Alex Laybourne's Blog, page 71
October 4, 2012
The Basics of a Horror Diet: Blood, Guts, Zombies and Clowns
As a horror writer, it should be of no surprise that when I look at the stats on WordPress I will see certain horror themed search times pointing to my blog.
I have written more than enough posts with horror themes and horror themed tags to warrant this. However, the one thing I did not expect was the impact one little clown could have on my site.
Don’t get me wrong, clowns are a freaking creepy, but in this instance, I am not talking about a clown like Chuckles and Myrtle here…
but rather a clown of much more… colorful persuasion. By colorful I mean, bright colors and shapes rather than crude language and innuendo.
The clown I am talking about is the character in a popular Belgian Kids show called Bumba.
This chubby yellow fellow has been responsible for quite some traffic to my blog. I find this amusing in many ways, not just because of my more standard subject matter, but also because… well, let’s face it, the internet is a huge place, and for small Belgian clown be in such high demand just tickles me.
Yet, what astounds me more than the hits the post has got, but rather the search terms that have directed people to it. If I look back through the history of my blog, Bumba, or Bumba related search terms occupy 25% of the Top Twenty. I find it staggering. I mean, the traffic it has generated is small, most of my hits don’t come from direct search engine results, but still it makes me wonder what it is about that little clown that people cannot resist (Oddly enough that was the title of the original post about him,)
I mean when I wrote it, I was nothing more than a little bit of fun. My kids were all crazy about the show and I thought, well why not. I believe it was in the first month of having the blog that I wrote it. .
How many of you have had posts like that surprise you? I would love to hear your most surprising popular posts.
An Appeal for Generosity
This is a post I was in two minds about posting, but then I thought… well nothing ventured nothing gained. Plus it would at least count as being my post for the day.
As many of my friends and readers will know, my son Logan is three years old and has just been diagnosed as having autism. He attends a special school and is making astonishing progress.
Next week, he and his classmates are all going to undertake a sponsored walk together in order to raise money to help children in Kenya.
There is also a small competition that will see the person who receives the most sponsorship money win a prize.
Which brings me nicely to the point of the post. If anybody is interested in sponsoring Logan on this walk, I am opening my PayPal account (in the name of a.laybourne@hotmail.com) to receive donations from any kind-hearted soul who has a few pennies to share.
I hate asking people for things, I always feel as if I am being rude, or coming across in the wrong manner, so I will simply say that I will be eternally grateful to anybody who makes a donation of any size help this great cause. Donations can be accepted until Midnight Sunday 7th October 2012.
Donations can be made to an account in the name of Patty (Laybourne) Wijnands (email address: a.laybourne@hotmail.com)
Thank you.
October 3, 2012
Day 1: Psycho (1960)
Reblogged from Staring at Angels:
Day 1: Psycho (1960)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Martin Balsam, John Gavin, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, Anthony Perkins
Runtime: 109 minutes
Up until 1960, horror films had not been too diverse or subtle; and after the initial explosion in the 30s, the genre largely stagnated. In the 50s, a revival started, but it was mostly infected by science fiction elements, and one-dimensional, unsympathetic antagonists (aliens, irradiated insects, etc).
A nice little review of Psycho from a promising new blog I have found.
Wattpad – Writing Samples and Author Platforms
There are so many different social media outlets on the net nowadays, it is easy to get bogged down by them all and lose yourself in the maze of platform boosting, Klout increasing, pathways of a virtual social life.
Wattpad is one of these outlets, which… ok, it’s not really social media, but for a writer it certainly is a nice package that can help you solidify the foundations of your author platform. I have an account, and I have posted a few stories on there, to well, almost insignificant success if you see the top views tales, but still, every view is a potential fan.
However, I have always had the feeling that I am not really using the site properly, or to its true potential. I mean, I add a story, tweet it once or twice, Facebook it once or twice and that is it. For the rest I just let it sit there. There has to be something more to it than that… right?
I guess this is more of a request for advice on how to best use this resource, to maximize my potential, or is it really just as basic as it sounds. Upload… tweet… the end.
I have seen a new trend arising in the Wattpad universe, and it is this very thing that has caused me to rethink my approach and question whether there is more to be gained.
