Post #1 Blogging Jitters
May 17, 2007
I read a few blogs on a regular basis, and skim others (usually from links that I can’t find again) and find that the most interesting blogs are also the ones that are thoughtful and well-researched. The good ones are hard work! I don’t have that kind of expertise or passion, (most librarian types are generalists) but I seem to always find a story or article that I want to share with others—lucky you!
If any of you are like me, you probably stare at your computer screen and think: “Now what?” I’m of a “certain age” and don’t have the confidence that younger folks have. I don’t really think that anything I have to say is all that interesting to the world at large, and I pretty much still maintain the mindset of my youth: “Don’t speak unless spoken to.”
That being said, I will be searching for inspiration where ever I can find it.
Today, I will be reviewing a handy little book No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas forYour Blog. by Margaret Mason. It’s a quick read, with some interesting ideas for when your mind is blank.
Mason introduces the book by providing mind-numbingly bad blog posts—her evidence of the writer not knowing what to write about. She then provides 100 ideas to stimulate inspiration to avoid the “me, too” syndrome. Not all of these ideas are applicable to this class format, but some are useful.
My favorite tips from the book:
#5 Be a sage. Offer your readers some of your hard-earned advice, and how you gained that insight.
#11 Curate the web. If someone else has said something that you find interesting, point your readers to that post, and explain why the writer affected you.
#21 Address the public. Write an open letter to a specific population. Mason’s example is a letter to the people of Boston, but it could be to any group: Librarians, Teachers, Techies, you name it.
#55 Take Sides. Choose a side on a big topic: the death penalty, censorship, etc., do some research and post your research and conclusions. Wait for fireworks!
#88 Choose your Company. You can’t write to everyone successfully, so focus on your intended audience and make your tone and content consistent with that group.
So this post should qualify for tip #5 — My sage advice–I hope it helps you!
Thanks for the blog tips! I too am often searching for inspiration, and will definitely take a look at this book for assistance. I have to admit, I don’t really read blogs regularly. The few that I have seen have been a rambling of uninspiring thoughts (kind of like mine right now). While it is beneficial to connect with others and compare notes about how you agree or disagree with others, I guess I feel I just don’t have the spare time to engage in it routinely. However, this class will definitely force me to participate and who knows– maybe I’ll be a regular blogger outside of class by the end of the summer. Looking forward to more of your blogs…
Thanks for suggesting this book I’m definitely going to have to take a look at it! And I wouldn’t worry too much about the not being interesting to the rest of the world because that’s the beauty of the internet. There are so many people on it that you’re bound to interest someone, and I’d say you’re off to a pretty good start so far!
On a side note I think I tend to be a #11 poster. I like to find blogs of other people that interest me and talk about them in my own blog. I’ve already found several posts I’d like to comment on for my own blog.
I like #88. It helps to know your audience, but at this point for me, I have no audience outside of class. I hope to alienate all of you first and then aggravate the rest of the biblioblogosphere! My evil scheme is taking shape…
Comment #1
I really appreciate you sharing this title with us. I searched it in the SWAN catalog and noticed no one owned it. Then I checked OCLC and noticed Oak Park PL had it and several other libraries in IL. Gee, I wonder who has checked out Oak Park’s copy?
Just kidding, I have requested and can’t wait to get it, as a matter of fact, I think I am going to purchase it for the library I work for. I need a little inspiraton too, to write in these blogs and like you, I grew up with the mindset of not revealing too much about my life. I consider myself a private person. I at least like to get to know someone first. The way I see blogging, is an opened window to your inner thoughts and beliefs about numerous subjects people believe in and disagree in. Its a little hard for me to break my mold. I guess it will take one day at a time or one class session at a time. I look forward in adapting to this new trend of writing and expressing onself.