I'm sitting with my Newswriting class in A309, because everybody is getting a blog today! To the newbie bloggers, a blog is like a sofa. You have to get used to it, you have to break it in, and eventually blogging will become comfortable. Sometime I think my fellow students are intimitated by blogs, but they really aren't scary. Think of it merely as a online notebook that the whole world can see(that's the catch). Anything goes in the world of blogging, almost anything.
Academics, Spots, Clubs, Personal stories...feel free to write about anything. Please keep it clean, use proper netiquette. Don't make personal attacks, do not purpously try to offend others. We're all mature adults here, although not every blogger may be. You have to respect everybody, even if they're disrespectul to you (try to defend yourself in a tasteful manner).
A blog is a place for your thoughts, your questions and your comments. Please do not feel what you write may seem stupid. If what you say is important to you, others will see the importance in your writing as well- even if it does take a little time.
Remember, we're all here to help! Please leave me a comment or e-mail me if you have any questions!
Stormy, I love your analogy, "A blog is like a sofa." Your blog is full of great advice!
Posted by: NancyGregg at September 29, 2005 3:39 PMI was one of those intimidated bloggers, thanks for being so helpful on first few days!
Posted by: Erin at September 28, 2005 8:58 AMI think a lot are intimidated- remember me in our first Writing for the Internet class? Now I update on a semi-regular basis and even have a layout. Even the most unlikely people can turn into "bloggers" (yeah, that's right. I can call myself that now).
Posted by: Nessa at September 18, 2005 12:35 AMI figured since I was sitting there while everybody else was getting a new blog, I should write a quick entry in mine! I really do think newbie bloggers become needlessly overwhelmed. Blogging shouldn't be intimidating, I'm confident in saying the majority of us hold the basic computer skills needed to use a weblog. I think it's the unfamiliarity of writing for the internet about academic subjects that makes students panic. On that subject I say, pretty much anything goes! Blogs are about YOUR thoughts, so let's hear them!
Posted by: Stormy at September 6, 2005 11:59 AMStormy, you packed a lot of helpful tips into a short entry. I'm always touched and pleased by the generosity and openness of SHU bloggers. You're setting a great tone for a new semester of blogging. Thanks!
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at September 2, 2005 2:51 PM