Blog writing

[alanlangdon]

After reading a few blogs recently about my favorite sport football (soccer). This got me thinking about starting my own blog. My question is do any of you write blogs? If so, do you write for pleasure or do you have blogs to promote your writing skills or style.

[Nondelusional]

I am starting a blog called Nondelusional. I am writing for the purpose of promoting my ideas. So, in my case, I would like to improve my writing to better communicate my ideas.

[creativewriting]

I've written a handful of blogs in my day. My current one is a political blog. I've found that writing about something you're interested pretty easy, even when you have low readership.

[Connie]

I'm too private a person to blog. I don't mind writing a short story of my life experience, in fact its cathartic and greatly liberating. But these are carefully constructed and thought out- not just day to day drivel.

[Eponine]

I write a blog. I started it because it felt natural, a continuation of all the journals I've kept since, well, forever.

[WriteStuff]

I write weekly at my blog and have had some guest posters as well. Blogs are great especially if you are planning to promote your upcoming book. It allows you to connect with your audience as you build your list. Lastly, if you plan to use a traditional publisher they want to see that you have a following, which means sales for them and you.

[Nostalgia375]

My desire is to see my blog sprouting with short stories and I would be posting some, from my blog.

[fendo]

I started writing a blog on the NBA back in May of 2011 and have struggled to develop a good, regular volume of readers, but that hasn't swayed me from continuing to develop my writing skills while simultaneously providing me with a creative outlet. Some of my posts are much better than others, but overall, it's been a positive experience.

[Trinity]

i dont really care much for blogs they arent closed in enough to just be kept open. plus i dont feel like telling the world what i'm doing

[Casper]

I blog. When I started it was rather tentative and mostly book reviews and bits about my writing, but this year I'm doing a series called How I Got My Agent - writer friends of mine telling their stories - and I have beta reading and query crit rounds.

The last few months I've really enjoyed it! So I suppose I'm doing it for pleasure but also to network with other writers and potential readers.

[ShaeShae]

I recently started a blog to promote my book and start a business. It is a weight loss blog and eventually I want to turn it into a lifestyle site for women. You should start one for pleasure and to show off your writing skills, why not!

[CountOttoBlack]

Writing large chunks of prose for any reason at all automatically gives you practice in writing, thus making you a slightly better writer. And typing a long piece of text which you hope the entire world is going to read means that you're going to pay attention to spelling, grammar, style, and all that stuff that makes you sound like somebody who isn't retarded.

Nobody who can't properly use English (or whatever else their native language happens to be) stands the slightest chance of being published. Sorry to all the dyslexics out there, but that's a basic fact. Blind painters don't have much of a chance either. But most blind people are aware that becoming a painter is probably a bit stupid. However, a surprising number of people seem to think that even if they cant spel to wel, the world wants to hear what they have to say. No, actually, the world is going to laugh at you, unless they give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you're a child.

Harsh words indeed, but true! There are precisely two rules to this game. The first one is that you have to read. If you like books enough to write one, you really ought to read a great many of them. And that includes stuff you wouldn't normally go for. The basic fact is that if you can't write properly but you seriously want to, you should read more. Might I suggest the King James Bible? I will tell you right now that I am an atheist, though in a small-a non-Richard Dawkins kind of way (I don't believe that the entire course of history was decided by a magic person up in the sky, but if you choose to think so, I don't hate you, and I will certainly make no attempt at all to prove that you're wrong on television). But this is probably the most influential book ever written, and the prose style, especially in the New Testament, is superb. Way better than the Koran - sorry, Muslims.

My point being that for the purposes of becoming an author, you need to read
absolutely anything at all that seems even remotely relevant. And then the other stuff as well.

Oh, and rule number two? Well, obviously, since the first one was "read", it's going to be "write". That of course includes blogs, which finally makes this a relevant response to this post. Every word you ever write hones your craft ever so slightly more. Even if you're too shy to blog it still works, though maybe not quite as well because you don't have to show it to anyone.

