How to Comment on This Blog

Hi, I am Charlene. Welcome to the Summer Reading Group. As we gear up to get started, everyone will need an identity in order to comment on this blog. There are any number of ways to get an identity, some more invasive and time consuming than others.

Several of us got together last night (Thursday, May 27th) and discussed the idea of having one, whole-group login I.D. so I looked into that this morning and it just isn't feasible. It would actually require more work and more explaining then what I am about to share.

First, if you already have ANY of the following accounts: Google (gmail); Live Journal; TypePad; AIM; OpenID; or WordPress, the user name and password for that account will work on this blog.



On the webpage below the comment box you will see a drop-down menu beside the words, "Comment as". Simply pick the ID you want to use and sign in as you would normally sign into your account. If you do not yet have one of those accounts, keep reading.

Of the five choices available, the fastest, easiest, least personally invasive way to get an account is to visit WordPress.com and create an account. The steps are quite simple:

1. Go to WordPress.com
2. Near the top, right-hand side of the page click the orange "sign-up now" tab.
3. Type in your "user name". This is the name we will see when you comment. My user name is Quilly.
4. Type in your password and confirm it. Make it easy to remember, you will have to use it often.
5. Type in your email address. WordPress will never send you spam. I have worked with them for years and use them on my professional website.
6. Check that you've read their fascinating terms of service.
7. Choose "just a user name please"
   
8. Click on the "next" button.

At this point, if you have a very common name, WordPress is going to tell you that it has already been taken. There is no way I could just sign in as Charlene. You may have to be creative. (For instance, I could be Char1ene -- using the number 1 in place of the L in my name.)

Once your name has been accepted you'll be taken to a screen that asks you to update your profile. Feel free to write as much or as little here as you wish. You may supply only your first and last initials if you wish, and fill-in the "about yourself" with the comment "Book study participant". You will be able to edit this section if you ever change your mind about what is written there.

Before you can save your profile, you will have to check your email and confirm your email address. After confirming your email and saving your profile, you will be lead to the log-in page. Go ahead and log in but you will just be taken back to the front page of WordPress. Don't worry about that. Just pop on over here and post your comment.

In the future when you wish to login, just come directly to the blog, choose the WordPress option and type in your user name. You will be prompted for your password.

If you can't seem to find the comment box, don't feel bad. It is a common problem. On this particular blog template the comment box is near the bottom of the post. In the screen shot below I have underlined the comment box in purple.


If you are having problems and need to talk to me personally, just click on my name -- Quilly -- it will take you to my profile where you will find my email address. Drop me a note. I check my email several times each day.

Relax and enjoy. It is easy once you get past the learning curve, and I'm here to help.

Charlene