A blog by any other name.

I do not know blogging.

Can someone please explain it to me?

What is it? Like an online diary, where you just talk about...what? What do you talk about? How do people find your blog? Do you blog under an assumed name so no one can recognize you when you write about doing boneheaded things?

I know a gentleman and he approached me one day when he saw me and said "I promised myself that if I ever saw you again, I was going to tell you something: You need to write. I want to tell you that you should be writing." He said I should have a blog. I don't know what I'd do with a blog. I don't know how to blog. Or why. Or what I'd write about?

Many of you have graciously said (on the days I'm not annoying or offending) that I should write. I've heard that for years. WRITE WHAT!? I truly feel I don't have much to say about anything of importance or interest.

So can someone please tell me their experience with blogging? Why? Can you earn an income? HOw often do you do it? Is it hard to set up? Does it cost money? Please understand that I type with two fingers, poorly, and am computer illiterate. Should I be a blogger? It just seems like a very weird and awkward idea for me. Help me out, more savy computer people.

Uno, here is my favorite blog by a gal who,really doesn't have anything to write about.

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Blogging is just what you think. Like an online diary. There are ways to make money at them. But it takes time and dedication. The most common way is based on the number of hits your blog receives. So your blog has to be updated regularly to maintain a regular reader base.
There was a write up in one of the business magazines a year or so ago.I'll try and locate it so you can get a better idea.

Thanks Hillbilly. Do you blog?

SoSuperlativeSue, why am I not surprised that you would link to Hyperbole and a Half? BUt isn't she beyond just a blogger? She's an illustrator too. And a powerhouse of the most wicked wit and the very best talent with a Paint program I have ever seen! She is simply beyond. Sadly, down for the count right now.

There was that woman who blogged about doing all of Julia Child's recipes, that turned into a book and a movie (Julie and Julia).

First off, yes, you are an excellent writer. Second off. Uno, seriously, why don't you take some typing courses. There must be online stuff to learn through. Knowing how to get around a keyboard quickly, will enhance your ability to type like the wind (like me ) (remember, I can type accurately probably faster than some of us can talk , ya, had to toot my horn a little, no one else will ). When you can type quickly, (doesn't matter errors, self correction is good in programs, catches a good many of the mistakes, sometimes...) you will find an entire new world open up and you can type even more and longer. Take that time. Honestly, you would never look back, whence you learned to use all the fingers on a keyboard.

Not sure about blogging, but I think you should write a book. Make it an ebook about the "life of Uno", and sell it that way. Make some money. Maybe you could then buy your mansion that you would so love to have . Have an awesome day, CynthiaM.

No, I don't blog Uno. I tried to get Shannon to do it. I don't have enough time.
Years ago, I downloaded a free typing program called AS Typing. Its still out there as a free download. Mine worked for 30 days then I would delete it, and run the installation program again. I've had it about 15 years .

Firstl, Uno, I thank you for recognizing my super superbness.

A blog can be writing, or drawings, or pictures, or a combination thereof. I can lots of writing or little, or varying amounts. It is whatever you want it to be. You can write hourly, daily, weekly or variably. The only rule seems to be it is in a timeline of sorts. SilkieB has one, as does the F. Ewe.

Now if your posts are interesting enough and you develop a following, online advertisers will contact you and ask to place ads along with your blog and you have the potential to make money. A lot of money. Enough to live well.

Here is a blog that A.Sun showed me. This lady can afford to live off her blog she has such a broad readership.

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Over and out, SupersexySue. (I'm just sayin')

Hillbilly wrote:
Years ago, I downloaded a free typing program called AS Typing. Its still out there as a free download. Mine worked for 30 days then I would delete it, and run the installation program again. I've had it about 15 years .

So...Hillbilly....did it work for you? She needs to know if it would be an easy task for her to learn. Anybody????? Has anyone tried any of the typing programs to learn to type...did they help you? Nope. Don't answer this here. I am going to make a post for Uno, smiling, have an awesome day, CynthiaM.

Oh, oh, I wish I was a rich man....didn't realize bloggers could become self-sufficient. Time to start blogging....not....not time for that, smiling that big smile. Beautiful days, CynthiaM.

AHA! Uno is exploring the idea of writing for others - beyond the chicken forum, I mean. Albeit, a most cautious inquiry, but at least it is not a flat out refusal. While I still have my heart set on the book, I'm thinking a blog could be a good starting place to get used to the idea...

uno wrote:
Can someone please explain it to me?

What is it? Like an online diary, where you just talk about...what? What do you talk about?

Go back through your posts in this forum, copy and paste onto your blog site...ta da! That is what you talk about! All those thoughts that you put into words so eloquently! Quirky or serious, your posts are always a joy to read.

Just do it Uno , you have a talent and this might be your place to talk with who ever will listen ( and they will ) .Start say with a poetry page that broadens into a venting page etc ?.There are a lot of people here that know your talents for drawing in veiwers with your postings and this I am sure would follow you into cybre space .Open it and they will come as they say , I'll read it

Instead of waiting to build a base of followers, one style of blog let's you set it up by contacting companies for advertising immediately, or as Sue mentioned, wait for them to contact you after building readership. I think you had to set your blog up in the beginning as to the direction you wanted to go for payment.

Some basic tips;
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Can you get revenue from product placement?

