Reasons to Blog: Guest Post!

Today I welcome Megan from the book review blog, The Reading List, to share with us some reasons to start or continue blogging.

 

I’m a writer, not a blogger!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist the Star Trek-ish reference in the title.  Being a writer and/or an author and being a blogger are actually two different things. I know this from experience. It’s sort of like comparing peaches to plums. Same family, but completely different fruit.

When I decided to delve into the scary world of book review blogging a few months ago, I gave it a lot of thought.  I’ve always been the type to methodically think things through before I come to any kind of decision. Just when I’ve thought I’ve made a decision, I have to think about the whole thing even more to make sure it’s the right decision. Starting a book review blog was no exception.

In the end, I remembered that blogging was something that I wanted to do. I have been an avid reader since I was a kid. Books that focused on the supernatural or Sci-Fi particularly piqued my interest and as I got older, that love for reading continued to grow as well. Books have always been a way for me to escape the hectic pressures of everyday life. I wanted to review books so that I could hopefully share my favorites and the authors that write them with others. It probably seems like we’re going to start singing Kumbaya here in a moment, but it’s the truth.

I think a lot of would-be bloggers are hesitant to jump into blogging because it can be very time consuming. You select a book, read it from cover to cover,  pick out what you liked and didn’t like about it (in my case you make a very structured list), and you write it all down in a way that will hopefully appeal to your readers.

I am definitely not the expert on blogging, by any means. I sit in a 5 x10 ft cube all day hunched over my computer keyboard, hacking away at the keys while I wonder what life is like on the outside. Then I go home to try to make sense of my book review blog, The Reading List. But there are a few things that I’ve learned that were pretty helpful in making my decision in starting a blog.

Social Media is the new media
Social media and blogging, in particular, are especially important in today’s technology driven world. Social media is quickly becoming the way that consumers get and receive their news and information.  When I started college (all of six years ago), classes that focused on writing for the ‘new media’ were essentially ingrained into the curriculum. It’s a sad reality, but the days of print newspapers and periodicals are numbered.

Share your interests
There’s something to be said about how much we can relate to another person just based on reading their blog. Think of it as a small window into someone else’s thoughts or ideas.

Starting a blog is easy. You only need an email address to get started, but a blog opens a number of doors for a writer. You can share your feelings on something that you’re passionate about, and collaborate with others who might feel similarly or even those who don’t. It’s completely up to you how your blog shapes up.

The same is true for authors. As a reader, I follow a lot of my favorite authors’ blogs on my feed reader. I like reading about what they are working on or when the next book in one of my favorite series will be released.

Attract readers and reviewers to your writing
You’d be surprised how much a blog or twitter feed can draw interest in your work. If readers enjoy your posts on your blog they might be more inclined to check out other things that you’ve written.  I have discovered so many new authors and great reads through Twitter and through the blogosphere (yes, I did use that word) that I wouldn’t have found if I hadn’t gotten into blogging.

Seems obvious, yes? Not if you’re a slightly paranoid, former technophobe like I am.

I’m not sure if I’ve left any words of wisdom, but if a light bulb flickered brightly somewhere in your general vicinity, you either have a ghost problem– or maybe, just maybe, that was the kick in the pants you needed to start blogging.

 

By day, Megan is a Staff Writer and Editor in Washington, DC– by night, she is an avid reader and reviews books on her blog, The Reading List, with the hope that others will develop an interest in urban fantasy, horror and paranormal fiction.  

You can usually catch her with her head down and face shoved into the pages of a book. When she isn’t reading or talking about books she is geeking out over Buffy reruns, playing The Sims 3 on her computer or pretending to be a normal person by exploring the streets of her city.

Motivation and Techniques for Becoming an Activist

Image via Wikipedia

Simply thinking about action is the first step to accomplishing something. The reason people often fail to follow through is because they become intimidated by that action. The idea is harmless; manifesting that idea involves work.

First, scale down the desired impact of the goal. Don’t think that if you can’t make something huge happen right away, it’s not worth it. This destructive mindset borders on cynicism and doubt. Remember that little changes make big changes happen… eventually.

Dreamers are rarely apathetic. For example, a recent economics course inspired a friend to research solutions for the fuel dilemma in the United States. He was inspired, but he wasn’t sure what he could accomplish on his own.

How about raising local awareness for fuel conservation? Raising awareness is one of the most powerful impacts people can have on a local level. And while global solutions are necessary, our own communities have the potential to catalyze global action. Some of the most successful global movements were first visualized by an individual or small group of like-minded people.

The first step is communication. Our neighbors and, eventually, our governments must notice us and our concerns.

Five Tools to Get Started:

1. Mailing Lists

Subscribing to mailing lists is an easy way to stay informed about topics of interest.  Search the internet for organizations that share the same concerns. They will ask for aid and provide you with the resources you need to contribute to their causes.

2. Petitions

Signing and distributing petitions are effective ways to spread awareness about a topic and to get people in power to notice local efforts. After all, there is power in numbers. The more aware people become about an issue, the more likely you are to recruit more activists. The more support you gain, the closer you become to achieving your goals.

3. Social and Professional Networks

Networking is a valuable way to stay informed and meet like-minded individuals. Through networking, you stand to gain fresh perspectives and helpful advice.

4. Memberships

After you have associated yourself with established organizations, your memberships will prove extremely useful. Attend local events and join clubs in your community. Once people get to know you, they’ll be more likely to trust your judgment and follow your lead.

5. Fundraisers

Sometimes, money matters most. Fundraising does three things for your campaign at once: It gets you noticed, raises awareness of your cause, and raises money that you can use to further develop your efforts. Have a solid plan for the money you raise; people will be more likely to donate if they are confident in your cause.

Stay motivated. It only takes one good idea to develop a movement with global impact.

© Alexis Jenny, 2011.