So there you go - read then write. It's that simple! No. actually it isn't, because most people can't write at all. But some of you will succeed, so go for it!

[Atrelegis]

tl;dr:

Read a lot, then write a lot. Repeat until satisfactory results and/or publication.

[Redlorry]

Originally Posted by CountOttoBlack

Nobody who can't properly use English (or whatever else their native language happens to be) stands the slightest chance of being published. Sorry to all the dyslexics out there, but that's a basic fact. Blind painters don't have much of a chance either. But most blind people are aware that becoming a painter is probably a bit stupid. However, a surprising number of people seem to think that even if they cant spel to wel, the world wants to hear what they have to say. No, actually, the world is going to laugh at you, unless they give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you're a child.

I can't begin to tell you how wrong you are there. There are many different types or levels of dyslexia and you have just painted everyone with the condition, with one very out of date and misinformed brush!

Did you know that some forms of dyslexia can be cured by a coloured filter over the page/monitor screen, or even by the dyslexic person wearing coloured glass spectacles - seriously, for some that is all it takes.

And just because a dyslexic person can't make sense of the words on the page doesn't mean they don't have an imagination and can't tell a story. With modern technology people can hear books and dictate what they write.

And a blind person can still be an artist, they can use their hands and work with clay and other modelling materials. They may not be able to see images and colours to paint but they can still be creative.

Sorry for ranting but what you said really ruffled my feathers.

[Ember]

Originally Posted by Redlorry

I can't begin to tell you how wrong you are there. There are many different types or levels of dyslexia and you have just painted everyone with the condition, with one very out of date and misinformed brush!

Did you know that some forms of dyslexia can be cured by a coloured filter over the page/monitor screen, or even by the dyslexic person wearing coloured glass spectacles - seriously, for some that is all it takes.

And just because a dyslexic person can't make sense of the words on the page doesn't mean they don't have an imagination and can't tell a story. With modern technology people can hear books and dictate what they write.

And a blind person can still be an artist, they can use their hands and work with clay and other modelling materials. They may not be able to see images and colours to paint but they can still be creative.

Sorry for ranting but what you said really ruffled my feathers.

Couldn't agree more! This is exactly what I was thinking when I read that.

[maxopray]

I've started a blog (antiview.net) and love it. From the advice I received, what I agree with most is to set modest target of how many posts you will make a week/month, and then stick to it readers value consistency.

[Dan Hauer]

Originally Posted by Trinity

i dont really care much for blogs they arent closed in enough to just be kept open. plus i dont feel like telling the world what i'm doing

Having a blog doesn't mean you have to tell the world what you're doing. I have a blog, but I rarely right about specific things happening in my life. If you were to read it, you probably wouldn't be able to glean much about whether I'm in a relationship, or about how much I socialize, or about my social background.

You'd be able to figure out where I live and what sort of work I do. But that's about it. I use the blog as a place to post essays. And the goal, mainly, is just to entertain my friends. And practice writing, of course.

[Mkasel]

I actually started writing a blog today. Honestly, it is a place to publish the essays that I would be writing regardless if blogs exist. It is just nice to know that someone out there might be reading what I have to say. It also makes for great practice, I think.

mkmusingsblog.wordpress.com/

[Odonne]

I write a blog, usually stories accompanied by a lot of pictures. I really enjoy blogging, great release for the mind after a hard day

[Dettbizzle]

The last time I kept a blog was when I was in high school, about eight years ago. At that time, it was merely the musings and everyday, down to the minute activity of a teenager. Not my proudest moment, but I intend to start a blog in the future for the purpose of getting my life off of my chest.

My advice, know your subject content to the fullest if you plan on orienting your blog towards anything specific, such as religion, sports, politics, philanthropy, etc. The more you know, the better you can convey your thoughts on the matter. Of course, if you intended to start an everyday life blog or perhaps a humor blog, these rules go out the window, and they come based on a personal view of your content.

