Your Style

Callie

It is easy for me to blog majority of the time because I discuss things that happen day to day or at least some of the week. I find that for me blogging is a natural thing just as breathing air. I do not concentrate on material or genre, that pans out as you continue to write and before you know it you will have readers that will fall into the things you write about. Find out and write about what your passion is!

I blog for release of life’s issues. In my life and I am sure others I tease and say for me it is therapy. Free Therapy. I can write about every detail of my life if I so choose, and feel relieved and get advice from other readers. Sometimes that can be a beneficial thing because it helps me to see what others see. It also helps me to relate to other people on many different levels. Among many other things I enjoy about blogging is meeting so many people in different lands of different cultures and establishing a connection with them. It is a great honor for me to be able to have that gift. My readers- and those that visit, they are gifts to me.

Blogging is not important in the aspect of work for me. It is something that I love to do and share with the world. It matters to me a great deal in the aspect of my life, because I am able to share my highs and lows. It also enables me to grow as a person in expression of my deepest thoughts in many areas that concern me that I may not be able to speak of otherwise. I am truly blessed to be able to use such a tool that can be used to change the world per se’. Therefore when you blog what is it that you want the world to know, but more importantly what are you wanting to say!

I do not consider my blog a success per se’. If anything I see it as a blessing. I am fortunate to be able to do something that allows me to be creative and yet honor the freedom of speech movement. There are so many in the world that do not have this opportunity.

As for my Inspirations, that would be my readers. I have had people tell me that know of me personally: “You have so many fans!” I do not get paid for what I do. I don’t wish too. I mean, I am flattered that people think my site is cool, which means a lot to me. All of the visits that show up on my stat counter that is a real treat for me. But throughout my period of blogging if you start at the beginning of my archives and read forward, you will see that my readers- especially those that have been with me from the beginning are more than fans. They are my family. There have been times we have cried with each other through the downs, and we have kept each other going through the Up’s. They have seen me at low points of bad relationships with men, high points with my ever growing faith in God, and just everything. I have seen my share of rough neck comments also. Believe me. *laughs* but because of my blog family I have weathered storms and come out. God placed them in my path. I am delighted in being in theirs. I guess that is my success.

You also can determine that in your blogging. Are you writing for monetary reasons, are you blogging for mankind, or just for kicks? Your blogging development and success is decided by the type of writing style you present, and the type of readers it gathers.

In other words, Blog because you want to- not because you have to. Blog to Blog!

love passionately and often and laugh...

EXSENO

Where do we go for the kind of freedom we long for, the unrestricted right to feel, do and say what ever we want. We go right here in Blogger Heaven.

Where else but in the world of blog, could a person express their self so freely. Where else but in the world of blog could a person live out their hopes their dreams, share their happiness and sadness and even live out their fantasies.

No where, but in the blogosphere, and a sphere it is, of our own little society. A society of people who have the total freedom to be anything they want to be. To say anything they want to say. It's your blog to do what ever you want.

I've seen a lot of things since I've been coming here, the good, bad, happy and sad. You've made me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time.

Oh excuse me did I say seen, instead of read, was that incorrect? I think not, for I have seen your wonderful personalities shine through your words many times. Wonderful words that seem to have wings and take flight so that others can find them and enjoy.

A while back I came upon a site where two of my blogger friends were having a heated debate it made me stop and think.

In the past if I was asked why I liked to blog, I would have to really give it some thought. I would answer everything from I like to write, to I like to meet people, to I like to read other peoples views, and yet it always felt like something was missing. Why was it such a hard question to answer? None of those really totally was what I was feeling, yet I couldn't put my finger on it. It took running into this heated debate to make me realize why I blog.

Suddenly it all became so clear, if someone should ask me why today, it wouldn't be a problem. The answer for me would have to be Freedom.

I blog for the freedom (he most beautiful word in the world next to love) speech. For the freedom of being able to say what I feel, what I like, and what I want, without fear of reprimand. I blog because I love to blog. I blog because I can. I blog for the love of freedom!

To those of you who were here before me, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your world and to those of you who are thinking about being a blogger I'd like to say --jump in with both feet -- you will love it!

Beyond the PC

Personal technology at The Economist online

WE ARE entering what some in the technology industry refer to as a post-PC era. This does not mean that the personal computer is about to disappear. But according to estimates from Gartner, a research firm, combined shipments of web-connected smartphones and tablet computers are likely to exceed those of desktop and laptop computers for the first time this year, putting PCs in the shade. According to Morgan Stanley, an investment bank, there could be 10 billion mobile devices in circulation by 2020. Many of these will use bite-size chunks of software known as “apps”, some 18 billion of which are likely to be downloaded this year. As mobile, web-connected devices become ubiquitous, the volume of data they produce will soar. Cisco, a technology company, reckons that by 2015 some 6.3 exabytes of mobile data will be flowing each month, or the equivalent of 63 billion copies of The Economist. Much of that will be in the form of videos like the one below.

1. Industrial sleek design. Brushed aluminum-glass. Cheap plastic is repulsive.

2. Smooth tactile surfaces.

3. Maximizing screen size for the device face. Smaller frames.

4. Gorilla Glass: Tough smooth surface. Customers ask for it by name.

5. Touch screen glass. No keyboards.

6. Any color you want as long as it is black...or white. Fruity or pastel colors are discouraged.

7. Cloud based storage.

8. Flash memory instead of disk drive, hard drive.

9. Critical Wi-Fi connection. This is a network device not a stand alone device. 3G is less necessary.

10. The Prime functions are Web Surfing, Social Networking and eMail. These are obligatory.

11. Keyboards and mouse become obsolete. Only a handful of necessary external buttons, preferrably 3 or less. Everything else is handled through software and screen.

12. One necessary data output that remains is the headphone jack.

13. USB are becoming less necessary.

14. Lithium Ion batteries with at least a 1day preferably 2day function.

15. Preferably be handy, fit in your palm, and fit in your pocket.

16. Cost $99. Or $199. Or $299. Never $100.00 etc.

17. Made in China...this is by necessity. But the fact can be downplayed by saying "Designed in Cupertino".

18. Be intuitive.

19. Have a simple and flawless 'Out-Of-the-box Experience'. Usable and charged ready to go for the impatient consumer.

20. Be Tactile. Important to have a store with sample devices that consumers can fondle and hold.

21. Color Screen...black and white is obsolete.

22. Even though humans are getting fatter and fatter, everyone wants slimmer and slimmer devices.

23. Built in GPS and location based services.

24. USER FRIENDLY SOFTWARE. Critical but after 30 years, not even Microsoft gets this.

25. Manuals are disappearing, which is permissible with intuitive software.

26. Design use and around the literacy of a 12 year old. Not a Phd in computer science.

27. Have enough supply to match market demand on opening day.

28. Pay attention to Apple products. Reverse engineer them when you lack internal innovation. That is the policy of Microsoft, Hewlett- Packard, Dell, Amazon, Samsung, HTC, RIM Blackberry, Nokia and multiple Chinese and Taiwanese firms.

