New Blog Structure
As you may have noticed, my blogs have a new, single URL. (I will leave the redirect for now, but please update your feeds and blogrolls ASAP.) Along with this new URL, my blog also has a new structure.
As you probably know, I have been maintaining two blogs, a cross stitch one and a “main” one, for about 2½ years. I originally separated them because I had two distinct audiences and the one audience (that for my “main” blog) wasn’t always interested in my crafty pursuits that I found myself blogging about on an increasingly regular basis.
Therefore, in response to my audience’s wishes, I separated the crafty content and began a second blog. Because I was still maintaining my “main” blog, I decided that my cross stitching blog would only contain posts that were directly related to cross stitching. I figured that any readers that I had that were interested in both blogs could just visit both of them.
At that point in time, I had plenty of time to maintain both blogs and did so quite successfully for quite a while.
However, as my personal situation grew more complicated, my main blog grew rather neglected. The voice of the American expatriate that had been guiding my “main” blog faded and when I officially repatriated, I knew that my expatriate audience had all but disappeared.
As I mentioned yesterday, I have felt for many months now that the voice of my “main” blog has been aimless. However, I also realized that really have no desire to stop blogging; I just need to find my voice again.
Therefore, for the past couple of weeks I have been thinking about new approaches to my blog and this is what I have come up with:
From now on, I will only have one URL… essentially one blog, but it will have two main categories that represent my two blogs. The two categories will be “Stitched with Love and Cat Hair” and “Beyond the Shelves” and each of the two main categories will then be subdivided.
The front page (http://blog.blondelibrarian.net) will contain only my stitching-related posts as I feel this is not only my main readership at the present time, but also because that is currently what I post most frequently about. Clicking “Beyond the Shelves” will take you to what was formerly referred to as my “main” blog and will be devoid of stitching content for those who may still be reading but are not interested in my hobby.
Finally, I am hoping to reinvigorate my blog and find my voice again by writing more freely. Nevertheless, I am still not sure how ready I am for the publication of some topics that I hope to write about, so from now on, some posts will be password protected. If a post is password protected, please do not ask for the password. If it is a post I want to share I will unprotect it when I feel ready.
20 April 2007 at 22:51
Love the new look!
22 April 2007 at 06:22
I am 57 years old and used to keep a diary in longhand in the time before computers, email web pages and blogging. I didn’t have a self-correcting typewriter, and I do a lot of inserting and deleting, especially when I’m upset or working on a subject that is difficult for me (like this one).
I almost never shared my diary. I wrote primarily to settle down, process my day and moods, figure things out, and preserve facts, perceptions and memory. Essentially, I was entertaining myself. I dreamed of writing a book, getting published, and being able to make a living that way, but I never had the focus and vision.
Your process is a lot like mine was, and that’s what fascinates me and keeps me coming back. I love reading about how productive, good-hearted people muddle through. I think it has value to a lot of readers. I envy you that you can get anonymous feedback and emotional support for your process in a way that I never could. I also think you are wise to censor your most sensitive topics with a password.
I remember feeling uncomfortable about leaving a comment on your blog some months ago for all to see, but I wanted to encourage you and didn’t know how to email you. (I’m computer challenged.) I’ve watched another blogger address this same dilemma, and let me assure you, it is a crisis for your readers and commentors, as well. The reader hopes the blogger will not “reject” him/her by giving up the blog altogether, and the commentor hopes he/she has not said something that has caused the blogger to shut down. I’m glad you’ve found a solution that is satisfactory to all.
Best wishes,
Carol
Comstock Park, MI
22 April 2007 at 13:38
Good luck with your new set up. The layout looks great, I’m so glad to see you’ve found a way to balance both blogs and your needs as well. I’ve changed the link in my blog listing.
23 April 2007 at 02:16
That’s why I love the system I use. At the moment, granted, it means people have to sign up, but I can assign different people to different categories if I want, and I can make posts that only I can see without having to use the password system.
Love the colours you’ve used here
23 April 2007 at 19:33
Looks great! Enjoy your new space.
24 April 2007 at 00:01
You could set up a link to the RSS feed of each main category in the side bar — I love to read your blog but I’m not so much into stichting, so I just subscribed to your “main” RSS feed
BTW: Great new design. I like it very much!