Why I'm A Credible Author

Since my enthusiast blog is opinion driven, I have complete confidence in my credibility. On the hard facts side of things I trust my knowledge of the games I review as they are ones I own and have played many times. I went into this blog with a solid list of games to review, games that I feel need my unique point of view. I know I won't just be rehashing what's already been said, I will be bringing to the table new insight on games that are all but forgotten.

My Enthusiast Blog

The Premise: A blog that looks at video games labeled as "bad" yet I personally love them for one reason or another.
Audience: Video gamers, mores specifically open minded games who's tastes stray from the mainstream.
Personality: I look to put a lot of "me" into the blog, trying to emulate how I speak in a written form. I want to be completely honest, present a voice that differs from any other online video gamer reviewers.

As far as title, I plan to stick with the first one that came to my head:

My Blog Title: Horrible Games That I Love

I think it works because of its irony and frankness.

Clubhouse Blog Ideas

Here are some blog ideas my brain has conjured up:

1. TV Ad Reviews: My rantings on and ravings on commercials that trouble me. First up would be those damned Girls Gone Wild ads.
2. Sucky Video Games I Like: A look at some video games that are classified as "bad" but I still love them anyway.
3. Beverage Reviews: A look at various beverages with a particular focus on bargain brand sodas.
4. Top 7 Lists: My take on the "top countdown" fad, using the number 7 because it has special meaning for me.
5. Bat-Blog: A blog covering all things Batman, with a focus on some lesser known products that utilize the character.

UPDATE 9-23: It turns out a Bat-Blog already exists. I may I have subconsciously channeled that one.

Stefanac Response

I feel this article has a wealth of valuable insight on blogging. I really enjoyed the "quick tips for enthusiast bloggers" section; it features some handy practical tips. In looking at those tips I recalled my own personal experiences in blogging, especially in "Stick with it".

The biggest issue I face as a blogger is consistency. At present it has been several days since I updated my group blog. If in the last few months we have barely averaged a post a week, which is pathetic when consider we used to bang out a post a day.

It's surprisingly easy to get disenchanted or discouraged with blogging, but dedication will yield positive results every time. I really need to break my lazy habits, stop "thinking" about post ideas and just go out and write them.

If I truly didn't care about the blog then I would have given up already. Stefanac sums it up nicely when writing:

"if your heart isn't in it and the content is forced, your efforts are likely to fall flat and fail to attract"

In the end bloggers have to come to the table with a feeling they have something worthwhile, a unique angle that needs to be present on the internet. If you find yourself just phoning in posts about topics you semi-care about, then really your just wasting your time.

My Experiences Blogging

Back in December of 2007 I started a blog with a buddy of mine. Initially the concept was to review "bad video games". Fairly early we lost that narrow premise and expanded to pretty much a blog about anything. Though there are still some recurring topics: movies, comic books, videos. So really it has just become a pop culture blog. Another friend of ours joined as a writer and the three of post about whatever amuses us.

That blog which is still running (though seriously lacking in updates as of late), was my first real exposure to blogging. Prior to that I never read many blogs. Occasionally I'd stumble upon a post while looking for some news topic. But other then that I no presence in the blog community.

Since starting a blog however I have found myself turning to blogs more often. In fact I get much of my entertainment news from blog posts. Despite my increased flowing of blogs I would still clarify myself as a lurker. I virtually never comment on posts, which is something I should consider doing more as I understand the importance it has for the writers. I know form me at least, blogging is only worthwhile when I can be sure an audience exists. No matter the size, as long as somebody is reading then I am willing to take the time to blog.

weblogs: a history and perspective response

This piece does a nice job of exploring the growth of blogging, the statements presented are strengthened by the writer's experience in the world of blogging. I learned much from this article, especially in regards to the formative years of blogging. To me the concept of blogging seems fairly new, so I was semi-surprised to learn it's roots stretch back to 1998.

"While weblogs had always included a mix of links, commentary, and personal notes, in the post-Blogger explosion increasing numbers of weblogs eschewed this focus on the web-at-large in favor of a sort of short-form journal. These blogs, often updated several times a day, were instead a record of the blogger's thoughts: something noticed on the way to work, notes about the weekend, a quick reflection on some subject or another. Links took the reader to the site of another blogger with whom the first was having a public conversation or had met the previous evening, or to the site of a band he had seen the night before."

I am fascinated by the shift mentioned in this paragraph. It seems that at this point in time blogs mutated into real time forms of communication. This practice of repeated posting on the same day has lead to the ultimate real time blog service: Twitter. The existence of Twitter is a profound step in the history of blogging, as it marks a glass ceiling for the format. While blogging will continue to change in ways not yet foreseeable, the extent of it's speed has been reached.

With the ability for anybody to write what they are doing at any time, focus must shift back to quality. With so many millions blogging in some way or another, their must be standards to which these writings are held in order for a readership to form. Those standards are ever changing and vary from group to group. But the bottom line becomes: this is an amazing time in history to be a writer because you can easily find an audience for you specific message.

What is Writing?

Writing is really a craft, it is the process of taking existing words and twisting them to convey thoughts and ideas.

The most profound aspect of writing is that it works on a base level. Whether writing on paper or electronically, the same basic rules apply and it is a mastery of those rules that allows a writer to ply their craft most efficiency.

Writing in an electronically environment has exponentially increased the speed at which humanity communications. The changes are so immense that it has brought all other writing forms to the edge of obsolete. While it has yet to and will likely never completely erase more traditional writing environments, electronic writing has altered the way the world communications to such a degree that there is no turning back.