[Ethan Blake]

YOU CAN USE THIS FORUM TO BLOG, SAVE YOURSELF THE COST OF A WEBSITE AND JUST USE THE FREE WRITING THREAD, AND YOU HAVE AN ALREADY ESTABLISHED READERSHIP!

BEST REGARDS
D

[singphantom7]

I just, literally just started one. I actually haven't told a single person (apart from my boyfriend) or shared the link yet, becuase I'm still working on it. I'm using it as a website to promote my writing, as many publishers I've worked with asked me for a link to my site that they could share with readers, if I have one.

I am all about writing fiction, not so much non-fiction blogs. But I am having fun with the design of the site. I am learning a whole new thing. Blogspot.com lets you design the entire layout. I've just learned what a gadget is, and I'm coming off this 3 day obsession with playing around and learning how to do things with color/text/links and gadgets.

I don't even like the word "blog", particularly. But I love the idea of having my own site for my writing, wether anyone wants to see it or not. A free one is just fine for where I am in my writing right now.

[Dan Hauer]

Originally Posted by singphantom7

I don't even like the word "blog", particularly.

Yeah, I dislike it, too. I don't know if I dislike it just because it's newfangled or if I dislike it because it's displeasing to the ear. It sounds like a sound a squishy animal would make.

[singphantom7]

Thank you, Dan. Newfangled AND displeasing to the ear. Double wammy. "Blog" is like spelling out the sound of someone throwing up in their mouth a little, like, "She'd had just a bit too much to drink. I heard a soft blog coming up from her throat."

Also, I don't want to have a site that is meant to be a personal diary, but more for something representative of my writing. Like a little artistic resume posted for all who care to see it. Even if I just see it, I'm having so much fun with it. I love blogspot, despite its use of the word blog. It's addictative and free. I feel like a kid drawing pictures for the refridgerator.

[RayR]

I've blogged for over five years and I enjoy it. A few hints:

1. Use Wordpress. Sign-up with a hosting service that has a Wordpress installer and the process will go quickly.

2. Check-out the website Useit.com. It's full of web writing style and format suggestions.

3. Watch out for spammers who will attack your website constantly. Install Askimet spam block, if using Wordpress.

4. Write often to create a following. 250 word posts suffice.

5. Watch out for comments full of spam links.

6. Link to credible websites.

[singphantom7]

What's your wordpress site, Ray? I'd like to check it out.

[Dan Hauer]

Originally Posted by singphantom7

"She'd had just a bit too much to drink. I heard a soft blog coming up from her throat."

Heh heh. Nice.

[J.McGraw]

I started a blog a few years ago as a new year's resolution to help me write. Plan was to post a piece of fiction once a month for a year. I haven't yet managed to complete a whole year, but I'm sure I will eventually. In my ideal world, I wanted people to comment on what they liked or didn't like about what I wrote, or simply tell me if they thought it was boring or cliched. I put my writing up with very little editing, in the hopes that, when I do come to edit it, I'd have some constructive critisism to work from. It's a wonderful idea in theory, but apparently not in practice.

Out of the blogs I read, I'm less of a fan of those which are merely an extension of someone's Twitter feed. I think personal blogs only work if you're funny, or you have an amazingly interesting life. My absolute favourite blogs are Digital Cuttlefish and The Bloggess. If, some day in the hazy future, I can create something like that, I will die a happy lady.

[J.McGraw]

Sorry for the double post, but I can't send PM's at the moment.

To singphantom7, sorry I can't reply - downside of being a newbie! I can't post the link in a thread yet, either, but it's in my signature if you fancy a look. Thanks for dropping me a line!

[singphantom7]

Thanks, J. I checked out a few of your posts on my lunch break and left a comment. You have a lot of work posted! I enjoyed browsing and reading.