Is this your first time to visit Writing the Cyber Highway? Be sure to subscribe to my Feed or by e-mail. In the next couple of posts, I’ll be sharing photos and details about my visit to an old-fashioned festival where I dressed up as a pioneer woman (bonnet and all!) and also had the amazing opportunity to meet an Editor–and an Editor-In-Chief. Eeek!

What kind of blogger are you?

The New York Times (@nytimes)recently published a piece called Blogs Falling in an Empty Forest by Douglas Quenua. (Thank you to Maria Schneider aka @MariaSchneider on Twitter for tweeting that link!) This article really made me think. Sometimes, in the still of the night as I tap away at my keyboard sharing my heart and soul with you, I forget just how many of you there are! Of course, if I were to dwell on that fact, I may never blog again!

So, I began to ask myself questions. Maybe you should ask yourself, too.

• How do you feel about being so public?

• Would you jump to do a TV or radio interview?

• How much do you share?

• Are you comfortable with what you share online?

• Have you received any interview offers?

So, how does blogging affect you?

Is it just a way for you to share photos and fun news with your family and friends or do you, like  Nancy Sun (@nancysun on Twitter) who is featured in Quenua’s New York Times article, fantasize about landing a book deal? Is being part of your growing blog community enough for you, or do you crave more? Have you even thought about it? Are you just blogging along, clueless to the fact that Oprah or The New York Times could be watching you? Could love you? Could want more of you? It’s sort of a scary thought, isn’t it?

I am starting to receive more requests for interviews or to answer questions and be used as a reference for health or juicing topics on my health site. Not long ago, I was contacted to be a reference in a magazine article about the benefits of juice fasting. When it comes out, I’ll share it. And Lori and Green Gigs profiled contacted me to kick off her Green Job Hunter profiles. Most recently, I’ve been asked to do a three-part interview over at EagleHawk. Parts one and two are up so far. To be honest, it was a little nerve-wracking being on the opposite end of the interview! (So far my interview experiences have been awesome, though!)

I think, as bloggers, we need to seriously consider exactly what we expect in return from blogging. You may not even realize that you’re truly captivating, totally mesmerizing, unbelievably lovable to the world who reads you!!

So, what do you think? Did you read Quenua’s article? Would you agree to do an interview for TV or radio? What about a book deal? Do you put photos of yourself on your blog(s)? How do you feel about being recognized by readers while you’re out and about? It’s a lot to consider, people! Spill the beans. I want to hear your thoughts!

Oh, and don’t forget about the Grammar Girl contest! You have until Saturday, June 13th at 9 p.m. to get all your entries in. Good luck!

Photo Credit: blakespot

Posted Thursday, September 25, 2008

Written By Guest Blogger, Jean Wise

Today’s post is brought to you by a Guest Blogger. Jean Wise is going to talk about her on-line writing group. Give her a nice welcome!

KINDRED HEART WRITERS ON-LINE GROUP

Clella Camp (top left), Jean Wise (top right)

Bottom, from left to right: Laura Groves, Johnnie Donley, Karen Evans

On-line critique groups are beginning to find a place in the world of writing. Because people are asking about our group – how it got started, how it functions, and its benefits, here’s our story.

We all met for the first time at the Florida Christian Writer’s Conference in 2007. As it concluded, we wanted to stay in touch and talked about forming a group.

Our first year was a learning year and we revamped after meeting again at the 2008 conference. We reorganized as the Kindred Heart Writers. We are five women from different geographic locations and with different experiences, different life situations, different desires, and of different ages, but with one common goal-to do the best we can with the gift God had given us- writing.

Critiquing Each Other’s Work

We have established an ongoing critique rotation and a blog for writers (www.kindredheartwriters.com). Approximately once a week one of us submits a writing sample for feedback, so every five weeks we have something critiqued. We rotate blog responsibilities, posting a new blog entry twice a week. The surprise benefit has been as we help other writers, our own writing improves. As they say, iron sharpens iron.

Weekly Writings

We take turns sending out a weekly devotion entitled “Morning Moments.” Rotations schedules are set up in such a way that we usually do not have to do more than one thing each week to do besides read and critique. And if someone has a submission they need input on out of rotation sequence, most of us are willing to take the time to read and comment.

More than a Critique Group

We are so much more than a critique group as we share personal struggles, encouragement, writing opportunities, and resources. We have built and expanded our blog and soon will add pillar articles written by each of us. This is part of our plan to create a group platform that not only will help our group, but each of us as individual writers.

Dreams

We have long term goals of writing a book together and mentoring others on the writer’s journey.

Writing can be lonely business and having a group that supports, encourages and even celebrates with you is priceless.

