Review: 31 Days to Find Your Blogging Mojo

Bryan Allain is, according to his own estimation, a 'Humor Writer, Blogging Coach, [and] Mammal'. I asked very sweetly if I could review his new book, 31 Days to Find Your Blogging Mojo, which, wins plus points for using the word 'mojo' in the title, and almost loses them again by being quite long-winded to say.

The basic essence of the book is that Bryan reckons 31 days of consistent effort on a blog - thinking creatively, editing, changing, and focussing your writing, will 'create lasting change'. The book is split into 31 chapters of a couple of pages each, every chapter taking a subject and expounding upon its importance to your blog. Not only that, Bryan then suggests an action (Today's Mojo Action) which helps focus the subject into practical suggestions to help you find your 'Blogging Mojo.'

There are pros and cons to the book. The most obvious thing to say is a positive: it's really very helpful. Having read the book quite quickly over two days, there's a lot that I'm sure I'll go back and read, digesting and responding to the action points. One could argue that what he has said is nothing new - you could pick up his suggestions from elsewhere, by being astute and reading blogs - but the crucial things here are the facts that a) it all comes together in one book, and b) the presentation. Bryan writes in a very colloquial style: easy to read and understand. I don't particularly find his brand of humour hilarious - part of me wonders if the humour in the book doesn't translate particularly well to the British psyche - but that doesn't stop how he writes being enjoyable to read, and simple to comprehend. Unfortunately, between chapters/days, Bryan inserts some of his humour material from his blog; unrelated and often odd. This jars a bit, and feels a little like filler. However, that aside, the actual material for the book sits well together, and genuinely feels like you're making a progression.

I guess the crucial question is this: would I change my blog after reading this book? Yes, I would. And I would recommend that you read it, and change your blog too. Or start a blog. This book is ideal for all levels of bloggers, beginners or old hands.

If you really want to blog to the best of your ability, but aren't quite sure how, this book is a great buy.

Find it at 31daystomojo.com, or as an e-book for Kindle from Amazon.

The end of War...

and Peace.

That's right, I finally laid to rest the book I've been reading for the last, ahem, 2 and a half years. In my defence, it IS long. Not so in my defence, I keep on getting distracted by other, more fleeting books, written by Hauerwas and Lewis.

And so my next challenge is Anna Karenina. I thought I would let myself into the story gently, reading some of the preface, and introduction. I slowly and carefully started the preface by the esteemed John Bayley, thinking that this would help give some grounding for a book I've not read, nor heard much about.

I think it's safe to say that the preface did. In fact, it almost did away the need for reading the story, by detailing what happens to the main character. I know, generally, plebs like me don't read literary work by Tolstoy, but what kind of preface to a book is that?! Imagine a preface to a film that gave away the twist at the end. There's no point.

"Here's that DVD you wanted. It's really cleverly done. Oh, and at the end of the film, you find out Bruce Willis is ghost. ENJOY!"

Douchebag of a preface.

Theology

Sent to me by wonderful friend Ruth.