Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with writing and blog

icanwritewhateveryouneed.blogspot.com

SinisterPurpose — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:03:29 -0800

Have you ever referenced your personal blog as a writing sample for a job? I've been trying, as of late, to find work actually related to my degree in English. I haven't done any work as a paid writer ever. At best, writing and editing have been small portions of previous employment. But I can't really send a copy of a customer contact letter (or other official document) I edited or wrote previously due to one circumstance or another. Most of the creative writing I have done has been on my various blogs. Content and my affinity for being generally offensive aside, can I reasonably use these blogs as writing samples? Have you ever utilized your personal blog in this way and what were the results? Have you ever hired anyone based on what you saw on their blog?

And obviously if you look at my sites and have design notes you want to give me feel free. I'm all about improvement and I really have no feelings. So go nuts.

How do you write for your blog?

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:17:28 -0800

How do you write for your blog? I'm just starting out and would like to know how others approach writing and editing ...and maybe if there is a secret Bloggers Bible no one's told me about? After hanging around the sidelines for a while I've plunged in and started publishing posts on my very own wordpress blog. It's a personal/individual blog, but will likely be related enough in topic to get linked in to my career identity/professional life (ie: it's not about trolls). I listened to an inspiring little podcast by merlin mann and john gruber which talks about being-your-bestest at your one true thing. I can't say exactly what that thing is yet, but I'm okay with the probability that my blog is going to suck for awhile. So I'm keeping it off the market and not telling anyone (nope, not even my SO) until I'm convinced I can keep it up. I feel like my biggest challenge is getting my once-weekly post done and posted. I'm hoping if I just keeping writing I will hear my "voice" more clearly, and figure out wtf my blog is actually about. Does that sound right?

I'd like hear from some long-term bloggers (I know you lurk around here. I've read your blogs). Extraneous advice is also very welcome, and you can email me at whachameanwhatsablog@gmail.com, but here are my concrete questions:

1. Do you write on the fly, or have an editing process? While there are no doubt people in both camps, did you maybe start out your blog one way and change process? Any thoughts on one way or another? I can't decide if writing on Monday, editing Wednesday and re-editing for the post Friday is going to yield better results or just strangle me into dullsville.

2. What keeps you going? I'm sure there are more reasons for starting than you can swing a cat at, but (assuming you don't make cash-money with your blog) what keeps you at it? Any advice on getting through the slumps that will no doubt assault me? Any big no-nos here (like, maybe: Don't write about writer's block)?

3. Can you recommend a book/blog post/podcast/something that really helped you with blogging? I like reading. If you don't have the answers, please, give me something to read. (And yes, I read blogs ;). And if the aforementioned Secret Blogger's Bible does exist, then an Amazon link would be kindly appreciated.

Thanks.

How do I get a magazine to publish my article?

monkeyman82 — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:03:19 -0800

I want to write a story in a nationally syndicated magazine about a friend to draw attention to childhood cancer. Where do I start? I have a friend whose son went through Burkitt's lymphoma. He (the son) is in remission and doing fine- no small feat for a 16 year old! Over the past couple of years, the father has kept a blog documenting the whole journey, and describing other patients that suffer from childhood cancer. To raise money, he (the father) trained for and completed a marathon.

As I was reading Men's Health last month, I realized that his story would make an incredible article and would draw a lot of attention to- and potentially raise awareness of- Burkitt's lymphoma.

I was thinking about writing an article about it, but short of actually writing the thing, I don't know where to start. Does anyone have any experience with writing and submitting magazine articles for publication?

Journalist/Political Blogging from, and about, Turkey. Censorship issues?

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 11:41:18 -0800

I'm re-locating to Turkey in the upcoming months (due to unrelated circumstances), and whilst there, I intend on starting, and keeping, a regular blog about current events, human rights issues, the EU bid, and such. Photojournalism, where appropriate - and available - will also be included. So, I suppose I have a few questions. (long post, my apologies!) Due to current restrictions on freedom of the press, freedom of speech, Article 301, and others, any attempts at accurate journalism will either be censored, or may result in a less than friendly introduction to the Turkish legal system. However, human rights violations can't simply be ignored. The more they're spoken about, the more they're seen, the more can be done.

