So you want to be a blogger do you?
May 18th 2007 08:32
Since I have been blogging, quite a few people have asked me ‘So why do you do it and what is it all about?’ Fair enough question really although if you are reading this then you with have some knowledge about blogs, so I will answer as to why I write posts for my blog, positives, pitfalls and helpful hints.
Why I blog? It first started as a way for my family overseas of seeing what I am up to but rapidly started to evolve into something much more. People have asked me ‘I would like to have my own blog but I wouldn’t know what to write about?’
Now I will let you into a little secret, wanting to write a blog is the first but most important step to take. As from that small step, many great things and possibilities will be created just waiting for you to realize them. The way I see it, the net is here to stay and its world wide, so seize the moment and instead of day dreaming about winning the lotto or wishing you had a better job, move from the wishing something will happen, to making something happen.
Before I started blogging my life was basically, go to work, come home, do some writing on trilogy, with the odd mtb ride thrown in. All very average and boring really but once I started to blog, I found myself thinking ‘What if?’ To all kinds of questions and the more I thought of things, the more I found not only could I think outside the square but also increased my confidence in what I was doing.
With this thought in mind, I have now got my own business cards printed with my details www.kiwiauthor.com , author, blogger, photographer on them, postcards in the same image but just with blog address and Christchurch’s Best Blog on them. By doing this, these items give me more credibility when explaining my vision to people etc.
And incase you are wondering ‘What is kiwiauthor’s vision?’ Well Christchurch’s Best Blogg for one and secondly to hold my first photograph exhibition by the end of the year with a coffee table book to be published too.
I must note that you will get people who just don’t understand what you are doing, why or just laugh at you. A good example of this was today when I was leaving work. When asked why I was leaving early, ‘I replied I was getting some signage on my car for my blog’. Well that was it, my colleagues laughed, in a good way but they still laughed at the idea.
Buts that’s fine as for one it only makes me stronger in my desire to succeed and secondly, people always mock what they don’t understand or what they feel threatened by, but I find something like that motivates me more so not a problem really.
Getting back to the question of what to write? Well most of us do something worth writing about, it could be a book, movie, restaurant reviews, tv series, weather, anything really but the one thing you will notice is that the more you become passionate about your blogging, the more things you will notice to write about. Or if you are like me, you will start trying new things, going to new shows or venues so to create something interesting to write about.
I try to write about anything and everything so not to become a one trick pony as such but have introduced some regular pieces such as Christchurch Weather Eye, Book & Movie Review and the up and coming Q & A.
I have noticed that there are a few shock bloggers out there, which is fair enough but I won’t put anything on my blog that I wouldn’t say to that persons face. As blogging does have bit of a dodgy rep at the moment with various people posting various items that does nothing to help blogging in general.
In my experience I have found that it is much easier to be negative then to be positive, so hence why I try to write so just maybe a reader might find some inspiration, hope or motivation to try some or do something different. As we can all make a difference, as who knows, someone might be having a real crap day, been dumped, lost job etc, only to log on and see a lovely sunrise photo which makes them smile.
Could be all wishful thinking but there’s the magic as who really knows? And if one person out there is having a real tough time and something from my blog helps them through it, then I have succeeded in what I am trying to achieve.
Lastly, have fun and enjoy it as it will show in your writing.
Hal
Why I blog? It first started as a way for my family overseas of seeing what I am up to but rapidly started to evolve into something much more. People have asked me ‘I would like to have my own blog but I wouldn’t know what to write about?’
Now I will let you into a little secret, wanting to write a blog is the first but most important step to take. As from that small step, many great things and possibilities will be created just waiting for you to realize them. The way I see it, the net is here to stay and its world wide, so seize the moment and instead of day dreaming about winning the lotto or wishing you had a better job, move from the wishing something will happen, to making something happen.
