The Wondrous Wolrd of WordPress

https://wordpress.com/

How many blogs do you read? Do you know where they come from? Who the is the site behind it?

I bet you didn't know that WordPress is in the URL. I bet you also didn't know that there are over 74 million websites that come from WordPress.

Let that sink in... 74 million. That's more than the population in California and Texas combined.

According to Manage WP, WordPress has become so popular that:

• WordPress keywords hit 37 million searches on Google and other search engines.
• About 50% of the blogs are from the free WordPress.
• There are over 40 translations to WordPress (Holy Mackerel)
• About 6 posts are posted every second

Although there are websites created through WordPress, the majority are just blogs, written by people who have thoughts, ideas, businesses, etc.

In essence? They're amateur writers.

Why is WordPress so popular among amateur writers? For one, it's an open source company, which means that it's created by a community, and not a group of business moguls. Secondly, it's easily accessible for all--from the regular Joe schmo down the street to the fortune 500 company located downtown--and doesn't require a license fee to have one.

The site is easy to use also, which is great for those that don't know how to design websites. When you first sign on, a picture pops up of different boxes: Blog, Website, portfolio, or online store. After choosing one, it opens to a layout design to get started with. After you click that one, you get to create a website name. Then it's choosing which premium you'd like (there is a free option so don't panic), and then enter in your username and password and you are ready to start!

As far as demographics go, blog users are typically from 23 to 35- years-old. So if you're target audience is young adult, I'd suggest Wattpad, or, as I'll be getting into next, Tumblr.

Also, don't be intimidated by the number of blogs through WordPress. When the company started it only had a handful of users, but now it's one of the largest online sites used in the world.

Another site gaining popularity like wildfire? Tumblr (but we'll get into that in my next post).

Until then...

Keep Writing!

The Wondrous World of Tumblr

Tumblr is probably one of the most confusing websites I've ever visited. I know that you can add users and then see their content, but I have no idea what to do after that.

Well! Today is the day that we both learn how to use it!

First, a little background information on the creation of Tumblr. The creator is David Karp, and he created it in 2007 when he was 21-years-old. He decided to move to Japan to build on his computer skills when he was only 17-years-old, a decision that made his dream of building robots turn into building websites. He was ambitious, and because of it, he is now the proud owner of a popular and very successful company.

So for those of you who are wondering how to make it big, maybe Japan should be a place to go first.

And who wouldn't want to come up with such a cool blogging site? It's probably one of the most used sites to re-blog, which then turns into the most hilarious memes found on Facebook.

Example:

Tumblr at it's Finest

So this is basically what Tumblr is about. Either you write original posts or you re-blog other posts. There is a tab on the right hand where users can follow other blogs or explore "all of Tumblr." You can search for buzz words, shows, books, movies, etc. There's something for everyone and once you start scrolling, you'll never stop.

The average age range is between 18 to 29-years-old. The majority of users are female, but there is plenty for males to do on Tumblr as well.

If you are thinking of starting a blog on Tumblr, just know that there are estimated to be 550 million views each month and over 280 million blogs.

Whoa... that's a lot of re-blogging to do.

If this number seems daunting to the amateur writer, fear not! We still have the Writer Cafe and Amazon to explore.

Until then...

Keep writing!

The Wondrous World of Writer Cafe

Personally I have never heard of Writers Cafe.org. After submitting to a ton o' websites that are for amateur writing, I'm surprised this one slipped by me.

I guess you could say I need to fix this...write.

Yeah, not my best pun. But that's okay. Writer Cafe's users can offer me support, suggestions, and/or comments on how to work on that.

The website is a simple design. After signing on, there is a vertical menu where you can click a tab that will open up a new window.

For writing, they have a drop down menu that asks what type of writing will be displayed from story to stage play. Most of the options open up text boxes for title, description, and the place where to write your piece. The only one that requires something first is a chapter, which requires a book to be posted first.

This site is different from the other sites we've already gone over. This is the first one that boasts screenplays and stage plays. Most reviews of the site mention that it is predominantly poetry, which can then be critiqued by other users. The site also offers tabs in the header that offer groups, contests, courses, and publishing. Each tab has a drop down of about six choices, which bring you to a new window.

As far as the site goes, it's very organized. Compared to Tumblr and Wattpad, this one is easily maneuvered and is simple to use. I think the best feature is that it has tabs linked to literary agents, publishing, self-publishing, and literary magazines. That's as close as it gets to amateur writing sites.

There is a more professional aura that comes from users and it's easy to tell that these amateur writers mean business. Their end goal is to make it to the published spectrum, no matter how long it takes. The site is free to join and doesn't seem to have any premiums that must be paid in order to access all areas of the site.

As far as demographic information goes, I haven't found any information regarding age or gender. However, one can assume by general comments of the site that many are between their twenties and thirties while a slew of angsty teenager poetry has driven the older generations to insanity.

So it's anyone's game, I guess. There is also an option on story audience with either general, teen, or mature; a helpful additive to directing content to the right audience.

Since WritersCafe.org offers a doorway to publishing options, I think it's a good segway into how Amazon has become a popular means for amateur writers to become published and known.

Until next time...

Keep writing!

The Wondrous World of Amazon

Amazon is made for Amateur writers.

Not only is it one of the top sites for consumerism in the world, it is also one of the most accessible sites, boasting over 1.2 billion dollars in sales every year.

Along with this are the sales of their books--printed, electronic, and now audio-- Amazon is known as the largest bookstore in the world.

The creation of the kindle, their electronic reader device, opened up the doors for authors to transfer their manuscripts into a mobi format, which is both accessible to Mac and PC users.

Amazon didn't stop there. They also created a way for anyone and everyone to publish a book for the kindle.

This new technology not only will publish a book into a kindle format, but authors don't have to pay a fee to do it and they are entitled to royalties, which range from 35% to 75%, depending on basic or select.  Amazon has given amateur writers the door that they needed-leaving it wide open.

However, there are also some key points to remember for those that plan to go the self-publishing route.

• Publishing on Amazon does not publish to shelves
• The way that e-books become popular is through comments, lending, and purchases.
• Amazon is the largest bookstore in the world
• There are options to publish your book in paper format (for a price)
• There is not a length to your book remaining on its list

Self-publishing, aside from mentioned above, is also based solely on the author's effort to publicize, advertise, and to keep providing more books. If an amateur writer has a book series, this would be the place to think about publishing. More series sell on Amazon Kindle than do single novels, due to the increased popularity.

Despite the flaws of self-publishing, Amazon has become the vigilante against the traditional publishing methods, giving all a means to an end. They also don't keep writers from sending their e-book to other distributors, such as Barnes and Noble, Walmart, and I tunes.

So fear not those that write amateurishly! If you build up a following, a community, or just somehow manage to get liked a lot through kindle, you might graduate from amateur writer to professional writer in no time.

So on that note, I think we've covered a good basis to get one situated in the writing community, how to use various amateur writing sites, and how to get involved in the self-publishing aspect if that's the route one wants to take.

I've discovered a lot myself! I've learned how websites like Reddit and Tumblr break down, and the importance facts to remember when deciding which site to use to reach a demographic audience.

I hope that this information will be helpful to you also, and that no matter what, no matte the struggle, the lack of viewership, the frustration- you will keep writing.

That is the most important component of all. I look forward to meeting you all in the writing sphere, in one place or another.