Category — Blogging Issues

Photo by: Joel Logon @ Flickr
I still have a long way to go. This blog that been buried at some anonymous corners of the boundless blogosphere for many months is now once again resurrected. With new zealous group of friends I gained recently in the blogosphere, I am now more disciplined with my posting deadlines and at the same time have managed my time at work; placed my priorities well enough on my internal task manager and trying to cultivate the attitude.

Trying to regain those valuable readers that this blog once had is one of the most pressing and daunting task for me. Injecting a new blood and life to this blog that have wandered into the wilderness is on top of my list.

In my journey to blogging, I realized that there are stages that one could not simply and easily escape to undergo which could either make one’s blog swim or sink. Jan wrote days ago of great tips on crafting one’s writing skills which is a very important aspect of blogging; to provide unique and interesting blog articles to readers. But as I saw it, another important part of writing/blogging is attitude. And as a blogger, having the technical skills on tweaking your blog is only secondary to having the skill to write. As they say, everyone can become a blogger, but only a select few can be both a blogger and a writer.

As I journeyed into blogging, got lost and once again found my way back, let me share some thoughts of the basically I could say a little process one undergoes as a blogger.

1. Hey what is this thing you call Blogging?

Remember the day your Mom accompanied you to school for your first day in class? Every blogger starts that way; a total stranger to blogging until one introduces him into it. A friend, family members, teachers, or the media would tickle his fancy about this strange thing. One is acquainted to blogging, for which he may resist, welcome it wholeheartedly or welcome it but with some hesitations. The neophyte would then be infected by the virus of blogging. He gets curious. Would then little by little put his foot to take a step forward and engage. Hey blogging is like an online diary eh!

2. I am already Blogger, am I?

When I was still starting to blog, I did not even know if what I was doing could even be called blogging. It was like pinning the tail of donkey blindfolded. I tried to key in phrases such as “blog, blogging, blogging tips, how to blog” on google and yahoo. Read online articles and established blogs to learn more about the craft and start on my own. I read and read. Search and read. The other side of it is of course to ask help from friends who have spent all their life blogging who can mentor you through the alleys and sideways of the blogosphere. And the latter is of course is the better way to pass successfully through this stage. One could then start here by having his own blog usually hosted by free blogging platforms such as blogger, wordpress or typepad.

3. Hey I am now a Blogger, no kidding.

Blogging at this point is still a trial and error process for most, a hit and miss and sometimes a hit and run. Your blog does not really look that well yet, not that much functionalities, widgets and features. It is still quite devoid of aesthetics and is basically simple yet has already that little voice trying to dialogue with the world. One then tries to innovate and create his own brand, echo his own unique voice, style of writing and focuses on a specified niche. He also tries to learn some tweaking of codes and add widgets and buttons. The enthusiasm is there and is building up. He is passionate with what he does, tries to do techniques to drive traffic into his work. He post articles and tweak, and post and tweak. Until the desired look and uniqueness of the blog is achieved. Your blog has subscribers already, some comments and link love.

4. Darn, I am indeed not a blogger.

I think this part always happens to a blogging journey of each and every blogger though at different phases or points of each individual experience. Self-doubts try to come in when desired results are not happening as expected. Visitors, comments and subscriptions to the blog go spiraling downwards. This downturn of one’s blog numbers carries unto it also the emotion and enthusiasm of the blogger. He feels dispirited. Slowly blog posts are not updated anymore; work loads are piling up while no consolation is seen at hand. That little voice of self-doubt gets louder, you are somewhat trying to push the panic button. You are trying to fight that voice but the reality just simply confirms it. Now, its either you swim or sink.

Most bloggers who fall prey into this process are those who work by themselves; without friends in the blogosphere who support them, and without mentors to push them forward and help them with their blogging problems and concerns. That is the beauty of having a mentor in this kind of business; you are not only listening to a single irritating voice.

5. I am Blogger, period.

I love my mom for she displays a great sense of wisdom, but when she was undergoing her own process of struggle during her menopausal stage, she was like a beast hated by everyone. I hated her that time too. But after that, she actually does not only display but more so share that depth and encompassing wisdom. That is why maybe, they say life begins at 40 while at the same time lecturing us to learn from the wisdom of the elders.

