For you:

Hello, again!

I've got a special message over at the new site: here.

I'd really appreciate it if you'd take the time to head on over and give it a look.

Happy blogging!

And remember: TGR now has a new site!

Just checking in.

Hey, guys!

If you haven't already gone and subscribed to the new site, you might wanna head on over: www.thegrammariansreviews.com.


Hope to see you there!
 

Update!

There was an error with the feed link that has since been corrected.

You can subscribe to my new site here.

And you can visit the new site here.

It's official: Check out the NEW site!

I'm proud to say The Grammarian's Reviews has a new home (click! click!). And it's quite beautiful, all thanks to Cialina. I never thought switching from Blogger to WordPress would be so easy, but aside from some very minor setbacks the transition has been painlessly smooth.

And let me just say that I'm already in love with WordPress and its features. Really, guys. Things are much more seamless over there. Editing is so much easier, updates are quicker, and importing took a matter of seconds. Remember when I wasn't 100% sure about the switch? Well, I'm here to say that I'm sold. I wish I'd made the move sooner, actually. You never know what you're missing until you gather up the nerve to try.

Things are still a bit rocky as I get settled over there, but please take the time to go and subscribe to my feed. It's also best if you leave all comments over there, too. Any comments made here now will not show over at WordPress.

This blog will still be available to view, but mainly to redirect visitors and old followers to the new site:

www.thegrammariansreviews.com 



Thanks for sticking with me, guys. I hope you'll continue to do so.

Getting to know John Green: John Green Week!

In case you hadn't noticed, it's JOHN GREEN WEEK! Bloggers all over the blogosphere are celebrating the fabulous YA author that is John Green.

Whether you've read his books (Paper Towns, Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Will Grayson, Will Grayson, The Fault in Our Stars) or not, I'd be willing to bet you've heard of him. Nerdfighteria, anyone?

John and his brother, Hank, are of the Nerdfighter fame. And also their Vlogbrother channel on YouTube.



I honestly cannot say that I've come across an author as funny as John Green. If his books don't win you over (which they should), his personality will. And that's what this post is about: introducing you to John Green. Or, if you're already a fan of his work, I'm sharing some of my favorite videos of his.

Enjoy and spread the John Green love!

Making the Switch - Blogger to WordPress.

I suppose this is an official statement of sorts, as well as an impromptu and unbiased voice of reason regarding Blogger and WordPress platforms.  You see, I'm here to say that The Grammarian's Reviews will be switching to WordPress.

I know Blogger users are asking Why? and What's wrong with Blogger? and What's so great about WordPress? And I'm here to answer those questions:

Why?
While blogging is fun, I've always felt the need to treat it in a professional manner. I want TGR to reflect this sense of professionalism; I want TGR to take the next step. While 500 followers may not seem like a big deal, I do think it's a step in the right direction.  TGR can continue to grow, and I want it to be able to do so.

What's wrong with Blogger?
I'd be lying if I said nothing was wrong with Blogger. The truth of the matter is that I've been using Blogger for over a year now and have become comfortable with its design, posting and dashboard elements. Any bumps that come along in the road I've always blown off with a nice Twitter-rant session. At the end of the day, Blogger was still the Blogger I knew well and that was good enough for me. 

But thinking back on it, Blogger has been problematic. From posting to commenting troubles, I've had my fair share of freak outs over the complications.

What's so great about WordPress?
In all honesty, I'm still figuring out the answer to this one. It's a learning process. After asking around on Twitter, a lot of the responses said WordPress has better SEO.

SEO = Search Engine Optimization.

Search Engine Optimization = "the process of improving the visibility of a website or a web page in search engines." (thanks, Wiki!)

What does this mean? It means WordPress improves the chances of your blog showing up in results on search engines like Yahoo or Google. Which means your blog may stand out against others, which also means more readers and notoriety.

I don't know about you, but it sounds like a sweet deal to me.

But SEO is only one of the great things about WordPress. After playing around on a test account I discovered several nifty features, including a Copy Post option (which would be awesome for memes), easy widget tabs and areas, and a Links tab to compile all the links you may use on a day-to-day basis on your blog. I'm also a fan of the way it tracks comments and provides site feedback.

I could sit here all day and try to tell you the pros and cons, but when it comes down to it, I think it's best for you to take the time to explore WordPress on your own. Even if you're entirely lost from the moment you sign up.  Click around.  Read the "Help" tabs.  And most importantly, don't be afraid. I know a lot of bloggers, myself included, express fear over making the switch.  Nobody wants to lose all of the sweat and tears that have gone into the making of their blog. But there's nothing to be afraid of. There are guides all over the net to guide you in the exporting/importing process. And the best part? You can import your blog to WordPress and not lose any of the content that's already on Blogger, so the move can be slow and steady.

I hope these answers clear up some of the confusion pertaining to making the switch from Blogger to WordPress. If they don't and you still have some questions, feel free to ask in the comments or on Twitter (@thegramsreviews) and I'll do my best to help or just give a fresh perspective.  Just keep in mind that I'm not a WordPress pro; much of what I've discovered has been through my own exploring and help from my good blogger friend, Amanda.

In My Mailbox (25).

Deadly Little Voices by Laurie Faria Stolarz.

I'm a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge fan of the Touch series and anything written by Stolarz, so I was ecstatic when I went to B&N and found this on the shelf.

Side note: Happy New Year! Hope your 2012 book hauls are even better than the ones in 2011!