Mmkay, as I am facing off against the tyrant of the Cretaceous Period in the Aniblog Tourney today, I know there is very little that I can do to increase my odds of winning. I mean, really, who could beat Baka-Raptor with a blog about art that doesn’t make fun of anything!? Tsk tsk.
I don’t even have any posts of substance on the front page to greet anyone with (please proceed to the other pages…!).
So instead, I’m going to do something different with this post and ask you guys for constructive (or just demeaning!) criticism on my blog. I know there is much I can do to improve, but I know that there is much else that you guys can probably find for me to improve instead.
Things like, the way I write posts, the way I use images, the way I link to them (Lately I’ve been trying to upload the image here directly…it’s just annoying), etc. I can only see my blog from the perspective of the writer, but as the readers, you all can see much more.
Also, look, art! I don’t want to cheat you guys expecting it!
62 comments
May 12, 2010 at 6:07 am
Guy
I wonder how badly I’d have been mauled if I had joined… Hmmmm.
Good luck, and yeah, Baka-Raptor is a polemic, and polemics always attract more readers. If people LOVE you, they will read you, if people HATE you they will also read you.
If they either like you a bit or dislike you a bit, you’re going to languish.
Plus, funny is good. Even if his site wants me to gauge out my eyes.
May 12, 2010 at 7:59 am
Baka-Raptor
Who ever said I attract more readers? I get 300 hits/day after 4 years of blogging. I’d be shocked if mefloraine isn’t already ahead of me.
May 12, 2010 at 8:47 am
Emperor J
300 hits/day! I’ve only broken 300 once, probably never to return, but I digress.
Since this is supposed to be about this blog here. I guess I’ve noticed that most of the posts fit into a set structure (teaser part of pixiv art, thoughts about the subject, then broader look into the art itself), which taken at an individual level work very well for people interesting in art critique and the like. I guess the main issue would be on a larger scale it would be too easy to say that most of the posts look the same and the potential audience isn’t that large. Otherwise, you do a very good job at what you are doing, and I still come back here even though I have almost no idea what to look for in art, so that should say something.
May 12, 2010 at 1:58 pm
mefloraine
Hmm, okay. I wonder what I can do to make that more interesting.
May 12, 2010 at 10:39 am
Netto
You’re kidding, 300 hits per day? Impossible!
May 12, 2010 at 11:04 am
Aorii
Try calculating that in hits/post rather than hits/day. Cause your post rate is darn low and getting that level of hits is already pretty ridiculous.
May 12, 2010 at 7:45 am
Baka-Raptor
Holy shit, I’m a vampire!
May 12, 2010 at 1:56 pm
mefloraine
Yes, now go get back to your Twilight.
(I got too lazy to sharpen the rest of your teeth.)
May 12, 2010 at 8:13 am
Aorii
Navigation on your blog drives me nuts, especially when I’m looking for something specific but can’t remember any precise search terms =P
There’s something for ya xD
I be one of the few people who hasn’t seen a purpose in reading baka-raptor’s posts, so…
Good luck to you o/
May 12, 2010 at 1:56 pm
mefloraine
Hmm, I don’t know if I can improve navigation with this theme. :<
May 12, 2010 at 8:34 am
kluxorious
Baka Raptor gets my vote. But if anything, lemme just say that your blog is just too girlish. It is not necessarily a bad thing. It just that I prefer manly posts for some reason :|
May 12, 2010 at 1:55 pm
mefloraine
Roar, I r tough man.
What even constitutes a manly post? That sounds silly to me.
May 12, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Aorii
It’s “rawr!” dear meffy.
May 12, 2010 at 2:37 pm
mefloraine
No, “roar” is manlier!
May 12, 2010 at 6:09 pm
kluxorious
Read Baka-Raptor’s posts and compared it to yours. That’s what manly is in my definition.
It might be silly but it’s my preference. But I like you nonetheless ^^
May 12, 2010 at 6:19 pm
mefloraine
Ha ha, well, alright.
May 13, 2010 at 5:56 am
Kylaran
“I like Baka-Raptor’s posts because they’re manly.”
