Blogging 101

If you  just clicked onto this page then you are now officially part of the blogosphere (part of the lingo used by authentic bloggers.)  You don’t get any special privileges or an ID card or even a discount coupon.  What you get is a pass into the world of blogging–and the right to begin using the term “blogosphere”.

What is a blog?

According to Wikipedia: “A blog (short for Web Log) is a personal online journal that is frequently updated.  Blogs are defined by their format: a series of entries posted to a single page in reverse-chronological order.  Blogs generally represent the personality of the author or reflect the website that hosts the blog.”  

Someone suggested to me that a blog is “a conversation with the culture.”  The way I think of it is that you are like a fly on the wall of someone else’s brain.

Is a blog open to everyone?

A blogger can choose to keep their blog private and allow only certain people to read or comment.  Reading MY blog makes you part of a very exclusive group since it is only open to anyone who has access to the internet.

Am I blogging now?

No.  I am blogging.  You are reading.

How do I read a blog?

Blogs are written backwards, so what you see at the top of the page is the most recent post.  I blog every day.  All bloggers are not that crazy–or verbose.  But every blog post is dated.  You can start reading with today’s post, you can back up a few days or longer, or you can pick and choose.  In a way it’s like tuning into a soap opera that has already started.  In my case the soap opera started many years ago–although I just started blogging on July 4, 2008.

What is the stuff in the margins?

Mostly it helps you navigate the blog.  A list of categories organizes posts by topic.  Archives organizes posts by date.  There are also links to other pages on the blog, or other places on the web.

How do I comment?

On a blog the comments lead to the conversation.  At the end of every post is a line with the word: “comments” and a number.  The number is the number of comments received on that post.  If you click on the word “comments”, you can read the comments.  You will also be directed on how to post your own comment, opinion, question, whatever you want to say.  You can choose any name to identify yourself–so your comments can be completely anonymous. 

That’s it?

Blogging has no rules.  And no expectations. 

Thank you for choosing my blog as your first experience–I hope you’ll continue to read it, and share it. 

If you’d like to subscribe, click here.