I can’t believe I’ve been this wordy in the space of nine months. 🙂
So to celebrate my 200th blog post, I’m going to do a few random things.
First, a pretty picture. I took this about five years ago, in Gatineau, Quebec:
Second, I’m going to ask anyone who is participating in Nanowrimo this year to join me as my writing buddy. I’ve never had one in the ten years I’ve been doing Nano and I already have three this year. It seems a good idea to have as many as I can – I’ll need all the encouragement I can get with all I have going on. If you’d like to join me, look me up. My user name at Nano is “schvell”.
Third, I need some advice. I’m thinking about changing my theme, but I was wondering – does it throw you off when someone’s site looks drastically different all of a sudden? Will you still visit if you don’t recognize the decor?
That’s all I can think of at the moment. So, dear friends, and readers I haven’t met yet, enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and thanks for visiting!
lindaghill.com 
November 15, 2013 at 3:47 am
Love the picture! Gorgeous! Thank you for being my buddy. I hope I can get back to work and make some wordage. As for changing… May I make a request? Please keep a color in the background, similar to this. White backgrounds kill my eyes! Small font makes it worse. Otherwise, have fun! I look forward to the new look! 🙂
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November 15, 2013 at 1:58 pm
I will keep that in mind when I change my theme, thanks for the input. I probably won’t get around to it now until NaNo is finished though. Busy busy!
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November 15, 2013 at 3:18 pm
Keep up the good work! 🙂
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November 15, 2013 at 4:51 pm
Thanks! Your encouragement is inspiring 🙂
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October 28, 2013 at 9:17 am
I’m not good with the NaNo site, so if you could add me instead, I’d be pleased. (joeyclicketyclack)
I am sometimes turned off by new designs and graphics, particularly flashing bits, extremely bright colors, and tiny fonts — but I’m thinkin you wouldn’t…
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October 28, 2013 at 9:20 am
Nope, I’m more the subdued type. And often, when I come across a site with lots of flashy bits, if it takes any more than twenty seconds to load the page or scroll down, I’m out. Thanks for your input. 🙂
I’ll add you to Nano now – you’ll just have to add me back. 🙂
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October 28, 2013 at 1:47 am
Congrats! And good luck with NaNo.
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October 28, 2013 at 6:44 am
Thank you, thank you, Aussa! 🙂
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October 28, 2013 at 1:07 am
Congratulation for your 200 post!!!! I always love to read your posts so even if you change your theme you will still see me reading your beatiful blog.
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October 28, 2013 at 6:43 am
Aww, thanks so much, Adrian! 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 10:04 pm
Congrats on the milestone. A change might throw some people off, but you’ll keep the people who stay for the quality of your posts. You can always take opinions on the new theme and adjust if necessary.
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October 27, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Thank you, Charles. 🙂 I may just put up a post to ask what people think, that’s sounding like a good idea.
I think the mannequin with the Santa hat picture will be recognizable as well, even if the blog isn’t at first.
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October 27, 2013 at 10:13 pm
Think of it like a store getting a new look. People still go to the store and enjoy the fresh environment.
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October 27, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Right. All I’m doing is painting over the pink. It’s so late ’80s. haha
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October 27, 2013 at 9:24 pm
We do come for the words. The package is part of your branding. (I learned that from Chris). But the words are what keeps us coming back. We would still recognize a friend.
Probably only because I did drugs in my teen years, but when I first go to a site that has changed its image I go, “Where the heck am I?” But it only lasts about three seconds and then I am good. I actually like to see the changes, and picked my own theme because I could change the header with a photograph easily.
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October 27, 2013 at 9:45 pm
That’s what I was wondering – about the brand and how much people recognize my blog by the theme. I’ve thought about changing my gravatar pic too, but I won’t do it all at once.
I’d really like to be able to put my own photographs at the top of my blog as well, but mainly I want something that’s easy to navigate.
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October 27, 2013 at 9:59 pm
From a reader point of view, easy to navigate would be a plus over being able to change the header. I thought I wanted to change up my header frequently because I get bored with it. I wasn’t thinking about branding. My header is a night scene and sometimes that seems to dark for me. Yet others have said the picture shows nightlife in the city and they like it. My daughter hated the Florida scene I put up once. The GA red clay road didn’t do much for me. So many have a beach or a sunset, and I wanted something different (even though I am an hour from the beach). I don’t think I have it figured out yet…this branding thing. I think your brand will evolve as you do. 🙂 Happy 200th! Looking forward to the next 200 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 10:05 pm
All things to take into consideration. 🙂
Thank you so much! That’s very kind of you to say 😀
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October 27, 2013 at 8:56 pm
I’ve been interested in Nano but am still learning what it’s all about. Honestly I don’t think I have enough time though. I’ve also been considering changing my blogs look as well and had the same concerns. I just found out I’ve been blogging for exactly a year so maybe it’s too soon. Still, I agree with the other posters. Be as creative as you feel you would like. No one is going anywhere. 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 9:35 pm
If you really don’t think you’ll have time to do Nano, all you’ll end up is frustrated. I know, I’ve been there. 1,667 words a day is a lot to keep up with.