“Manly is Baka-Raptor’s posts.”
Sounds oddly reminiscent of Euthyphro right there. Plato said some smart things.
But in all seriousness, I don’t think that’s a helpful description at all. In fact, I wouldn’t even describe Baka-Raptor’s posts as manly… I find such humor to be more weasel-like than anything, but I still laugh.
May 13, 2010 at 8:24 am
kluxorious
His post is always GAR
May 12, 2010 at 9:12 am
Ryan A
datte – cute is what we kill for
More than anything else, I enjoy when you talk about artists or pieces [or Reese's Pieces]. (coming from the guy who hasn’t read the last PD newsletter … but I’m being honest.
Maybe just get consistent in style and regularity. :)
May 12, 2010 at 1:54 pm
mefloraine
The latest PD newspaper isn’t out yet. >.> <.<;
May 16, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Ryan A
As I was saying, consistency and regularity.
May 16, 2010 at 7:38 pm
mefloraine
*cough I swear it’s not 2 weeks behind now.
May 12, 2010 at 10:19 am
Eugen R.
I don’t think anything must be improved. I voted for you.
Well, maybe we should move you to a custom WP on paper dream, idk ^^
May 12, 2010 at 1:54 pm
mefloraine
Ha ha, I probably wouldn’t use it very effectively. /o/
May 12, 2010 at 1:02 pm
ETERNAL
I like what you do here. From a reader’s perspective, I can say that I prefer your art posts over your editorials simply because there’s a lot of competition for posts on anime and almost no competition for posts on art. Of course, you also have to try different things to gain experience, but don’t forget that your main focus is what brings a lot of readers back.
May 12, 2010 at 1:51 pm
mefloraine
Yeah, but I don’t know why people read me; I don’t know if people like my art posts on a general level or not. So I try to do both, though I’ve been a bit lazy on all sides of it lately.
May 12, 2010 at 2:58 pm
omisyth
Haven’t been following any new blogs from the past year long enough for any legitimate criticism, but I do like the blog!
May 12, 2010 at 4:38 pm
mefloraine
Well, that’s good, at least. o/
May 12, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Martin
I’m not really interested in this aniblog tourney thing apart from the fact that it alerts people to blogs they hadn’t seen before. I’ve just added this one to my feedreader so in that sense at least, it works!
I find getting images to be a chore too but there’s a WP plugin called Faster Image Insert that makes it a bit easier. If you’re not using it already, it might help.
As for winning a popularity contest against Baka Raptor, I can’t think of anything to suggest. Good luck I guess, and may the best blog win!
May 12, 2010 at 4:52 pm
mefloraine
There’s no hope for winning! The 50 something votes I have gotten so far surprise me, honestly.
May 12, 2010 at 5:46 pm
fangzhao
Not trying to suck up or anything, but I think your blog is pretty much perfect. I caqn usually think up a thousand and one things to criticize aniblogs for, but Paper Flower simply… passes.
Of course, I’d love it if you could prove me wrong and make your blog better…
P.S.: Nevermind, looks like I won’t be giving out my perfect blog award just yet. I don’t have pixiv, so I don’t like how I can’t see the full versions of some pictures you post. I’m not going to get into my laziness or artist accredation, but it just bugs me.
Also, the newsletter was a major fail. I unsubscribed from it because I was just so uninterested in it (I enjoy one art post at a time, but eight compact ones in one bundle? No thank you!)
Of course, don’t take this criticism too heavily. I love your blog, and that’s not something I can say (or do say) to anybody.
P.P.S.: T’was a tough decision, but I voted for you.
May 12, 2010 at 6:03 pm
mefloraine
!? Such high praise! I wouldn’t have expected it.
I don’t even know why you like it so much–what do I do that other people don’t? Other than ramble on about art to excess. Heh heh.
I’ve started linking to the full version of the image instead of the Pixiv page for it, and I’m going to try to keep it up this time instead of sinking back into laziness. So you can get rid of that black mark?
So honored. ;D
May 12, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Thiago Pagogna
The day your blog becomes as awesome as baka-raptor’s , i think i would fall in love with you…
But one thing i didn’t understand is why his majesty is picking on you that badly ?
