As you have learned, I have an alarming tendency to waffle in a strangely relevant way. :) Your poetry was excellent; when I have more time I'll trawl your archives and spout more of my spoutage.

'in order to build up that confidence quickly it's better to let more people read.' - Oh, this! This to the moon and back! I really need to get more of my writing out there (despite my confidence woes) because it's better to be read, criticised, and improved than it is to simply improve on your own. After all, you are not your reader. And I know that, but I just need to enforce it.

I think a self-bribe of cookies may work.

I gave Blogger a try ages ago but I found it wasn't as versatile as far as layouts are concerned. It all depends on what you're after, really. I'll plonk your Blogger account in my bookmarks to have a gander later :)

I love reading other people's writing. If anything, I like reading unpublished authors' works more than I do published ones. It's weird, but you learn so much more about the craft of writing in that way, especially when the work is in early draft form. So no worries, and the people who don't reply are just ignorant. :P