Thanks very much for your encouragement on my theme. I haven’t been here for a year yet, but I’m just getting tired of pink. And I’d like to be able to put my own header up as well. We’ll see I guess. 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 7:11 pm
Congrats on 200 posts, Linda – and I just found you on NaNo! I think you can change your look as often as you want – have fun!
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October 27, 2013 at 8:25 pm
Thanks very much, Katie, my new Nano buddy! 😀
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October 27, 2013 at 6:02 pm
I also come for the words , I don’t worry about decor in fact I quite enjoy a shock!!
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October 27, 2013 at 6:49 pm
Oooh, well in that case maybe I’ll have to find a shocking banner to put up. 😀
Thanks very much, Willow. 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 5:49 pm
hey nano writing buddy… I come for the words not the décor…
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October 27, 2013 at 6:49 pm
😀 Thanks, Tim. Are you itching for November 1st to arrive yet?
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October 27, 2013 at 9:12 pm
from excitement to apprehension but still intent on forging forward with it…still shaping the story in my head…the sooner I can start writing the better…no cheating for me…
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October 27, 2013 at 9:38 pm
I think that’s why I don’t plot an outline, or even plan anything ahead of time, because I know I’ll be itching to get writing, and worrying that when November starts I’ll have forgotten all my ideas. I’m the sort of person who, if I don’t write it when the idea comes into my head, it’s totally lost.
So when I sit down on November 1st I’ll decide what I’m going to write. That’s half the excitement for me though. Half the fun!
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October 27, 2013 at 5:18 pm
We all like seeing new themes, you could try a couple of different ones and we could all vote, but in the end it is your special place so what ever you like will surely work. Unless you write using tiny writing I cannot read, I will be happy with your choice.
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October 27, 2013 at 6:47 pm
I hate those tiny font ones too, which is unfortunate because some of them are nice otherwise.
Thanks for the suggestion. I may just ask for some feedback once I switch over. 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 5:05 pm
200′ congrats to you, Linda!! I love when people have new things, it’s like changing around the furniture!!
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October 27, 2013 at 6:46 pm
That’s a good way to think about it! I’m due for a change in my living room too. 😛
Thanks very much 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 4:29 pm
Congrats on 200 Posts! And in so little time!!!
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October 27, 2013 at 6:42 pm
Thanks, Dean! I know, right? 😛
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October 27, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Congrats! 200 postings! Amazing for one SOOOOO young! 😛
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October 27, 2013 at 6:42 pm
Ha ha! There’s that charm again. 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Adding you! Kess82…. As soon as I figure out how.
I’ve only seen one person’s blog that it feels weird when they went away from their theme. And that’s Len. It just fits what he’s doing so perfectly and it’s an immensely rare theme. However, best way to know is to try it on. When picking mine I went through a dozen or so. And basically picked it because of a video game I love. So go through a few and see if they stick.
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October 27, 2013 at 6:39 pm
I’ll do that. I have a private blog that I can mess around with, so mine won’t be unreachable for any length of time. 🙂 Thanks for your input.
I’ll add at Nano you if you don’t get to me first.
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October 27, 2013 at 3:36 pm
Of course, you can change the theme. You have other bloggers’ following you because they would want to read what you write. The themes, backgrounds, images are just a nice touch for a site. 🙂
This is your blogging space… treat it as your study table and go for the changes you want to make. 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 4:06 pm
I agree. We follow you because of what you write rather than the way that your blog looks. Good luck with the writing 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 6:41 pm
Thank you, Suz, for your kind words 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 5:43 pm
True, I suppose people aren’t reading my blog for the theme. I just wondered if, after looking at the same one for so long, anyone might be taken aback by something new. Silly when you really think about it I guess. 😛
Thanks for your advice. 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 3:32 pm
just keep writing. we’ll follow you.
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October 27, 2013 at 5:39 pm
Aww, that’s lovely, thank you 😀
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October 27, 2013 at 3:31 pm
I’m toying with the idea of NaNoWriMo but I’ve never done it before. I have to check it out first. You must be expert after ten years.
New styles don’t put me off. The only thing that does is if it’s difficult to navigate or the buttons are hidden or if it’s too busy looking. That’s more than one isn’t it? ;)x
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October 27, 2013 at 5:39 pm
Out of the ten years I’ve only finished Nano in time twice. I’m still editing my 2011 project… 😛
Excellent things to take into consideration when choosing a theme. 🙂 Thanks for your input!
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October 27, 2013 at 6:25 pm
At least you took part and stayed the course. I didn’t even know it existed until relatively recently. 😉
I mention those things because I have been put off a couple of times going into sites and having to search for like buttons and comments boxes. Sometimes I give in. Also, if it’s a very busy page I can’t find my way around it. But that might just be me!x
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October 27, 2013 at 6:54 pm
Nah, I’ve escaped from a few sites myself because I haven’t been able to figure them out. I just want something simple, but at the same time something I can personalize a bit more than this one.
Nano is lots of fun! You should give it a try 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Have fun trying them out. I’d be scared I deleted everything. 😉
i think I’m going to have a bash at Nano and hope I stay the course. :)x
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October 27, 2013 at 6:57 pm
If you need a writing buddy, you know where to find me 🙂
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October 27, 2013 at 6:57 pm
I’ll keep that in mind. :)x
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