Blogging In 2021

~ beetleypete

Judging by the immediate new crop of new bloggers, some of whom are following my blog now, I suspect that 2021 is going to see the explosion in blogging continue, at least for now. It will be interesting to see if they carry on blogging past any return to something like ‘normal’.

If something like normal ever happens again of course.

As for me, I survived not using the Block Editor in 2020, and will continue to not use it in 2021 for as long as I am able.

At the start of last year, I was going to take a lot more photos to put on the blog. That never happened, as the stresses of the year sucked out all my enthusiasm for photography. I didn’t even bother to set up the new full-frame camera I got, and that was in mid-September. It is still sitting patiently on a shelf behind me, no doubt in need of another full charge for its battery.

I bought a combined handle and holder for my mobile phone, intending to carry it on my walks to capture more videos of Ollie.
That didn’t happen either, it’s still in a drawer.

Note to self. Don’t buy any more ‘stuff’ in 2021.

What I did do was to post a great deal on my blog. Seemingly unable to read, concentrate on films, or bother with my cameras, writing took over. That was my safe place during 2020. Sitting quietly in the office, typing away, and not thinking that much about whether that sniffle or cough was the start of impending doom.

Blogging kept me going, and it seemed to work for this blog too. Many more followers, the most views ever in one day, and welcome comments and contact from my blogging friends. That made each of us feel that we were not alone with our problems, worries, fears, or even bereavements.

I am not making any predictions for my own blogging in 2021, and definitely no resolutions. I almost gave up this blog for various reasons last year, so who knows if that might happen yet? Working hard on fiction serials that had a much reduced engagement with readers also made me think twice about continuing with fiction. My most popular posts last year were an Alphabet of things I like, followed by an Alphabet of things I don’t like. That sort of posting seems to appeal to a very wide audience, as I discvovered.

It would be nice to think I might post a lot less rants about followers who don’t follow, and comments that are links or sales pitches. I would like to think that, but I am afraid I cannot promise not to do that if the mood takes me.

And guest posts may cease to feature, as the take up for my last offer was zero.

However, if you are a part of this community, have a book to promote, or just want me to feature you as a Guest, then the offer is still open. In case you have forgotten the email address, here it is. petejohnson50@yahoo.com Write to me there, and I will reply telling you what to do.

For the time being, you can expect more of the same. Ollie and Beetley, the closing episodes of my fiction serial followed by the whole thing in one post, and random thoughts that usually occur to me on Sundays. If I watch a film I will probably review it, and if I ever finish a book again, I will make sure to review that too.

See you soon.

70 thoughts on “Blogging In 2021”

  1. “… followers who don’t follow…”. That’s a good way of putting it! I’ve been on WordPress for a few years and recently started a new more varied blog. My followers do seem to be a bit more genuine, less spam but yes, some of those sales pitches that you mention.

    Oh and as for the block editor! If you want to make changes and do some copy and pasting it’s a nightmare.

    Happy blogging in 2021!

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    1. Thanks for your thoughts, and for leaving a comment. I still don’t use the Block Editor, and I am undecided about whether ot not to stop blogging when I have no other option but to try to learn it.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  5. I hope that the Block Editor won’t annoy you any further and that you will keep this blog for a long time.

    All the best for the new year, especially health, Irene

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  6. I love the serials and hope you never quit them(except for that really gruesome one–you know what I mean.) I suppose a lot of people have very short attention spans at the moment and don’t want to stick with a long story, hence the readership for the A to Z posts. I actually thought of a post for your Christmas offer but got distracted by medical issues. Here’s to a productive year in blogging.

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  7. Happy you plan to stick around Pete and that the format will remain much the same, as you know I’m happy to read anything you put down on screen. Some may say I’m easily pleased, however I take the view that I have good taste 🙂 Happy blogging 🙂

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  8. I have dabbled with the new editor and don’t like it…WP has also dabbled with images on the classic which I don’t like however I have worked around that…Will I continue when the classic editor is no more time will tell…I love your series and will always read if you continue with them(I ) hope you do…Happy New Year, Pete x

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    1. Thanks, Carol. I will almost certainly continue with my serials, as I like to have the discipline of them in my life. I will eventually have to use the Block Editor, I know. But I will wait until I have no other choice but to do so. When that happens, there may be less images and photos until I work out a much simpler way of adding them.
      I have used it on my other blog. But that is all text, so I just use one ‘Classic Block’.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. Good to hear, Pete…can’t wait to see where your thoughts take you next…as for the block editor I have done likewise not sure how I would fare doing any more than that we shall see when it comes to it maybe they will extend it we should petition them x

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  9. It’s almost the end of the day were I am, we started the new year off with a long, exhausting hike, I’m finally home and spending a few minutes reading and commenting. I love your blog Pete, you definitely helped many of us through a difficult year, in that we could follow your rants, stories, and beloved adventures of Ollie! Keep them coming! I’ll send you a note about guest posting maybe a popular post from last year, I’ll let you decide. Warmly, C

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  10. I have managed to avoid the block editor and the editor prior to that one. Rather, I compose my posts in OpenOfficeWriter, copy them to the email where an app checks for grammar and spelling (God knows, I never learned to spell properly nor get all the commas and other punctuation anywhere near to form. I suspect that was due to teachers who never beat me into learning that stuff–err, English). I then copy and paste into the block editor in one go. Except for the title, which I handle separately. I am going to work on faith that I can continue to post that way even if WP comes up with another editor. I don’t know if this is all an urge to rebel or just the fact I am stubborn and not easily trained.
    Blogging, by your words, kept you going. Your blogging also gave a number of us a place to find contact with a sane and real-world rather than the one so many others seem hell-bent on imposing on us (here they are called Trump’s Base) Thank you for that.
    Now, Happy New Year and warmest regards, Theo

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    1. Taking photos of Ollie is like trying to capture a ghost, Mary. As soon as a camera goes to my face, he gets agitated, and refueses to comply. I will try again in the summer.
      The serials will continue, I’m sure. Even if everyone except you stops reading them. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. I know I’m not the only one reading them 🙂 I guess different readers want different kinds of serials – some like family sagas, other like the more bloodthirsty serial killer type. Speaking of which, are you going to watch The Serpent, new drama on BBC starting tonight. Based on the true (but I think embellished for TV) story of Charles Sobhraj, a serial killer and conman who murdered and robbed at least 12 Western tourists along the so-called ‘hippie trail’ in the 1970s.

