I've lost my voice. Seriously. I've had a sinus infection and bronchitis and am now voiceless. Being without a voice should have little impact on a blog post, but somehow it makes me just want to sit comatose in front of Facebook. I'm going to jump right into this critique so I can do just that. We're checking out No Water River then discussing below.
Um, brilliant.
That is all.
No, I'm kidding, but not really. Because this is a very nice blog. Right away we get the feel that this is a picture book writer. Don't you? It's clean, easy to read. I love the Picture Book Library and Poetry Video Library. I adore the style of the little "Follow" icons. I'm not concerned that Renee's name is not in the title because the name of the site and everything related to the site is No Water River.
I guess if I'm going to get picky, I'm going to have to pick on the "About" page. I want the info about No Water River to come ahead of Renee's info. It could even be too separate pages on the navigation: "About NWR" and "About Renee". That is one question I had right away when I visited. I wanted to know exactly what No Water River was and I had to look for it. The good thing was that I could really tell even without the explanation, but it is buried.
Another nitpicky thing: The About page says that One-word Wednesday is coming on January 11th. Well, that day's past. So that should be updated.
The "category" tool is so nifty to find the things that might interest visitors. I would move that higher. Maybe just above the email subscribe. For a resource site such as this people need to be able to find the resources right away.
Okay, one more thing on that last note. Perhaps the tag of "the picture book and poetry place" should say "the picture book and poetry resource place". Or something like that. It took me awhile to even realize some of the things that were available and it would have been cool to know right away.
All right, I'm truly done. Great website! Any other thoughts for Renee from you awesome critiquers out there?
17 comments:
YES! Two About pages! This has been bugging me, too, because the blog is a mishmash of me and NWR and what's that all about? In fact, just this morning I came across my initial notes/purpose for the blog and I had a bunch of stuff about "what is NWR" that somehow never made it to the site. This will be fixed.
And I agree with all your other suggestions, too. I think once I clarify the purpose as a resource site, I'll be able to arrange the bits and pieces (like the categories) to support the purpose, which isn't happening right now.
THEN the matter becomes, as you wrote in a recent post, how to get parents and kids to come in addition to the fellow writers who make up my entire audience at the moment. I've only been up a month or so, so all in good time, I suppose!
Thank you SO much for your critique and very useful suggestions. You're providing a really terrific service here. Off to Tweet you!
Wow, beautiful. Love the header, color, and organization.
I have been a fan of Renee's blog since it started. No Water River is brilliant. I love the poetry videos and the banner at the top is so beautiful and inviting it just makes you want to come in and stay awhile.
Hope you feel better soon, Laura!!!
Hi Laura, I wrote a REALLY long comment this morning, but it's not here! Do you think it went to spam? If not, I'll try to remember what I said and write it again! :)
Thank you so much, Susanna! Yours is the same...kinda like going over to your house and hanging out in bunny slippers! :)
I'd like her name more prominent so I know who the blog is about.
I'm having trouble with comments guys! Sorry if you tried to leave one and had a problem :(
Thanks, Susanna! Yours is the same -- like going over to your house and hanging out in bunny slippers. :)
Yeah, I've been uncomfortable with this, too. Perhaps I could add "by Renee LaTulippe" to the banner or something. Thanks for the feedback!
Aw, you are so nice! :)
YES! Two About pages! That's been bugging me, too, since the blog is a mishmash of NWR and me and what's that all about? In fact, this morning I came across my initial notes regarding what NWR actually means and its purpose, none of which made it onto the blog. I will change this ASAP.
Once I solidify the purpose, I'll move all those other pieces (like categories) around so they all support it.
Thank you so much, Laura! This was really helpful. What a terrific service you provide! I tweeted earlier today, and now I'll go share on FB. :)
YES! Two About pages! That's been bugging me, too, since the blog is a mishmash of NWR and me and what's that all about? In fact, this morning I came across my initial notes regarding what NWR actually means and its purpose, none of which made it onto the blog. I will change this ASAP.
Once I solidify the purpose, I'll move all those other pieces (like categories) around so they all support it.
Thank you so much, Laura! This was really helpful. What a terrific service you provide! I tweeted earlier today, and now I'll go share on FB. :)
Yeah, I've been uncomfortable with this, too. Perhaps I could add "by Renee LaTulippe" to the banner or something. Thanks for the feedback!
Very nice! Good stuff, Renee, that's a fine site you've got :) I love how colourful your header graphic is.
Thanks so much, Mithril! My brother designed the header - he knows me so well!
I love Renee's blog, it looks great for a pb writer
Great critique of a great blog! Love the idea for two "About" pages.
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