The one where I pretend I know what I'm talking about...
James at The Ink has shamelessly stolen other people's ideas (alright, asked nicely for people to give their ideas... I'm just sore because mine wasn't chosen) and written a post of his top tip golden blogging rules.
For what it's worth, here are mine...
- Blog interesting
- If you don't think you're very interesting, invent a new persona... Contortionist? Burlesque dancer? Accountant? Whatever floats your boat.
- Don't worry too much about blogging regularly. Real life does happen. You will have other things that keep you busy. It's not your job. Like all hobbies, blogging can't take over your life.
- Be part of the community dude... that means reading other people's blogs, that means commenting and that means actually be interested in other people - it's not all about you, despite what you might think.
- Make sure your writing is readable. No txt spk hr - I dnt udersnd it (is that right?). I understand l33tspe3k even less. i \/\/3\T t0 tH3 5h0p2 t0d4Y 4\d 80U9hT 4 l04f 0F 8r34D just won't cut it. Remember what your teacher taught you.
- Realise this is the internet - you never know who's reading. No matter how much you try and keep your blog quiet, it's likely that someone you know will, at some point, read it. Write accordingly. Don't censor your work, just think how it would feel if you found your name blazed across some internet site. Use pseudonyms.
- Don't let the bastards grind you down. Occasionally in the big bad world of the internet, you're going to come across people you don't like. Solution? Easy. Don't visit their site again. It's ok not to like people, you don't have to beat yourself over the head about it.
- If you're having a bit of a brain-freeze, look at the news, look at other blogs, look up random words... or, if all else fails, go and find a meme to answer.
- It doesn't matter what you blog about as long as it's your own perspective on something. The reason people read your blog is because they want to know what you think... not what Norma Major said about Edwina Currie (or whatever)
- No matter how dull you think a subject is, I bet you can make it interesting.
Normal service will be resumed once I a) start following all my rules from above and b) think of something worthwhile to write about.
About another 3 days then...
7 comments:
Very, very wise article, and I'm still struggling with just about every point! Particularly number six - "you never know who's reading" - which I forget, with horrible consequences, on a regular basis.
Most notably the time I pissed off a vicar, which was a new low. But also the angry brother of a man who faked a plane crash (or did he?), and the woman who lost her incredibly morose-looking dog. Never mock the morose face of a lost dog on a weblog. Asking. For. Trouble.
Hang on a minute....What DID Norma Major said about Edwina Currie ?
(sorry, couldn't resist !)
Wise words, Ms C.
Just came over from expatmum and had a good laugh reading your older posts!
Great blog!
Or if you're feeling lazy stick a photo on there. Don't know why I didn't do it before - so much easier than writing. Well, possibly because it was vaguely supposed to be a writing blog... but never mind.
Ollie - I forget too sometimes. Realised that I've written something particularly mean about someone who now manages the regional squad (rugby) Hope she hasn't found this and *that's* the reason I haven't been picked!
WoT - probably something along the lines of "slutbag.. what are you doing with John". I would think.
Hello The Mother of This Lot (or TMTL as you will henceforth be known) Glad you enjoyed. I'm off to Dublin today but will pop round yours tomorrow for a nose.
OPC, hello. You're right. A photo works wonders. Will try and find a suitable one on my travels and post it up, just for you :)
Hmmm, great list! I would probably have trouble coming up with my list because of my random and sporadic posting! But maybe I'm getting my blogging mojo together...
Random and sporadic is good. I'll keep an eye out :)
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