Blogging Made Easier with Windows Live Writer

Writing for two blogs, I was finding that the fiddling with the code was getting in the way of the actual writing. Doing the longer posts was taking me several hours. Blogging was becoming a chore; it wasn't fun any more.

My Twitter buddy Amy Stewart suggested that I try Windows Live Writer - a free desktop application that makes composing posts easier. After a few technical glitches, I was able to download and install the program on my computer. Configuring Windows Live Writer for my other blog was a breeze and I was able to write a short post and publish it relatively quickly. It made blogging fun again.

However, the real challenge came in configuring Windows Live Writer with my Disaboom blog. No matter what I tried, I got an error. Frustration set in. I searched the forums for clues, remembering I had seen  mention of the program somewhere there before, and I began a new discussion thread hoping a Disaboom night owl would respond to my cry for help. No such luck. Several email to Disaboom staff didn't result in any progress. A week passed.

Finally, when all hope was dwindling, Kara Swims sent me a message via Twitter with what proved to be the secret key! Using the following information, specific to my Disaoom blog, I was able to add it to Windows Live Writer:

1. Configure Writer --> Another weblog service
2. Weblog Homepage URL --> http://www.disaboom.com/Blogs/Left_Thumb_Blogger/Default.aspx
3. Username --> Left Thumb Blogger
4. Password --> ha, not telling that
5. Type of weblog --> Community Server
6. Remote posting URL --> http://www.disaboom.com/blgs/metablog.ashx

(If you use Windows Live Writer, you will, of course, need to change the Homepage URL and Username to your specific information.)

Holding my breath, things seemed to work. I did get an error about the styles were unable to download. I am hoping that proves not to be fatal.

This is my first Disaboom post using Windows Live Writer and is intended to be a test. If this post actually works, I will happily write more instructional posts on how to use Windows Live Writer with Disaboom.

For now, cross your fingers, please!