This is the stage of maturity for a blogger. After encompassing challenges to his blogging, this time he is got more confidence in his craft, more attitude and discipline to what he does and a sense of maturity to his blogging. A sense of optimism and renewed passion is evident.

6. The Blogging Continues

And there is no other way for a blogger but to continue doing the task he loves to do. Blogging for him continues, whether there are months where comments are not as high as the previous months or visitors and readers goes up and down. His maturity tells him not to waver, for as long as one blogs and does the right stuff to his blogging, everything is just fine and all shall be well. Maybe by this time one is already at the same time earning decently from his blogging. His acquired wisdom tells him that during challenging times of blogging, he has nothing to do but innovate and just be steadfast.

Blogging is a process and at most is a tedious one. But when one knows what he wants, focuses on his goal and patiently doing what he loves to do one step at a time not losing sight of the finish line, success is surely at hand.

One can never be a good writer when he does not even write. One who desires to become a singer when he does not sing.

Basically, one could become a good blogger by blogging. And when you feel down and the sound of self-doubt is whispering in your ears, try to interact with other bloggers and listen to them. For sure they have heard that voice too once in their blogging journey, and rest assured that they can give you a piece of advice to make it shut up.

Have you ever experienced these stages in your blogging journey? Do you agree on those stages of blogging I have shared? If not, why?

Or for those who does not have a blog yet, what keeps you away from blogging?

February was full of bloodbath. Not the literal sense. But you will see the remains of the battle in the blog of Jaypee, with bloggers and friends zooming to become the top commentator of the month. It was like life and death I must say, for the winner will take home $15 worth of paypal money and WP shirt and other wonderful freebies from jaypee. And I battled it out for the WP shirt!!!!

In the end it was Jan who rose to the top spot and took home the price. Congrats bro! The two of us were really battling it out, spitting fire and dust, racing through our keyboards to post our replies and comments over Jayp’s posts, becoming overnight rabid commentators on the loose in the words of Jan, and now he is happy trying to shake his feathers and enjoy the price especially the shirt. Everyday is a very competitive day…no one wants to break down and waver, like the troops holing themselves up in bunkers over the Bataan strip and Corregidor.

During the last day, Jan and I were tied at 42 posts a piece. Tension is all around. Trying to read each other’s moves in the blogosphere from some distant computer unit. But surprisingly, Jan raised the white flag of surrender over his blog, for he is on his way to Manila and will not have the opportunity to break the tie and bring home the priced freebies. And I for my part relaxed and just told myself that everything is already secured for me to take the top spot trying to post only a couple of comments and replies. Ei, I can sleep tight and in the morning the price is mine. But lo’ and behold, Jan trailblazed getting ahead of me with more than 10posts in the morning…and won!

I have been an avid reader of Jayp’s blog but it is only now that i started to post my comments over his articles for I felt quite uncomfortable with the people on his blog who are mostly if not all of them are wordpress users. It was quite like the sentiment I share with Jan. But as i started to post on his blog and other pinoy blogs that I frequently visit like that of Bloggista I realized that the blogosphere is one of the friendliest place around to hang out. Bloggers hidden behind those avatars and nicknames spontaneously and generously exchange pleasantries and offer help regarding blogging concerns and problems.

I said to myself, Hey, there is nothing to feel uncomfortable about down here Joe!.

Though I never won the price for the February Top Commentator over Jaypee, because of the sheer power Jan has through Madam Auring’s spell and fortune-telling, I won lots of friends though like Jan, Jaypee, Yatot (who is going to help me out tweak my blog courtesy of Jan), Bloggista, and many others.

But let me assure you, that March is mine to conquer over the Top Commentator. Madam Auring’s power cannot certainly defeat the powers of the sages of Quiapo I visited, hahahaha! This is one lesson learned for me on how to win the contest. And this March is my birthday! Yehey! Getting older, getting better (hopefully) Being on top would be my gift to myself. Right Jan?

Do you also join on blog contests? Any experience you can share about battling it out with fellow bloggers in the spirit of fun?

I have been out of the blogsphere for more or less two weeks. And those two weeks were really very excruciating, full of tension and tiring. Here are some facts that had happened to me on those weeks that I forcibly shut down the blogging side of me.

