BLOGGING: How To Get Started

Welcome Lee Lopez, fellow chapter mate of mine at RWA-Black Diamonds in the East Bay, California. Lee not only has been a great friend, but she was one of those people who had to look at one of my early (oh! this is sooooo painful) first drafts. You know that one that we all have? When the critique partner starts the crit with, "Um." But she couldn't have been more helpful, and her kind and gentle approach to all things has inspired me in so many ways. A very public and well-deserved thank you, Lee.

I've been impressed and watched the success of their blogs: Naked Hero and Writer's Guide to ePublishing. Links are below. This week, we're going to be touching base with all the writers who contribute. Welcome to you all.

First I’d like to thank Sharon for inviting, myself and my blogging partners from the Writers Guide to E-Publishing, to be a guest on her site.

Sharon had asked me how do you create a successful blog, with four other individuals, with four different styles of writing, and four different backgrounds.

There is only one answer, not very easily.

This is where you start:

1. Know your partners. Make sure everyone is on the same page, and understands this is a commitment. No slackers!

2. All the parties involved, must come to an agreement on the format of the blog. Is it about writing, heroes, dogs, kids, etc.

3. Discuss responsibilities of maintaining the site. Who is the techie, who is PR.

4. Choose your days for blogging and stick with it. One of the biggest reasons blogs go under is one person isn’t holding up their end of the bargain. It can ruin friendships, when the group as a whole has to carry dead weight.

5. Talk to your partners. Keep open communication. If you can’t blog on an assigned day, let them know. Bring in a guest, or switch with someone. Remember it’s a commitment.

6. Be consistent. Readers return because of reliability. They become fans and expect a certain degree of quality. If you don’t post for a few weeks, you’ll lose readers.

7. Be careful what is written. Do research, and quote experts, don’t ever bad mouth anyone.

8. Remember what you write will remain in cyberspace F-O-R-E-V-E-R.

9. Know copyright law. Don’t enroll in law school, but research copyrights, especially on pictures copied to your site. No what you can copy directly and can’t. Getting a nasty gram from someone claiming you’ve copied them, is embarrassing.

10. You must answer every comment on the blog. It makes the commenter feel like they are saying is important, and it gives them a connection. They feel like they know you.

11. Have fun. Enjoy what you’re doing. Have contest, give away, make it fun.

I know it sounds like a lot, but it is what makes a successful blog.

Is it work? It can be, but once the rhythm of writing for the blog takes hold, its fun. My mind is always swirling around things to write about. And I find ideas in the oddest places.

When blogging first started, I heard many writers say, they weren’t going to bother, it was only another fad. Well, that was five years ago, and here were are with, probably millions of blogs in the bloggessphere. There is even a bloggers convention, with awards.

It is a personal choice to make this commitment. It is easier to go with partners, it keeps the blog up dated daily, and it brings fresh new ideas. Some prefer going it alone, and do a great job.

Right now I’m apart of three blogs:

The Naked Hero,

www.thenakedhero.com

The writers guide to e-publishing, www.thewritersguidetoepublishing.com

Voices from the Heart, www.voicesftheart.blogspot.com (I blog once a month there.)