Ideas for Your Blog - A book review

by Margaret Mason, published by Peachpit Press, Berkeley, 2007

Margaret Mason begins this book by making the point that blogging has brought about a new generation of people who, for the first time, voluntarily publish writing in a public sphere, and calls it "a renaissance in personal expression".

She claims that bloggers have two choices, they can either join the "me too" content or that bloggers can put in some effort to create engaging content that builds community.

Her book is devoted to helping you avoid the "me too" approach to blogging with a hundred ideas to give your blog a fresh content that will make your blogging fun and engaging.

Her book is set out in five sections as in the following capsules.

The first chapter of the book gives you twenty suggestions to come up with quick, but quality entries.

The first suggestion "Reign supreme" is based on a blog by Heather Powazek Champ (www.hchamp.com) who writes about the correct way to hang toilet paper. She questions what is the right and wrong way to hang the toilet paper roll. I disagree with her, I think she has got it the wrong way around.

Another suggestion in this chapter is "Talk back" whereby you respond to other writing that really gets you thinking. You can add an unpopular opinion and people will leave comments or continue the discussions on their blogs.

In chapter 2, Margaret Mason suggests spending a little more time on your blogs. Again, I will choose two of her ideas for interesting blogging.

Idea 22 is called "Address the public". Here she suggests reviving the lost art of letter writing by addressing the fellow citizens of your town. She gives an example letter that begins with "Dear Boston"

WOW! this gives me a hundred or so ideas about what I'd like to write to my fellow Adelaidians. My local council spends a lot of money on people called "Thinkers in Residence". This is a fancy way of saying they pay a lot of money for people to live here at our expense and when they leave, they write a report about how to make the city better. I can do that for free in a blog!

Idea 34 "Give a Tour" Imagine your best friend has 24 hours to visit your town. Plan a tour for them and write up the tour in your blog with great photos and trivia about the great places in your town.

Okay, in Chapter 3, Margaret Mason gets serious about blogging, with you spending at least an hour on your blog.

Idea 42 "Make your timeline" This involves making a timeline of your past life, and describing what was happening at each stage of your life - do you have photos? How do you memories fit together? What were you feeling? What mattered most at particular ages of your life? Do you think the youth of today have the same issues?

Idea 44 "Take inventory" This involves talking about the things you collect. Photograph each item and explain how, when, where and why you got it. Perhaps you could talk about the thing you have owned the longest?

The projects in Chapter 4 take a little longer. Here's one I like, and something I've been trying to achieve for a long time.

Idea 62 "Hit the stacks". Margaret Mason says that Library Thing at www.librarything.com is an online area that allows you to catalog your book collection and that you can create a virtual shelf with the covers of the books that you have. Aparently you can then find out which of your books have been most reviewed, and create lists of top authors. Of course, you can opt to display your collection on your blog.

Idea 64 "Get dibs" really appeals to me also. This is where you collect advertisements for things you cannot afford to buy or collect, antique airplanes, decaying mansions, modern art, expensive jewelry. What ever you choose! Build a collection of advertisements and talk about them -great way to build an alter ego!

In the final chapter 5, Margaret Mason encourages you to think like a writer, and this begins with idea 81

Idea 81, "Exit the comfort zone", where she suggests that you begin experiencing the world. She begins by saying "yes" to your next tupperware party invitation. Go home and write a blog about it. This makes me realize that I would never write a blog about football, because I know nothing about it. However, I could write what it is like to attend your first football match as a middle aged adult.

Idea 96 "Lend us your ear" is about eavesdropping. Next time you commute, look for two people talking with a vacant seat in front of them. Blog about their conversation. What were they saying and what was your impression? 

Hey, if this review hasn't given you enough ideas, how about buying the book. Honestly, it has so many ideas, that if you just did one everyday, you'd have a really interesting blog.

I'm thinking of using it for my next 100 hub pages! Maybe that could be a new hub challenge?

Margaret Mason has a shopping blog: www.mightygoods.com