In retrospect, having read the necessary text, I was actually impressed. I usually detest reading textbook-style writing, so I was pleasantly surprised to find Briggs' book was written on a more, shall we say, informal way. I was impressed, though the majority of the information I have already come across in my web-wanderings. (One of the advantages of being part of a younger generation, I guess).
What makes a blog a blog? For starters, I feel I must add my voice to those who protest the title "blog". Of all the lovely, inventive and descriptive words one could have come up with, why the unpleasant-sounding "blog"? OK, two cents entered. I'm done on that part. Anyways, as deduced through my reading, a blog is simply a site where people--primarily journalist--post the skeletons of thought for up-coming articles or topics for any upcoming piece they might have. This site offers the opportunity for interested readers to get an inside look at what the writer is working on and to offer any insight or feedback they--the reader--may feel inclined to offer in hopes of making the piece better. Blogs are mainly more informal than an actual published piece. They are almost like an email, according to Briggs.
What were my favorite blogs visited from the list? Honestly, I loved the BoingBoing site. Especially the little blurb on troubles with men in airport bathrooms "missing" the toilet. I have 3 brothers, and can testify that this occurrence is definitely NOT exclusive to the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Guys, come on, you know you do it! And I may have to etch some little design in the toilet to get the brothers to actually make it in the bowl, not on the floor! Because, according to the Amsterdam airport authorities, "spillage" was decreased by a whopping 80% since the appearance of the "bugs". If you'd like to read the entire article, here's the link: http://www.goodmagazine.com/section/Provocations/tricking_people_into_doing_the_right_thing1
Other than that, all of the other ones I skimmed through dealt with the elections, either bashing on one candidate or the other. Sorry, that's my particular cup of tea.
Was there a particular element in common with the blogs I liked? Yes, I love reading funny things. Whether it's an etched housefly in the bottom of a urinal to "decrease spillage" or the invention of a fish bowl that sits where your toilet's tank is. Zany things like that. And I will read up on the latest with the war off east. I have friends who will soon be leaving to go off to war, I like to try and keep tabs on what's going on. Other than that, and I haven't searched for any yet, but, one I would like to find would be anything on the new '09 Camaro. Especially one that would maybe run it against the '09 Mustang GT? They're both sweet, and in my biased mind the Mustang will win, I can't deny that the new Camaro is pretty spiffy. I just hope it can live up to its predecessors. American muscle and all that jazz.
My own blogging, eh? Well, as you can probably guess, without too much effort I should hope, I like to type. Something about my fingers on the keyboard just seems to shift my mind's gears into overdrive and I hit this massive vein of thought. Especially when I'm tired. And now that I've got that Mustang-Camaro match-up running through my head! Be warned, car analogies are probably going to pop up a bit in this entry. Writing entertains me. I feel like I can type things better than I can say them. Maybe because when I'm typing I can squeeze in big ol' words like superfluous or discombobulated or some other equally outrageous word. You know, the kind of words that NOBODY says anymore.
Challenges in becoming a successful blogger? Time. That's going to be my biggest issue. Work 40 hours a week, 3 other classes, running kids to sports and other things, getting my art ready for a show in the middle of September, its going to be really tough. Other than that, just finding a rhythm that works for me. Getting the research down, finding a writing style that works for this blog, and, apparently, finding a "beat" to focus on. That'll be difficult, I seriously into a lot of things. So, hopefully, having a whole symphony of beats is OK?
Comments appreciated!!
No comments:
Post a Comment