GVL has been underway since April. So six months on I have decided to consolidate what I have learnt from participating in the blogosphere. I also want to say that this is not a definitive list and that I appreciate the encouragement/feedback I have had so far. Among others, a BIG shout out also to Sara, Patrick, Walt, and Sis.
Number one: Blogging is a marathon, not a sprint…
Number two: Embedded Youtube videos really jazz up a post, just limit what you use and be careful about copyright by linking content directly connected to it’s author.
Number three: Anonymity has it’s place, but tends to work against vulnerability. Create an internet handle that reflects the theme of your blog.
Number four: Surprise readers. Pace out the Facebook shares and let a couple of posts pass through WordPress reader without promoting them.
Number five: Resist measuring the success of your blog or writing ability by the amount of ”likes” you get – ‘Aim to Bless rather than Impress’.
Number six: Pay attention to unwritten blogging conventions and standards. Such as: source material, link to other bloggers in a ”related reading” section below your post if your current idea was prompted by something someone else wrote.
Number seven: In order to remain an interesting and reliable sanctuary in the midst of the clang and clamour of the blogosphere, be consistent but flexible.In other words: be teachable and creative.
Number eight: Resist the temptation to expect comments from readers, even if you ask for them. Lack of response might not be a bad thing. It could be that people are simply just too busy or it might indicate a need to review and repost the article.
Number nine: Stick to a 200-1000 word limit, spacing out sentences when appropriate to do so.
Number ten: like an Artist – ‘find something to wonder at and invite others to wonder about it with you’ (‘fund imagination‘).
…(unofficial: number eleven – which is up for debate and could end up being in the number ten spot next time around: try to steer clear of clichés like Top Ten lists as fill in posts when you have had a limited amount of time in your day to finish a more in depth post)…
Feel free to comment and let me know if I have overlooked, overstated or perhaps under-stated anything?
Rod Lampard 
Thanks for the shout out Rod! Didn’t realize you hadn’t been blogging much longer than me. Thought you were a veteran!
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Yeah.Pretty much a noob with a lot yet to learn. I trialled some ideas on blogger in Feb this year. However, I found that formatting posts the way I liked involved a lot more maintenance than I had time for. As for the Veteran comment, thank you. Know that I appreciate your consistent feedback.
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I love your blog, it’s one of the better ones where I’ll often learn something new. It’s clear you are a reader and a thinker….and you’re nice. 🙂 I put you in the mentor category in my life instead of the disciple one.
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Thanks. I very much appreciate your interaction on GVL and your words here mean a lot. My wife and I are often encouraged by your blog as well, so in many ways I can say the same there Sis. I hope that you’re feeling better soon. Peace be with you and the family.
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I should know what Gratia Veritas Lumen means, but I didn’t, not until I looked a little closer to see that your banner actually contains the meaning (just now). However, I love that title and it catches my eye often. I think that Anne Voskamp (sp) in an interview said that she just blogged and had comments disabled because it was her “outlet” and she innocently happened upon the fact that thousands of people were reading her material. What a sweet story, but I definitely haven’t kicked my love for approval and writing to me isn’t just a release of emotion, it is also a need to “interact” and to know that others understand what I have to say.
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Thanks for the honest comment.(I am a big, BIG fan of authentic, respectful feedback – so seriously, thank you). I like Ann Voskamp’s focus on gratitude. My wife tends to follow her work with a lot more interest than I do. I agree that the approval issue is an ongoing temptation, one I certainly haven’t mastered it in any sense of the word. But I have come to a point where I try not to let that influence what I write, how I write and when I write. ‘Interaction’ and having what we think/publish critiqued or congratulated should help teach us rather than crush us.
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