29. Pay attention to blogosphere. Bad reviews can sink a product just as quick as bad movie gossip. Negative reviews carry more weight than positive reviews.

30. Put in a 10 MB Digital Camera. People want it.

32. Do not give the customer too many choices--it confuses them. At most 3 choices.

33. Ideal release point is 3 months before Christmas. Superbowl ads are too late.

34. Smart Covers: Instant on with uncovering are better than an on/off switch and several commands.

35. Software embedded and integrated with hardware is far more efficient and smooth.

36. Clunky accessories and peripherals like a/c adapter should also be addressed in detail.

37. Less is More.

38. Good Design is about good editing. Leave out the Crap. And Keep the Essential.

39. Pay attention to the hand. The Ergo-dynamics of the device. How it is carried. Read. Interacted with. We would not have an epidemic of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome otherwise.

40. Make it Delightful. Customers want Magic and will pay for it.

Heavenly Thoughts

Peg Haustetter

What is blog to me? A blog is an organic, interactive, communication tool that lives on the Internet. A blog is the extension of our thoughts, hopes and dreams. A blog helps us get our work done. A blog is: diverse, interactive, relationship-based, addicting, organic, fun!!!!, educational, entertaining, a destination, self-serving, technical, pictorial, communication, creative, informational, an event, public forum, helpful, and much, much more....

I started blogging several years ago with a few of my friends. We blogged about the cool hot spots to hang out in the city, the fashions people were wearing, great restaurants we visited, and our non-existent love-life. We blogged about our careers - interactive marketing project managers, experts in SEO, online advertising, demographic analysis, marketing do's and don't's and website usability. We even blogged about blogging!!

About a year and half ago, I moved from my lifelong home in the Midwest to the west coast to be with the love of my life. My blogging became more of a personal journal of my life's journey. It evolved into a place to share pictures, adventures and experiences with my friends back home. Plus, blogging has satisfied my secret dream of being a writer. I have always wanted to write a novel. I always say "one of these days". So, blogging satisfies that part of my soul. Maybe I will be able to take my blog entries and use them as the basis of a book, who knows.

IF blogs really are all of the things that I listed above, first and foremost they are communication tools. And the key ingredient in blogging "it is powered by PEOPLE"!! We can read each others opinions, expertise, heartaches, accomplishments and we can learn, laugh and experience from each other. It's great!! It's a bridge to each other in a world where we would have NEVER met in person. I love it!! Everyone can be a blogger, everyone can reach out and influence someone else. It's a wonderful world!!
Keep on blogging!

Peg Haustetter, blogging since 2004, currently lives in San Diego, CA. She loves life!! She has 12 years technical project management experience, and have managed 100's of successful projects. She is working as a Program Manager for an ASP in the Security/DRM space.

It's a Women' World

Lynda Winsor

When I first came to the world of blogging, the blogosphere, I had no idea what I was doing, what it was all about, or even what I would blog about. That changed real fast! I fell in love with the blogosphere, and, with blogging itself. I am addicted to turning out posts, day by day.

I was taught by the instructors of blogging (we have all read their stuff), that a blog should be a personal journal. I simply do not agree with that. A blog to me is an information center on whatever you, the blogger, feel is worth sharing with the world as a whole. For instance, I have seven blogs (lynda's loft, Writing for the Hell of It~, Heavenly Inclinations, It's a Woman's World, Life Line 101, Remarkable Bloggers and The G (Gentleman's) Spot), each on a different subject. And I have some more in storage, so to speak. Perhaps the facets of my personality need an outlet, or perhaps my intellect is so diverse that it needs release. Who knows? All I know is that I can sit and tap the keyboard, almost daily, about 7 different subjects, and, still have more to say on any given topic.

Blogging is an interesting communal effort. There are times when you feel that no one is out there reading your stuff; however, you find out that many are. They are simply silent in their passing through your pages to the next, sort of like butterflies. I said communal effort as, you are providing information, entertainment, news, or what have you, to the World Wide Web. These readers in turn are boosting your ranking, and, you are in turn reading and boosting their ranking.

The communal part of blogging is that many like minded individuals are assisting one another in gaining readers, and, popularity. Such as if you are into gardening, many gardening writers will visit your blog to see what is going on there; in turn you will visit their blogs, and, so forth. The end result is a network, a network that expands even beyond your area of expertise and interest. It is a social collaboration which works very well within the blogosphere.

I do not know if everyone or if anyone will agree with me, but, I believe that blogging is a source of diverse and profound intellect, which if done properly, can build a business, a reputation, a social network, and, lifelong friendships.

A blog to me, personally, is a source of emptying my brain of all the thoughts which I carry. I am a writer, and, it is The Best outlet I have ever experienced for getting these thoughts in order, in succession, and, in print. I find it extremely stimulating. I find it furthers my need to write, and, it grants me numerous ideas and avenues with which I can disperse of my thoughts. I love it~~~

There are many styles of blogs out in the blogosphere. Some are judged by content, some are hailed for their thought inducing facets, some are popularized for their technical attributes, and some are visited daily for their music, and, so forth. This is what makes blogging interesting. This is what makes it an awesome undertaking.

People from the old blogging school scoff at the newer bloggers. They feel that blogging has gone too far; that it has detoured from its original intent, which was web logging. Web logging is fine, for those who are corporate. For the rest of us, blogging is whatever we wish it to be. It is an open space of great minds, curious ideals, personalities, and individual intellect. Given the amount of people who are blogging these days, I would say that it is here to stay, and, that its general direction will keep changing. Change is good.

A blog is a personal venture. It has so many paths which can be taken. Even with a single post, you can then spin that into many different areas of thought. I call this thought weaving. I can write a single sentence, and, from that one sentence, I can expand upon words within that sentence into many areas of topic. A blog is an individual expression of what you might think worthy today. Tomorrow it could follow the same flow, or, go forth as something totally changed. Whatever comes of it, a blog is about the writer, creator, and, person who creates them. It is about sharing; it is about getting out into the world and letting your voice be heard. It is about making a statement. It is about being who you are, as, when you are blogging, the real you will show through no matter if you did not intend for it to do so, because, day after day, you are revealing what is coming forth of the internal you...

Blogging rocks and, I will blog until my fingers cease to allow me to...

My own universe

Zoia Tariq

Being a woman, especially in a conservative society, is often a complex, frustrating and wearisome experience. Blogs are a great way to express my thoughts, share my ideas and discuss my views.

Though I am not a passionate blogger, I do write when there is an incident that provokes me to. It is my platform to analyze, appreciate, criticize, observe, discuss and evaluate an issue that makes me think. My voice on the blog is not always a sane one, but it is definitely honest and mine only. Here I don’t have to be politically correct or restrained, as blogging is akin to talking to yourself, not to the audience. So I talk and the world listens and offers its point of view. Hence I get to learn different perspectives on various subjects.

