October 28, 2005

Blogging Lite Checklist NEW/IMPROVED VERSION

published this at 2:46 pm

UPDATE:

In the article, 10+1 Qualities of Bloggers and Our Readers, the third bullet was

  • Bloggers love to disrupt the status quo.

    • Well, sometimes this blogger does, and sometimes she doesn’t. She sure doesn’t like to stir things up, when she doesn’t know she’s doing it.

    A new blog comes with a learning curve, and this one came with an audience. I just showed what happens when you try to make friends with your readers just a bit too fast. Even with experience, it’s an easy thing to do. In fact, it might be easier because you know once the hellos are over, the real conversations start.

    So if I might say one thing,

    I’ve read the checklist over again. I agree with Richard. It has problems with the tone. The beauty of blogging is that I can fix this immediately. So I’m going to edit the checklist, but let the comments on the original stay just as they were.

    Blogging Checklist For Emperor Penguins

    1. Turn on the printer and print out this checklist. If you don’t have a printer. Don’t try to turn it on. STOP HERE. I know that you’re an Emperor, but there’s some things that you can’t do. Bloggers are friendly folks. Ask a blogging penguin to print it out for you.

    2. Find your blog. If you cannot find your blog, get help from a blogger friend. If you do not have a blog, STOP HERE. This is a blogging checklist, you need a blog. But if I might speak freely, Emperor sir, getting started isn’t hard, and mistakes shouldn’t worry you. In fact, as a penguin you might find it familiar. Writing for a blog can be like etching things in ice . . . nothing on a blog is set entirely in stone. The rewrite of this list just for you is perfect proof of that. :)

    3. If you found your blog, I fear, Emperor, you must go back and start with number 1. If you’ve forgotten what you’re doing or why you’re doing this STOP HERE. You might be like me and don’t do well with printed documentation. Go ahead and try a little experimentation.

    4. Check off number 1, if you actually did it. If you did not, you ARE an EMPEROR penguin after all, STOP HERE. With all your penguin followers, you might consider another way to blog. Do what the mainstream media do–hire a ghostblogger.

    My apologies to the more-enlightened Emperor Penguins. The time alloted for this checklist has expired. We’ll have to continue another time with the rest of this checklist. . . . :)

    ALSO NEXT WEEK:

    An Interview with INDIE

    about his succesful blog from Germany,
    The Synchronicity of Indeterminacy     (Say that three times quickly.)

    Syncrhronicity of Indeterminacy0209-30

    Click the thumbnail. Go visit to see what makes it tick.

    See you then!

    –ME “Liz” Strauss

    Filed under Uncategorized | 12 Comments »


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    12 Comments to “Blogging Lite Checklist NEW/IMPROVED VERSION”

    1. October 28th, 2005 at 5:57 pm
      nostrich.com » I Am New To Blogging, Patronise Me, Please said

      [...] Things like this really piss me off. [...]

    2. October 28th, 2005 at 8:39 pm
      ME "Liz" Strauss said

      I’m sorry to hear that nostrich. I’ve been to your site and read your Friday rant. I explained that this was intended to make fun of my own seriousness. I apologize sincerely that I have offended you.

      You feel that this would be patronizing and offensive to new bloggers. I sincerely apologize to any new bloggers who might feel that way.

      My experience is that most bloggers experienced or not are smarter, stronger, and have a far better sense of humor than to let this lite humor throw them.

      But I’m not always right and I’m glad you told me. :)

      Liz

    3. October 28th, 2005 at 9:09 pm
      Richard Dunlop-Walters said

      I said it at my own blog in reply to your comment, but I’ll say it here, too. It’s not that it wasn’t funny, it was, it just came off as pretty patronising too. Just me voicing my opinion, as I’m prone to doing. I’ve found the rest of the blog a pretty enjoyable read so far, so keep it up. :)

    4. October 28th, 2005 at 9:17 pm
      ME "Liz" Strauss said

      Thank you Richard for replying and for the encouragement. :)

      I wonder if this might be a cultural thing? I got a couple of e-mails from Americans calling it hilarious. Now I’m getting interested . . . I’m hoping others will give their opinions.
      Liz

    5. October 29th, 2005 at 9:47 am
      indeterminacy said

      I’m one of the ones who told Liz I thought this was funny, and I did, because it seemed to me the person it described couldn’t exist. I took this as a piece to remind the reader of the time when he/she was starting out, and all the mistakes he/she made, and a way to laugh at oneself. But I can see how this could offend people, especially absolute beginners who have never even used a PC before, but are approaching it because of wanting to blog, but not even having a concept of what a blog is.

      Of course it’s wrong to make fun of people for skills they don’t have. The proper target would be an unwillingness to learn. I wouldn’t hesitate to ridicule that in one of my stories.

    6. October 29th, 2005 at 10:48 am
      ME "Liz" Strauss said

      Hi Indie,
      Thanks for stopping by to state your view. Yeah, I’m coming around to some of the thinking that you state here. In fact I think I’m going to edit it. After a night of thinking and a chance to think about what Richard said. I realize this doesn’t have the nuance of my usual work. I think maybe I was trying too hard, this my first week. That’s not fair to me or to my readers.

      The big thing is:

      I want readers to KNOW that I’m their BIGGEST fan.

      We’re all in this together.

      Thanks again for adding to the conversation.
      Liz

    7. October 29th, 2005 at 7:05 pm
      Richard Dunlop-Walters said

      I like the revision. Even funnier. :)

    8. October 29th, 2005 at 9:44 pm
      ME "Liz" Strauss said

      Hi Richard.
      One thing I know is how to write for penguins. I’ve written for them on my personal blog when covering writing subjects. They’re intelligent, but sometimes they don’t listen–especially the Emperors. :)

      Glad you liked it. I like it too. :)
      Liz

    9. October 30th, 2005 at 4:20 am
      Martin (HomeOfficeVoice) said

      Liz, I too was totally offended at the way you … only kidding ;-)

      What I do when I’mm writing something that might offend some, or is written as a joke or sacasim is involved is to include an outrageous image with the post that makes it pretty clear that the post is light-hearteded … oh, and I also state in the offending post what’s it about ie: “read this post as a rant that’s heavy in sarcasim and patronising as hell – it’s Friday remember, time for some fun” blah-blah.

      Regualr readers know of my cynical/sarcistc style but new one’s don’t, so you gotta think of them and get them to understand your style.

    10. October 30th, 2005 at 10:13 am
      ME "Liz" Strauss said

      Hey Martin,
      Big grin. :)

      That’s great advice! Can I quote you?

      I think what I should have realized that some folks need a little time to get to know me before I bring out all of my dazzling personality. :) I’ve gotten comfortable on my other blog and have to realize that this blog is a new one.
      Liz

    11. October 30th, 2005 at 12:40 pm
      Melissa said

      imho, it is difficult NOT to sound patronising if you are writing how-tos for newbies.

      I find it hilarious, though.

    12. October 30th, 2005 at 2:17 pm
      ME "Liz" Strauss said

      Hi Melissa,
      You’ve got a point. :)
      That’s why I like Martin’s advice so much.

      Thanks for the encouragement. I like having fun now and then.
      Liz

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