First day of spring in the garden (photos at dusk)
It’s late in the day on the first day of spring, but I’m determined to finish out week three of Blogging 101. Day fifteen’s assignment: Create a New Posting Feature.
Why do this? The idea is:
to inspire loyalty is to publish regularly. And the best ways to make sure you publish regularly is with a recurring feature — it’s like making a pact with yourself and your audience.
Creating a regular feature means your readers have something specific to wait for at regular intervals — it gives your blog a hook.We’re all creatures of habit, bloggers and readers. Adding a recurring feature — or simply planning posts at regular intervals — helps your writing stay sustainable. Even a purely personal blog of random musings benefits from a hint of structure.
I read the assignment last night and thought about it throughout the day. In my early blogging days I ran a feature called Blooming Thursday. It did give me some focus for one day of the week, but I don’t think it captured the minds and hearts of…anyone.
I dug a little deeper if you’ll pardon the pun. I thought about the things that I know and love and eventually settled on organizing. Organizing people, places and things has been a passion my whole life. My mom said she found me in her room organizing a sock drawer at the age of two. I’m sure there’s been some embellishing to that story over the years, but it illustrates my interest from an early age.
I’m casting about for a proper name and this is where you come in. Will you please vote for one of these options, or simply let me know what you think in the comments below?
For those of you living in the northern hemisphere, happy vernal equinox. To my friends in the south, I’m sure you’re welcoming the approach of cooler weather. I love the turn of a season and all the promise it brings. How about you?
Gardening Nirvana 
Happy Springtime!! ❤
I like Organise This! [OrganiZe This – sorry] I also quite fancy 'Nirvana Organised' – in a salute to your Blog's name After all even Nirvana has to be organised or it would just sink into a murky chaos and not be Nirvana any more.
I shall look forward to those posts! I realise with this segment of your course that I am an absolute renegade with regularity – I was supposed to put a post up at least a week ago and it is still languishing unfinished as I get on with life instead of blogging. I know when one of my dear constants [as Fran calls us] emails me saying she's checked in for my latest post and it isn't there – I'm being more than tardy!!
I am tickled by the image of little you on tippy-toe organising your parents sock drawer! 🙂
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Oh yes, there is the difference in spelling to consider too when I use the word organize/organise. That’s a clever idea too using Nirvana in the title. There are no decent alliterations for organize (I checked several places).
I’ve had several votes, with the top two fairly close. Then your wonderful write-in and a few clever ideas from our friend Boomdee.
It’s nice when your blog regulars come looking for you. You are missed in your absence.
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I voted for the second one, but I think you need to be happy with the name yourself. Well done for getting through 15 days of the challenge so far! 🙂
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Thank you, Cathy! The challenge is officially three weeks, then this last week they leave the forum open for comments and additional help. It’s been a wonderful learning experience.
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Organize This sounds good to me.
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Thank you!
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Well done on three weeks of writing. I haven’t since I’m busy reading.”) I like the idea of a weekly or monthly special post. I thought about that myself to no avail. You have a tough decision to make as it looks like a 3 way tie already. I still have your pinterest page open to the organizing spot. I WILL get organized this year! I hope.
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I know you will, Marlene, because it’s important to you. The votes are still accumulating, with a few write in suggestions, and then 9, 7 and 3 respectively. I’m fascinated by the variety of votes.
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Oh that’s a great plan, features are fun and something your visitors come back to. My pals, Pam and Sammy at One Spoilt Cat do one called ‘Tuesday Teaser’. She posts a photo once a week that people guess where in the world it was taken. I’ve guessed correctly only twice in all the time I’ve followed. But it’s a lot of fun to see the answers. I snuck in an extra vote above too, hehe.
