Lessons on Blogging

On a previous post, I have cited a few notes on how to write a readable blog entry. This time, here are some pointers to remember if you wish to avoid being the recipient of not-so-friendly feedbacks:

* NEVER write hanging posts without proper context clues, especially those with sarcastic undertones.

* NEVER underestimate the capacity of your readers to read between the lines. On the other hand, do not make it so subtle either so as to lead to further confusion on the reader’s part. Their miniature brain cells might find the information overwhelming.

* REFRAIN from naming names. The guessing game makes your blog a lot more interesting (and an increased traffic to boot ).

* ON the flipside, refrain from posting too general entries. After all, everyone’s got their own personal issues. You would not want the rest of the world conniving against you.

* TELL your friends not to post a comment on your blog entries. There’s a lot more venue for that offline.

* IF you can help it, never write a blog as a form of retraction. It will only fuel a series of retractions.

* NEVER use suggestive titles to your posts. It might just give them the wrong cue, despite lack of knowledge or understanding about the blog’s content.

thoughts on “readers’ comments”

To those of you who regularly visit my site and is disappointed to find that I have failed to update recently – my apologies. There is no point stressing the fact that I have completely drowned myself with writing assignments that are, regardless of how challenging they are, have managed to squeeze all energy I have.

When I checked my blog’s dashboard this morning to see any new activity on my blog, I got this instead:

55 total posts since I created this WordPress blog back in April. I managed to attain 76 responses from my readers. Whoa! My readers’ comments have managed to outnumber my posts.

Come to think of it, it isn’t bad at all. If I can relate it to my previous blog posts concerning how I can drive more traffic into my site, it is a positive sign that lots of readers are not just scanning through my site. In fact, they come to my site to read and react. Again, the writer in me is coming out. A written piece will never achieve its purpose until it elicits reaction from the readers.

Catharsis, if I remember it correctly, is one of the main points stressed by Aristotle. If this may be one step closer to achieving that, then it would be a milestone for this blog.

rebirth

First post for the first day of the month. Although I am currently swarmed with several writing and editing assignments, I am giving myself a break as a reward. Blogging about a recent achievement that my blog has just reached. I was busy contemplating on which preposition best to use on a particular sentence I had trouble completing when a YM conversation box popped right in the middle of the screen.

On ordinary circumstances, I would have hit boiling point. I’m sure most writers can relate to this. When you are in the middle of trying to look for a word most suitable for use on a particular sentence, the least you need is an unwelcome distraction. And I say “unwelcome” because this was one of the few things that made me smile considering I had an extremely busy day.

My officemate Joanna was excited to share that I (meaning, the blog I authored) have reached pr4. Another officemate have previously pointed that out to me. But I was so naive when it comes to that, so I had to ask him: “What’s the highest pr you can get?” When he said 10 (I was expecting him to say 1), I was slightly disappointed because mathematically speaking, 4 is much closer to 1 than 10. Right? But then again, I am glad that I am getting increased number of visits. Indeed, an amazing feat considering that my blog is only five-months old.

This was supposed to be just a quick post. So, back to my editing job!

walking contradiction

This thought just hit me. After posting my blog entry entitled “On Blog Hits” (which by the way, sounds really lazy like it was just a spur of the moment thing that I could not find a more decent title to name the post by), I started questioning myself about the basic idea that surrounds writing. Am I writing for the mere intent of being read? If that is the case, then I have defeated the initial and most important purpose of writing and that is the exploration of thoughts and ideas.

Pardon me for over-romanticizing this act but according to my studies in popular culture, that makes me more lenient towards writing for what is considered “popular” knowing that it is what will drive more traffic into my site. Now I am beginning to hamper myself with all cuss words I could think of, haha.

Was I becoming more comfortable sharing my thoughts just because it is the worldwide web, after all. The scenario here is very much different as compared to when I was writing back in college (blame my penchant for grammar, I think I am obsessive-compulsive when it comes to that). I usually would not share my writings, even to friends, in fear of being ridiculed for the way I write, or if I had misinterpreted any theories. I’d like to say I was my own worst critic, and even now that still holds true.

However, the atmosphere in the blogging world is a lot looser and so I had let loose too. Nobody cares about grammar, ideas, or theories, you can basically talk about day to day events. Maybe that is where my confidence about my writing built up. I’d like to believe that was a positive impact on my writing.