1. I presented my thesis proposal to my methods of research teacher and an invited professor and to the whole class. I had a grilling from them though my topic is already great. The bottomline is: They wanted me to contextualize my research on househusbands ( I will be using a qualitative-phenemenological approach) into a more Filipino-based psychology and indentity.

2. The abovementioned recommendation gave lots of headaches for weeks. Its simple cause: research, research and more research! I made revisions on my frameworks and related literature (and I think revision on the whole process, goal and skeleton of my research). Filipinizing it (if there is such a word) was really nerve-wrecking. Burning midnight candles, reading and writing, preoccpied me on weeks that I was just a ghost on own my blog.

3. I studied and prepared on my take home Final Examinations for my Advance Statistics class. Though it was just a cognate, our teacher taught us and treated us like students who dream to be statisticians or some sort of little John Nashs.

4. I completed my revision though there are still some things that I wanted to add on my research proposal for my master’s degree. Submitted just on time. Got 3.75 with that…not bad. hmmmm

5. I celebrated my birthday (last March 26) submitting my revised proposal and not fully conscious brought about by sleepless nights and the toll that reading and researching had caused on my brain. Any gifts for me?????

6. Took care of the arrangements for our Graduate School of Education Student Council mid-year workshop. I did all the reservations of venues and vehicles, food and the filling up of forms. All our reservations were checked my the accounting department of the university and everything I did ended up in the trash bin. Graduate School of Education Student Council Budget: -30,000 pesos! ouch!

7. And now and the coming weeks, I am preparing for my comprehensive exams. Goodluck to me!

I was wondering why my feedjit live traffic is down. I thought I mistakenly erased the code for another while I was rearranging my widgets. Of course, the most logical thing to do is check the site itself.

The site is also down, with an announcement about a site maintaince. And it also redirected visitors especially feedjit users to their blog site. There the full announcement is published.

“Feedjit will be undergoing routine maintainance on Friday March 7th from 8pm Pacific Time to the following morning (Saturday) 8am Pacific Time.
For our European customers this is 0400 GMT to 1600 GMT on Saturday March 8th 2008.
For our Japanese and Asian customers this window is Saturday March 8th from 13:00 to Sunday March 9th at 0100 Tokyo Time.”

Oh, that is why…Ok.

For all those still wondering and getting worried why your feedjit live traffice is down…nothing to worry though…just a regular maintance work and the site (together with our widgets) will up by tomorrow..hopefully.

I came across this site, tree-nation.com over my browsing of some blogs of friends after seeing a very colorful animated and cool widget on their web pages. I got intrigued by this, I must say, beautiful widget, and so just found myself signing up and copying the code to my own blog.

Tree Nation according to its site “is an ecological project with a focused objective: To plant 8 million trees in Niger, Africa to fight desertification! Large-scale plantation of trees will increase the land’s productivity and re-generate the soil.” This is such a noble act therefore. Their very campaign is founded on the reason that “desertification is potentially the most threatening ecosystem change impacting livelihoods of the poor.” (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification www.unccd.int). Desertification is not about advancing deserts, it is about land degradation caused by climate change and humaninduced factors. That’s right, US! By planting your tree, you can help combat this process and regenerate the productivity of the land.”

Their goal is to plant 8 million trees in the desert using sophisticated mapping out systems technology (GPRS). Through donations and maximizing the power of the internet technology, Tree Nation is not only focused on increasing financial assistance from its members and other kind-hearted individuals, but more than that, increased awareness and knowledge on how to further protect our environment is of equal importance. One can choose among a wide array of tree species that could survive the desert atmosphere and even personalize it! Wow! I can have a tree named after me in a far away desert miles away from me just by just clicking through the net!

For now, I cannot donate yet, but my participation in their noble goal by increasing the awareness of millions of bloggers throughout our globe about their work (and also posting their widget on my blog…lower left part) is something I can realistically do now.

Take a visit of their site at http://www.tree-nation.com/, sign up and get a widget too! and maybe, even donate a tree and name it after you.

Good luck guys! Kudos!

Dialogue of some members of pinopoet yohoogroup on the issue of police harassing and stopping protesters on their way to Makati…and their commentaris on the different opinions of people regarding the incident.

(visit their site at pinoypoets.com and if your a poet, be a member. logo from pinoypoets.com)