a very common title, so you might want to consider changing it. I know this, because I have the exact same title.

[Literateparakeet]

I think you are off to a good start. One suggestion, when I blog I am try to be mindful that my readers are busy, I want them to be glad they stopped by my blog. I imagine them saying, "What's in it for me?" I think the first two posts offered something to your readers (information about writing) but the third one fell short of that.

Also you might consider posting a part of one of your short stories, both to entertain and as a teaser for them to want to read the rest...make sure they know where to find it!

Keep blogging!