Entry Level Living

When I first started playing around with blogging, I was skeptical: I had no desire to post the minute details of my day nor read anyone else’s. However, in many ways that’s how most of us start out: we are inspired to write and want to give it a try yet really dont know where to begin so we write about anything. Blogging has allowed me to focus on my interests and has become a great space for reflection and connecting with others, yet building a great blog and finding your niche takes time. Below I list a few steps I took in order to become a better blogger: one who writes consistently with insight, authenticity, and contributes to broader discussions about a particular issue.

1. Figure out what you want to write about.

The wonderful thing about blogs is that because it is ultimately a personal endeavor, you are free to write about whatever you wish. However, this level of openness often leads to people getting bored or frustrated with their blogs and giving up. The key to prevent this is to have some focus in your blogging. Start by assessing what your interests are. What gets you excited? What do you do/read about on a regular basis on your own free time? And, most importantly, what can you write about consistently for a long period of time?

2. Read blogs in your area of interest.

Once you figure out your interest, search the net for people who have already started blogging on that particular topic. Not only will you expose yourself different perspectives on a certain topic but you will also see different writing styles and get a chance to observe how people interact with blogs. Also, reading other blogs will give you some ideas on what you can begin writing about.

3. Draft some posts before you begin to publish.

Open up a word document and start writing. Doing so allows you to take your time and space out blog posts so that you always have something ready to be published. If you want to build your readership, you have to publish several times a week, so having some pre-written posts will be helpful.

4. Choose a blogging format that fits your needs.

I’ve switched formats three times in the past 4 years because my social and technological needs have changed. I began using LiveJournal and Yahoo! 360 which are very insular: you can make your entries private or only accessible to people you have added on your list. As a result many of the blogs I read and wrote were pretty personal in nature. However, once I decided I wanted to write a blog about my life as a newbie in the professional world, I recognized that I would need a wider audience so I chose WordPress, which is not only public but also shows up in blog searches.

Further, different blogging formats have different tools and levels of difficulty. WordPress allows me to play with the layouts and navigation of my blog whereas LiveJournal and 360 all had the same standard layout with adjustable colors. Choose one that allows you the most comfort.

5. Join an online community to help you along.

It takes time to develop a good blog. Therefore, a good idea is to reach out to other groups of people in your phase of blogging. NING, a web tool that allows you to create online communities has several groups for bloggers. My favorite is Building a Better Blog where people share tips and experiences at all phases of blogging.

6. Participate in a Blog Carnival.

To get some readership as well as meet other bloggers who share your interests, I recommend participating in a Blog Carnival. You simply pick a topic and submit a post on that topic to whomever is hosting the carnival. Participating in a blog carnival also allows you to write with an audience in mind requiring you to be more focused.

7. Practice the Golden Rule.

Comment on other people’s blogs; be insightful and courteous; respond to people who leave you comments; share the love by linking to blogs you enjoy. Basically, do all of the things to other bloggers as you would want done to you. This will let you hone in on the skills necessary to creating a blog where people feel comfortable exchanging ideas and where you feel comfortable sharing yours.

8. Share a little of yourself.

The blogs I most enjoy reflect on their personal experiences in a way that is interesting and meaningful to others. The main point I try to get across in my blog is that I am always learning and enjoy sharing what I learn with others. So be real—share your ups and downs; voice your frustrations and your joys. It’s those experiences that ultimately make one blog different from the next.

With my other blogging site on the verge of shutting down, I have come across many people who wonder what the big deal is; after all, it’s just the internet, aint it?

Well, quite frankly, I am an avid believer in the internet, blogging, and the power the two have had and continue to have on relationships, politics, and identity.

I became aware of the power of blogging when Hurricane Katrina hit. Local newspapers were wiped out and national papers had difficulty getting in. However, regular people with friends, family, or they themselves who lost everything in the floods got on the internet and told their stories. They were not hindered by stringent standards of journalism, political allies, or profit: they were motivated by pain and a desire to share their stories. I remember reading some one’s blog who managed to post pictures of their house after the hurricane; or someone who described the pain he felt when they realized their parents were gone. Emotional relief through blogging need not wait for financial resources. All you need is the internet.

And how can we forget the countless police brutality cases that have been brought to light by someone with a camera phone and access to the internet. Upload to YouTube and you suddenly have a national movement; a watchdog system that, again, is free from the political restraints of other organizations.

I see students who couldn’t care less for writing an essay suddenly have no problem writing about unfair teachers, painful homes and neighborhoods, first loves, lost loves, and other sentimental emotions in a passionate way. Blogs allow them the space to vent and reach out while simultaneously reading and writing more. Students won’t buy a newspaper but they will read an article online which often has a forum attached for questions and a space for people to blog and add more commentary.

I have been able to connect with organizations and people who have my same passion for youth change and advocacy. I can read up on Black history, find stats about domestic violence, and research how to start my own non profit and host of other topics online, then blog about it to share what I have found with others. Leaders are beginning to keep blogs as a way of not only sharing information but also of keeping in touch and giving people an outlet for expression and asking questions.

A dictator’s worse fear? The internet because anyone can get access and upload and share anything at any point. In this case, blogging and the internet are revolutionary tools.

Blogs and the internet have opened up the space for public debate, dialogue, and research for and by the people themselves. It has become empowering and inspiring. When people think of the internet they think of pedophiles, lonely internet daters, and silly teens on myspace. And rightfully so—lord knows the internet is also a haven for criminals. But what is wrong with reaching out? What is so wrong with using the internet to find people who you may not other wise meet? Of course you must be careful, but people seem to miss the point about the internet: it does not replace human interaction. If used correctly it can enhance it. Of course people will abuse it—but keep your guard up and continue to love the positive outcomes of the internet: a growing blogosphere and a growing sense of ownership.

Can you think of a more democratic tool?