Barb Gemmell taught me this little trick when I ran for class secretary in grade 8. We opened a colouring book and made sayings to match pictures. Like: ‘I Won’t Clown Around’ (insert picture of a clown) Vote Kelly for Secretary! Sometimes a picture or photo can prompt fun titles or quotes. I kind of always like word play. Taking something familiar and tweaking it up for yourself:
– Once Upon A Mess
Where organizing fairytales come true
– Bless this Mess
Where Sundays are Fundays
– Bee Organized
A bizzzzy persons guide to getting organized or Get the buzz on less clutter
(maybe with a cute little cleaning bee Icon?)
Well, that was fun. Are you sorry you asked? LOL I shouldn’t even give advice, I haven’t made time to blog all month. Boomdee’s bad, bad Boomdee Blogger. xoxoxox smooch ❤
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Oh my goodness, aren’t you clever. I love all of those. Once Upon a Mess. LOL!
How incredibly sweet that you ran for class secretary in grade 8. Delightful! The Gemmell family really took you in, didn’t they. How wonderful to have that.
Tuesday Teaser sounds like fun. I’ll have to pop in on that one. I thought about doing that once with a close up of something, then have people guess what it was. I used to enjoy that sort of thing in the Highlights Magazines. Loved those things, along with “what’s different in these two pictures.”
Boomdee is a wonderful blogger, with a full life. I hope things calm down a bit and you can blog again soon. Your posts are always a treat.
smoochy-smooch to you too.
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Hey, Alys, finally sorted out Bloglovin so I can follow you here as well as through wordpress…. Haven’t quite worked out how the two connect – I notice some people access my site through Bloglovin – but as long as this comment gets to you!
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Hurray! Thanks, Helen. That’s how I’m following most blogs these days. I love the way it’s organized.
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I haven’t quite to grips with it yet but I agree with the way it’s organised.
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You’ll be an old pro in no time.
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I should have a grand silk sash made for the day I finally conquer ‘From Chaos to Calm.’ Why does it evade us in the thick of our lives when we’re likely desperate to be sporting that badge? It got my vote here. I’m happy that it will appear at least someplace I adore coming to for a little beauty and quiet contemplation.
Lovely, Alys.
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Thank you for voting, Shelley.
I’m glad you view this as a tiny respite to your day. I’ve just read your recent post, and my heart goes out to you. Ugh!!!
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Cannot choose..all seem applicable to me ;0) Love the collage!
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Thank you!
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Hi Alys! It seems so long since I’ve visited and I missed a lot of Blogging 101. I’m glad I came in at the end though. Too bad you won’t be in Radford longer … I’d hire you to organize a few things 🙂
Congrats on finishing the 3 week course!
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LB, so nice of you to pop in. I know you’re incredibly busy with your campaign, work and life in general. It’s nice hearing from you.
I wish I could stay longer as well. It would be fun organizing and catching up on life. Our time together is going to fly by. I plan to squeeze every minute out of it.
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I picked Organize This also! Sigh… I only wish I could get my routine down to post more regularly. I’m busy reading and commenting and not writing nearly as much as I would like to. I guess you could say the well is a bit dry. I do like all that you had to offer recently and it is inspiring! Now I just need to get cracking.
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Thanks for voting! The answers have been quite varied, which I find interesting and fun. One of the things I’m trying to do lately is answer comments on my blog first, then write, then visit other blogs. If the week is full, I’ll save the reading for the weekend. Sometimes that’s more relaxing too. I blogged every day for a year as a commitment to myself, but it was grueling at times and that is no fun at all. I’ve now carved out a Monday through Thursday blog schedule and try to keep it between 300 and 500 words, so that I don’t overwhelm my readers who so thoughtful stop by and comment (like you!). I enjoy blogging and have been invigorating by this three week course. Four days a week feels comfortable. I hope that might help you consider your own schedule. Thanks so much for your feedback.
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Thanks for the insight. I appreciate your comment and will certainly consider it a I try to find my way. I love learning from the experience of others.
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I do too! I’ve learned so much through blogging and continue to learn daily. xox
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