So, on to my questions:

1} What level of anonymity, if any, should I attempt? Should I go by a pseudonym? Or just leave out undue personal details and contact info?

2} Internet security. Would something like Hotspot Shield (on my personal laptop) be good, unnecessary, or not enough? Current laptop is running OSX.

3} To circumvent the frequent blocking of blogger.com and wordpress.com domains, I was thinking of using Wordpress, but on my own domain, hosted in either France, or North America. The content may still be blocked on an individual basis, but would my identity be protected?

4} Would it be better to access the internet from my home connection, via laptop, go to an internet cafe and use their connection, and their computer, OR, use my personal laptop in an area with WIFI access, such as a restaurant or hotel? [sidenote: At "home" I will be sharing internet with acquaintances, and will be unable to "reconfigure" anything, or whathave you.]

5} I'm not looking to make money out of this. I will be in the country primarily for other reasons. But I do hope to use this as a chance to gain more exposure, and promote dialogue, on daily Turkish life, whatever that happens to entail. It would be nice, though not entirely necessary, if I was able to add this to my journalistic resume in some way, professionally. Is there a way to do this, while keeping a relatively low profile, and avoiding arrest?

Should I just be submitting articles to small, foreign media outlets instead?

Any advice on how to be an online journo in Turkey, while keeping ones integrity, and still maintaining a minimal level of safety, would be greatly appreciated. Perhaps I'm being overly fearful. I hope I am. I realize Turkey isn't China. I would just rather seek out advice in advance, than regret my naivety. Thanks!

________________________________________

I'm certain you're going to be wondering if I have a background in this at all; if I have any idea what I'm doing... I know it certainly doesn't seem like it from re-reading this. Well, I have a background in broadcast media, ENG camera work, docu editing, television script writing, and freelance photography. I have also traveled rather extensively. The general field of work is not new to me. Political/journo human rights blogging, however, is a new endeavor.

*Throwaway email: journoblogger at yahoo.FR*

Birthday gift for a blogger

telsa — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:25:50 -0800

Looking for a birthday gift for a blogger friend. Female friend's birthday is coming up and she has a passion for writing/blogging. I'm looking for a gift that is special and will stand out and won't be the type that everyone else will get. As for pricing, anything around $150 seems reasonable.

Also, she already has a personal domain.

How to hire to write for my blog?

qvtqht — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:15:20 -0800

I would like to have a few guest writers write some articles for my blog. How do I sort out the basic logistics of this? I run a small blog about a relatively small but growing industry. I have been wanting to post some articles by guest writers that I do not have time to write myself. Now, someone has e-mailed me offering just this.

Have any Mefites done this before from either side? What are typical rates? Usual method of payment and arrangements? (Half now, half on completion? Everything on completion?) Copyright ownership? Anything else I should consider?

Finally, I would also like to pay someone to post short updates about industry news as it happens when I don't have the time to do it. How does the pay arrangement change in this case? Do I pay per post instead of per word?

Does anyone know what blog script/cms sites like thelastboss.com & wwtdd.com & filmdrunk.com use?

cheero — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 13:30:31 -0800

Does anyone know what blog script/cms sites like thelastboss.com & wwtdd.com & filmdrunk.com use?

How to join a blog network

lslutsky — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:09:24 -0800

I would like to start a blog, but I'd like the support of a blog network. Where can I begin? What networks should I contact? Thanks!

Psychology Blog Topics

charmston — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:52:44 -0800

I'm starting a psychology-related blog that will focus on reviewing interesting and socially relevant literature. If you were a visitor to this blog, what type of topics would you be most interested in reading? I would like suggestions for specific articles, if you have them. Leave a name and URL if you'd like, and I'll credit you for the idea if I use it!

Bloggers for hire?

afx237vi — Mon, 28 May 2007 08:27:01 -0800

I'd like to hire one, or maybe two, bloggers to keep my subject-specific weblog updated while I go on vacation (two weeks only). Is there a website that hooks up bloggers with potential clients for this purpose?

Will blogging while writing my book create copyright problems?

jeffmshaw — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 16:52:14 -0800

I'm writing a book and keeping a blog along the way. I have a questions about copyright law in case I want to use text from the blog posts. While writing my book, I'm keeping a blog that's mostly observations, but also sort of conversations-with-myself as my research deepens. Undoubtedly, this will inform my writing.