I have seen a lot of writers, hosting others work. Posting stories and excerpts for other writers. Obviously, this was all above-board, and advertised as being that person’s work, but it made me think. Is this a new option. I mean much like any social site, you build up fans and followers, so by having your story hosted by another author who writes in the genre, you are introducing yourself to a potentially new fan-base.
What do you think? Where do you stand on Wattpad and the role it could play in building an author platform. Is there something more to it than just a place to post bits of fiction you have written?
I would love to hear your views, because I will admit, this site and the potential is has, intrigue me.
October 2, 2012
Every Word Counts When You're Writing a Novel
Reblogged from Sonia G Medeiros:
Word Count Trackers for NaNoWriMo and Beyond
Writers everywhere, newbies and old hands, are staring down the barrel of NaNoWriMo. *cue tense theme music*
At the moment, I’m wading hip deep the first draft muck of my work-in-progress. I don’t know if I’ll be joining the ranks of psychotic intrepid ink-slingers in November but I am learning the value of a monthly deadline, even a self-imposed one.
October 1, 2012
Review: Zomblog
Zomblog by T.W. Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have read a fair bit of zombie fiction this year, but Zomblog is by far the best piece I have ever encountered. The writing is of such a high caliber, that you are drawn into the tale from the very first word, and come the end you are gasping and tired, just like the characters you have lived, loved and died with. Just like the ones that remain, you too are screaming for more, for you do not want this adventure to ever end.
T.W. Brown has created a rich world were the zombies have become the least of the problem.
One thing you often find in Zombie fiction is that the zombies are the bad buys, but in Zomblog we are brought to a new level of understanding when we are forced to imagine what would happen to mankind. When the rules of society are taken away, what sort of beasts will we become? One thing is for sure, the Zombies are certainly not the worst thing out there.
In addition to being a genre novel, you could easily say that Zomblog is a social commentary on the world as it currently stands. With the flaws of modern society highlighted by their removal from the lives of those that survive, and strive to succeed.
One great line said that, if the world falls apart, and we put all the pieces back together again, we have missed a golden chance to reshape the world into a better place.
I cannot wait to start reading the second installment of this series, and thoroughly recommend this book to everybody who loves a good read. Zombie fan or not, this book will hold you in its spell and leave you begging for more.
September 30, 2012
Auto Like Bots and False Traffic Reports
I a going to start this post with a link, however, I am sorely tempted to request you don’t click it. Not for any malicious reasons, but rather because it is a big fake. Anyway, here is the link.
I checked my emails a few minutes ago, and saw that I had three new post likes from a new visitor. Or rather, one I didn’t recognize has ever having liked or commented in the past. Imagine my excitement. As I often do, especially for new ‘friends’ I check out their blog in return. It is the least I could do. (Hence the link above.)
I was shocked to read that the site was a fraud. The woman was blatantly advertising the fact that we are visiting her blog in response to a Like she left on a post, and that it was all thanks to a bot that is designed to increase site traffic.
Now, I am all for increasing stats. My own are a source of constant interest and often frustration to me. Especially as I see the blogs around me growing larger and larger. However, the idea of using a bot that randomly likes posts, and according to this young lady, you can set it to like as many posts as you want, you are deceiving people, and that is just not something that I want to do. I have said it before, and I will say it again, I want people to like and (fingers crossed) talk about my blog because it is good, they like it, and look forward to the posts etc, not because of trickery.
I have never heard of this sort of bot before, and while it may just be my own naivety, I hope that is it not something that we are all going to have to come to terms with in the future. Why would people be so desperate for hits that they have to stoop so low. I mean, reading a blog post takes but a few second, if you skim it, at least you have put in some effort. I read every single post I like or comment on, and would like to think others do too.
Using tags and certain key words in your posts is one thing, and that I am fine with, as at least the people visiting your site(s) as a result will be real, but to get ahead this way… is well… cheating. Or maybe I am just old-fashioned and having moral values in this cyber age is but a weakness.
September 29, 2012
Threshold
I carried my wife over the threshold the day of our wedding… but she was heavy… and nowhere does it say I have to carry her over in one piece.
Don’t worry, I will put her together again later.