I mean, i’m not questioning his AUTHORITY as a fierce and loyal minion of him that i am… but… i’m just wondering…definitionally…just wondering… ‘k ?
May 12, 2010 at 8:47 pm
mefloraine
I don’t think my blog will ever be as awesome as Baka-Raptor’s.
He’s definitely not doing it because I’m against him in the Tourney. Nope, no way.
May 12, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Thiago Pagogna
Just because of that voting poll ? Sorry gramps, my vote is definitively all his already.
PS: Darn, i still can’t spell that word correctly…
May 12, 2010 at 9:01 pm
mefloraine
Yeah, just because of the vote. Heh.
May 12, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Thiago Pagogna
Well…then, i don’t think you can beat his majesty, but as long as you are up the challenge, i guess i’ll cheer for you and wish you the best of lucks and give you all the affection from the bottom of my heart …
But even with all these high vibes, i definitly will not vote for you.
PS: One day i will spell that word right ;)
May 12, 2010 at 9:20 pm
mefloraine
Good luck on the spelling. You’ll definitely get it one day!
May 12, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Thiago Pagogna
Wow, thanks fine lady. =) now that you teached me, i managed to ran across this site who definitely explained all to me: http://www.d-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y.com/
thanks again =)
May 13, 2010 at 4:05 am
Smithy
Agree with one of the above comments that navigation would be a bit easier. Though the clean and stripped down look of the blog definitely has its merits. (Often I feel even a sidebar as on mine is too cluttered, yet I understand the theme limitations you face.)
Personally I enjoy to read all the art related posts of anime based posts that actually delve into the art made about that anime. They usually showcase terrific art and have a nice ring to them.
Blogs like Baka-Raptor… well let’s just say I’m not a fan nor have any interest in such type of blogs. If I want to read something really funny, I’ll read Yotsuba& and some populist blog like that. Fail to see the appeal it has to people, though gather that’s just an age thing.
May 13, 2010 at 5:15 am
mefloraine
I don’t think it’s entirely an age thing, Smithy dear, but it is one of those things where you either love him or you hate him.
May 13, 2010 at 6:10 am
Kylaran
I enjoy your bits about art. The layout is simple, and it’s easy to read, and I like your choice of pictures to head the posts.
In my opinion, the real reason why Baka-Raptor is so popular has to do with several factors that simply don’t favor your blog. I suspect that the vast majority of the readership is male-dominated, particularly for Baka-Raptor, and thus I feel that his posts may speak out to more people. Another is simply the choice of topics; pixiv remains a Japanese website that may put off even those remotely interested in the art behind it. And, as fangzhao said, perhaps we don’t find too many people simply interested in the art theory behind the works themselves in the English blogosphere. I’m not sure about this though.
However, I do think you should hold yourself in higher esteem. For example, I really enjoyed your Faust post. I order it regularly along with other novels/manga at whatever local Japanese bookstore (Sanseidou or Kinokuniya). It was nice to see someone who has read it in the English blogosphere. You post good stuff, so I don’t think you need to worry too much.
May 13, 2010 at 3:02 pm
mefloraine
Hmm, okay. Thanks! (I didn’t think anyone had even read my Faust post since it was long and rambling, but Google search hit getter ftw?)
Baka-Raptor’s blog is also more amusing that mine…which definitely helps him. I certainly don’t feel like my blog is crap or anything, but I know better than to think that I should consider myself as some sort of awesome blogger…;;;
May 13, 2010 at 8:35 am
SPIRAL
Your blog is good, like many people said, but we need more spunk and spice to add to the posts. Creativity. You have to make it clear why people should read your posts over other anime blogs. That doesn’t go and mean you go post 1000000 posts on why Angel Beats didn’t live up to its expectations but just enjoy the little things and spend some more time adding the stuff that’s going to be fun to read.
Don’t worry, I voted for your blog – I like. XD
May 13, 2010 at 3:02 pm
mefloraine
Spunk and spice, huh? I wonder what I can do.
May 13, 2010 at 12:14 pm
2DT
Voted for you. No disrespect to Baka-Raptor, but them’s the breaks.