Blogging for me is not a public service and I don’t do it to educate or enlighten, only to make people think about the stuff that often goes unnoticed.

Keeping a daily journal is considered one of the most effective stress busters. My blog is that and a lot more, for me.

I blog when something worries me or causes anxiety. When little gestures annoy or excite me. When I meet someone interesting or horrible. When I witness apathy or interest. When I get angry or joyful. How I see tomorrow? What are my regrets and dreams? What inspires me?

I know I don’t want to be associated with any clan, being a strong individual with a firm voice and active grey cells. Sometimes, even hyperactive! Hence not all my entries make sense.

I add photos, links, quotes, articles, travel experiences and anything  and everything that I find interesting.

Blogging for me is means of self-expression.

My blog is my world. A small universe of my own.

No Longer Ambivalent

Damaria Senne

A number of developments affected my aims and objectives as a blogger since I last posted on Fine Art of Blogging. The big difference is that I’m no longer ambivalent about blogging. I’m not addicted yet, but I enjoy it now.

Part of the reason is that blogging is now taking flight in South Africa, with local media houses setting up blog networks. My employer ITWeb was among the companies that launched blog networks where anyone could join. Employees are not under pressure to blog, but some of my colleagues joined up.

The increased awareness about blogging among my acquaintances made it easier for me to introduce people to my first blog, Storypot, where I post children’s stories and talk about parenting and writing.

I still feel naked when I talk about my creative writing or people comment about my children’s stories. But that is something that happens whether people who know me as a journalist learn that I write children’s stories from the blog or other means.

The second development was more internal - I have come to realize that as I grow as a human being, my blogging also evolves.

When I first launched Storypot in 2005, I was creating a place were readers can access samples of my work, and editors can see the variety of children’s stories I’m capable of creating.
I also created a combination parent/ writer’s journal, sharing how these two roles feed and influence each other.

The collection of children’s stories is slowly growing. Some need strong editing and rewriting, but they are out there, mostly reassuring me that I am doing something to make the dream of writing children’s books a reality. But the scope of my commentary is also growing as new elements come into my life, influencing my writing processes.

So Storypot is not what I started out with, and it’s not what it was when I first posted on Quasifictionalviews. But it reflects the evolution of my creative writing and the things that inspire me.

Through the blog, I also made connections with local children’s writers/editors. I also gained a measure of recognition for the blog. South African media analyst and ICT commentator Arthur Goldstuck also named me “Player of the Week” on the Mail and Guardian’s Thought Leader. A production company also approached me with a view of including me in its profiles of South African writers for a documentary.

I was content with the way things were going until, over lunch one day, a friend suggested I launch a blog on my employer’s network. This one would earn me enough for a regulator cup of tea, she said. I tried to explain that my schedule was hectic enough as it is; I didn’t have time to start another blog.

“All you have to do is write the posts, and I’ll put them up for you. And when I have time, I’ll help you promote the blog,” she said.

How could I say no when someone believed in my unborn blog enough to invest their own time on it? That’s how Mobile Life, where I look at the impact of mobile phones on the way South Africans work, play, learn and communicate, came into being.

I have strong views about the subject, but I also recognize that Mobile Life allows me to use my area of expertise as a journalist to develop a product that’s mine, helping me develop an independent revenue stream.

Promoting Mobile Life is also easier, in part because I now know how to promote a blog and have implemented a strategy that is slowly but surely growing my audience.

1000petals

Axinia

I started in October 2006 with a missionary idea to tell the world more about the true beauty in a 3-language blog . As it grew I had to split it in 3 separate ones.

Then I realised that I still want to share more than this topic and started 1000petals - my sweetest and the most joyful baby that let me treat it as often as possible without much effort. Then my best friend invited me to join the administration of our exclusive club`s blog, and here I am with 5 blogs!

As my art of blogging was unfolding, it turned out to be a tender and yet powerful 6 petal flower:

1. Beauty. Most of the Internet users are visualy-oriented. Surprisingly not all bloggers use pictures as a powerful tool. The world is bubbling with colors: majestic landscapes, breath-taking close ups of flowers, people expressing emotions - why not mirror it?! It is almost a physical pleasure for me to fish for elevating pictures on Flickr and then put them on my blogs.
2. SEO - as far as I understand, Wordpress promotes you automatically to Google, and that is the best engine anyway. I was thinking of further SEO but then realized two things: 1) I am unlikely to go to any other search engines If I am looking for something particular, so how many people actually do that? Probably not many. 2) If my blog is good, it will attract readers anyway (which actually happens). So I refused from any further SEO activities.
3. Being authentic. Being authentic is one of my strongest personal feature, and same case with my blogs. No false roles, borrowed concepts, snatched ideas and tricks. Whatever I post is gone through my experiences and represents my core qualities and values.
4. Highest achievement. The most surprising fact in my short blogging history was the first personal email of a reader which I got. And then it grew like a snowball! People (and what caliber of people!) seek my friendship outside blogging and find it: a bunch of unfolding relationships is on my email list and in my heart. The funny thing is that I was never interested in Internet-provided relationships for the simple reason of my rich social life. Not that I am lacking some more dosens of friends :) But people get attracted, what can I do?
5. Attraction. A popular word with a desirable content. Due to the weired value system of today one can easily attract people with the universal values of tomorrow, for they appear fresh and truly elevating. Practicing Sahaja Yoga for 11 years gave me such a unique world perception that readers find it fascinating to learn something entirely new. Right now I am preparing a spate of posts about "Divine Geography" for 1000petals. Uniqueness is only a tool of attraction though. Guess what is the driving force of it?
6. LOVE is the almighty key to the heart of everyone. Same works for blogging. People get attracted by the love pouring from your blog like bees to the blossoming flower...I suggest regarding Love as the best SEO! Love which is just about putting much heart into it.Unconditionally.

You are invited to contribute.

Imposing Headlines

There are lot of imposing and important news around the world that surrounds us - but it is difficult to read them all and follow what is happening on one place. But not anymore. Here at Imposing Headlines we agregate every thning of interest in diffirednt catagories. We will make an endeavour to update the blog as frequently as possible.

We will only flash the headlines and a link to the detailed news so that one can hurriedly make a selection and read the related news of one's choice and concern at the source.

This is what Imposing Headlines is about. have a look (and your suggestions and leads are welcome).

Random and Odd

Kristine

I started out using Blogger. It was a free program, but during the sale of Blogger to Google, there were months of ‘glitches’ and it became extremely frustrating. I finally decided to buy my own domain at randomandodd.com/. I use wordpress now. The program transferred all my writing and comments without a flaw. It was an easy switch to make.

I started ‘blogging’ before it had a name. It started out with ‘what I was reading’ and pictures of the kids. It wasn’t long before I found that my written diary was missing and I began writing my journey as a parent, married in suburbia.

During my divorce I shut down my personal blog that had only one reader. Myself. I kept all my writing, but used it mostly as a personal reference of how I was doing.

