Eden Bloggers - March 31, 2011 at 7pm: Blogger's Club

Contributor: luna[KM] luna[KM]
What types of blogs does everyone have?
03/31/2011
Contributor: Kayla Kayla
Quote:
Originally posted by luna[KM]
What types of blogs does everyone have?
Thanks for being our expert speaker this week, Luna. I'm really looking forward to what you will be teaching too.

I have a sex toy review blog, and I also have a personal blog.
03/31/2011
Contributor: sexyintexas sexyintexas
Hi everyone. Ive been wanting to check it out, Ive been thinking of starting a blog. I may jump in every now and then with questions if thats alright..
03/31/2011
Contributor: luna[KM] luna[KM]
Quote:
Originally posted by sexyintexas
Hi everyone. Ive been wanting to check it out, Ive been thinking of starting a blog. I may jump in every now and then with questions if thats alright..
I like questions
03/31/2011
Contributor: Kayla Kayla
Quote:
Originally posted by sexyintexas
Hi everyone. Ive been wanting to check it out, Ive been thinking of starting a blog. I may jump in every now and then with questions if thats alright..
That'd be great. Any idea what you want to blog about?
03/31/2011
Contributor: luna[KM] luna[KM]
Hello everyone, I’m lunaKM and I’m your ‘expert’ for tonight’s meeting.



I’m a blogger just like you. I’ve had a personal blog since 2004. I started Submissive Guide in January 2009. I’m also a columnist at FearlessPress, just started writing at EdenCafe. and I have multiple guest posts all over the blogosphere. I’m constantly writing and can say that I produce about 6-10 new substantial posts every week.



In the beginning I was sure that I would run out of things to write about in a matter of weeks, but after doing some research into topic generation I have been able to produce new and interesting content for going on 3 years at Submissive Guide and still have time for guest posts.



I wrote an article to coincide with this meeting on the EdenCommunities blog titled, “4 Ways to Find Topics for Your Blog” and if you haven’t gotten a chance to read it I highly recommend taking some time in between conversation here to do so. I’ll cover some of what I wrote there as well as new ideas and will be able to answer your questions also.
03/31/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by luna[KM]
What types of blogs does everyone have?
I've got a few random ones. I need to spend more time on all of them, but the one I want to put the most effort into deals with product reviews in general.
03/31/2011
Contributor: Lady Venus Lady Venus
Quote:
Originally posted by luna[KM]
What types of blogs does everyone have?
My blog is mostly of sex toy reviews at the moment. My blog is still a baby and I'm still putting it together. But I plan to blog about everything and anything. It's an "anything goes" kinda blog.

So glad you could be here tonight! Thanks!
03/31/2011
Contributor: Kayla Kayla
Quote:
Originally posted by luna[KM]
Hello everyone, I’m lunaKM and I’m your ‘expert’ for tonight’s meeting. I’m a blogger just like you. I’ve had a personal blog since 2004. I started Submissive Guide in January 2009. I’m also a columnist at FearlessPress, just started writing at ... more
Luna's article about 4 Ways to Find Topics was a really great and informative read; I definitely suggest it.
03/31/2011
Contributor: Lady Venus Lady Venus
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
Luna's article about 4 Ways to Find Topics was a really great and informative read; I definitely suggest it.
I agree. I have read and bookmarked it.
03/31/2011
Contributor: sexyintexas sexyintexas
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
That'd be great. Any idea what you want to blog about?
Im a stay at home mom with 4 kids (2 mine and 2 my boyfriends) He is on the road about 20 days a month so I was thinking something along the lines of issues that stay at home moms face.
03/31/2011
Contributor: Kayla Kayla
Quote:
Originally posted by Lady Venus
My blog is mostly of sex toy reviews at the moment. My blog is still a baby and I'm still putting it together. But I plan to blog about everything and anything. It's an "anything goes" kinda blog.



