I'm pleased to welcome our first man to the K&K Friday Featured Bloggers "club"! It's Tim, of Fort Thompson, a blog that I've recently gotten to know in the past week or so. Tim is one of the nicest, most positive bloggers you'll ever meet, and his posts on family, faith, and fatherhood are inspiring. I was particularly moved by his recent post on his near death experience which was difficult for him to write. He's a man of kindness and deep faith, and his blog shows it. On his left sidebar, he keeps a vigil of sorts for the many sick babies and children and their families by posting "pray for..." buttons there. Head on over to Fort Thompson and leave Tim a comment, I know he'll appreciate it.
What is your blog about?
Our blog is a journal that is meant to record the daily occurrences of our lives as we seek out God's will for our family. We are Fort Thompson, a fort of soldiers in Christ's Army.
Where does your blog title come from? The name actually came about a few years ago when we purchased a Rainbow Play System for our kids. If you don't know of them, it is a pretty good sized playground that has a clubhouse, swings, ladders, slide, rock climbing wall, buoy ball, disc swing, toddler swing, tire swing, etc. We decided to purchase many of the extras, and a name plate was one of them. The only thing I could think of at the time was Fort Thompson. It was named this because it was a play fort, and put in our backyard for the Thompson children.
Once I decided to start the blog I entered so many things and all the names were taken. I then looked out the window to check on the kids in the backyard. I saw the sign at the top of the playground and tried it. That was it as no one else had it. This is where the title came from. I don't think my readers even knew that. I also wanted something that had a camp or fort feel to go with the soldiers in Christ's Army motif.
When and why did you start your blog?
I started the blog in January of 2008 but didn't get serious about it until about a month and a half ago when I had 3 followers.
I started it to create an avenue for our family (who all live out of town) to watch our children grow. In the last few months it has become a place where friendships are started, laughter is extensive, prayers are made often, and sometimes tears are shed. However good times are always to be had by all.
What would you like to add to your blog in the next year?
My photography website's link. I decided to get back into photography. I have a Bachelor's Degree in it, but haven't worked in the industry since 1997. I am getting back into it now, however this time I will work for myself. The photography website will be a place where clients can go to view their proofs among other things.
What are some of your favorite blogs?
I love to read blogs that have a great sense of humor. I can also go for a blog that has an author who is good with a camera. I love to study the composition of photographs and how others use light.
What is one of your pet peeves about blogs or bloggers?
I really don't care for it when text gets lost in a background. I need to be able to read your blog if you want me to come back. So make sure there is some contrast between your background and your text. I also don't care too much for blogs that are too busy. Sometimes less is better people.
What advice would you have for any new bloggers?
Regardless of what people tell you, posting everyday will not bring you more traffic. The only thing that it will do is keep your readers from seeing your content. Most people are only going to read your top post. So focus on quality, not on quantity. I know this sounds cliche, however if you post less, then more people will see each post you write. You will also get more comments per post.
If you post quality, then you will leave your readers with things to remember that will leave impressions. These are the things that will have them coming back.
Last, but certainly not least, don't be a lurker. If you go to others' blogs and you like them, leave a nice comment. We all need to be encouraged.
What is something that people might not know about you?
I have a loaded answer for this one that many will find hard to believe. It will be posted on my blog by the time you read this. Check it out at Fort Thompson! It is a story that I have never shared before with anyone besides family. It is a moment in time that truly happened and was beyond a shadow of a doubt an act of God. If you are a person of faith, of if you have none, it is NOT to be missed.
Thanks Tim and Fort Thompson! Now go on and give Tim some comment love, good readers.
Our blog is a journal that is meant to record the daily occurrences of our lives as we seek out God's will for our family. We are Fort Thompson, a fort of soldiers in Christ's Army.
Where does your blog title come from? The name actually came about a few years ago when we purchased a Rainbow Play System for our kids. If you don't know of them, it is a pretty good sized playground that has a clubhouse, swings, ladders, slide, rock climbing wall, buoy ball, disc swing, toddler swing, tire swing, etc. We decided to purchase many of the extras, and a name plate was one of them. The only thing I could think of at the time was Fort Thompson. It was named this because it was a play fort, and put in our backyard for the Thompson children.
Once I decided to start the blog I entered so many things and all the names were taken. I then looked out the window to check on the kids in the backyard. I saw the sign at the top of the playground and tried it. That was it as no one else had it. This is where the title came from. I don't think my readers even knew that. I also wanted something that had a camp or fort feel to go with the soldiers in Christ's Army motif.
When and why did you start your blog?
I started the blog in January of 2008 but didn't get serious about it until about a month and a half ago when I had 3 followers.
I started it to create an avenue for our family (who all live out of town) to watch our children grow. In the last few months it has become a place where friendships are started, laughter is extensive, prayers are made often, and sometimes tears are shed. However good times are always to be had by all.
What would you like to add to your blog in the next year?
My photography website's link. I decided to get back into photography. I have a Bachelor's Degree in it, but haven't worked in the industry since 1997. I am getting back into it now, however this time I will work for myself. The photography website will be a place where clients can go to view their proofs among other things.
What are some of your favorite blogs?
I love to read blogs that have a great sense of humor. I can also go for a blog that has an author who is good with a camera. I love to study the composition of photographs and how others use light.
What is one of your pet peeves about blogs or bloggers?
I really don't care for it when text gets lost in a background. I need to be able to read your blog if you want me to come back. So make sure there is some contrast between your background and your text. I also don't care too much for blogs that are too busy. Sometimes less is better people.
What advice would you have for any new bloggers?
Regardless of what people tell you, posting everyday will not bring you more traffic. The only thing that it will do is keep your readers from seeing your content. Most people are only going to read your top post. So focus on quality, not on quantity. I know this sounds cliche, however if you post less, then more people will see each post you write. You will also get more comments per post.
If you post quality, then you will leave your readers with things to remember that will leave impressions. These are the things that will have them coming back.
Last, but certainly not least, don't be a lurker. If you go to others' blogs and you like them, leave a nice comment. We all need to be encouraged.
What is something that people might not know about you?
I have a loaded answer for this one that many will find hard to believe. It will be posted on my blog by the time you read this. Check it out at Fort Thompson! It is a story that I have never shared before with anyone besides family. It is a moment in time that truly happened and was beyond a shadow of a doubt an act of God. If you are a person of faith, of if you have none, it is NOT to be missed.
Thanks Tim and Fort Thompson! Now go on and give Tim some comment love, good readers.
11 comments:
I quite enjoy reading this blog. I think I found it via Jennifer @ Rundpinne originally. And I'm glad I did. Great interview :)
Congratsto you onbeing this week's featured blog! You deserve it Tim ~ both of you have wonderful sites!
Tim is so great...I'm thrilled that you featured his blog today! I can't think of anyone who deserves it more! I think you did a fantastic job of capturing who he's all about...faith and family!
Fun to read about how Ft. Thompson "arrived".
Tim is such a fun, positive blogger. I've just recently gotten to know him and his blog. So fun to see his interview here!
Psst, stop by my blog!
love Tim and his blog. great pick!!!
Tim's the best. So glad he got some Hollywood here! :)
I just found Tim and his blog but love what I've read so far.
I've been a follower of Fort Thompson and know exactly why he was featured! Superb site.
How cool that you featured Tim at Fort Thompson! I love reading his family blog.
What a great idea to do a Friday Featured Blog. I like it, I really do. :)
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