Blogging Platforms

I know most of you either have blogs or are considering starting one in the future, so I just wanted to talk a little bit about blogging software. I'm also thinking about switching my personal blog so maybe writing it down will help me work it out :-)

I've taught classes for local writers groups on social media, including blogging, and consult with local writers interested in building up an online presence. Blogging always seems to be the thing most writers don't even know where to start with - and choosing a software is where to start.

1) Tumblr
I like to think of Tumblr as a more informal type of blog and I explain it as something halfway between blogging and Twitter. I have one of mine where I mainly post pictures, quotes and links that are inspirational to me - but may not be writing/book related. It seems like most writers I know use it in a similar way.

It doesn't easily allow for comments or deeper interaction than liking or reblogging a post and is really not suited well to longer text-only posts. Tumblr is a little different from all the other blogging platforms and I think it's probably not the best solution for a traditional author blog. But it does have its place.

2) LiveJournal
I used to have a LiveJournal way back in the college days (but I still read a few blogs on LJ) so forgive me if my experience is a little out of date. LJ seems to have all the utility most bloggers would need, but it's not even on my list of contenders and I never recommend it to people I consult with about building a blog.

Blogs on LJ always seem to be less visually-pleasing than those on other platforms, kinda rough around the edges with less options for customization. They also make subscribing to comments difficult and every time I'm on an LJ page there's some kind of pop-up ad that I have to view for so many seconds before I can do anything else. Some features are available only to paid members. Also the "community" aspect of it sometimes reminds me of high school - with cliques and feuds and all kinds of drama.

3) WordPress.org
WordPress is the most customizable of the most popular blog platforms and you can do more with it than any of the others - if you know how. And that's the major disadvantage: it's more difficult to learn and less intuitive if you're not very technologically inclined.

This is where my personal blog is currently at and I'm thinking about switching. I just feel like the interface is clunky and less intuitive than Blogger and I'm not a person who needs the features. I know a lot of people swear by WordPress, but it's getting to where I dread writing posts and making changes to my site. I also hate how you have to confirm comment subscriptions by getting a link emailed to you and clicking on it. That's obnoxious.

4) Blogger
Blogger is probably the platform I see most often used for writer's blogs (We use it - obviously - for YAtopia and for Sift Book Reviews). It's a balance of features and usability, with a pretty intuitive interface. It's not quite as customizable as WordPress though. This is the platform I'm considering changing my blog to.

Blogger is also run by Google, so it integrates well if you already use other Google services. A lot of people say you can't customize your URL, but that's untrue - it's actually very easy to use your own URL. My major gripe with Blogger is the inability to nest comments where a reply appears underneath the original comment. A lot of people don't like the fact that since Google hosts your blog, they can delete it if they think you are spammy or violating their terms.


Of course there are other less popular ones I didn't mention like TypePad, Movable Type, Expression Engine, Drupal, and Mambo. So what do y'all think? Do you have a blog and, if you do, which platform do you use? How do you like it?

Also, I wanted to mention that my sister and I are auditioning to join the YA Rebels, so I'd really appreciate if you watched our audition video below and like/comment (if you do indeed like it)! We introduce ourselves and talk about the five most obvious query mistakes authors make. Also, check out our competition!

The Tuesday Twaddle - Vlogs!

I hate cameras and tend to run in the opposite direction when one is pointed at me, but in a world ruled by visual media, they are becoming harder and harder to avoid.  When I first set out on my publishing journey, I tried my hand at vlogging, and it was fun.  But the problem was they were just so darn time consuming to put together.

Two minutes of vlogging fun = four hours of screaming at windows movie maker, thirty outtakes, one hour in hair and makeup, and about thirty minutes of fighting with yourself trying to convince yourself not to post it to YouTube. *sigh*

So you see, it's really not that easy.  That said, it really is a fun way to connect with your audience.  And when you see an author in a vlog, more often than not your surprised by how they look, sound, and act, because it shows a completely different side to the one they present on Twitter or Facebook. 

Yatopia have been blogging a while know, and I wonder do you really know the crazies behind blog.

So here's the bit that's going to make my fellow Yatopia bloggers squirm and be suddenly hit by the urge to pelt me with rotten tomatoes, but I was thinking it might be fun to do a Vlog fortnight, one where we do a short vlog instead of our usual posts.

So what do you think Yatopians? Would you like to see us vlogging?  I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.  I'm not saying we will be vlogging, I'll probably be still wedged into the stocks covered in tomato juice for the next few weeks anyway, but would it be something that you'd like to see us do?

Let us know!

Talk soon my lovelies.

Leigh