So glad you could be here tonight! Thanks!
I like your "anything goes" stuff. I do like your reviews too. How goes the layout?
03/31/2011
Contributor: sexyintexas sexyintexas
Quote:
Originally posted by luna[KM]
Hello everyone, I’m lunaKM and I’m your ‘expert’ for tonight’s meeting. I’m a blogger just like you. I’ve had a personal blog since 2004. I started Submissive Guide in January 2009. I’m also a columnist at FearlessPress, just started writing at ... more
Bookmarking that so I can check it out later. Thanks!
03/31/2011
Contributor: Lady Venus Lady Venus
Quote:
Originally posted by sexyintexas
Hi everyone. Ive been wanting to check it out, Ive been thinking of starting a blog. I may jump in every now and then with questions if thats alright..
Hi! Nice to meet you!
03/31/2011
Contributor: Kayla Kayla
Quote:
Originally posted by sexyintexas
Im a stay at home mom with 4 kids (2 mine and 2 my boyfriends) He is on the road about 20 days a month so I was thinking something along the lines of issues that stay at home moms face.
That'd actually be really cool! I'd read it. I can't imagine having my boyfriend gone 20 days a month; I'd get lonely.
03/31/2011
Contributor: luna[KM] luna[KM]
So, let’s get started shall we?

Is this you: Dragging or pushing yourself to the computer? Too many posts starting with an apology for not having been around of late? The joy you first brought to blogging now a distant memory?

Tonight I’ll talk about ways you can come up with topics for your blog, we’ll come up with many different types of blog posts; including some you haven’t considered, and share resources for prompts and topic ideas. I hope by the end of this meeting you’ll be inspired to find new ways to blog and plenty of topic ideas for the future success of your blog.

In my essay on EdenCommunities I listed 4 ways to find topics for your blog. In these methods you can gain an endless number of ideas. I recommend that you look for topics all the time, not just when you need to write but are stuck. This can and does help you keep your blog fresh, alive and interesting. Here’s a summary of the ways I suggest in the essay.

Brainstorm - Old fashioned English class brainstorming. As simple as sitting down and pouring your thoughts onto paper or doing in depth with topics you’ve already covered. Brainstorming is the number one way that I figure out what to write about.

Read Blogs in your Niche - Keeping up with the Jones, really. Read the other blogs that write the same content as you, or have the same topic. See how they write and attract readers. You can even use their topics to jumpstart your own. (Just make sure you make note where your idea came from.)

Use a Different Perspective - If you hold one view of the topic, try to see it and write from the other side. Don’t be afraid to be controversial or opinionated. Also, if you always write in 1st person, try writing a post in 2nd or 3rd person. Develop a new blogging voice.

Comments are Content - If you’ve had a blog for any length of time, you’ve had comments. Using these comments to fill your blog with content can be quite easy. Instead of making a long answer to a question or thought as a comment, bring it out into a new post. The commenter will appreciate it and your readers will have even more from you. Answer their questions, find the resources they are looking for and they’ll keep coming back. Or ask your readers a question and then repost their answers with yours to fill it out.

But now, what do you use to help you figure out what to write about? Does anything you do work better?
03/31/2011
Contributor: sexyintexas sexyintexas
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
That'd actually be really cool! I'd read it. I can't imagine having my boyfriend gone 20 days a month; I'd get lonely.
I do, but we are constantly on the phone. Hes a truckdriver. We have a babysitter this week. I am actually sitting in Chula Vista California right now while he is sleeping lol. I try to come with him on at least one trip every 6-8 weeks
03/31/2011
Contributor: Kayla Kayla
Quote:
Originally posted by sexyintexas
I do, but we are constantly on the phone. Hes a truckdriver. We have a babysitter this week. I am actually sitting in Chula Vista California right now while he is sleeping lol. I try to come with him on at least one trip every 6-8 weeks
Aww. That's really sweet. Plus, it'd be a neat way to take little "vacations".
03/31/2011
Contributor: Lady Venus Lady Venus
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
I like your "anything goes" stuff. I do like your reviews too. How goes the layout?
Thanks Kayla!

