The Blogathon is Finished: Now What?

I could say something philosophical, like we made it to the peak, but then what? I had to look back at my June 1st blog post to review what I set out to accomplish. The main thing was of course to be disciplined enough to post once a day. Although one or two were posted close too or after 10:00 PM, it happened.

From the view of this peak, I can see there is another peak in the distance. The journey will continue. I mentioned yesterday, that my accomplishment will be rewarded with another or continued post on July 1st. Probably more about Cape May.

I think it’s also time to take a hard look at the issues I mentioned in my first FLX/Wordcount blog post. Namely occupancy tax charged our visitors and  housing conditions for our J-1 Student workers. I’ve been sitting on pictures from a recent visit from our Governor, where we discussed the tax issue getting on his agenda, but there’s been no accountability thus far on that discussion.

I’ve read as many of the blogs posted to the Facebook page as humanly possible. There has been some great advice. Keeping up with the reading has proved beneficial. To echo the advice from Jen Miller, who pointed me in the direction of the Blogathon, the way I’ll become a better writer is to read more than I write. Time constraints make it easy to be a one way communicator; that is, to keep writing and not take time to see what others are saying.

A few positive outcomes have come out of the additional blogging this month. I’ve had the opportunity to write for the local paper on a freelance basis. One article about D-day actually made it to the front page of the Star and Wave. A few days ago, a blog post about our local seafood festival appears to have gone viral and landed me, for a short while, on WordPress’ top 100 growing blogs.

Finally, I’m keeping a promise to myself. I was about to open a Blue Host account, when I looked at my list of URL’s that I own, I noticed Fat Cow provides WordPress hosting too. So sometime in the very near future, Cookecapemay.com will become a self hosted blog. Given some of the local feedback and guests arriving and telling me they’ve been reading my blog, I humbly suspect I will wish I had done this a lot sooner.

Wordle: CapeMay

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6 Comments

  1. June 30, 2014 / 9:20 pm

    I wish you lots of luck with the blog once you go with your own domain and I will remain a faithful reader, my friend!

    • July 1, 2014 / 6:48 am

      Thanks Ben, with you as a history consultant it will be fun. Hope you’re getting along okay.

  2. Aunt Joan
    June 30, 2014 / 9:27 pm

    Glad the journey will continue

  3. June 30, 2014 / 11:13 pm

    Keep it rolling, my fellow Blogathoner! It has been a pleasure reading you this month.

    • July 1, 2014 / 6:47 am

      Thank you Holly, likewise. It’s been a fun ride.

  4. booksyalove
    July 1, 2014 / 1:05 pm

    Glad you made it through Blogathon2014 & got rolling on freelancing, too.

    As you move to self-hosting (sooner is so much better than later – trust me!), consider 1&1.com for hosting – I’m very pleased & they support WordPress very well.

    Looking forward to hearing/seeing more about your lovely corner of the world in the future. **Katy