What's New on 1976write?

Hello writers!

I'm going to give you a quick rundown on the new things I've been creating.

What You Need to Know About Podcasting on Substack

(Blog post updated 27th April, 2025)

Things have changed quite a bit since I last published this particular blog post.

I'm going to tell you more about my progress and where I am today with my podcast.

Starting a Podcast

I started a podcast recently on Substack, and it has been a whole new learning experience, one of which I'd like to share.

I like to keep things simple so I did my research on suitable microphones for beginners and came across the Fifine USB Microphone, which is easy to set up quickly.  I also downloaded some software for recording and editing my voice, called Audacity.  Which I'm still learning about.

What You Need to Know About Long Form and Short Form Content

In today's world people are seeking information all of the time, and websites are looking for long-term engagement.  

An Introduction to 1976write On-Topic on Substack

When you choose a niche for writing sometimes it can be a bit limiting.  Which is why I decided to start writing on a separate platform

My platform of choice was Substack, because of past experience, it also offers some useful features for creativity.

Why There's No "One Size Fits All" to Blogging Success

 

 

As the title suggests there is no no "one size fits all" when it comes to building a successful blog.  There are numerous factors that include time, energy, effort put in along with the amount of dedication required to create a blog that's going to make enough money to be classed as an income.

When you start looking at the really successful blogs out there you quickly realise that most of these successful bloggers have been doing it for a long long time.  Overnight success, if it's even possible, is rare if it's even real at all.  The internet is full of blogs that have been going for a decade or more ago.  The real truth is that many bloggers start a blog, and give up after a year or so because they don't understand how long it really takes for a blog to mature and build an audience.

There are no real guarantees when it comes to blogging, and that means the amount of effort, the kind of writing you do, are not a real indicator as to how your blog is really going to fair online.  

I started this blog back in 2015, and I've gone through so many changes with the way it looks, the pages included and the content I've created.  It's still a work in progress.  

But nothing is impossible, if you have the passion, there are always things you can make your blog successful.

5 Blogs Every Writer Should Be Reading

 

Writing is a learning process, and certainly can't be learnt overnight, it takes time, and research, over a lifetime.  Which means you never stop learning.

The internet is the biggest resource today, for anything and everything, it would take you a more than lifetime to sift through every single writing related blog and resource.

I've made things simple for you, and brought together some of my favourite writing blogs:

Everything They Don't Tell You About Blog Migration, and Is It Really Worth it?

Disclaimer: This blog post is my own personal experience, which means that what you're about to read is personal to me, and may not necessarily happen to you.

I haven't really written much about my own personal experiences online, but I figured that not everyone has a happy experience migrating their blog.

Blog Comments, Should You Deactivate Them?

 

 

You know how it feels to receive comments, and the connection you feel you've made with your reader. If only all comments were like that. Unfortunately their are a lot of people who like to leave as many spam comments as possible.

So is it worthwhile having that little box at the end of each blog post? There are many popular bloggers and online marketers who have turned off their comments completely because of the high numbers of spammy and low-quality comments they receive.

The Great Comments Debate

When you start looking into this particular subject you realise that it's not just a one-sided debate. Online marketers such as Pat Flynn and Everett Bogue examine the issue quite deeply in this article by Fizzle.

Pat Flynn contends that you should keep your blog comments turned on, where as Everett Bogue says that you should really consider turning them off.

Here's a rundown of both sides of the argument:

Reasons for Blog Comments

Pat's argument is:

 

A successful blog does not come without its readers, so I feel that the least we can do for them as bloggers is to allow them to have their voice be heard if they choose to speak. In a way, I find it self-righteous and smug to simply post content and disable the ability for people to voice their own opinion, as if to say "my content is good enough as it is and your opinion doesn't matter.

Why Simplicity is the Key to a Successful Blog

 

The digital age has given life to so many voices via social media, and is expressed in as little as 280 characters. When you put blogging into perspective it all boils down to being able to grab the attention of your audience.

Blogging is a hard nut to crack when you see how so many people have reached mammoth audiences with social media campaigns, and got thousands of visitors to boot. But don't be discouraged, all is not lost. With time and thought you can turn your blog readership with next to no viewers into a thriving influential force to be reckoned with.

Why Less is More When It Comes to Blog Images

A blog or website is boring and plain without images. Even scholarly websites include some kind of imagery. As reported by Business2Community, websites with images pull-in 94% more page impressions than that of their text-only counterparts. To make your blog standout and improve your SEO you need to make your website more visibly enticing, and this is what you need to know.

10 Things Readers Really Don't Like About Your Blog

Is Your Blog Haemorrhaging Readers?

For many people the list below is obvious, but for those that really don't know, it's good to be reminded about what the public hates about blogs and websites.

Sorry if this is a little too close to home, it's nothing personal, and you're not the only one guilty of these things.

So let's get started.

Here are 10 things that readers really don't like about your blog:

1. Pop Ups

Not surprising that this one is at the top of the list, loved by many bloggers for bringing in subs, but hated by millions of readers everywhere.  Just make sure you keep these under control, or at a minimum on your blog.

How to Keep Your Blog Fresh, and Handle Old Content

 

Blog post updated 19/08/2019.

Managing your blog is a job in its self, its like cleaning out your closets.  It's always there for you to do, but something else always pops up that requires more attention.  Often leaving you with dry stagnant blog posts, and very little traffic.  

Here are 5 reasons why you should keep your blog fresh by revitalizing old content:

Old Blog Content Should Be Managed Regularly

A poorly managed blog might end up costing you a lot more than you think, especially with outdated information.