I'm getting really familiar with my theme and with wordpress, FTP, etc. It's coming along nicely.
03/31/2011
Contributor: Kayla Kayla
Quote:
Originally posted by luna[KM]
So, let’s get started shall we?



Is this you: Dragging or pushing yourself to the computer? Too many posts starting with an apology for not having been around of late? The joy you first brought to blogging now a distant ... more
I really like the idea of doing a different perspective. I had never thought of that. I think I'd feel awkward writing in third person though, but I should try just using first and not second sometimes.
03/31/2011
Contributor: luna[KM] luna[KM]
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
I really like the idea of doing a different perspective. I had never thought of that. I think I'd feel awkward writing in third person though, but I should try just using first and not second sometimes.
First person makes you seem more like an authority to what you are writing!
03/31/2011
Contributor: sexyintexas sexyintexas
Quote:
Originally posted by luna[KM]
So, let’s get started shall we?



Is this you: Dragging or pushing yourself to the computer? Too many posts starting with an apology for not having been around of late? The joy you first brought to blogging now a distant ... more
I have sent in 5 or 6 articles now to Eden Cafe that have been accepted. I do them on everyday things, like what my teens are doing. They are 7, 13, 15, 16 so I have a never ending story pool with them alone. Some about finding myself when we are seperated so much.
03/31/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by luna[KM]
So, let’s get started shall we?



Is this you: Dragging or pushing yourself to the computer? Too many posts starting with an apology for not having been around of late? The joy you first brought to blogging now a distant ... more
Those are really good tips! I know I've definitely had a few posts that started with apologies, lol
03/31/2011
Contributor: Kayla Kayla
Quote:
Originally posted by luna[KM]
First person makes you seem more like an authority to what you are writing!
Yeah. I can see that. Just with the sex toy reviewing thing, sometimes it can feel really awkward to write about myself in that way. It just feels too intimate.
03/31/2011
Contributor: luna[KM] luna[KM]
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
Those are really good tips! I know I've definitely had a few posts that started with apologies, lol
Apologies are never necessary. Your readers follow you for what you write, not what you don't write
03/31/2011
Contributor: Kayla Kayla
Quote:
Originally posted by sexyintexas
I have sent in 5 or 6 articles now to Eden Cafe that have been accepted. I do them on everyday things, like what my teens are doing. They are 7, 13, 15, 16 so I have a never ending story pool with them alone. Some about finding myself when we are ... more
That's great! I think I need to get a cat or something for story inspiration; no children here, so I have to rack my head (or use LunaKM's great suggestions now that I know them!) in order to come up with good Eden Cafe posts.
03/31/2011
Contributor: luna[KM] luna[KM]
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
Yeah. I can see that. Just with the sex toy reviewing thing, sometimes it can feel really awkward to write about myself in that way. It just feels too intimate.
That's understandable for reviewing I'd probably use 2nd person or professional 3rd.
03/31/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by luna[KM]
Apologies are never necessary. Your readers follow you for what you write, not what you don't write
I think I only have like, 8 followers anyway. I'm definitely trying to come up with something, I've ended up with about a post a month. It's not much, but it's something I figure.

My problem is that I just can't seem to find the time to do the product reviews. Any tips for time management?
03/31/2011
Contributor: luna[KM] luna[KM]
Some of the resources that many bloggers resort to are prompts and writing questions. There are hundreds of sites with prompts to help you write. Just Google ‘journal prompts’ will result in several well known ones right off the top. There is a forum topic in the EdenBloggers club that can help you find inspiration through other websites and questions in the responses as well.

What are your favorite sites to look for inspiration for your writing?
03/31/2011
Contributor: sexyintexas sexyintexas
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
That's great! I think I need to get a cat or something for story inspiration; no children here, so I have to rack my head (or use LunaKM's great suggestions now that I know them!) in order to come up with good Eden Cafe posts.
Lol, I have done 2 about his and my newfound fascination with sex toys. Hes a great partner to do reviews with.
03/31/2011