{"id":4280,"date":"2010-02-14T16:30:47","date_gmt":"2010-02-15T00:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mikoto.wordpress.com\/?p=4280"},"modified":"2010-02-14T16:30:47","modified_gmt":"2010-02-15T00:30:47","slug":"showing-love-for-all-bloggers-experiences-and-advice-from-an-unestablished-blogger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/flomu.net\/blog\/2010\/02\/showing-love-for-all-bloggers-experiences-and-advice-from-an-unestablished-blogger\/","title":{"rendered":"Showing Love for All Bloggers – Experiences and Advice from an Unestablished Blogger"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Since it\u2019s getting close to Valentine\u2019s Day, I thought it would be appropriate to return some love for the old farts and spread some love to the new ones just emerging from the metaphorical aniblogger buttcrack of life by presenting some information that might be useful to them. \u00a0To that end, over the last few minutes I\u2019ve been typing this post about my experience as a blogger and what advice I have for those doing things wrong and those following in their footsteps. \u00a0I hope that this post will provide some inspiration, tips, and encouragement for anyone who is failing at blogging and doesn’t realize it because they’re too busy being (or wants to be) omguberpopular in the aniblogosphere.<\/p>\n

Forewo<\/span>rd<\/h2>\n

As someone who is [self-proclaimed] new at blogging, having started in March, I\u2019ve sometimes thought about how some other bloggers can fail so badly, yet be praised for their blogs. \u00a0When I look at the community I see some figures that have been around for quite a while and it almost seems inconceivable that in the past they started out just like I did, thinking up ideas for their first entry, struggling with technical issues, unaware of much of the wider online anime community, and step by step learning more about each. \u00a0But everyone in the community did start at some point, believe it or not. \u00a0They dealt with the same issues that face new and prospective bloggers now: \u2018what style of writing should I use?\u2019 \u2018Should I start my own site or write for a team?\u2019 \u2018Episodic coverage or editorials?\u2019 \u2018How many entries per week should I aim for?\u2019 ‘Is this post even going to reach new and prospective bloggers, or am I posting something almost completely useless?” etc. \u00a0There are so many things to think about and the prospect can be intimidating, but blogging is worse than you can imagine. \u00a0You can have a lot more fun with the anime you watch, delve deeper into its details, and even meet fellow anime fans from around the world, but in the end, you’ll live in the shadows of those who’ve made “names” for themselves and wonder why your unique blog isn’t doing so well. \u00a0There are haters out there who just like to beat down anyone not up to their \u2019standards\u2019 and idiots who think that not conforming to standards makes for popular anime blogs, but truly the community is about HUGE POPULARITY CONTESTS. \u00a0It is my hope that this post gets people thinking – or even better, gets people angry.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

fangzhao – Mikotoism<\/a><\/p>\n

– Why did you start blogging?<\/strong> Dumb question<\/p>\n

– What influenced the development of your own blogging style?<\/strong> I wanted to be unique, but nobody looks at my blog<\/p>\n

– Do you have a personal philosophy, motto, or focus for your blogging?<\/strong> Posting things that don’t get views<\/p>\n

– What would you say is the most important skill for a new blogger to develop?<\/strong> Ability to get hits<\/p>\n

– What\u2019s the one thing a new blogger should avoid?<\/strong> Blogging<\/p>\n

– If you could give one sentence of advice to a new blogger, what would it be?<\/strong> Save yourself while you still can<\/p>\n

– Char warned us about the \u2018mistakes caused by youth.\u2019 What was your biggest newbie mistake?<\/strong> Who is Char? \u00a0Character? \u00a0Charmander? \u00a0You know what, screw your stupid questions. \u00a0I’ve got a few things of my own to say.<\/p>\n

___________________<\/p>\n

fangzhao’s tips for bloggers of all ages, races, and weights<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t keep a blogroll.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s a pain in the ass. \u00a0I don’t visit many of the blogs on my blogroll, but I like their input. \u00a0What to do???<\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t whine about the good old days.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

There’s going to be fresh blood in the aniblogosphere every year, and if you keep looking back at the past, you’re going to get overtaken by people like me. \u00a0See “<\/span>The two-year death and history repeating itself in the aniblogosphere<\/a><\/span>” for consequences of not following this.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blog about stuff you want to blog about<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, you should say “fuck” if you want to, even if it prevents your post from showing up on AnimeNano.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t do episodics unless you’re dedicated, stupid, or me<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I can think of a handful of people who are dedicated, a crapload of people who are stupid, and one person who is me. \u00a0So you’re probably not dedicated, you probably don’t want to be called stupid, and you probably aren’t me, so go write some editorials or something.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re going to stop blogging, don’t go out with a bang<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Because you’re probably going to regret it. \u00a0Take it nice and easy, posting less and less each week. \u00a0Also, I hear that if you post less, you’re more popular anyway.<\/span><\/p>\n

Post less<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It makes you popular.<\/span><\/p>\n

Steal ideas and say they were your inspiration<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you call other peoples’ ideas “inspiration” for your own, you’ll be praised. \u00a0If you steal it and call it stealing, you’ll be flamed. \u00a0Or people will call it meta. \u00a0It’s a 50\/50 chance, but I wouldn’t take it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t use categories or tags<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I don’t use them, so why should you?<\/span><\/p>\n

Name your blog something really mundane<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

That way, when people talk about your blog, they can say: “The blog title is so ordinary, but what he\/she posts is really, really awesome and cool and I want to date him\/her”<\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t make up for your lack of content\/skill with shiny things<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

aka “Don’t make your blog layout so amazing that it overshadows what you’re actually posting.” \u00a0It’s like dressing up Mikuru in a bunny costume. \u00a0No matter how good the clothes look, Mikuru is still the nice, big-breasted character that nobody cares about. \u00a0I would rather see Yuki in her school uniform.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t call yourself an ‘otaku’<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Or Candle”elimination”jack might get y<\/span><\/p>\n

___________________<\/span><\/p>\n

Further Reading<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n