I’m an avid blogger who writes on things in my life. You might better refer to my blog as an online diary. I’m a teacher, father, husband, and musician living in the High Desert of California where I have many interesting experiences to write about. I am also approaching expert status with the open source blog platform” “Wordpress.” A big category on my site is about blogging.

I am a public school elementary school teacher. I do not blog for profit.

In December of 2006 I wanted to start a public online diary. Being a writer with an MA in English (and a guy with a digital camera) I wanted to archive the moments and thoughts of my life for others and maybe for my kids to be interested in reading someday. Since then it’s become a regular activity for me for hours a day. I love it, and it’s great that I’ve gotten some readers that have stuck with me.

As I said, I started this Wordpress platform database in December of 2006. Before that I had a blogger account but it just never lasted. I was on again off again. Since I started Riley Central, it’s become my life!

bewteen 100 and 400 depending on many variables including which way the wind is blowing Some days I may only have 25 or so. Google Analytics keeps me in the loop, but just for my own curiosity . . . certainly not for marketing’s sake. Lorelle on Wordpress taught me to write “with my head down” so to speak, unencumbered by the stats.

Not directly. I teach guitar after school at the school I work for. One lady lives around here and through reading my blog asked if I would teach her daughter to play. Even though I turned her down due to time constraints, it showed me the power a blog can have promoting services, even when not trying! I am also an aspiring writer and having a blog following could one day help me refine and promote a book if it ever got to that. There is more to blogs than just “monetization.” I guess that would be what I wanted on my blog epitaph!

Family oriented people with an edge (does that exist?) People who love the arts and education and romance and rock n roll. Fellow teachers . . . budding writers, people who seek assistance with their writing . . . folks needing inspiration, or people who just enjoy a humorous story now and then from this life of Riley!

3-4. My wife will say more.

Every second of my day I am thinking of new topics. I try to keep them FUN, ENTERTAINING, full of new INFORMATION that is relevant to life (and blogging which is decidedly NOT life). I’m a humorist but also a friend to all . . . unless you cross me then hmmmm, I’ll throw a water balloon at you. If you want to read the elaborate posts on life from teacher, father, husband, musician, blogger . . . then you’d enjoy a subscription to Riley Central.

Keep it simple at first. Dedicate yourself to building posts that are inspired and that you yourself enjoy reading (please read them before publishing! So many obviously don’t) As you build your number of posts, add only internal and minimal features that enhance your writing and publishing process. One day you will turn around and find you have 100 posts or so! Only at that point whould you start “building” your categories list (really at that point “sorting”) and finding the themes and plugins that suit the voice you have gradually created. Oh, and get a good system for your photos. Gallery2 is the best imho, then Flickr, then Photobucket . . . etc. One last thing: Network through commenting . . . it’s the best way to go. Don’t add people to your blogroll until you have read them for at least 5 posts. Read my blog to find out all my other long-winded advice

This blog can be visited at http://rileycentral.net/wordpress

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