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Site Change: More Readable?
Ok, on the advice of one of our commentators and yet another editor, I have tinked with the "extended" template (what you see if you click MORE on an essay), and the category archives. Please examine and comment as to whether you like it, don't like it, or "would like it better if you..."
One of the things we're good at is taking constructive criticism. Our fans are the whole point. If you let us know about it, we aim to please!
P.S. Neenah et. al. -- you don't have to read the whole thing all at once. If it's interesting but just too tiring, please feel free to come back later. And yes, we'll try to be a) funnier and b) shorter in the future.
Oh no, don't be shorter. I like your longer essays.
Doesn't it totally suck the way everyone wants something different? :-)
Posted by: Lynn on August 23, 2002 08:55 PMThat's what I was thinking, but it's not me you need to please, I was happy before.
Funny is always good, but you should try to be concise, rather than short - the whole point of an essay is to go beyond the sound-bite or pull-quote and draw a bigger picture. You need to look at the points you make and think 'does this need to be there?', but if the answer is 'yes', don't drop it just to be short.
Also, remember that your essays are on the web, rather than in print - you could structure your essays over several pages, putting the core theme on the main page and link out to the background details.
Posted by: Robert UK on August 23, 2002 09:26 PMThat's what I was thinking, but it's not me you need to please, I was happy before.
Funny is always good, but you should try to be concise, rather than short - the whole point of an essay is to go beyond the sound-bite or pull-quote and draw a bigger picture. You need to look at the points you make and think 'does this need to be there?', but if the answer is 'yes', don't drop it just to be short.
Also, remember that your essays are on the web, rather than in print - you could structure your essays over several pages, putting the core theme on the main page and link out to the background details.
Posted by: Robert UK on August 23, 2002 09:26 PMTo be honest, I rarely read past the first page on any blog, if it's linked to a "more" type thingie... SOMETIMES yours is the exception, but not too often (no slight on your stuff, it's cool and all, but I have some connection issues, and some serious time constraints... two kids, a wife, and I am also trying to buy a house)
keep doing what you're doing if it makes you happy. If it doesn't, change it. Blogging should be a hobby for YOURSELF.
Posted by: Jim S on August 23, 2002 11:28 PMHeh... now yer startin' to sound like my mom Robert! Ellen says something of the same thing... I tend to "birdwalk" a bit and try to make six points when I should only make one. "Wire" was a tough one, probably came out a little less focussed than I'd like.
That's OK Jim, I tend to skim a bit on the ol' album lists on your site :)
Thanks again for all the good feedback!
Posted by: scott on August 24, 2002 07:24 AMScott,
This is sort of a continuation of something I started under another post but had to cut short when a thunderstorm suddenly rolled in. (ah...such nice weather we have here in the heartland)
First of all, it's your blog. Write the way you want. As I said I LIKE your long serious essays. I also think your blog is very well balanced. It's not ALL long essays. There are a lot of shorter posts and funny posts also. Anyone who doesn't like the longer essays can just choose to skip over them. On the other hand, if you stop posting long essays I WON'T be able choose to read them.
Posted by: Lynn on August 24, 2002 08:54 AMHeh... ok, no problem! I write them as long as they take, sometimes they're long, sometimes they're shorter. Neenah's a spoiled-brat teenager anyway. My half-sister-in-law. ;)
Posted by: scott on August 24, 2002 03:39 PM