some thoughts in exile

Posted on By Wil

I love the impermanence of WWdN: In Exile. It’s given me a lot of freedom to experiment with designs, content, and the Typepad experience.

So far, I really like all of it, and I’m even considering sticking with Typepad once I get WWdN up and running again. The WYSISYG editor is outstanding, and the most important factor for me in deciding what blogging tools to use is: how easy is it for me to get my ideas out of my head and onto the screen? I’ve noticed that since I moved to Exile, I’ve actually been able to blog a whole lot more than the last few weeks at WWdN: BE, just because it is so easy to use.

I also get to try things out here to see if I’m comfortable with them or not, before I integrate them into WWdN:2.0. That’s why there is that Google AdSense thing over on the right side of the screen. For a long time, I’ve resisted putting ads on WWdN, and I even scaled back, then ultimately took a hiatus from BlogAds (which are great, by the way. It wasn’t them, it was me. We’re still friends.)

But  the fact is, I love to write. I love to write for CardSquad, I love to write for The Onion, I love to write for Suicide Girls, and I love to write for WWdN:IE (yuck! IE! Gross! Maybe I should call it WWdN:ix) I would like to earn my primary living as a writer, and if AdSense means my blog helps pay some bills, I can put more time into writing good content, and publishing books. (This is especially important since O’Reilly sent me my "royalty" statement for the last quarter, which was all negative numbers. Thanks for all that great promotion and support, guys!)

I don’t know if I’m going to keep the AdSense around or not. I understand that Google is hardcore about the way bloggers talk about the ads, so all I will say is that if they don’t earn me a certain amount of revenue each month, I’ll get rid of them. Oh, and Mesothel — Ha. Just kidding.

I’m interested in knowing what you other bloggers think, especially bloggers who use AdSense, TextAds, BlogAds, IndieClicks, etc. Is it worth it? Do you have any trouble with content, sponsors, or readers?

haloscan fix it guide

Posted on By Wil

A lot of the blogs I read use Haloscan for their comments. Many of them are reporting problems with Haloscan in the last 24 hours or so.

Via Crooks & Liars, I stumbled upon a solution which I reprint here as a public service announcement:

Haloscan Fix it guide

Bloggers, go into Beta features in Haloscan and in
the middle of the column it says Spam filters. Just say "no" and your
comments will come back up. Hat tip Jane for the info. 

I’m not a Haloscan user, so this doesn’t affect me at all, but I know a lot of bloggers are, so I hope this workaround helps you out.

dust off that accordion

Posted on By Wil

I discovered Jonathan Coulton when he was memed around last week with his brilliant folksy cover of Baby Got Back.

I listened to some of his other music, and liked enough of it to add him to bloglines. Each week, he releases a new song to The Internets, and this week, he gives us a terriffic little ditty called Someone Is Crazy.

This one comes from a verse that’s been floating around in my head
for about 10 years. I think that originally it came from an argument
with some girl about something, but I can’t remember anymore. I can
still find the disdain in my heart though, that hasn’t left me. The
amazing Cynthia Hopkins
stuff on Wednesday night inspired me to dust off the old accordion and
give it a whirl. Man that thing is hard to play. But that’s what Thing
a Week is about. Dusting off old accordions. Hard to play. Rough weeks.

Here is the song: link

If you share my musical tastes, or just want to spend a moment with something new, check it out.

what you live by

Posted on By Wil

WWdN reader beccaelizabeth e-mailed me this morning:

Recently, at the Galactica One convention, Sam Witwer, who plays Crashdown on Battlestar Galactica, said he got into acting because of meeting you when he was 11 or 12 and a Next Gen fan.  He was getting a tour and the guy said something like ‘Next Gen is filming over there. We can’t go there.’  But then you were in your trailer and you talked to him.  He was really enthusiastic, saying how at the time of course Wesley was his favourite character, and he got to meet you and youtalked and were nice to him.

Someone else in the audience mentioned your website and your books and told him (and the other 100+ people in the hall) how good your books were, and that no he didn’t work for you in any capacity.

Your fans get everywhere.  Including good TV shows.

She has a full report on the con in her livejournal (which, she disclaims, is not her best writing. Seems fine to me, but what do I know?)

I love it that lots of people got to hear about my books and website (*wave* to any of you who are dropping by for the first time) and I love it that Sam not only remembers this interaction with me, but still tells the story! It’s a wonderful example of why it’s imporant to treat people the way you want to be treated. It’s also an example, when compared to my experience with WFS, of how lasting an effect these encounters have on people.

In other words, use whatever you have for good. That’s your lesson of the day.