After the divorce, I opened up another ‘about me’ page. It was http://www.justkeeton.com/. I enjoyed sharing my stories about how I was doing in my fantasy football league. I spoke of the funny stories my kids would play out in front of me. I picked up two more readers, my mom and sister.

Due to my lack of income, I lost my domain and started writing in my personal diary again. I even began writing poetry.

After college I opened up my ‘Random and Odd’ page and started pouring out the pain of a relationship I didn’t think would last. I began to share the pain I had gone through with my divorce. After awhile I finally began to talk about the anxiety and panic I was living with. I didn’t realize that I had people reading and relating to the way I write and the stories I would tell would offer them hope. I began getting emails from genuine people thanking me for my words.

It was then my blog somehow got bigger and bigger.

The word ‘blog’ has always been a mystery to me. It wasn’t until I started reading a book called, “A Feminine Mystique” that I started to understand how much ‘blogging’ had opened doors that were always whispered about. When someone else can write something personal about themselves and have someone say, “I understand. I battle that too.” is powerful. It gives people a link to the outside world of the world they are in. The normal day to day grind of a housewife, a working woman, a cancer patient, a single father…is now shared with many people that can give someone the strength to keep it together when they don’t think they can handle another day of the ‘grind’ they call their life.

My blog to me is the written; “Note To Self” I want to remember what I did last year. Two years ago. I want to know that I had a bad day. I want to remember that my kids glued me to a plastic chair. I want to go back through the pictures I thought were my best.

I don’t pick my topic. My topics pick themselves. I sit down and start writing, much like I did when I picked up my pen and fought to keep the binding down to get all my writing in it before it slammed shut.

My home is full. We have 5 kids. My ex-husband is one of my best friends. My husband’s ex-wife was attacked at her home by 4 men with guns and has been sharing our home for 6 months with her one year old child. Topics are easy to come by.

I’m not a big fan of blog templates. I have finally found a simple blog template. Not too overwhelming. I would like to be able to find ones that I like, but being picky about the layouts and how my words look on them and the response I get from my readers…I have only changed it twice.

Blogging matters to me because I NEED to get it out. I need to talk to my friends, my family. I need to let them know that I am okay. I’m not okay. It’s also important for me to share my life, because I feel no matter how much anxiety and panic I suffer from that it doesn’t take away from trying to be an open and honest person who is willing to open her heart and home for people no matter what title they have in front of their names: ex, new, step, friend…we are human and we need to treat people like that.

Everyday is a high point. I get emails from people that make me realize that the life that I am leading is helping them. They see how people can treat other people and they realize they can be better. They also realize that I am so far from perfect and that is SO totally okay. Last week I asked my readers to send me ‘mixed cds’ so I can open up to new music and get to know that reader on a new level. I have received over 30 cd’s and I am thrilled to death with how they really listened to what I needed and without a question, sent me music. I am planning to making Cds for my readers that sent me some.

I use to have advertising on my site, but realized after awhile that I almost felt like I was writing for advertising reasons and one night I pulled all of it off my site and got back to writing for me again. I probably won’t go back to the advertising.

PS: This strong, beautiful woman writes more on what 'blog' really means to her after she sent off this post.

Pen and Prosper

Jennifer Brown Banks

Blogs are defined in their most basic form as online journals. Since their evolution in the 1990's, they have emerged as a popular mode of expression to do everything from rant, to raise the consciousness level on certain social issues, to self-promotion.

They are indeed many things to many people. I've started several over the years for various purposes. A few were recreational in nature, while others were devoted to sharing knowledge in my niche area of writing.

My most recent one, Pen and Prosper, has been the most successful and rewarding thus far. I've found, like many aspects of life, you learn from your mistakes.

Here are a few valuable lessons that my blogging experience has provided thus far that I'd like to share with you today.

1. There is great truth to the adage, “Rome wasn't built over night.” In other words, you're unlikely to be an overnight success with blogging or a writing career. It takes time to develop your style and voice, and to cultivate and maintain an audience. Don't rush it. With my current blog, I can't even count how many times in the beginning that I started to call it quits because I wasn't getting a lot of feedback in the way of readers' comments, or in the number of followers. I'm now proud to say that I recently celebrated my one year anniversary with my blog, and even though the numbers are still not “record breaking” they improve more and more each month. And yours will likely too. Hang in there!
2. For best results, choose a topic for which you have a great deal of passion and experience. One of the reasons that I make frequent posts to my blog, and am able to maintain momentum, is that I love writing about writing! When you love what you do, it's easier to engage other people and to cultivate a loyal following.
3. Be the star that you are! There's a lot to be said about being authentic and real. Strive to be the best version of you, as opposed to being a mediocre carbon copy of someone else.
4. Post to your blog on a regular, consistent basis. Even if your posts are short; just make sure they're quality. Sometimes it can be as simple as a beautiful image and your favorite poem or quote. By doing so, readers know what to expect and you build trust and credibility.

Now that I've shared how to blog better, I'll share with you the role blogging has played for me professionally and personally.

For me, my blog has gone from being a way to gain exposure for my creative ideas, to a means by which to teach and reach others from all ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, and regions. It has allowed me to connect with others, network, and form lasting bonds that have been beyond my expectations. And hopefully yours will too.

Jennifer Brown Banks is a professional, veteran freelance writer and Blogger with over 500 publishing credits both online and in print publications. She has authored several relationship columns and produced feature pieces on an array of topics. Other hats that Jennifer Brown Banks wears include creative writing instructor and prolific poet. Jennifer Brown Banks also serve on several advisory boards. She is a former Senior Editor of Mahogany Magazine.

Related Posts: Criteria for inviting bloggers to join Fine Art of Blogging, Invitation

newsome

Kent Newsome

My blog is a creative outlet for the energy and need for expression that I used to direct towards writing songs, and a medium to initiate conversations with people who share interests of mine that are not generally shared by my real world friends. I write because I like to build things and to see if I can become meaningful in an area other than the one in which I make my living. Fundamentally, I write for the people who will allow me to become part of their conversations, either because they like what I have to say or because they are willing to try to change my mind. And, to be honest, I write to show some of the people who believe they are blog stars that a middle aged ex-farmer from Texas can compete with them on their field, and on their terms.

I think blogging is a wonderful method of self-expression and, indirectly, life and data archival. Because we blog, our children and grandchildren will have a vast repository of our opinions, thoughts and actions. Imagine how amazing it would be to see years’ worth of posts, pictures and conversations by your parents or grandparents. The tragedy is that so much of the baby boomer generation is oblivious to blogging. Part of the reason blogging has not reached further into the consciousness of the general public is that people blog for different reasons. Like almost everything else, there is a percentage of the blogging population whose first question is not “how can this enrich my life,” but “how can I use this to get rich.” The biggest buzz kill in the blogosphere are the people who view blogging, in and of itself, purely as a way to make money- as opposed to a platform to share and store information. Like the friend who is constantly trying to sell you something, these folks keep others from coming to the party.

