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Pay attention to how you respond to blogs as a reader, and let that experience inform you as a writer.
Becoming a Blogger
(Several of these points are borrowed from and/or informed by the excellent Karine Joly'sslidedeckon the topic, with permission.)
Setting your agenda:What will your blog be about? Who will read it? What are your goals in starting a blog?
Tone: What will be the tone/voice of your blog? How often will you post? How long will your posts be?
Platform:Where will your blog be hosted? Will your school's website link directly to it? From which page? (Talk to your local IT person and/or webmaster.)
Possible free platforms that do not require onsite hosting:
Plan ahead. What do you want to call your blog? Do you have an idea of an image you might use for the header? How about a profile picture? Will you want your posts to be signed with your first name, full name, or alias?
Comments: What will your comment policy be? Will you allow them? How you will vet them? How will you respond to them?
"The interactive nature of blogs distinguish them from older forms of web publishing and define them as examples of 'web 2.0' or read/write digital technologies. Some authors refer to readers of blogs and other social media as 'the former audience,' because these individuals now participate interactively in conversations which take place around published posts rather than simply reading and consuming that content in a passive, traditional way. (ref: Shirky, Clay. 2008. Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing without Organizations. Penguin Press) Blogging platforms generally give the option to web publishers to turn 'commenting' on or off, and enable comment moderation so feedback from readers can be reviewed before it "goes live" for others to see. While some blogs are maintained with commenting turned entirely off, it is generally preferable to have blog commenting enabled to permit feedback and participation by readers." ~ Wes Fryer, inPowerful Ingredients for Blended Learning
"But here is the thing: no matter how you slice it, blogging is a risk. And it’s a risk not just because you are putting yourself out there for the world, but because unlike many other types of writing that we do, it’s unfinished. At least that’s the way it feels for me. I don’t KNOW very much for certain. But blogging isn’t about what I know as much as it’s about what I think I know, and I find that to be a crucial distinction. For me, it’s the distinction that constantly makes this hard. It’s also the distinction, however, that makes blogging worth it. The one thing that a potential global audience does more than anything else is create the opportunity to really learn through writing in various texts, through the conversation and feedback that ensues. I say this all the time, that while a lot of my learning occurs in the composing of the post (or whatever), most of it occurs in the distributed reactions (when they happen) after I publish." ~ Will Richardson, inWhy Blogging Is Hard
Avoid the echo chamber. Find other bloggers who share your perspective (or whose perspective is very different). Comment on their work, invite them to comment on yours, seek out others who could help you refine your thinking.
Imagine your ideal (and worst!) reader. Think of them before you hit "publish." Every time.
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