Guest blogger Debra Eckerling - VBT

Debra Eckerling is my guest from VBT - Writers on the Move. She was kind enough to write a post about blogging to use today.

Debra is a professional writer with expertise in feature articles corporate communications, and writers' workshops. Debra is the founder and leader of Write On!, a live - and online -writers support group, which focuses on goal-setting, productivity, and networking. Write On! Online has author Questions and Answers twice a week, expert columns, and writing contests, as well as a monthly drawing for posting goals. There’s also a Facebook Page for networking, and sharing news, links, and information.

For more information, go to www.writeononline.com or www.writeoncorporate.com, or e-mail debra@writeononline.com.

Ready, Set, Blog
By Debra Eckerling

The hardest part of blogging is getting started! Many see blogging as time-consuming, and spend more time procrastinating than they would have spent blogging. If you are prepared – if you have a vision, a mission, and do your homework beforehand. – blogging will be a cinch.

1. Name your blog. Is it a personal blog? A blog to promote your writing? Your business? Brainstorm at least 10 names, preferably 15 to 20. Pick a name that you will be happy with as well as a tag-line/mission statement! Choose your favorite headshot—it’s very important for readers to see your face—and a logo and/or book cover if you have one. (Don’t have a logo? Find some clip art to use until you can have a more professional version designed for you.) You want text and graphics that people will identify with you. “Branding” is key.

2. Determine content. What are you going to blog about? What types of articles? Are you going to write essays and interviews? Or use your blog for news and showcasing your products and services? There are no wrong answers. Just get a sense of what you want your blog/website to be.

3. Decide on a production schedule. How long will your blog posts be? Posts that are 300 to 500 words are certainly acceptable, and anything over 1,000 words should be broken up with bullets and bold text. How often will you blog? Start with once or twice a week. A big part of the blogging-overwhelm is that people think they should blog every day. Ideally, yes. Or mostly. But eventually. Daily blogging is something you can build up to if you’d like, but consistent blogging – a new post every Tuesday and Thursday – is even more important.

Now that you’ve figured out the what of your blog, go to WordPress.com, Blogger.com, or TypePad.com, and sign up. Whichever site you choose will walk you through the set-up process.

Remember, you can always add content to your site, change the layout, upgrade to a custom theme, add new pages, get a customized url. These are enhancements. The most important part of starting a blog is to actually start.

Thank you, Debra. One point you make is to be consistent with blogging, which is my problem. I try to post at least once a week, but I don't often post the same day of the week. I will try to be more consistent.

If you enjoyed this post, please tweet or retweet, spread the word. Thanks.

Tomorrow's VBT host and guest: Nancy Famolari is featuring Dana Donovan. Please visit.

Join our April 2010 Author Tour. New and Famous writers and great content!
http://tinyurl. com/y8apyqk

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The Best Liar , uh, Creative Writer Blogger Award

Lea Schizas honored me and five others with the Creative Writer Blogger Award. Thanks, Lea, I think. The catch lies in the rules.

First the rules:

1: Thank the person who gave you the award and link to them.
2: Add the award to your blog
3: Tell six outrageous lies about yourself and one truth.
4: Nominate six creative liars... I mean writers and post links to them.
5: Let your nominees know that they have been nominated.

Six lies and one truth? Can anyone guess which one is the truth?

1- I once managed a car/truck repair shop.
2- I can speak four languages proficiently.
3- I never use covers (blanket, quilt, comforter)any time of the year.
4- I gave up smoking and drinking when I was sixteen.
5- I've been married twice, but the last one lasted.
6- I spent two nights in jail. No, I won't say what I did or didn't do.
7- I've had five children.

Finished. My six lies and one truth are posted for all to see. Can you pick which is true and which aren't? Choose which one you think is the truth and comment. Maybe I'll offer a free eBook to the winner, too. I'll post the correct answer Monday night, after the competition is over at 6 PM CST.

The last part of the award is for me to nominate 6 other writers.

1- Holly Jahangiri because she can weave some interesting tales.
2- Rena Jones because she can take pictures that can't be real
3- Jacque Graham because she needs to stretch
4- Diane Sagan just because
5- Harry Gilleland because he can storoem about anything
6- Nikki Shoemaker because she can draw anything, even the truth

Those six are my nominations for the Liar's, uh, Creative Writer Blogger Award.

Thanks again, Lea. May your creative writing be a blessing.

Now come on everyone, guess which of the above 7 things is the truth.

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