Practice

Let’s cut to the chase. I can’t afford lessons. Does anyone want to be a playing partner though. Preferably rated at or above my level (around 1000 or above) We would play games and analyze them together and communicate about our games. I can also do puzzle battles for about a week.

Anything this person could do to help would be greatly appreciated. 

I’m also trying for top blogger status, so any help there is also appreciated.

But you’re not blogging?

I am blogging

This si a forum

I know. This is not a blog

I could

even though you're a little more than me.

If I were to give you blogging advice, I'd say you should abandon your bot series. Or at least speed it up. Feature two or three bots per post. Bot centred blogs are not really great. That's my personal opinion and it's ultimately your choice.

Looking at the blog itself, annotations need some work. Generally speaking, I never want to make a comment on the first move. I'll maybe make a comment when the opening is clarified. So the second or third move. I'll give an example

Another thing. I'm aware it was a joke, but I think what would have been more entertaining than watching you purposefully play badly, is if you established a gimmick. A handicap that you'd win with. For example walking your king across the board. Or checkmating with 8 queens. Or playing queenless. I feel stuck up saying this, but I was more frustrated watching clearly bad moves rather than amused.

The blog is also very short, but I think if you feature 2-3 bots like I mentioned, that'll be fixed.

Your thumbnails are solid, but you should stop signing them. It's already on your blog. We know you made it.

When you talk about the moves outside of annotations, give them another colour so they stand out. You should consider memes. At the current size one meme should do. When you bulk up the content 2 or 3 memes are best.

All my critique came from your 2 most recent blogs. If I were to say anything about your earlier blogs... word walls.

Ok, thanks. I’m working on that.

Np, I'm glad you weren't offended. I always worry people will take my criticism the wrong way.

No, that was real constructive criticism.

I scrapped the bot idea but I still might play against Martin with some ideas you suggested.

Right now I’m working on one that is sort of a joke but actually really interesting, I think.

And sort of educational.

Yeah playing martin with ridiculous odds can be fun. It might make for a good blog, but I wouldn't know. Like your premove blog. That's an interesting concept.

I have a bongcloud tips blog. It's some of my best writing, but the thumbnail is awful. I'm planning to change it soon

The problem there was that he moved too fast.

I’m writing about the bongcloud

I think I read yours

I don’t feel I can compete with top bloggers while writing about games and tournaments and openings because I don’t do those and if I were to write a blog about it it would all be stuff from the internet and nothing from me, so I’m trying to find fun stuff that I enjoy writing, otherwise there’s just no point.