The best way to promote your blog is to write hard, link a lot, respond to links from others, comment often and develop a core group of blogging friends to help nurture cross-blog conversation. And when that pays off and you get a lot of readers, to remember where you started and be grateful.

I pick my topics by scanning my reading list, reading the news, looking at collaborative resources like Delicious, Techmeme and Digg, and by trying to know when I have something to add and when I don’t.

My blogging high points are when I check my Bloglines alert feeds and see comments on and links to my blog from other bloggers. When someone takes the time to talk back to us, it is the highest and best form of validation for the effort we spend writing. It’s what makes blogging worthwhile.

Blogs to Yaqoob

Muhammad Yaqoob

I have had a standing invitation from Diogenes - one of my blogger friends to write about what is blog to me and how I blog and why for his ongoing project at Fine Art of Blogging. Here I go.

Blogs are a lot more to me that you see at this and some my other blogs (here and here). Let me recall how it all started. I've been "blogging" in one form or another since as long as I care to remember. The word "blog" didn't exist then. Nor did Google - it was Yahoo! and Alta Vista then! ;)

People had "personal websites" where they would "showcase" themselves, their interests, their hobbies, their photos, their art, their poetry and lyrics, their favourite websites, what they do, their likes and dislikes, whatever. Now it is called personal branding. Almost as an "aside", personal websites would include a journal that was very much like an online diary. Or the forerunner of the blog. But it was only a part of a personal website, and was by no means the central focus. I very rarely wrote consistently about a specific topic. I only used the word "niche" when talking about exclusive boutiques, may be!

Blogging has matured over time. Similarly my reasons for blogging too have evolved. My theory is blogging is on a spectrum from less blog to more blog. [Yes] I still do everything I have mentioned above but I love to write, express ideas, and reach out and meet other people. I am meeting a lot of cool and interesting people, and blogging and documenting those meetings for the most part is fun. But what I really value is my every growing community that is forming in the process.

Apart from networking (also personal branding and showcasing what I do and love), I firmly believe is that blogging has emerged as leading marketing tool in this attention age. We need to learn and teach blogging as we learn and teach marketing.

In this life, there is nothing more "hardcore" than love

David Johnson

Fourteen months ago, I had never read a blog, much less posted to one. While I was an avid reader of message boards and forums, there was something lacking. It felt like there was too much anonymity on the internet, and no one was willing to be held accountable for their views. One of my first blog posts dealt with this feeling. Prior to this, I had written an essay for a composition class entitled E-rosion of Accountability, and that was ultimately what encouraged me to explore this phenomenon we call blogging. I wanted to own my opinions in a world full of people that often times seem too afraid to raise their hand, raise their voice, and say “Hey, this is who I am, and this is what I believe in!”

Blogging for me has had its share of ups and downs. When I first began writing Wandering the Ether, I had no readers. This was somewhat frustrating because it was my belief that I had so much to share, so much I wanted to give. Eventually, through communities like MyBlogLog, and various traffic exchange sites, I was able to begin my journey down the winding road of social networking. This allowed me to not only increase my readership, but also to discover the wonderful variety of characters out there on the web. When I consider the difference it makes in one’s blogging, to actually have people you know care enough to come back and read what you have to say, it really does make it all worthwhile.

I had a literature professor who inadvertently said it best, while giving a lecture on the value of collections of letters written by dead authors: “Snail mail is dead. Everything is emails now. Should you people become famous authors, there will be no letters to remember you by after you are gone.” And it dawned on me that, actually there would be; blogging. This was an epiphany of sorts for me. It reinvigorated my desire to blog, and inspired new purpose and meaning to the act of blogging for me. I want for my daughter to be able to look back on my blog, and understand who I was. I want others to read my blog, and realize that they are not alone in this crazy, beautiful, human experience.

For me, blogging is an explorative, growth based process. Many times I start out intending to write about a specific issue, taking a certain stance, and by the time I am through writing, I realize that I have arrived at a point which is sometimes completely different than where I began. I believe that as writers, we need to allow ourselves to be open to this evolution of perception. Nothing is ever written in stone, and ideas are meant to be challenged. There are truths about our existence that are still waiting to be revealed, and the only way for us to find them is to communicate and share with one another, and blogging is a fantastic way to accomplish this exchange.

I have never blogged to make money, and I have never used advertising on my blog, and as far as Wandering the Ether is concerned, I never will. This is strictly a labor of love. My greatest desire is that when people visit my blog, they will take the time to actually read what I have written, feel it in their hearts, and decrypt it in their minds. If, through the act of writing I can gain new awareness, and alter my own impressions… then who is to say that the same effect cannot be achieved through others reading? Blogging is a truly magnificent reciprocal exchange. It’s giving and taking, affirming and challenging. We all have a message and blogging enables us to deliver it.

To those of you who are leery about diving in, or consider blogging to perhaps be too revealing, I will say this. You only live once, and that time is now. Be proud of who you are, embrace your beliefs, and let the world know that your voice counts. I know that it is tempting to hold back, and sometimes necessary, (we live under an ever-present umbrella of conformity and self-censorship), but the only way that true change can ever be enacted, is if we gather up our courage and speak our peace. Think of ideas as dominos all lined up in a row, all you need to do is gently nudge that first one, and the rest is herstory.

Stay connected with NET10

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Net10 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Living in the age of communication, the explosion of applications and services is upon us. It is some time overwhelming sometime to choose the best. Given my heavy use, I was looking online for some phone plan that can give me an unlimited talk, text, and data when I came upon Net10 Unlimited deal when I came upon this Cute NET10 commercial. I also heard what Real NET10 customer had to say.

Getting nationwide coverage and unlimited talk, text, and data, for $50 a month is a good deal. Not only that. Best thing is that there are no hassles like contracts and there are no surprise bills or credit checks and phone are from top of the line manufacturers.

It is really simple to See the Light and to stay connected; buy, activate, add airtime, chose the plan that works best for you and enroll and you are connected. You can switch between plans each month to suit your budget and airtime needs, without penalties or fees. Airtime can be purchased online, at a nearby store, or directly from your phone.

And for international callers, long distance service is available to over 75 countries, for as low as about 15 cents per minute on calls originated in the US. In addition there is an International Neighbors program to Canada and Mexico.

I suggest you explore NET10 neatly laid out site and also check them on Facebook and Twitter or watch What Rob has to say. This will help you make informed buying decision and staying connected.

Your invitation

Internet is a lonely place without Blogging; a fine art, science, also economics. Blogs are different to different people. Fine Art of Blogging asks you to share your views on what is a blog to you?

You are invited to contribute your thoughts in general. In particular, write how you blog? Why? How blogging matters in life and work? Success stories, motivations and inspirations. Answer these questions and more (add what you feel is important dimension) in a post and send in word document.

