Skip to main content

Coming Soon: Updates to This Blog

I started this blog, Bats in the Belfry, Cats in the Attic, in 2011. I began this blog as a young person shouting my voice into the void, hoping others would respond. Like many young people who find themselves interested in an alternative subculture, I wanted another space to express and explore my authentic self away from the push-back alternative kids receive in the "real world." So, this blog became that space. For that I am grateful.
A throwback to 2010 in Baltimore, near Edgar Allan Poe's grave

Since 2011, I've graduated high school and college, moved out on my own, got married, and have a different sort of life as a young professional in the corporate world. I've spent time in and out of the goth subculture proper. My heart still beats for all things dark and weird, but I am a different person than I was in 2011.

While I've grown as a person, this blog has stayed, for the most part, stagnant. I want this blog to grow as well, and I have some plans to help it along.

I work in marketing and communications. As such, I've been thinking about the purpose of this blog and how it can add value to its readers' lives. I want it to have meaningful content. I also want the this blog to be more visually appealing and easy to navigate.

Here is what all I plan to update:

  1. New name: Bats in the Belfry, Cats in the Attic was a good name in this blog's infancy. But don't worry, the new name won't be unfamiliar to old readers. Because of its simplicity and appeal, I've decided to re-title this blog Odd Ghoul Out after my screen name. 
  2. New look: I want to update the banner, choose a few good fonts and a nice color scheme. 
  3. Easy navigation: I want the new layout to make my posts more accessible to the reader. I'd like the visuals of the content to be front-and-center. I also plan to simplify my blog tags/labels and create some tabs along the top for easier navigation.
Due to my work schedule, I've been slowly chipping away at these tasks. If I hurry to make these updates, I risk the quality of this blog. For that reason, these changes will take some time. In the meantime, I've been coming up with ideas for new content.  

If you've made changes/updates to your blog or website, what are some helpful tips and tricks you can offer? If you're a long-time reader (and you're still here after all these years), how do you feel about these changes?
Labels:

Comments

  1. SarahWalrusJune 13, 2019 at 11:43 PM

    The best thing I did to update my blog since moving on from the basic layouts of my youth was to find a layout that ticked alllll of my boxes and buy it. That way it's consistently updated by someone that isn't me, and has everything I need without the need to meet them in the middle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OddGhoulOutJune 24, 2019 at 9:08 AM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. OddGhoulOutJune 24, 2019 at 9:12 AM

      Thank you for the suggestion! I love your blog's layout. I've contemplated moving my blog to another site like Wordpress, but I'm not sure yet. So I can find a reputable place to search for a new layout, can you tell me where you found yours?

      Delete
  2. boyJuly 2, 2019 at 11:37 PM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Insomniac's AtticJanuary 3, 2020 at 10:22 AM

    You're not the first blogger I've run across in the past six-eight months I've heard say they miss the old days of blogging! I - personally - am too damn lazy to change everything right now on my blog - other than the header graphics, but that I actually enjoy doing. I did get rid of a few old posts that no longer had working links, but so far that's about it. I'm more worried about coming up with a suitable topic to write about now that I'm semi-committed to actually start writing again!

    I look forward to whatever you share, and I will make sure that I am still following you on my Blogger feed - which I am ashamed to admit I haven't looked at in two years. Eeeep!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OddGhoulOutJanuary 6, 2020 at 6:15 PM

      Part of my problem is that I'm also too damn lazy to change everything, even though I have a lot of ideas. I tend to get side-tracked as well. I've been working on another post for the new year (which I just published). I look forward to reading your blog again,whenever, and whatever, you choose to write. Cheers!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Devil's Turnaround

Noonday Missionary Baptist Church's Cemetery is also known as "Devil's Turnaround." It is located along a little back road in Kennesaw, Georgia, and most of the graves are scattered in the woods. It is easy to miss, but some of the gravestones are visible from the road. The cemetery has graves from the 1860's. I wouldn't doubt that some of its occupants were slaves at one time. Many say the land is haunted by malevolent spirits who hurl objects and make physical contact--shoving, scratching, and even biting visitors. I could understand why any lingering spirits might be upset: These grounds have been terribly neglected. Much of the graves are broken and toppled over. Some are barely visible through the overgrowth of ivy and weeds. People also say the root of the haunting may be related to rumored cult rituals performed on the property. Located right by the cemetery are huge power lines (high voltage transmission lines). I could hear them b
7 comments
Read more

Halloween Update: A Change of Plans

So everyone, I am a little disappointed to say that my Marie Antoinette costume is not a go this year. There has been so much piling up on me between things in my personal life, work, and school, that I have been unable to find the time to get the rest of my costume together. I bit off more than I could chew this year, but I know for next time to plan better. Perhaps you'll see the Queen next year... Although I will not be doing Marie Antoinette, I do have something planned that I can easily do with what I have! I will be using my red dress, a hat, roses, black lace and accessories, and of course some creative make-up, to throw together a Día de los Muertos costume. I think it might even be a better option this year, as I plan on visiting my aunt's house who has decorated her home in a  "Dead Hat Society" theme this year. If you don't remember the aunt to whom I am referring, here is the link to my post about her house.  I will take pictures! It's really spe
12 comments
Read more

Friday The Thirteenth Update

Happy Friday The Thirteenth, everybody. It's my two and a half year anniversary with my boyfriend, Joe, today. Unfortunately, he has work most of the day today, so we went out for lunch yesterday before he had class. We went to an Irish pub. I wore a Punk Hogwarts student outfit yesterday. I don't have pictures, but I wore my Ravenclaw tie over a black dress shirt, my black jean skirt with my "diy or die" patch I just painted, blue and black striped tights, and my trusty Doc Martens.  I love this thing. I'm a Ravenclaw, but my Hogwarts letter was lost in the mail. source Yay for home-made patches. That's the best way to go, in my opinion. I also went out for coffee with my friend, Justean, like we do every Thursday. I went to go use the restroom, and I found this on the door of the toilet stall: It's really neat looking. Below the symbol, there appears to be some writing in runes. Can anybody tell me what this means? I'd really like t
11 comments
Read more