Entry #11 - May the force be with you, future blogger

So you're thinking about starting up a blog? Maybe you want to write about politics, food, fashion, or maybe you just need something to vent to. Perhaps you got suckered into starting one by enrolling in a hybrid English class. Whatever the case may be, it's not as hard as you think.

I am no blogging master, but I did just complete an English course so you might want to take the time to learn a thing or two.

Rule #1- Choose your topic (if not given one) and do your research! 
It may be hard to find inspiration to write (trust me, I know). That is why you must research. This goes for anything. Take a few minutes, or hours, to read up on the given subject. It will really help you understand what's going on. You don't have to read a 54-page essay on astrophysics, skim through it! Start by looking at the Wikipedia! A simple google search will take you a long way. Look at other people's blogs if you have to!

Rule #2- Jot ideas down and make connections
You don't necessarily have to start writing just yet. Build an outline. Copy and paste interesting tidbits of information as references to your writing. Look at infographics, include them in the blog if you want! Bridge ideas together and make connections between relevant information.

Rule #3 (THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE)- Just. start. writing. 
This is where it gets tough. Sometimes I find myself just staring at a blank screen for hours on end. Just write. Write anything. If you can't think of anything to start, think of how you want to end the paper and start there. As you're writing you will eventually start to think of more ideas- jot them down and save them for later! Work around the tidbits of information you began with.

Rule #4 (THE HARDEST RULE TO ABIDE BY)- Do not procrastinate. 

Don't listen to this guy!

This should be rule #1, take it from me, a blogging master. It's pretty self-explanatory. If you procrastinate, your writing will only get worse, and people can tell.

Rule #5 ????

Rule #6 Profit
After all the blood sweat and tears, you get to sit back and watch the comments roll in. Shortly after that, you will receive an A in your course. And if you didn't- you didn't get this information from me.

Blogging may seem intimidating at first. Not only are you writing (which is already a challenge in itself to some) but you're sharing it with other people who have the ability to criticize your work (scary, I know). But hey, if you take the time to do the work there should be no reason for you to be intimidated by anyone. Everyone is different. Everyone has their own opinions and a little constructive criticism won't hurt. You will be given plenty of that by the teacher. And whether you are in a class or not, you must always expect someone to say something, whether it is positive or negative. Such is life. It's just a blog. You're not writing for the Wall Street Journal, and if you are, congrats, you probably wouldn't be reading this anyway.

Overall, I really enjoyed writing my blog because of how informal it was. In the blogosphere, your work is as serious as you make it. Enjoy the freedom, because when you're writing your formal papers you will wish it was as easy as writing a blog. It is a battle, I know, but it is a learning experience.

You might hate it at first, but in the end, it is truly rewarding. You learn to have a voice, YOUR voice. And if you don't like your voice, or your work, or your blog, or your class, or your teacher, YOU TRIED. And that is the most important aspect of it all.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.