Annamanila; Ode2Old, not too simple, not too complicated ole me

annamanila

Whenever I am asked what I like to read, I am hard pressed to put across the diversity -- call it mishmash -- of my reading fare. So I say simply: "From comics to classics."

A like predicament confronts me now that I have been asked what blogging is to me. I feel a similar sense of being stumped, a familiar sense of boundlessness. Unfortunately, unlike the first question, I haven't worked out a cute-smug answer to the second.

Let me see ...

Three months into blogging, I find it to be the freest, most generous, and most flexible form of self expression there is on line.

There is no limit to blog content, subject, language, tenor. I think it can only be bound by one's imagination.

The art of blogging can be as fine as Picasso's art or Shelley's poetry or as crass as a bedtime story or a slumbook of toilet humor. But by and large, it is somewhere in between. Mine is.

In the short spell I have been a blogger, I have published two short stories, a poem, and a daughter's award-winning piece. I have found myself sharing a piece of my mind, writing my heart out, reminiscing about my lost youth, paying tribute to someone I love or admire from one day to the next. Soon, I just might blog my bile out -- hoping to expectorate some overstaying toxins.

What I have not done (yet) is to blog a daily journal of events. Much less an hourly one which seems to be the fad among bloggers these days -- I think they call it twittering?

By and large, I prefer to blog about action that takes place within (my mind) rather than without (my external world of people and events).

What I love most about the blogworld is it has become an open marketplace of ideas through posts and counter-posts. Fortunately or unfortunately, Philippine bloggers are way too courteous to argue openly and fierily on issues, no matter how controversial. I haven't seen too much disagreements and the little I find rarely ignite into full-scale conflagrations or debates.

When I strayed into this cool, kewl blog-a-day world, I thought I'd do it peripherally, given my superwoman roles of mother, wife, worker -- not to mention less reputable roles of mediocre online scrabbler and badminton pulot girl..

I couldn't have known I would be hook-line-sinkered.

Nowadays, it's the first thing to do when I wake and the last thing I do before bed.

It has infused a get-up-and-go into my morning, given "rise and shine" a new meaning. Beats cafe cappuccino.

At work it has led me to the wonders of multi-tasking. I key in one paragraph of open-faced manual or book writing, then two paragraphs of stealthy blogging. Between the legitimate and the illegitimate, my days fly like a song.

Nighttime is quiet, guilt-free time to indulge it. I begin 10-ish and before I know it, its -- omg -- past 1:00 of the unwelcome new morning.

Blogging crunches time better than a Spielberg movie or a Steinbeck book. Doesn't it sometimes make you wonder why people hafta sleep?

It has (re)connected me with friends, old and new. An old office colleague -- who turned out to be in the local blogging "who's who" welcomed me with band music and ticker tape parade (Exag!) A high school friend popped up like a sweet meteor from the blue (No exag!).

I got to meet middling mom bloggers who like me felt out-of-place at first. Together, we agreed to try to crack the youth-dominated blogsphere as denizens every bit as entitled (I think we're getting there). Later, I was recruited into Philippine Moms Network where I got to meet more mothers -- hot babes and cool bloggers all.

A blogging berks -- 20-ish, 30-ish -- made me forget I had joints about to get unhinged. How musical their posts sound, with the ma'am, auntie, po and opo deleted. Those who insisted on paying respect were asked to use nanamanila instead. Some of them swear I write so coolly and so hiply they couldn't tell my demographics from theirs and admirably hid their shock when they met ole Mrs. Grundy in four dimensions.

I have all these problems with techie stuff, given that my personal "hard disk" have a built-in firewall against them. And you know what, I got to meet IT-savvy bloggers who'd listen to my "Help!" yelps and has designed headers, helped me link and put up blogrolls, taught me to cut and paste, and otherwise offered to spoon-feed and hand-hold by remote control.

Isn't this better than it gets?

Woohoo!



Translations for the non-Filipino reader:

1. 
   
   Po and opo are words of respect to one's elders.
2. 
   
   Berks is slang for barkada which means a closely-knit group of friends.
3. 
   
   Pulot girl - a female player who always have to pick up the ball/shuttlecock
4. 
   
   Exag - short for "exaggerated."
5. 
   
   Nana - a title for an elderly woman

Reflective Thinking

Janette Toral

I was already writing for computer publications before I went online. As a result, the natural inclination that came to me was towards organizing communities and informing readers. This reached a high point when I was lobbying for the passage of the Philippines Y2K Law and E-Commerce Law.

When I created my first websites back in 1997 with Infotech and in 1999 with DigitalFilipino, blogging technology was too limited then. I had to rely on hard code html and content management systems.

In the year 2000, I started blogging through LiveJournal and Blogger, putting in content that I can't put in my other sites. I saw its income potential as well after trying out paid blogging communities too.

I blog with the goal of disseminating information, that I find useful, and worth recording. I support the concept of market and content segmentation. Having worn so many hats such as being an e-commerce evangelist, software process improvement trainer, Internet historian, SEO consultant, legislation oversight, researcher, among others, requires me to deal with various groups of interest. Having a separate blog for each allows me to focus whenever I communicate through it.

I see blogging as an extension of everything that I do in my profession, including hobbies. Being able to create blogs quickly, makes it easy for me to start an initiative and finetune it along that way.

I use my network to spread the word on what I do. My primary community is the DigitalFilipino Yahoo Groups that has nearly 3000 members to date. It started in 1999 with the launch of DigitalFilipino.

Those who are serious in e-commerce have joined my club where I organize training and briefing sessions, disseminate research reports, e-books, help new bloggers and those interested in blog marketing, and do further advocacy (too many to mention).

I was involved in the creation of the Philippine Blogging Summit or iBlog that started in 2005 (up to the present). This event was a catalyst of bringing bloggers together and it helped a lot of them be known in the fields they are in. I’m open in helping like-minded individuals who may be interested in organizing one in their respective countries.

I have an ongoing writing project “The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2007” that aims to recognize new blogs that are making a difference out there. I hope your readers will also join in this endeavor. It is gaining success, little by little each week, and will be doing such annually to get new blogs recognized.

Know your locksmith

Locking installations and related services are essential in residential districts as well as commercial areas. Imagine what can happen when your safe is locked and you have documents locked inside to be signed with a party waiting in your office. Or you arrive home from a journey and find that you have lost keys of the entire home. That is where you need a locksmith in a hurry.

Businesses as well as individuals need efficient locksmith at call. I recommend you have a look at locksmith houston and see what they are offering and how can he serve you when you need.

Houston locksmith is one the best locksmiths in town. His prices are also unbeatable. Locksmith Houston TX is full service and is available 24/7. Their claim to fame is expertise with safes. .

Locksmith Houston specialize in changing locks - both commercial as well residential, opening safes, opening home locks, opening car locks, electronic locks and lock repairs.Approach Locksmith Houston TX and improve the security for your company and your home.

you get what you give

Chris Garrett

What is a blog to you? Blogs are for me all about conversation. This is why I get so annoyed at fantastic bloggers who turn off comments. You put your thoughts out there, people respond and your initial ideas are shaped and polished. I have gone on record enough with my usual answer that I fear repeating myself. My theory is blogging is on a spectrum from less blog to more blog, there are three dimensions of blogging, aspects that make a website more or less of a blog. These include regularly updated content, syndication and conversation.