What I'm wondering is, suppose I want to lift whole paragraphs or even a full post. Are there copyright problems with this? I've heard that publishing free online might undermine publisher interest because the publisher may not be able to copyright something that has been published online for free. Also, I wonder if the blog host will have any claim on what I write.

The blog is on Vox (URL in profile) if that matters. Though I appreciate all advice, I promise not to take it as legal counsel. Thanks!

Weblogs Inc.: to accept or not accept

Anonymous — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 08:33:02 -0800

Has anyone here accepted an offer to (or currently) write for a blog on the Weblogs Inc. network? I have some questions inside if so. I'm just curious how it's worked out; they've offered me a decent rate-per-post (for me, anyway) and it all seems pretty cool. Anything I should watch out for? Horror/love stories?

What should I use for a blog in my classroom, and why?

fionab — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 15:53:47 -0800

Blogging in the classroom. I've decided to set-up a blog for my students this semester. This will be the place for their response papers, writing exercises and a few other tidbits. It needs to have access for 5-10 members, a very easy set-up, free-to-near-free pricing (although I would pay or find the dollars to fund if it was warranted), and very clear posting/linking instructions for the students. Advice on selecting a blogging system needed. What should I use?
- Blogger has a free version, with "team blog" as an option, and it looks like a Microsoft Word plug-in or something. This looks pretty attractive. What is the downside of Blogger? Privacy? Ads? The searchbar? Support?

- Moveable Type has educational pricing at $40 for my needs, but is it rather difficult to install, customize, set-up, etc.? I don't know anything beyond very basic HTML; I'm pretty techno-savvy [as in, I can do lots of stuff on computers and other gadgets but no programming] so I could follow instructions, but as the semester has already started, I don't want to put oodles of time into this. Is there a way to have it ready-to-go for me instead?

- I use TypePad for my (currently neglected) blog, so I'm familiar with their process and keys, but don't see how it would work for our class right now. Could it? With 5+ members?

- What about Drupal?

- What else should I consider? I found this old thread, but I know that the last year-and-a-half has been busy in the blogging industry and educational blogging. What do I need to know about blogging with my class? Dangers? Advice? Good grades for all who respond!

Help me understand why people write blogs and journals.

daver — Fri, 30 Apr 2004 17:07:45 -0800

Why do people write blogs and/or journals? Is it a fad? When will it end? Non-rhetorical, more inside. I’m wondering about why journal writers, bloggers, diarists, and autobiographicians, do it. What are your personal reasons? Why do you think people do it in general? Do you see “blogging” as the latest and most logical extension of a long tradition of writing about/for oneself, or as the latest techno-evaporative craze? If so, when will it dry up?

I’ll go first.
Autobiographical reasons first and foremost. I believe whatever we think of our past today is colored heavily by ‘the now’ -- much better to have some indication of what you were actually thinking about at that time. Plus, I’m curious about my parent’s lives, and hope my kid will be equally curious and I’ll be able to deliver the goods when the time comes (probably through insta-telepathy link).

Secondarily: keep in touch w/ family (mostly) and friends.

3rd: I fantasize that secretly all y’all are visiting my site, somehow bypassing my logging software, and marveling at the depth and variety of my life, and how one can capture it quite so fully by only posting once every 23 days and exclusively taking photos of my 2 year old. Please, don’t burst my bubble.

I suspect the major reasons people blog are similar, probably with a bigger emphasis on item 3 above. Also:

As a means of publishing writing (or other works) to the wider-world for political or other ends.
To be part of a social group
To share new web finds
As the only means of expression that ‘lives on the web’ (No tattoo will get you noticed online unless you publish it)
To ‘get it off their chest’ (particularly diary/journal)
To make sense of it all (as above)
To combat loneliness

I actually think Blogging is an extension of self-writing, and will persist, although I suspect the term blogging will disappear along with most of the tools we know now in the next 5 years or so.

How do you become an internet phenomenon?

adrober — Tue, 06 Jan 2004 16:34:19 -0800

How do you become an internet phenomenon? I am a writer who wants exposure and my friends keep telling me to start a website. I've started many a blog--all dismal failures--and need perhaps good advice on how to (a) construct a unique, functional website that is easy to post on and (b) get exposure. Figured this was a good place to ask. Thanks!