Amused and Infused (was: Blog questions (nuts and bolts))

[Axordil]

So--blogs.

I now have two.  One is for fun, one is for writing, or being noticed writing, to be specific.

What sort of nuts-and-bolts, settings and tags, widgets and such decisions do people here make for theirs?  What experiences have you had that you want others to have, or avoid?

My work blog, btw: Amused and Infused.  I can't call it an announcement yet, since I feel I'm still testing it.

[Tabris]

Don't make it only about writing, or you'll only attract readers who are themselves writers. You'll want to have some about writing, but make most of it about a topic kind of tangential to what you're writing about so that you'll attract readers who, when your book is out, will want to buy your book.

[Axordil]

I don't think I could make it only about writing, not without wanting to slap myself.      

[ElanaJ]

Hmm...great question. I don't have a personal blog anymore. My main blog IS all about writing. And I don't mean I'm telling people HOW to write or anything like that, but every post is related to writing, asks a question about writing, process, etc. I share a lot of personal things about myself too, (couched in writing, I hope) which is what I want in a blog. I want to get an idea of the blogger behind the blog. I want to make personal connections through what I post, what I comment on, etc. To me, a writer's blog isn't spouting off information about writing, but it's a personal journal of the journey an author takes toward publication. At least that's what my goal has been... Now that I've typed it out, I'm not sure I've done that.

What I don't like?
Ranting
A million pictures/ads so I can't find the posts

Other than that, I'm a huge blogoholic and read a ton of blogs every single day.

Good luck with yours!

[Axordil]

Thanks.  I only hope it doesn't turn into (as a friend put it) a daily reorganization of the sock drawer that keeps me from cleaning the rest of the house.  Repeat after me...the blog is my servant, not my master...

[Axordil]

OK--there's enough stuff there now to warrant my announcing its existence officially.