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        1. I have set that on ‘Series record’ on my PVR, Mary. I hope it lives up to the hype.
          I know you are not the only one reading my serials. But it you were, I would write them just for you. 🙂
          (And for me)
          Best wishes, Pete. x

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  12. Happy New Year Pete. Yes, I think blogging is making a renaissance as I’ve been getting many new followers, but most of them seem to have something to sell. Like you I hate Block Editor, but I’ve found one worthwhile addition, it’s a quiz block that I’ve started using. Oh! Yes. Why do you now need to sign in every time the WordPress app updates?

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    1. I don’t have to sign in, as I never officially ‘accepted’ the Block Editor.
      Happy New year to you, David. And never forget. “Double fares”!
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  13. It’s interesting that you have (at least temporarily) lost the desire to read books. Likewise, I haven’t read any books for a couple of years now. I wonder if this has to do with writing? You’re busy writing serials, and I’m busy writing a novel. These endeavors require a lot of our time, both in terms of conception/plotting and ultimately in expressing story ideas with the written word. Writing also satisfies the part of our mind that yearns to create imagery, so we don’t feel the need to let an author stimulate our imagination instead.

    I enjoy watching films, and usually consider them to be a reward for having accomplished something during the day. But when I watch a film to cap off a day marked by laziness, I always feel a bit guilty for indulging myself.

    With respect to your serials, maybe some of your followers have begun to experience “serial fatigue” due to your tendency to follow one serial immediately with another. As we get older, our time on this planet grows shorter, so I think our awareness of this fact tends to push us to speed up our production of something more substantial—like serials or novels—and to downplay more quick and dirty forms of writing. But, of course, we have to keep people interested in what we write. Some folks just prefer to read something short and simple because that requires less time commitment. So it’s good that you keep them involved with your blog by interspersing other posts (Ollie, the weather, film/music reviews, etc.) with your serial installments.

    Anyway, I’m looking forward to whatever beetleypete has in store for us in 2021. Keep on truckin’, Pete!

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    1. Thanks, David. I was still reading a fair bit in 2019, (20+books) even though I was writing almost as much. As for the serials, I think I will write them for myself, and for the increasingly small number of followers who read them regularly. I like the discipline of ‘having to write’.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  14. While I agree with you on the Block BS, I don’t on your serial writing. I, for one, enjoy it, (except when you get into the serial killers)
    Anyway, think it over when you and Ollie are taking your strolls. Happy New Year.

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  16. Pingback: Which creative path to take in 2021? – Richard Lakin's Blog

  19. “Let our New Year’s resolution be this: We will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.” – Göran Persson

    On this New Year, I wish that you have a superb January, a dazzling February, a Peaceful March, an anxiety-free April, a sensational May, and joy that keeps going from June to November, and then round off with an upbeat December.

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    1. Thanks for those very kind words, Kally. I really appreciate that you have always been around my blog, as well as popping up on so many of the others that I follow.
      Have a wonderful year, whatever you decide to do.
      Best wishes as always, Pete. x

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  20. People appear to have been adjusting to the changing circumstances over the last year in a variety of different ways, Pete, but I think it’s important not to worry that what you might be doing at any given time is less valid than what other people might be doing [or what you should be doing!]. I know the concept of ‘me time’ can seem rather self-indulgent, but I also believe that this is because we have been educated to think that we should continually [if not continuously!] be productive, and that just taking time to relax, unwind, and do things we enjoy doing, rather than things which advance our positions materially, are somehow shameful, so if nothing else, I think our recent shared experience and the increased openness about the importance of being aware of our mental health are very positive. So, the synopsis of that is: try not to worry about what you are currently doing, or why, but enjoy them if you can; you might feel like doing other stuff soon, but if not, no problem! I’ve probably read more last year than ever before, because I haven’t been able to find enough enthusiasm for coding, one of the things I enjoy, but I know this will change, especially when the weather improves and the days are longer. I hope this helps! Cheers, Jon.

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  22. I always look forward to your posts, Pete. I never make resolutions or even try to imagine what might transpire in the year ahead. I went back and read old New Years Day posts from my blog. They were less than remarkable. All I know is I will continue to blog, writing about whatever inspires me a the moment. I look forward to sharing this space with you in 2021.

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  26. Glad you’ve kept writing Pete. And interesting we’ve both struggled a bit with reading. My output is all over the place…..which I’m writing about later. I guess the best thing is to just go with it…..trust your instincts and what gives you pleasure 👍

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  27. I’ve been getting on okay with the block editor. I also found that posting any fiction did not gain many readers, probably because people haven’t got the time to read it. I tend to keep my posts short now!

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    1. Thanks, Stevie. I have regular readers for any fiction I post, and I get a lot of satisfaction from writing it. So it will probably continue for now. I will only use the Block Editor when I have run out of all other options. I’m stubborn like that. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  28. Looking forward to posts this year, and please don’t give up, blogging Pete! And if Margaret and I, who swore we wouldn’t use th block editor, actually use it, I’m sure you can

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