How to Generate Blog Post Ideas

 

How Long Does It Take to Form a Blog Post Idea?

Often ideas can just pop into your head and you don't get the chance to write your thoughts down properly.

Follow these 8 simple points to generate blog post ideas:

1. Make Notes

Have a notebook and pen close by, especially when you're out and about.  I've mentioned this is in a couple of other blog posts.  Scribble down ideas that pop into your head. 

Why You Should Use Blogger as Your Writing Platform

 

 

What You Need to Know About Using a Free Blogging Platform

Do Free Blogging Platforms Work as a Promotional Tool?

Simple answer is yes of course they do.

Free blogging sites will work in all situtation's.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of using a free blogging platform.

Advantages

• Free blogging sites are created for those with less technical ability.
• You can easily set up a new blog, and customise it to make it more appealing. There are plenty of bloggers out there, (myself included) who have done this with no problem.
• If you don't have the money to start a self-hosted blog, it's a good way to get on the ladder of blogging.
• Once your site is set up you can start adding stand alone pages, then start writing blog content to share on social media. You can set up a Google Analytics account, and put your blog site map on Google search console so that it starts getting indexed.
• Site security and software updates are all managed by your free platform service.

Disadvantages

The downsides of owning a free site are:

• You can't set up an online store, forum.
• You can't add premium plugins for extra functionality.
• You don't have a domain name for your blog, on platforms such as Blogger your URL will look something like this Karenauthor.blogspot.com.
• Your Google ranking may be lower than those websites with a domain name.

8 Best Writing Blogs for Newbie Writers

 

Want to stay up-to-date with the latest developments, as well as learn new insights about writing?

There are plenty of writing blogs that offer all of these.

But which ones are the best? 

I've pulled together 8 of the best and most valuable bloggers online today, as well as some of my personal favourites.

1.  Make a Living Writing

Carol Tice an award winning freelance writer, who runs a blog with practical help for hungry writers. With a mission to help freelance writers make more money, find better paying markets, and become a high earner as a writer.

Read: 5 Top Tips to Turn a Blog into a Six-Figure Business

6 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Give Up on Your Blog

 

Blogging The Dream

Thousands of people chase the dream of starting a blog in pursuit of something they're passionate about. Sadly most of them will give up within the first year.

The question is, is there ever a good time to give up on blogging, drop everything and run for the hills?

Unfortunately not everyone has the time to spend blogging, and thinking up ideas, or is able to promote their blog they should to get the readership needed.

But fear not blogging friends, here .. are reasons why people give up on their blog: 

Your Passion for Blogging Disappears

You start blogging because you have something to say about your favourite pastime, or you may have a business idea you want to try out.

You hear so many success stories and can't understand why your blog hasn't taken off yet.  I've been there, and understand how crushing it is, to be pouring your heart into something on a regular basis, and not have any good results.

10 Ways Your Blog is Alienating Your Readers

 

 

Your blog is the main platform you use to write about what you love, and without it you'd be sunk.

Creating a blog is the easy part, gaining and maintaining followers is another.

Here are 10 ways your blog is alienating your readers:

1. Posting Sporadically

Discovering your blogging frequency is part and parcel of the blogging process. Once you find it you stick to it and post consistently. People like routine, if you start straying from that you'll soon notice your numbers dropping.

2. Posting Too Often

Having a posting schedule that demands a high level of quality demands time. Similar to the point mentioned above, publishing more than one blog post a week can have its downsides. Choose a frequency that suits you and the quality you want to aim for on your blog.

How to Write Uniquely Crafted Blog Posts

 

 

You're fingers are burning from writing a blog post your readers will love.  You check it over, feeling really pleased with yourself, then hit the publish button!

After a few days you envision thousands of visitors clicking on your new blog post, and your traffic going sky high.
 

Then you check over your blog analytics, and it hits you like a ton of bricks, your blog post isn't being read by nearly as many people as you hoped.

Crafting Unique Blog Posts

Don't rush writing your blog post, check out these 10 points to writing a uniquely crafted blog post before you hit the publish button:

1. Pick a Topic

Define your topic, you'll find your blog post will flow freely when you know what you're talking about. 

How to Sell Digital Products on Your Blog

 

Creating digital products is a simple way to earn money from your blog, especially if you're feeling jaded at the prospect of 9 to 5 for the rest of your working life.

Why You Should Sell Your Own Digital Products Online

By creating your and selling your own digital products there's no need for overheads, shipping, warehousing, and very little management required. The world's your oyster, people will be interested in whatever you have to offer.

With just one well thought out product you can create a business in your chosen niche, and quickly start expanding your product range, as your product becomes more popular.

Why You Shouldn't Get Discouraged as a Blogger

 

 Blog post updated 16/08/2019.

Thinking of new ideas and keeping to a blogging schedule can be really hard, especially when you have other writing commitments you need to get done.  If you're a freelance writer, or have a manuscript you're working on for a book.

Things can very quickly start to get out of control, don't get me wrong I love writing, but sometimes writer's block creeps up when you least expect it, and when it does all your ideas, and thoughts for that days work just seem to disappear, and that can be really frustrating.

How to Curate Content on Your Blog

 

Curating content from other websites, is a simple trick used by many bloggers as well as online publishers. This is done by adding a personal commentary to current topics, and news being talked about on thevnet.

You can do this by picking out content you think your audience will get the most value from, and then add your own thoughts, then publish it on your blog.

Note: Remember to stay within the rules of blogging by not plagiarising others, and always mention the source quoted, with a link to the content originally published.

This is both a compelling, and feasible way of bringing interesting content to your readers.