I've been running this blog for quite some time now and in that time I have picked up a few things that I want share with you up coming bloggers and for those with a curiosity to start. I know there are an awful lot of these posts around so I have tried to accumulate the ones that I think are the most important, especially for me personally.

Do It For Yourself, Not The Audience 
When considering starting a blog, it is important to ensure that you have an interest in blogging and not because of the possible attention or fame that can come from it. Those who have become known for their online work would have started with an interest in the world of blogging because it is likely at the time that becoming famous was unheard of. Your enjoyment of blogging is always a first, not the pressure of trying to please your audience which follows onto my next point...

Write Content You Would Read
As well as having an interest in blogging, it is important to write content that you would enjoy reading yourself or that you have a particular interest in - there are many other types of blogs instead of the well known fashion and beauty ones. Saying that, you don't have to only write posts around a certain topics - if you normally write fashion posts but want to write about music, just do it! Also, if you are half-heartedly writing posts that may show through to your audience and therefore result in them also not enjoying the post.

Never Put Up A Post You're Not 100% Happy With
Never EVER put up a post you are not 100% happy with especially for the sake of maintaining a schedule - quality over quantity. You have to like the post before anyone else because you are your harshest critic and in the future and may look back at that particular post and think what was I doing? This links with my previous point of you have to put up content you would enjoy reading and sloppy writing will show through.

If You're Serious, Do The Work
If you decide that you want to become a blogger full time you have to be prepared to put the work in and to have patience when trying to build your audience. Coming up with content ideas can often be difficult when your creativity is running low and it is important to be aware of these situations what you can do when times  like these arise. The design of your blog is also something that you have to think of, it has to be easy for your audience to use and navigate as well as being easy to read. When moving away from the default blogger templates, you can code your own (if you know how) or get someone else to design one for you. Saying that, blogging doesn't have to be a career path but also as something fun, maybe a little documentation series for yourself to look back on in the future.

Stats Aren't Everything
It might seem like it sometimes but stats aren't everything! Seeing a high number of views is great I know but interacting is so much better - every time I have received a comment I have been so happy afterwards to see the response that I left. Saying this, stats can help you understand your blogs growth so don't rule them out completely!

I hope this was helpful to those of you who are new bloggers or considering starting a blog. The ultimate end goal is for you to enjoy what you are doing and if you get a great audience from that, it's even better!

Artist: Bring Me The Horizon   Album Title: That's The Spirit   Genre: Rock    Release Date: 11 September 2015   Buy It: iTunes | Amazon

There has been an awful lot of hype surrounding the eagerly awaited new album from Bring Me The Horizon. Ever since I first heard the new sound they were trying to capture I have been on board, making this album even more anticipated for me. It's fair to say that it didn't disappoint, resulting in That's The Spirit becoming the first album I have ever given a ten out of ten to!
Doomed kicks off the album giving the listener a slight taste of what it to follow in the next ten tracks before kicking the album off in full swing with Happy Song. This is followed by the tracks that we have already heard including Throne and True Friends.
In my eyes, the album is split into three different sections depending on the different tracks and what style they are in. Doomed to True Friends provide the first section before a calmer Follow You provides a brief respite for the listener. This is then followed with What You Need, Avalanche and Run which provide the next three tracks in this section. The second section is my favourite on the album because it has my two favourite tracks on the album - What You Need and Avalanche.
What You Need begins much calmer and softer in comparison to the chorus which is much more hard hitting to carry on the momentum of the opening tracks. The chorus consists of the raw sound with layers of guitars and drums to give it the full desired impact. This then carries on into the next track which is Avalanche.
Avalanche gets into full swing straight away, hooking the listener in straight away before slowing down slightly to allow Oli's vocal to be heard much better. However, the choruses are the only sections in which the track slows. Avalanche is also the track which has my favourite line of the album in; I need a cure for me 'cause the square doesn't fit the circle.
Another track I haven't mentioned that I particularly like is Blasphemy. Likewise to Avalanche, Blasphemy kicks in straight away, slows at the chorus and has lyrics that I particularly like.
To finalise, I think that That's The Spirit is a great step up from Sempiternal and will go down in Bring Me The Horizon history as one of their best albums.