That’s all. Good luck!
May 13, 2010 at 3:03 pm
mefloraine
Wow, thanks!
May 14, 2010 at 8:31 am
Canne
I think it depends on preference. Your blog is good in its own girly arty way and no blog can replace yours. It’s just that people naturally choose what’s more funny first. :)
May 14, 2010 at 2:50 pm
mefloraine
Of course, of course. ;)
May 15, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Fabrice
To me its all about the post =)
so ye, anyway voted for you ^^
May 15, 2010 at 11:10 pm
mefloraine
Yay. :D
May 17, 2010 at 10:22 am
Yi
Regardless of the outcome, I think you have a lovely blog here that covers something pretty different from other aniblogs.
If I have to suggest anything, it would be to feature 5 posts on the front page. Other than that, keep writing. ^ ^
May 17, 2010 at 3:06 pm
mefloraine
Ha ha, well, that’s easy enough to do! I’ve kept it condensed because I don’t have much of a sidebar to accompany people down the page.
May 18, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Baka-Raptor
Now that my victory is secure, I’ll leave you a serious comment.
As you may have heard, the Anime Blog Awards took place about two years ago. I’d had my site for a little over two years at that point, but I’d only been interacting with the anime blogosophere for about a month. Here are the results of the nominations: I got four votes for best comedy blog. Four measly votes. The moral of the story is that quality doesn’t determine votes; reputation does, and reputation lags behind quality. You’ve been blogging for 9 months. I’ve been blogging for 51 months. You weren’t going to beat me, and there’s certainly no shame in losing to someone who’s put more than 5x as much time and effort into his site.
You have a very good blog. It’s unique because there aren’t many art blogs in the anime blogosphere, but because of that it’s up to you to figure out how to make your art posts as fun and interesting as possible, since you don’t really have anyone’s lead to follow. Your editorials are middle-of-the-line in my opinion. That’s definitely not a bad place to be, especially since your editorials seem designed to have more of a blog feel than an essay feel. Honestly, the only way to level up is through experience. And mountain training.
May 18, 2010 at 3:31 pm
mefloraine
If I had expected to beat you, I would have been foolish. Be it for purposes of time spent alive or content. And I probably would have felt like there was something wrong if I had.
Mountain training! But there are no mountains here! Or even hills, really.
My issue is that I don’t know if people find my posts fun and interesting. Am I a person who is worth reading? What can I do to make myself better? I can’t say for myself because I just write freely and don’t worry much about it until after I’ve posted and start thinking about reactions. I hope I’m worth reading, but I have no idea. It seems to me like the people who like this blog are semi-insane or like me more as a person than as a blogger.
I don’t intend to write editorials that read like a five-star essay. Perhaps I should; perhaps I should just keep doing what I’m doing. I certainly don’t wish to stop writing editorials–even I need a break from art sometimes.
May 19, 2010 at 5:40 am
Guy
Act with self-assuredness, that helps.
May 19, 2010 at 5:39 am
Guy
You know, writing this makes me happy.
I know writing over-the-top and overblown might seem easy and mindless, but to do it time after time when you have not undergone lobotomy is quite hard.
I have to take your blog in small measures, because while amusing, the machismo does get tiring after a small dosage to light me up every so often.
Dunno, I guess I’d appreciate a “normal voice” post now and then, with a punch line at the end like here ;)
Also, while reputation lags behind quality, sometimes you can get reputation without quality.
And congrats on winning :)
May 19, 2010 at 1:55 pm
mefloraine
I didn’t win this round. ^^;;
Hmm, I don’t quite understand your comment.
May 19, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Guy
That was a reply to Baka-Raptor ;)
May 19, 2010 at 4:00 pm
mefloraine
Ah, then that makes more sense. You did not use the reply button, so I was confused!
May 20, 2010 at 12:41 am
Guy
O.o
Your blog has no quote button, which is surely what you meant, because like your reply to the raptor, my comment is on the same indentation, for it is a reply ;)
May 20, 2010 at 5:24 am
mefloraine
Oh, no, I guess I just looked at it wrong. Oops~!