As for my targeted 1,000 blog hits, I have just realized it is very much achievable at this point. After that, maybe I can let go of the idea that nobody is reading me or that my writings aren’t that good enough (even for my own standards). I would gladly quit bothering about the view counts on my blog, I’d leave all that work to the computer. After all, I hate numbers.

On blog hits

Months ago, a friend/officemate/former blocmate of mine wrote on her blog how she was eyeing to reach 1,000 blog hits before the “-ber” months arrive (read her entry here). Well, the “-ber” months is still a little over a month from now and yet she’s gone way past her target mark, in fact she is over 3,000 blog hits as of this writing.

Which led me to make my own target mark too. As of this moment, I am currently 800+ blog hits and that’s not too far away from the thousandth count. Therefore, I aim to reach 1,000 hits before July ends (still very much achievable knowing that there’s still a couple of weeks left).

I just wanted to build my network and enable my blog to reach out to more people. It is amazing how interactive a blog can get and it still manages to surprise me despite the fact that I am not entirely new to the blogging world. Plus, it is a great relief too knowing that I am not just talking to myself, eh?

Will I reach the 1,000th mark in time? I may, or may not, achieve this. Nonetheless, it would be worth the try.

i got an award?

I got this one from an officemate this morning. I am not exactly sure what this is for, but it was hinted that it was for my persistence in blogging. Funny how I haven’t been able to post something on my blog on a daily basis, and only when an inspiration hits me or when I want to rant about something (which wasn’t initially the purpose of this blog). Anyways, since this is an award, I’m up for it. Any form of recognition should give me enough validation as of the moment.

Thanks for this Brey!

the blog readability test

from eleanor rigby to bloggers

Blogging isn’t just a fad. For me, this space is reserved not just for ranting, but for ruminations and reflections as well. Sometimes, writing in your blog reveals your subconscious mind, in more ways than one. We have lots of thoughts lurking in those brains, and oftentimes we get too caught up with our “busy, everyday lives” that we fail to entertain them and let more ideas spring.

I happen to come across this blog that talks about blogging. There’s supposed to be a certain seclusion that accompanies blogging. It serves as an “outlet” to let out what we cannot, or would not, normally say in our everyday dealings. Such as dealing with all of our surrounding people’s negativities, or when we just want to say something. But truth is, does anybody ever read us anyway?

A professor at University of Ottawa, Prof. Michael Keren, likened blogging with Father McKenzie in The Beatles’ song, “Eleanor Rigby”.

” Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear /No one comes near.”

I beg to disagree. Bloggers aren’t isolated, and most especially, are not deprived or alienated from the outside world. It’s a creative process. It’s like one of those negative connotations about literature, and creative writing per se, wherein most of us no longer read books, especially literature. However, that did not keep writers from writing. Just continue to hone your craft and keep writing something worth reading. The rest will just follow.

unlaborious day

Pissed as I was because I really wanted the holiday to be moved on a friday so I would have had a long weekend, it wasn’t. The President sticked with commemorating Labor Day on May 1. No moving this time. *sigh*

But still, I managed to finish my task on April 30 and was so ready to get to work on a new set of tasks. Definitely a brilliant way to start the first working day of May! He said that he’d be gearing me up for a much more different task, which had nothing to do with the PlayStation. Geez! What could I be writing this time? The thought alone makes me excited and nervous at once, but a positive kind of energy though. So, I went to the office today feeling quite similar as I did during my first day at work.

So, if you’re wondering why am I here blogging instead of getting started on that new task? Apparently, my boss has not left me anything to work with just yet. And for god-knows-how-long, I have been wandering through the net looking for great ideas for my sister’s wedding invitations and personalized wedding vows. Whew!

(Abby, keep your excitement level in check. They say, be careful what you wish for. You might just drown your time with that new task and you won’t even have time to update your blog.) Like really? If that be the case, then I might as well finish this entry now and think of something better to eat up my time.

writing guidelines (or note 2 self?)

You should try to take note of the following if you aim to write more sensible blogs (hence, make it an interesting read). Just a thought.

1. Pile on lots of subtlety.

2. Colloquialism is just for barmpots.

3. Intimidatory writing is just for wimps.

4. You speaking ghetto? Sorry, but I don’t speak the language of the street.

5. Honey, don’t swear. It does not suffice for your lack of class. (grins)