To My Best Friend,
I am worried. Worried that in the next two years of college that I will be replaced. I worry that your obsessions and terrible jokes will be directed towards someone else and that I will gradually be shut out of your life. I worry that someone else will come along and be a better friend than I have, leaving you to move on.
I am terrified. I am terrified to face college life without you, terrified that I won't be able to run to you during the day and pour my heart out with my concerns. I just want you there with me, guiding me and helping me through each day as I know I will struggle.
I am unsettled. Unsettled that in your time of need, I won't be there to attempt to cheer to you up and take your mind off your troubles. Likewise, that you will not be there to do the exact same thing for me - this brings me a great amount of discomfort. I am largely unsettled by not knowing who to turn to in my hour of need. Before it was so simple, I'd know where you would be but now you are at a distance that I can not travel in my lunch break.
I am sad. I am saddened by the fact that I can't tell you things as soon as they happen, to tell you the funny stories that happen and to share my success with you instantly. But mostly, I am saddened by the fact that I won't be able to walk into form everyday and see you, spend my breaks and free time with you.
I am hopeful. Hopeful that whilst you are reading this that you are aware of how much I love you and want you in my life for many years to come. I don't want you to become 'that person I was best friends with in secondary school', I want you to be my life long best friend! I want our friendship to survive and to become one that other people are envious of. But most importantly, as long as I have you around I will be much happier then if you were not.

Artist: Don Broco   Album Title: Automatic   Genre: Rock   Release Date: 7 August 2015 Buy It: iTunes Deluxe | Amazon

Automatic is the eagerly awaited second album from Don Broco and one that I have been very excited to listen to after hearing the band's first album, Priorities. The album shows a large development in Don Broco's sound in comparison to their debut - Automatic displays a much larger range of styles throughout the entire album. Because of this, I can say that I much prefer Automatic to Priorities as there is always something different in every track whilst still capturing the rock essence.
My favourite tracks on the album are Tough On You and Fire.
One of the main things I love about Tough On You is the contrast between the verses and the chorus. The verses of the track are much calmer whereas the chorus captures the raw and layered sound that I talk about so often and that I love an awful lot. I also love the lyrics, once again especially in the chorus. I do like the verses as they add more to the story in terms of lyrics but overall I much prefer the chorus.
Fire on the other hand has the raw sound from the very moment that the track begins. Likewise to Tough On You, I prefer the chorus to the verse simply because I find it so easy to sing along as well as it putting me in a good mood afterwards. I can also see this track being incredible live with the crowd shouting the lyrics back at the band.
I also found that all of the tracks on the album flow really well together making Automatic a thoroughly enjoyable listen. I would highly recommend Automatic as I love it ever since its release!

As someone who is about to move on to college (or Year 12) one of my main concerns is not how I'll find my way around; how hard the subjects will be but actually, how do I make friends?
It may seem like such a stupid concept to be preoccupied about but I've spent the last five years of my life with the same group of people. To be suddenly thrown into a mix of thousands more students, where I am not guaranteed to know anyone reminds me completely and utterly of my first day at secondary school - I moved from a different country and was, seemingly, the only girl with a friend. Of course, it did not take me long to make friends but that doesn't seem to reassure me, five years later. What I am concerned about, stupidly, is that I have lost the ability to make friends. How do I just go up and talk to someone? How can I make them like me? What is it that attracted my old friends to me? How will I know they are the right friends for me?
With all these, among hundreds of other questions swirling around my head, it is no wonder people dread leaving school and moving onto higher education.
However, despite all the worries that niggle at the back of my brain about my future I am also incredibly excited to leave my secondary school, not because I didn't enjoy i - I loved school and will always have fond memories of it - but because it is all part of my 'growing up' and despite the fact that I do not want to be burdened with the responsibilities of being an adult, the anticipations of the worlds that open up to you as you grown up is thrilling! I just recently received a booklet about my course (International Baccalaureate) and was able to learn more about what I will be studying; the possible trips I will take, the induction days...All that have contributed to a feeling of excitement, even if I can't decide what outfit I should wear on the first day...first impressions, right?!
I suppose what I am trying to say is that although you may, like me, not want to leave the security and routine of school and old friendships behinds, the future is exciting! You will be meeting new people, admiring new faces, experiencing new things and that should be a good thing! I hope anyone moving on in one way or another in their lives, enjoys the change!

Written by Billie Powell