I’ve decided to try a little experiment. I’m going to mirror my poetry posts from my Blogger blog here.
There’s really only one reason for this. I want to reach a wider audience. And I want to make it easier for people to find and comment on my poems.
What got me thinking about this was a comment from Mike Patrick, who blogs here at The Poet’s Quill. He mentioned that he found it difficult to comment on my Blogger blog with his WordPress information. He was kind enough to leave me a comment anyway, but it was connected to his Blogger account, which he uses for different purposes than the poetry we’re both writing this month for National Poetry Month.
Many people have more than one blog, as I’m sure you know. You might be one of those people. I’ve maintained multiple blogs myself in the past, but now I mainly want to post my poems. And others also mirror their blogs. So, I’ve decided to have my blog at two sites.
This might be an experiment that fails. But I won’t know until I try.
And just so you don’t think I’m arrogant… I’m not doing this because I think my poetry is that good.
I discovered the Poem-a-Day Challenge last year, in 2010, at Poetic Asides. I had a blast writing a poem a day for thirty days. Around the middle of the month, I discovered Read Write Poem. For a few weeks after April was over, I continued to write poems and post them, often using prompts from Read Write Poem that I discovered a too late. Sadly, that website is no longer active, though there is still much there to see.
I got a little distracted over the summer as I worked on revising the novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo and as school started up again in August. And then there was writing a new novel in November for NaNoWriMo again. But now it’s April and I’m again writing a poem a day, which some people refer to as NaPoWriMo.
And I’ve joined a community of fine people who share poems on their blogs. So far, I’ve been inspired by prompts at Poetic Asides, Big Tent Poetry, We Write Poems, Writer’s Island, and Three Word Wednesday. Through those sites, I’ve read some amazing poetry and met some incredible, creative people online.
I enjoy writing poetry. And reading other people’s poems. Currently, I have no interest in trying to get my poems published. Maybe at some point in the future, that will change. But right now my life is pretty full, being a public school teacher, husband, and father of two. So, this is just my way of trying to get the poems I write out to the largest audience possible without a great deal of work on my part, i.e. traditional publication. And I appreciate it when others read my poems and leave me comments. I hope this additional blog will facilitate all that.
Sadly Waiting for Recess 
Mr. Walker, I have four blogs, two for prose, two for poetry. I like the ability that supplies and the number of choices arrayed through them. But, I most like the immediacy of writing poetry and having it read and commented on almost immediately. I have published in the past, and after a hiatus of some length, have begun to do that again. However, I prefer the blogging.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth, thank you. I appreciate your comments. I, too, enjoy the immediacy of writing poetry and having it read by others so promptly. That instant gratification is quite pleasant. And it’s nice to know that the people who are reading my poems are doing the same, reading and writing poems.
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I agree with Mike. The Blogger interface is extremely user un-friendly. Good luck with this one.
I’ve only been blogging for 3 months but I find it hard to imagine running more than one blog. Although I have to admit that the writing I am doing now varies so much that visitors perhaps don’t know what they’re coming for – except to read the inimitable me! 🙂 – and maybe I should think about splitting it all up.
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earlybird, thanks for stopping by. I’m already meeting new people, so I think my little experiment in mirroring my blog here is being successful.
And just yesterday, I read a comment left at Writer’s Island by someone who blogs here at WordPress who was having difficulty leaving a comment on a Blogger blog.
Yes, I’ve given up trying to manage more than one blog at a time. I haven’t been posting that often on my blog, but I think I’m pretty much going to turn it into a poetry blog. And I want to commit to regular poetry writing and posting after National Poetry Month is over.
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Thank you, Mr. Walker. I’m an everyday follower, and it has been frustrating not being able to give you the benefit of my great wisdom–yeah, right.
I really do believe that you are one of the rarer (P)oets rating the capital ‘P’. While not a traditional letter-grade, it places you in a very advanced class, the classroom where I go to learn.
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Mike, thanks so much. I’m glad you left me that comment. I wouldn’t be doing this blog if you hadn’t – and this is working out well so far. I’ll take wisdom if you have it to offer, but I’m more than happy with the occasional compliment.
Speaking of which… Thank you; that’s very kind of you. I will do my utmost to be worthy of the advanced class.
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I think it;s a good idea; Blogger is difficult to comment on for us at WP.
I’m glad you’re going to be more accessible: I enjoy your poetry.
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Tilly, thanks. So far everyone has been so receptive to the idea. I’m enjoying the greater access. And thanks for the compliment on my poems. I enjoy reading yours too; I have you on my blogroll.
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I’m glad you’re using wordpress Mr Walker. It’s a bit troublesome commenting on blogger.
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Irene, thank you . Everyone has made me feel very welcome here. There’s such a great community of people writing and sharing poems here at WordPress. It’s been worth it to mirror my original site.
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