Blogs are online journals. They can be personal diaries, a collection of articles with information, or a series of jokes. The list could go on. They are frequently updated, sometimes even several times daily, with new material. Updates can come in all forms and sizes, they can be short texts or just photographs with some description. Blogs usually have a comments box for people to respond or comment. When writing a blog, you're blogging and transmute from writer to blogger.
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Blogs can be about anything that comes to mind. They don't need to be very brainy or about something sensational. Blogs of all kinds find readers of all kinds. Household tips, knitting, travel, car repairs, you name it, you'll find an audience. Bloggers can be sloppy in spelling and grammar without affecting their power to draw in readers. If a writer goes blogging, though, spelling and grammar should be in place as much as in any other writing. A blog is too public to start messing up your writing credentials.
Professional writers tend to look down on mere bloggers. Their informal online writing rarely benefits from a profound knowledge of spelling and grammar and could benefit from an editor. Blogs are known for casual writing and sometimes unpredictable subject material. Some successful blogs have shown that they can be entertaining enough to attract a broad audience despite other shortcomings.
When writing a blog as a writer, keep a check on what you are doing. Keep to your style of writing even if it is 'only' a blog. The blog is also a showcase for you and you can't allow yourself to be sloppy. Post often and don't find excuses to put it off. Allow comments on your posts and monitor them. And pictures help, too. It is a blog. It doesn't need any great technical gimmicks, a super-sleek look, or any fancy designs (with the obvious exception if the blog is about just that).
Blogs with frequent updates attract more readers. If you decide on starting a blog, be prepared to spend time on working on it. Your blog should become a part of your daily ritual. If you want to be a blogger, you have to blog consistently. It is a matter of discipline and at the same time produces sample writing for others to look at.
If writing is something you are not doing on a daily basis due to other commitments, you may decide to update your blog on a weekly, biweekly, or even monthly basis. Try to be consistent about when you add new posts to your blog so that your readers know when to catch up and can anticipate your next publication. You might decide to always update on Sunday evening or on a specific date. This is a 'do as I say, don't do as I do' tip. My updating is at best erratic.
Blogs should have a comment box. It allows readers to leave their views on what you have written. Not all bloggers have implemented the comment feature, but you should if you want to involve your audience and get valuable feedback about what you're doing with your blog. Keep an eye on the comments, as it is a great opportunity for spammers and trolls with nothing better to do that to be abusive to people.
Professional writers tend to look down on mere bloggers. Their informal online writing rarely benefits from a profound knowledge of spelling and grammar and could benefit from an editor. Blogs are known for casual writing and sometimes unpredictable subject material. Some successful blogs have shown that they can be entertaining enough to attract a broad audience despite other shortcomings.
When writing a blog as a writer, keep a check on what you are doing. Keep to your style of writing even if it is 'only' a blog. The blog is also a showcase for you and you can't allow yourself to be sloppy. Post often and don't find excuses to put it off. Allow comments on your posts and monitor them. And pictures help, too. It is a blog. It doesn't need any great technical gimmicks, a super-sleek look, or any fancy designs (with the obvious exception if the blog is about just that).
Blogs with frequent updates attract more readers. If you decide on starting a blog, be prepared to spend time on working on it. Your blog should become a part of your daily ritual. If you want to be a blogger, you have to blog consistently. It is a matter of discipline and at the same time produces sample writing for others to look at.
If writing is something you are not doing on a daily basis due to other commitments, you may decide to update your blog on a weekly, biweekly, or even monthly basis. Try to be consistent about when you add new posts to your blog so that your readers know when to catch up and can anticipate your next publication. You might decide to always update on Sunday evening or on a specific date. This is a 'do as I say, don't do as I do' tip. My updating is at best erratic.
Blogs should have a comment box. It allows readers to leave their views on what you have written. Not all bloggers have implemented the comment feature, but you should if you want to involve your audience and get valuable feedback about what you're doing with your blog. Keep an eye on the comments, as it is a great opportunity for spammers and trolls with nothing better to do that to be abusive to people.
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