How you blog, why? On occasion I plan posts ahead of time, most of the time I have a thought, wip out firefox and pump words into PFF ScribeFire (I still can’t get used to that name). That’s with this blog where there isn’t usually any research, just brain to blog, on others I will read my feeds and such for inspiration or search and visit the library for research. On longer posts I lay the whole thing out in bullet form then fill in the gaps.

Why I blog has changed over the years. My first blog around 10 years ago was a journal, my personal blog serves as an aide memoire. Now it is both my business, my job and my hobby.

Some personal high blogging points in blog life. Hmm. I have gotten so much from blogging, where to start? Blogging gave me my opportunity to leave the 9-5 (heh, I would be so lucky) rat-race JOB that I hated so much. Through blogging I have met some brilliant people (I would list them but I fear missing someone out). My knowledge has grown and been enhanced far more than if I had ignored blogs. Really the question in my mind is “why would someone not :-) ?”

How do you make money by blogging (if you do)? Indirectly. Blogging your opinion and expertise is a wonderful way to network and build credibility.

My blogging philosphy can be summed up in this phrase; “you get what you give”.

Refreshing Business through Arts and Mind

Robyn McMaster

My first inspiration came when Dr. Ellen Weber, with whom I work, began to blog. She was so enthused with blogging she couldn’t stop talking about joy she found. That stirred me so much that I thought I’d like to blog, too. She invited me to post two guest blogs. Quite an honor for a newbie!

To share latest research on the brain and the arts in everyday language so that people can take away strategies for purposeful flow, intellectual challenge, problem solving and fulfillment at work keeps me going. I’d like to inspire others to tap into more of the rich resources of their brain. All that I share stems from the work I do at the MITA International Brain Based Center.


I like to use everyday language, link to great ideas from other bloggers and provide links to reputable research. One strategy I use is to “converse” with my readers as if they were sitting with me at a coffee house and having a discussion. I hone in on ways to interact with others in the blogosphere and learn much from tips bloggers’ share. This helps me connect more to other bloggers. Peoples’ ideas are important and as I blog, I make sure that comes across. Blogging’s not so much about me, but about others.


I like to play around with ideas in different ways. Sometimes that means using videos, pictures, math and logic, joining in a meme, sharing from life experiences, musical expressions, acrostics, and short poems or quotes. I tap into the multiple intelligences to express ideas to others. Believe it or not, when I go to an art gallery, concert or dance, ideas for new blog topics stir in my mind. Sometimes when I’m with friends or family at gatherings, ideas shared in conversations stir my thought in new ways.


Many ideas come to me when I’m golfing. I discovered ways to get out of anger or frustration that makes the hormone cortisol flood my brain. That shuts down good thinking and problem solving. Therefore, I had to find ways to increase levels of serotonin during activities that may not go well. As I’ve discovered new strategies, I share them with readers.


At first I posted my blog regularly on DIGG, reddit, Netscape and BizzBites. However, I found that as I linked to other people, they came to see what my blog was about. I like more personal ways of networking. I’ve also really enjoyed using MyBlogLog to discover new people and interesting blogs.


Blogging matters because it gives voice to new ideas. Bureaucracies control many fields today. Controllers want their ideas and ways of doing things promoted. Blogs give power to people who may not be rich in money, but are rich in ideas.


One personal high blogging points was when Anna Farmery of The Engaging Brand interviewed me on her weekly Podcast. Anna posted two Podcast sessions on negativity. Liz Strauss asked me to lead an SOB Cafe in March. My topic, “Tap More Brain Power by Asking Two-Footed Questions.” What a challenge to keep answering so many comments from interested people in such a short span of time! Many others lifted up the work at Brain Based Biz and I feel honored each time I’m tagged or others link to my work.

Thatta Kedona

Thatta Kedona Dolls

Thatta Kedona Radio

What Blogging Means to Me

Lillie Ammann - A Writer's Words, an Editor's Eye

Family and friends have always come to me for answers and advice. Maybe I'm just a "know-it-all," but I prefer to attribute it to my interests in helping others and in continual learning.

Several years ago, I was an "expert" on a question-and-answer site called AskMe. I don't remember how I got started there, but I loved answering questions. I was in the top 100 experts out of thousands on the site based on the number of questions I answered and the ratings my answers earned. There was no financial reward — though I think I won a couple of T-shirts — but helping people solve problems gave me great satisfaction and joy. I was really disappointed when the site owners shut it down — they had simply been using it as a test site for their software, and when it proved to be effective, they started selling the knowledge-sharing software to business and quit supporting the free service.

When I first started blogging a little over a year ago, I expected to be providing information like I did at AskMe — but the topics would come from my own ideas rather than questions asked by visitors. I quickly learned, however, that my blog is not a platform for teaching or preaching but an arena for learning and sharing. I have learned more from my readers and other bloggers than I have taught, and I have made wonderful blogging friends.

In my post on a blogging metaphor, I described blogging as a large city with hundreds of small neighborhoods. Just as when I moved to the big city from a small town, entering the blogosphere seemed overwhelming and intimidating. However, I started to meet people and make friends in various communities and niches, and soon I was part of several little neighborhoods.

My blog is about my life as a Christian freelance writer and editor who a patriotic supporter of our troops. All of those interests and activities find their way into my writing. Many posts are about writing and publishing — I wrote a 14-part Self-Publishing Primer since much of my editing work is with authors who self-publish. Some writing advice is for professional writers; some is more general for anyone who writes for business or personal reasons.

At first, I blogged two or three times a week, but now I post every weekday. Often I write several posts at one time and date them in the future, especially when I write a series. BlogDesk makes it easy to write and edit offline.

Posts on other blogs, items in the news, events (such as national holidays and Christian holy days), comments and questions from readers, memes and group writing projects ... anything can spark ideas to write about. I jot down ideas as they come up, so when I sit down to write a post, I have several topics to choose from.

I plan to continue to learn and share through blogging for many years to come. Maybe I'll even change my theme, try a little SEO, think about monetizing ... but content will always be most important to me.

Disclosure

This blog is a collaborative blog written by a group of individuals. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

I am Pashmina fan

I am big Pashmina fan. Even the name (that comes from pashm in Persian) sound musical to me and I love that gauzy weave. Just touching soft and warm Pashmina tells you what it is! Pashmina products are all time trendy and stylish. People of class from all over the world use these products - shawl, scarf and many more.

Given my interest, one of the best places I have found to shop for Pashmina is Bridesmaid Pashmina. Neatly laid out and user’s friendly site has a great collection of Pashmina products. Explore and find what they are offering and how. They have something for everyone. Imagery of the products is good and it gives a feeler of how one will look wrapped in one of those shawls.