Before I started blogging my life was basically, go to work, come home, do some writing on trilogy, with the odd mtb ride thrown in. All very average and boring really but once I started to blog, I found myself thinking ‘What if?’ To all kinds of questions and the more I thought of things, the more I found not only could I think outside the square but also increased my confidence in what I was doing.
With this thought in mind, I have now got my own business cards printed with my details www.kiwiauthor.com , author, blogger, photographer on them, postcards in the same image but just with blog address and Christchurch’s Best Blog on them. By doing this, these items give me more credibility when explaining my vision to people etc.
And incase you are wondering ‘What is kiwiauthor’s vision?’ Well Christchurch’s Best Blogg for one and secondly to hold my first photograph exhibition by the end of the year with a coffee table book to be published too.
I must note that you will get people who just don’t understand what you are doing, why or just laugh at you. A good example of this was today when I was leaving work. When asked why I was leaving early, ‘I replied I was getting some signage on my car for my blog’. Well that was it, my colleagues laughed, in a good way but they still laughed at the idea.
Buts that’s fine as for one it only makes me stronger in my desire to succeed and secondly, people always mock what they don’t understand or what they feel threatened by, but I find something like that motivates me more so not a problem really.
Getting back to the question of what to write? Well most of us do something worth writing about, it could be a book, movie, restaurant reviews, tv series, weather, anything really but the one thing you will notice is that the more you become passionate about your blogging, the more things you will notice to write about. Or if you are like me, you will start trying new things, going to new shows or venues so to create something interesting to write about.
I try to write about anything and everything so not to become a one trick pony as such but have introduced some regular pieces such as Christchurch Weather Eye, Book & Movie Review and the up and coming Q & A.
I have noticed that there are a few shock bloggers out there, which is fair enough but I won’t put anything on my blog that I wouldn’t say to that persons face. As blogging does have bit of a dodgy rep at the moment with various people posting various items that does nothing to help blogging in general.
In my experience I have found that it is much easier to be negative then to be positive, so hence why I try to write so just maybe a reader might find some inspiration, hope or motivation to try some or do something different. As we can all make a difference, as who knows, someone might be having a real crap day, been dumped, lost job etc, only to log on and see a lovely sunrise photo which makes them smile.
Could be all wishful thinking but there’s the magic as who really knows? And if one person out there is having a real tough time and something from my blog helps them through it, then I have succeeded in what I am trying to achieve.
Lastly, have fun and enjoy it as it will show in your writing.
Hal
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Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
I've been offered a doman blog recently by Orble...thinking about the possibilities...
Not so much for the money aspect, but as a helpful guide for people who have cancer, and a support blog for their caregivers and family memeber...'
Don't know if it would be something people out there would be interested in, but it's worth a shot...just to be able to help people right?
This blog of yours has been a very good example of the do's and don't's of blogging...I come here because I love the pictures and the test you put with them...
I asoire to do the same sort of work...to help people...and if I can, in some small way, then I think it would be worth it...
What are your thoughts on it?
Great blog!
Take care,
Nick
Comment by Kiwi Author
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Good on you, go for it, carefully choose a domain name that won't date and will cover ALL aspects now and what you might want to run in the future. Then once you have got that sorted started writing on anything in that field, could be things like best food to eat, various treatments, even posts to make you smile? The more you blog, the more your ideas and thinking out side the square will grow.
I just love it when I have a problem and have to think outside the square to solve it, that is what motivates me, this and the fact that I am trying to make a difference anyway I can, no matter how 'out there' the idea seems.
As at the end of the day, all we will have left is the deeds that we have done with our time here.
Not that I am religious or something, I just have my own views and morals.
I don't know if you do? But maybe if your horses are nice enough you could organise rides for cancer sufferer's although I guess with US libel laws, you need to be pretty well covered?
You might find someone at a hospice who might like their life put online?
I have found that the more I blog, the more confident I have become in sometimes just asking for something?
Hope this sort of helps?
Hal