7 Things I’ve Learned about Blogging
I’ve been blogging since 7/7/07, ever since the prophecy began; I’ve learned a few things along the way:
1. Athletic Performance
Each blog entry can be likened to an athlete’s performance. Every entry will vary in its degree of excellence - even if all of them are good. There’s a reason blogs have a “most popular” category on the sidebar; those are the ones that outshined the rest. This will be true no matter how much skill you have. The goal then, is to squeeze out as much quality as you can each and every time — just like an athlete.
2. Blogging is Like Any other Craft
Blogging, or as I like to refer to it, writing, is just like any other craft be it piano, archery, or ping pong. You can’t rely on reading about it to perfect it, you must practice it. The more you write, the better you write. The P.I. blog doesn’t just provide you my valued readers with a constant flow of fun, entertainment and enlightenment, it affords me the opportunity to write better.
3. Let It Stew
Just like a good lamb stew, the longer you work on a piece the more it’s given an opportunity to develop. Can you imagine putting a few chunks of lamb meat, some potatoes, and green beans into a pot and five minutes later consuming it? Besides getting food poisoning, it wouldn’t taste so good. The longer it stews, the more flavors develop. Writing is a lot like lamb stew — the more time you give to a single entry, the more you can add and take away from it over time, making it as wonderful as possible.
4. Be a Stumble Man
Stumble stumble man, I wanna be a stumble man… Writing into a vacuum has its own charm, but if you want to get your stuff on the radar screen - it needs to get stumbled. There are many ways to do this. The best way is to write stuff so unbelievable that people feel it’s a moral obligation to stumble you. The second best way, and the way I most often employ is by networking with other stumble users. The more you interact with them, the more likely you’ll get stumbled. Even commenting on other blogs can do wonders. Ultimately, having your blog, “self promote” is where you want to be.
5. Write Damn Good Titles
If you neglect a good title people will neglect your good content. I’m not going to lie — titles are hard! Yes, but so is life. So accept it, and write damn good titles.
6. Make it a Hobby
If you’re going to blog, then count it amongst your hobbies. Let’s face it, blogging aint easy — at least not for me. But it’s fun. If you make a hobby out of it you’ll have more patience while doing it, and last longer, perhaps long enough for it to become profitable.
7. Carry a Pad
If you don’t carry a pad with you at all times, prepare to toss golden ideas into the ether, one after the other. Flashes of inspiration come when you least expect it. Afford yourself the opportunity to record them so you can use them. Blogs are nothing more than ideas that are hopefully well written. Ideas that spark in your mind and then forgotten are ideas that will never be published – no matter how good they are.
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June 17th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Your last note, #7, is oh so very true - brilliance happens at the oddest of times, so you want to make certain you strike while the iron is hot. My latest post about Instant Nobility came about from that very same concept.
Enjoy, Barbara
June 17th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Nice list. I especially like the last one - carry a notepad. So many times I’ll have an idea for a post, and think I’ll remember it by the time I get home (or work, or wherever). Almost without fail, by the time I get “there” I have forgotten. So, now I just need to put this into action!
June 17th, 2008 at 10:59 am
I enjoyed the light hearted manner in your article. Great tips too!
Oh…I heeded your advice too. I stumbled on this post
June 17th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
@ Barbara Ling: I’m glad you walk the streets prepared! I will check your post out.
@ Lance: No doubt about it. I’m tenacious with my notepad. Ideas are as precious as gold, we wouldn’t allow ourselves to drop gold coins randomly, ideas should be no different.
@ Evelyn Lim: Thank you for stumbling!
And commenting!
June 17th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I agree good titles are important. If someone is following your blog in a reader, if the title isn’t catchy, often it’s overlooked.
Carrying a pad with you is also a great idea. Blog ideas are often fleeting, and if they’re not jotted down, they may be gone forever.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
@ Barbara Swafford: Indeed. The reader makes a good title vital.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Bamboo,
$4 and #6 jumped out at me.
#4: You’re right: “commenting on other blogs can do wonders.” Done consistently and done well, it really can get your name and blog out there.
#6: Enjoy blogging. Once you don’t enjoy it for the fun of it, quit. Life’s too short to waste time.
June 17th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
@Bamboo: I agree with your tips. I would add that you need to pay attention to keywords. There may be a lot of people out there who would be interested in what you have to say, but if they’re using search terms that aren’t in your article, they won’t find you. I haven’t really started following this advice yet, but it’s next on my to-do list.
June 17th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Letting it stew is a good thing; it’s amazing how much just a good night’s sleep can bring new ideas and insight (or just better writing) to a piece. There’s still a place for off the cuff writing, though. Sometimes those instant inspiration pieces turn out pretty cool. Loved the post.
June 17th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
@ Jesse: Good point about wasting time!
@ Marelisa: That’s an interesting point. Thanks for bringing it to my attention - I’ll research it.
@ Sara: I can see how off the cuff writing could produce good results. Particularly if you’re good at it! Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you.
June 18th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
“Writing into a vacuum has its own charm, but if you want to get your stuff on the radar screen - it needs to get stumbled.”
So true.
Great list, great perspective.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
@ Vered: Thank you for the kind words.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Blogging is a noble passion as it connects us by transcending race, color and ethnicity. It really makes world a better place to live as people freely exchange ideas and thoughts that eventually perpetuates in our society with acts of benevolence.
Shilpan
June 19th, 2008 at 1:27 am
#3 is actually hard for me. I’m a gal of little patience.
I know, I know, I’m working on it!
I do #7, though. I always, always have a little notebook of some kind with me (and several pens) so I won’t lose the thoughts. Maybe I’m getting “old” or something, but my thoughts are slipping into infinity more frequently than ever before! hehehehe
*smiles*
Michele
June 19th, 2008 at 1:45 am
@ Shilpan: I am in agreement with you, well said.
@ Michele: That’s hard to believe (#3) considering how finely crafted your writing is.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Bamboo, it’s true! My best posts - all of my best writing, I suppose - comes from just a flooding moment of inspiration where I’m quiet and I just allow my heart and soul to pour out onto the blank pages. It’s when I think TOO much and take TOO much time to craft a piece, that it kind of becomes “choppy” and I end up not liking it. Those are usually the pieces editors reject, too.
There have been times I’ve been inspired, ran to the computer, typed as fast as I could, skimmed over for errors, and honestly submitted after just a few minutes, received a response from the editor within a few minutes–and SOLD the piece. Imagine that? That’s why I always emphasize sharing our heart. Some folks think I’m talking about airing dirty laundry. I’m talking about taking advantage of those flooding moments of inspiration, giving to them, and letting the beauty of a passionate moment spill forth and splash the readers in the face!
We have to grab our reader by the heart and hold on tight until they’ve finished our very last sentence.
*smiles*
Michele
June 19th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Bamboo, I forgot to tell you thank you for your kind words about how finely crafted my writing is. I appreciate it.
*smiles*
Michele
June 20th, 2008 at 7:12 am
Very good post! The first three tips (though they all are excellent) are my favourite.
June 22nd, 2008 at 1:39 am
@ Steph: Thank you. I’m glad you found them worthwhile.