"As I drove into town this morning, in my excellent Ford Ranger, I needed to stop for my Tim Hortin's coffee. I thought about trying one of their new paninis which are on for a limited time introductory price..."

Fowler! You know darn well I won't be driving to town in any Ford Ranger. Good Gordon!

Okay, confession time.

I write. I write here. This is my blog, of sorts. It's all our blog. I write here in reaction to the things that go on. I write here for the personalities that surround me. I write to people who 'know' me, in the way that you can know someone cyber style. I do not sit down to write in a vacuum, so to speak. It is the collective existence of all of you, someone to speak to, someone who will take up an idea and bat it around, that give me an aim and goal.

The idea of writing into a void of unknown nothingness is baffling and daunting. It's like singing to an audience of zero. I wirte here becasie I write to you and for you. But my own blog? IT seems without focus or direction.

IT's like my quilt making. I know many people who make quilts just for the heck of it. I cannot, I do not, I have NEVER been able to create a quilt until it had a place to go. When there was a need to fill, I was on it. But to create an orphan quilt? What a horrible thought! That's how I feel about blogging. It seems an utterly foreign idea. I know lots of people do it. But can I? Will I have any amusing qualities when it's just me, alone? I doubt it.

I think it is great you are thinking of this Uno. I enjoy your spontaneous blurtings a great deal and you can tell others do to. I was just noticing the other day, anytime you begin a thread with things rattling around in your head, they are the most viewed and responded to items here.

I don't know about Blogs and never really read them, but I would read yours. I hear you can make money, but don't know the ins and outs of it.

I am going to play the devils advocate here and I think it is going to irritate some for sure. This is just my thoughts and the other side to consider.

Sometimes making what you enjoy, your JOB changes it. Let's see if I can articulate this in the right way. When we do something for pleasure and we enjoy it, there is no pressure. We do it cause we love it and that is enough. When we start to get paid for it, or HAVE to do it, sometimes that takes the fun out of it.
I have been horsey my whole life. I love it and I have come to realise it is something I need in my life, one way or another, just to stay sane. I am told I have talent, not at high level competition, but WITH horses. The tough ones seem to want to work for me and I for them. (I have to say I don't look for tough ones as often now!) I seem to be able to get a horse to perform in a way that many can not. I have often thought of doing it 'for a living' but I am glad I never really have. I have had little tastes of it and I think that has been enough for me to know it would not suit me. When I was younger I always thought I would be a 'horse trainer' but now I am glad I never went down that road. BECAUSE I am able to have horses on MY terms. Nobody is paying and pressuring me to do it a different way. The ones I have are MINE and I will do it how I want. (does that sound a bit like a control freak? ) It also allows me to do it when I want. Not today at -25C, but I can tell you I work up to 3 horses, 5 - 6 days a week cause I love it. I can usually make enough money to support another one when I am ready to move one on.
I have to say I am the same with my chooks. I don't expect them to make money for me so there is not pressure. If I make a bit on them every year that is a bonus for me. I can enjoy them and do what I want with them without the pressure of them having to earn for me.

On the other hand hubby does what he loves EVERYDAY and I know he would do it if he was paid or not (don't tell the owner of the ranch that). He loves what he does and it drives him to do it the best he can. It is his passion.

I think if you go into it with the right attitude it helps though. I hope if you do this you keep the same fresh. light hearted attitude you have. Speak your mind and thoughts and desires and rants. Please don't tell me about your trip in your Ford (which I know you would NEVER have) Escape to the Tim Hortons!!!

coopslave wrote:Sometimes making what you enjoy, your JOB changes it. Let's see if I can articulate this in the right way. When we do something for pleasure and we enjoy it, there is no pressure.

You are sooooo right, Coopster. When I was subbing and very poor I would augment my income any way I knew how. Everything I loved to do I turned into a job. Sewing, baking, cooking, art, all on a production line, all to keep me alive.

Now I have a full time job and a little leisure, I do not enjoy the creative things I used to do. Less time of course, but also those activities are worn out a little, I guess.

Coop, I have Spontaneous Blurtings? Gee, makes it sound like I have gas.

If I get a blog I may have to consider that as a title, Spontaneous Blurtings. I like that. BUt would I tell anyone here that I had a blog? No I would not! That might sound puzzling, but let me explain if I can.

I have no trouble getting up before a crowd without notes or much preparation, and speaking into a microphone. For many, public speaking is a high stress situation. For me, the stress comes when I have to speak infront of people I know. People have one idea of who I am, how I am, and I hate to disappoint people by being someone else. By being vulgar, common or stupid. I think any blog of mine would be all those things. I'm not always amusing. I am often dull and pointless and repetative. I whine a lot. If my 'readers' are used to me being one way, they will be shocked and disappointed to find that I might just be someone entirely different. So if you have a picture of me in your head, it will soon be dashed if I invited you to a blog, where I might be someone else. And I do not want that to happen. So I would likley NOT announce here that I have a blog. BUt I don't have a blog, so at this ppoint am not keeping a secret.

Coopslave, what you say makes sense. Do what you do for the love of doing it. I agree. I would not blog to make money. BUt if I were to make a little money boy, wouldn't that be a bonus?

Is it really -25 at your place today? It's -10 here right now and we're all offended. The nerve of this weather! Scandalous!

I blog, but it's kind of like a diary because no one reads it