About Jean Wise:

Jean Wise is a freelance writer, speaker and spiritual director in northwest Ohio. You can meet all of the Kindred Heart Writers at their web site/blog: www.kindredheartwriters.com.

Are you part of a writing group, either on-line or in person? Jump right in the comments and share your experiences, questions, and feedback with Jean. I’m sure she’d love that!

Opal Tribble, at Addicted to Writing, has tagged me for a meme. She’s asked me to share tips with my readers on how to be a better blogger. I’ve only been blogging since July, 2007, as you’ll notice from my archives listed at the right. Some of you may snicker and scoff out loud, yeah, that’s evident as you see a new blogger shining through; yet my loyal readers brag on me so much it sometimes feels weird trying to live up to the standard that’s evolved.

All in all, I’m just a gal who loves to write and not too long ago realized I must have been born to blog – if only for my own personal gratification!

Like I mentioned earlier in a post titled: Wisdom Gained from 2007 Failures, I made mistakes with this blog in 2007. That was to be expected. When we’re new at something, we have to learn through trial and error and we become better and better in time, right? I’m just thankful for my loyal readers who have stayed with me through the ups and downs and are giving me time to learn and who are helping me build a comfortable community here. (Thanks everyone!)

Now, for the tips.

1. Treat your blog like you live there. That’s right. Would you invite a guest to your home and not offer them a cool drink on a hot day? Would you plan a Christmas party and not prepare or buy snacks or a meal for your friends to feast on? Imagine a familiar ole pal stopping by to visit you and you don’t even ask them to come in, or even if you do invite them in you make them stand around feeling awkward. Remember how nice it is to wear your favorite pair of comfy shoes, or lean back in your favorite chair, or curl up with your favorite pillow? That’s how you want your readers to feel – at home!

To be a good host(ess) you simply must find your manners! Invite your readers in with your friendly words. Offer them refreshments by delivering fresh, creative content. Make them want to kick off their shoes and stay awhile by asking questions at the end of your post to stir up conversation and bring your blog to life! Dazzle them with your cyber smile! In other words, have a genuine personality and don’t hide it!

2. Reply to comments. In keeping with tip number one, reply to comments. Once you invite your reader to comment by providing a friendly post, follow up and respond. Perhaps they asked a question, or maybe they just complimented your writing style. Respect the fact that they took time out of their own busy day to reach out and let you know they “got” your message, or that they appreciated your wit. Even better, after you reply to them visit their blog and actually read a post (or more) and leave a thought-provoking comment for them. You’ll be glad you did!

3. Polish your post. Okay, I know I’m far from grammar perfect – although I try to improve daily. Sometimes I republish a post once or twice because I notice I repeated myself or forgot to punctuate a sentence. It hurts me when I see the letter i as I just typed it. Even if we don’t all have English degrees, we can capitalize the letter I. It’s just that easy. There’s nothing complicated about it. And it looks so much better. Maybe you notice if you made certain points stand out by making those sentences bold, your message would be easier to read. Go back in and make those sentences bold. Write, rewrite, edit, polish your post!

4. Forgive your failures. No one is perfect. We all misspell words at one time or another. Most of us (pointing finger at myself) could improve on the grammar skills. There are books we can studyto help us. There are times that life’s circumstances keeps us away from the computer and we can’t blog or respond to comments. It’s not the end of the world. Okay, so maybe those aren’t really failures but sometimes we feel like they are, don’t we?

And don’t worry if you don’t understand html, widgets, or how to link to another blog. There are books to teach usthose things too!

5. Enjoy blogging and networking for what it is. Have fun, be creative, sit back in your chair and relax! Be proud of yourself for even figuring out how to create a blog, publish your posts, and for being able to comment – especially when you have to dance around all sorts of things just to get to the point of being able to type in a comment. Blogging is fun. It’s a great learning experience – a tool you can use to enhance your computer skills, your writing skills, and to meet new people. And if you want, you can even take it to higher levels and become a problogger like Darren Rowse. That would be the ultimate accomplishment in the blogosphere!

A few awesome bloggers I feel have successful blogs and will share great blogging tips are:

Rebecca Laffar-Smith, at Writer’s Round-About. She is an extremely talented writer, blogger, and she even knows html and has programming skills!

Katharine Swan, at Swan’s Blog, who writes and blogs with passion and shares her wisdom in a friendly, yet professional voice.

Melissa Donovan, at Writing FORWARD. Melissa’s blogging skills are impressive and I’m sure she has some great tips to share with us.

Jeanne Dininni, at Writer’s Notes, who has a nack for maintaining an informative, inspiring, and friendly blog.

Anyone who wasn’t tagged either 1) is someone I’ve tagged recently or 2) someone I felt was too busy or wouldn’t be interested in participating.

I hope you can take these tips I humbly presented and successfully blog the cyber highway!