In The Beginning

”The (Nearly) Art of Blogging”

M. B. “Bud” Fields, Jr.
Copyright©2007 by Grand Organ Productions, LLC

I have decided to create a series of essays on blogging. I doubt that any sentence of them will be profound, or even “new” to those who are Bloggers. As this particular style of writing is becoming not only more popular, but has even achieved some semblance of “status” among writers and readers, I think that at least an introductory series of essays is in order. As I have not found any that meet my definition, I decided to write them.

I hope they will be informative. I hope they will help. But, mostly, I hope they will encourage the new writer to the genre to begin writing a Blog---well. There is a great amount of good writing in Blogs which deserves to be read. Not all of it is literary, and very little of it is what I would call “Journalism”. But, in the tradition of the personal Journal, or Diary, there is much value in creating, maintaining, and communicating through a Blog.

Some of the topics which I believe will be important in this series on blogging include:

The History of blogging, and the role of the Blog in the Internet Age
Considerations for creating a Blog
Who should (and who should not) create a Blog
The Basic Rules and Etiquette of the Blog, and the Blogger
Creating Your Blog: Where, Why, and How.
The Blog vs. The Journal/Diary: Know the difference
How to Get What You Desire From Your Blog
Beware! Someone is actually reading your Blog!
How to deal with those pesky comments
How to Blog Effectively
Is there a time to end your Blog?
Maintaining your Blog Effectively
Keeping your Blog Fresh, New, and Exciting! (Groan!)
Competitive Blogging (Yes, there really IS such a thing!)
Blogging for Dollars!
Getting Your Blog Published!
“I’ve Said What I Came to Say! Now What?”

These and whatever other topics I can come up with (so long as they matter) will irregularly appear in my writing. I hope that you will join me as I work to inform, instruct, and inspire you to not only become a Blogger, but to create a Blog that will bring you pride, joy, and fulfillment.

If you, at any point, have a question, a concern, and ultimatum….please let me know!

Please contact me at [e-mail].

I have several Blogs which I keep. Some are closed, and I will use entries from them as examples in these essays. I will also try to point you to some of the best (and the worst) Blogs on the internet today. Both have valuable lessons to learn, I believe.

One of the very basic things I will say throughout these essays to you is that Writers Write! The best writers write every day. Many of them do so through their personal Blogs. Actors, Politicians, Writers, and candlestick makers all have Blogs these days, it seems.

Does Blogging make you a writer? In the most basic definition: yes. Does it make you a Journalist? There is a huge debate going on over that at the moment. Does it make you a Blogger? Absolutely.

Does keeping a Blog make you a good writer, or good journalist, or a good Blogger? No.

Only time, experience, and following the rules of good writing, or good journalism, or Good bogging will make you good. Finding your voice for your passion is good. Finding others who share that passion is very good. Speaking your voice in such a way that others will wait with breathless anticipation for your next words is a bit much to hope for, in reality. But, it does happen. And, sometimes, it happens to such a degree that you are asked to be published by someone who really does know what “good” actually is.

That’s a pretty diverse rainbow of possibility for someone just beginning to think about keeping a Blog. But, if you never begin, how will you ever know? In my next article, I will discuss some of the serious and seriously important considerations that you should encounter before beginning your Blog. I hope you will join me.

Comments, ratings, reviews, etc. are always welcome and encouraged. Flames will be ignored.

There is a wonderful world of amateur writers who are making serious contributions through their Blogs. I hope that you will choose to become one of them. Who know? Yours might just become the next "Blog-To-Book" success story!

Write Well!

M. B. “Bud” Fields, Jr.

© Copyright 2007 Budroe in 2012! (UN: kybudman at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Budroe in 2012! has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.