Here be Dragons….
I posted this on Word Grrls too, it’s very much word and writing related. I wanted to add it here too cause it’s a personal cause. I hate to think of a day coming when everyone will be reading digital media only. No more taking your book to bed with you. One of the most romantic things I can do by myself and for myself. It’s something I can look forward to all day, especially when the book is especially good.
Word Grrls is about creative writing inspiration with the focus on writing prompts/ exercises. I’ve been writing on the web since 1998. I admit I can be opinionated (some claim eccentric and some are kind and say I’m wise) but I love web writing and publishing, particularly blogging. To me blogging is still about free writing and creativity.
I have been publishing Word Grrls with a daily entry since November 2007. Before that it was weekly. I’m used to having a publishing schedule and I like the discipline of having that schedule to stick to.
I would very much like to be part of 9Rules and the community here. Not only as a help in promoting Word Grrls but to be part of something bigger again. I miss working within a larger network of sites. People get a lot of feedback and push to keep going in an active community. I also like to be part of building something. I was an active editor at Dmoz.org for over ten years cause I enjoyed tidying and adding to the categories and finding new ideas and hobbies for myself.
I can’t pick a favourite post. In a blog each post should be able to stand on it’s own. Most people only skim the first post before they decide to read more or click off. I like my current post about the goldfish. It may be a bit dorky but it was what I thought about at the time I saw the baby goldfish in the backyard pond.
I don’t know what else to babble on about. I’ve done more than a few sentences. I would appreciate to hear back from someone. I applied March 8th 2009 and was pretty disappointed when nothing happened and there were no updates on the 9Rules blog. I really hope 9Rules is going to revamp and start up again. Being part of 9Rules was one of the goals I had for this blog at the time I started it.
Comic Press – is a theme to be used with the WordPress blogging software for publishing a comic to the Web. ComicPress can be downloaded for free. ComicPress is developed and maintained by Tyler Martin, who originally created it for publishing his own comic, Wally & Osborne . Unlike other WordPress themes that are designed to be your final layout, ComicPress has a basic and clean layout that looks good as is, or is easy enough for you to build on. With just a couple images and a few color code changes in the Stylesheet you can have your own custom comic Website in no time. Check out what some people are doing with ComicPress in our featured section .
This was the title of a post in Blog Tipz : What do you Regret as a Blogger ?
I wrote:
I think it is an interesting question. I don’t have an answer at the moment. I’ve been blogging since 1998 and still think of it as free expression more than a business. Really can not see blogging as a business at all in fact. It is still the media, not the actual business. The business is get rich quick, publishing or sales.
If I regret anything it would be that I didn’t start sooner or more specifically, that I didn’t spend more time on learning the technical side when I had more time and far more knowledgeable contacts through blogging. Nowadays you rarely get anyone to give a real reply through email. I used to get all kinds of feedback and information from other bloggers who were far more creative and accomplished technically than I am.
What do you regret, if anything?
Taking this one from Don Mills Diva
How long have you been blogging?
I started in 1998. The current blog was started in 2004.
What inspired you to start a blog and who are your mentors?
Not sure who my mentors would be. Debbie from InkSpot, though her site is long gone. There was a lady who had a beautiful blog template with a ladybug but I doubt I could find her again, if she still has the same blog or any blog at all. I think she was Canadian too.
I was inspired to blog because I loved the creativity, the spirit and freedom to publish anything my heart and mind could dream up. As long as I could find a way to get it to work.
Are you trying to make money online, or just doing it for fun?
Making money from blogging just doesn’t seem right to me. I’m from the time when the Internet was a free exchange of information and personal publishing was just for the sheer joy of being creative in a new medium.
What 3 things do you love about being online?
Finding new things. Whether it is a new blog gadget, a new form of art or something else I had never thought of, I love finding something new to explore.
I like the whole area of personal/ indie/ diy publishing. It’s a great freedom and adventure to be able to put something up in a blog and find other people actually caring or being interested enough to read it, comment and even come back for more.
I love that it is available. Better than a city that never sleeps, being online is like being part of a whole world, an entire planet that never sleeps.
What 3 things do you struggle with online?
There are times when I don’t find anything new and I feel a bit jaded, like there just isn’t anything new to find. If I am addicted to being online it shows during those times.
Giving too much of myself, making too many commitments and promises. I see so many things I would like to try, to do and to take part in but there is no way I can do them all and still have a life outside of the Internet.
Loneliness. Surrounded by virtual people I sometimes feel really alone. I often blog with the TV on to have noise or something else to connect me to the rest of the world. I really enjoy KoL Radio for this same reason. It’s live radio while you chat on the site.
Not passing this on to anyone specifically. But let me know if you do it. I’d like to read how others think and answer the same questions.
5100 – An urban explorer’s magazine. Anyone who has explored in the provinces of BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba is welcome to write about their experiences and submit it to the zine for publishing.