What is more, their custom dye option makes them stand out from the rest. Ask for color you want and Brides Maid Pashmina will deliver exactly the same.

Some of their shawls are already on my wish list.

A storm in the form of a girl

Starr

Then I took a deep breath and quit waving my hands around like 'lil girl and got on with it. I have read some of the other folks response and I gotta warn you all now. I am not that deep. Or business-like. Or grown up.

I blog simply because I want to be heard.

Ever feel like you are a walking contradiction? One person in your head and another with people? Yes, I know, shades of Sybil, but bear with me. I think, to a certain degree, everyone is someone else at least part of the time. Social Networking has exploded in popularity recently and I think I know why. You get to be yourself! Or someone like you ;)

I first discovered this phenomenon while playing Everquest. I started out playing with my ex husband and felt totally out of place. Within a short time, I had branched out and began to make friends outside of his circle.

The one thing that struck me instantly was how refreshing it was to have the anonymity of text. I didn't have to be June Cleaver, I could just be me. I formed some very strong friendships and one relationship that lasted years via that game. And I think it had to do with the ability to remain anonymous via the internet. Granted I stopped being anonymous but by that time I had also gained a far greater comfort level in just being me.

I no longer play EQ but the bug for internet self expression stuck with me. Call it the siren song of text on a glowing screen. I blog to feel like I am heard. I blog to feel like someone, anyone out there, actually knows me. The really real me, not the one we all have to be to please bosses, spouses, parents and children. And if I can make someone else laugh it is icing on the cake.

Look How a Woman Blogs

Lizza

I’ve always loved reading and writing, and I’ve been doing both a lot since I was a kid. I started keeping a diary when I was a teenager and when the Internet came along it was just natural for me to go from paper to digital – a relief, actually, since my handwriting never won me any awards and even I sometimes have trouble reading it.

My initial attempts at blogging were hiccup-y; I’d write something, post it, and delete it. Last year I started one on MySpace. (I know, what could I have been thinking?) Then through work that I do with my friend and business partner, Victor, on Expat Interviews, I made the online acquaintance of a Canadian lady living in the UAE. It turned out she couldn’t access my MySpace blog (it was one of the sites her ISP bans) so I started one on Blogger. The MySpace account is dead but my Blogger journal lives on.

In the beginning she was my only reader. Then as the months passed one reader became five then a dozen. People have come and gone, but a few have stayed on, bless their suffering souls. Some say they found my site through the Next Blog button, others through sites like Bestest Blogger of the Day, BlogBlast for Peace, and The Rising Blogger; some came via other bloggers.

I’ve found some great blogs via these avenues too – and made some amazing friends online. Mine is a personal site, not a business site. Its primary function was and is to be a way for me to express my thoughts and feelings. Sometimes I write about silly stuff, sometimes it’s about an aspect of life here in the Philippines, sometimes I spew when I’m feeling blue and angst-y, sometimes I write about family. I do it simply because I want to write about it, nothing less, nothing more. I won’t deny, though, that I love it when people say they like a certain post, or what I wrote on a certain day resonated with them, or when I find that somebody has linked to me without telling me – that’s always a nice surprise. I should mention that I don’t like it when bloggers exhibit this “I linked to you, so link to me too” attitude. The people in my blogroll are there because I like their blogs, not because they asked to be placed there.

Blogging is not only fun. It can also be cathartic. It’s an outlet for whatever creativity is brewing in me. It’s a personal endeavor that’s a gratifying part of my normal life, just like eating or sleeping or playing. Right now I don’t feel the need to promote my blog through aggregate sites. Getting good traffic is great, don’t get me wrong. But I don’t ever want to reach that point where getting more comments and awards and higher search engine rankings will eclipse the reason why I started blogging publicly in the first place: to write what I want to write about, not what I think others want to read. Having readers come and return is the icing on the cake, and they’re non-fattening!

Reading other blogs, though, has greatly influenced my way of thinking and the topics I write about sometimes. Also, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve learned something new from what someone else wrote. A certain writer will have a post that makes me think, so I’ll blog about that topic too and mention that I got the idea from him or her. All of us probably agree that blogging is a great way to share information, and one of the ways I like to share is to mention every Saturday a handful of blog entries written by others during that particular week.

There is a great number of terrific blogs out there: they’ve made me laugh hilariously, they’ve made me teary-eyed, they’ve left me breathless by the way they’re written, they’ve made me marvel at their visual creativity – these are some of the characteristics of blog posts I share with regular readers and passers-by on weekends. People have said they like my Blogworld Saturdays feature because it leads them to blogs they otherwise wouldn’t have known about, and that’s gratifying to know. What they don’t realize is it’s a way to turn them into blogging addicts like me, haha! I jest – sort of.

The comments section is another enjoyable part of the blogging experience. Sometimes the comments I get are much more interesting than the post itself! Reading comments can be both entertaining and enlightening. (I’ve also found a few blogs through comments left on other blogs – sometimes they intrigue me enough to want to know more about that person’s writings, and before I know it, presto! I’ve become the fan of another blogger.) Reading a post and leaving a comment is a good thing to do, but please, at least scan the post first before you say something! Reading something that’s totally unrelated to the post can make a person feel like he or she is on the receiving end of a wrong number.

The Internet is adding another dimension to how people learn and interact. Like it or not, it’s here to stay as a way for individuals to hear and be heard. Through blogging I’ve come across quite a few terrific people both near and far. It’s probably true that I will never meet these people personally, but that doesn’t mean I don’t cherish “meeting” them online. I do, and I look forward to meeting more and learning from them.

How to love a black woman

Sylvia Hubbard

After a separation and divorce, I was feeling that I must do something to heal. My fear of becoming one of those angry black women scared me because I was one before and I didn't like myself.

Writing had always been a passion and addiction of mine and it brought me great relief when I wrote fiction because I was a suspense-romance/sensual noir author already. So I decided to use my gift to relieve the stress in my heart over leaving my marriage in order to be happy.

I wasn't regretful for leaving my marriage. I was upset at myself for failing and I wanted marriage again, but the next time i wanted it to last.

So I decided to start my blog, more for a guide book for myself than anything and when friends and family began to come and comment, it was enjoyable to hear that I wasn't as crazy as I thought I was.

Soon men started emailing me offline and asking me my thoughts on different things and how I felt about different things women did. Instead of answering them privately, I answered them on the blog.

Through my healing process, I found great relationship books and did reviews on those.

Now this blog has become what I wanted it to become. A guidebook on what it takes to love me and then I have friends join in or post their comments as well and contribute to the discussion they provide.

I wanted to create a way for people to talk about what we don't talk about - communication and intimacy. These are important to me and it should be important to many people especially in the African American Community that refuses to acknowledge this is an important part of a relationship.

Whether who finds me to marry, I know that in order to love me and love who I am they are going to have to read my blog and I hope that a deeper understanding of the complex woman comes to them and they can love me even more.