Ok, I'll be second then...

I am a newbie at this... Never published anything on the internet (myself). That was until 3-4 weeks ago, when I started two blogs..

The first:
Am on sabbatical for a year, from my job as an aid worker, which took me to rather remote areas and sucked me into interesting situations (to say the least). I started collecting the stories I wrote in the past, about travel, life as an aid worker, expeditions, and wrote some new stuff, publishing them in blog-form on this blogsite . The site is an interactive and dynamic eBook, with the short stories, interlaced with typical shorter blog-ramblings. While in 3 weeks or so, this site had 4,000 visits, the feedback has been few and in between, and rather general. Looking for more detailed feedback from 'the specialists':
The Road to the Horizon

The second:
15 years ago, i wrote a book about three expeditions to the Pacific and the Antarctic. Never got around to publish them, until I discovered the blog tools. So 2-3 weeks ago, I published this book, in eBook format. This one is not a typical blog, I only used the blog-format to ease the publishing.
It is in Dutch, but has hundreds of pictures, which I guess makes it appealing to browse through even if one is not part of the few people on this planet who speak Dutch .
Verslaafd aan de horizon

Would appreciate feedback about format (and contents for the first one!!), approach etc...

Thanks!

Peter

Your content seems good but I'd suggest you move away from Blogspot hosting

Why? What's wrong with blogspot???

Thanks for your reaction, guys... I spent a lot of time tweaking the blogs...

Because people kept on talking about using Wordpress, I checked it out as an alternative to Blogger. Played around with it for quite a while (imported my two Blogger blogs, and experimented)..

Wordpress is much more user friendly, easier to use. Nicer templates, and faster response to calls for support. Wordpress also seems much more stable (blogger has quite a bit of unusual 'features')

One thing I liked with Blogger, and miss with Wordpress, is that about everything on your template and in your widgets on the sidebars, is open for you to do whatever you want (including crewing it up completely, which is the danger of course). Wordpress is much more closed off. No scripts, css manipulation, no HTML fiddling around....

As I don't want to pay for a blogging tool, I did not find another free blogging software what I would count as a major contender (unless if someone else can point me to one which i would be happy to experiment with).

So, no, I don't find blogger that bad, honestly, but would love to hear other opinions!

Peter
The Road to the Horizon

A great blog, peterc. The only thing that bugs me is all the text in your sidebar, it just makes it feel a bit cluttered thats all. Clutter equals bad karma to me . I also use blogspot and have found it one of the best blog tool providers because I'm a tech wiz that likes to customize everything. Keep up the good work!

The Road to the Horizon - Fascinating blog -I will be returning.

Comments:

You have a lot of valuable content to show. This does tend to make the blog look crowded. I would not suggest you leave anything out although some minor changes could be made - eg the language translator - consider a smaller widget.

What I would suggest is that you either widen your left column - it can be widened and still fit an 800x600 resolution - or preferably add a 3rd column. The latter solution will mean the sidebars will not extend as far below your posts, making it more likely that their content will be read. One of the sidebars could be used for your blog specific items (archives, labels etc) and the other for your additional content (feeds, advertising links etc). There are some good flexible main column templates around - your post area can expand in width according to the screen size and resolution of the viewer. It is something I have been meaning to do to with own blogs!

I would like to see the text larger. I know people have the option of increasing text size via their browser but many do not know this or will not linger long enough to realise how good the content is. There is some inconsistency in the font size and style too.

I agree that Blogger will be better than Wordpress for you as you obviously have the knowledge to add content that you can't in Wordpress.

Have you considered joining a social networking site such as MyBlogLog - an excellent way to get readers to your site.

Verslaafd aan de horizon

Probably just as interesting but I cannot understand it! Same applies to this really. 3 column template and larger text.

This site shows how to convert your template to 3 columns http://tips-for-new-bloggers.blogspot.com/...r-template.html or there are an increasing number of ready made templates for the new Blogger. Eg look under the resources section of http://www.blogcrowds.com

I've used both. Wordpress is way more powerful and customizable than blogger, but blogger is easier to use and setup.

WP, can be downloaded and setup on a web server of your choice giving you a professional, powerful blogging platform which you actually own - unlike blogger.

Thanks for the all the constructive comments, guys !

Peter

there is also www.wordpress.com as opposed to .org

the .com is a hosted solution much like blogger, only better.

The problem with blogger is that it's crawling with spambots

nice blogs dudes, you are awesome.