Livejournal and blogging

What is blogging?

Blogging is an abbreviation of "web logging", and a blog is slang for a "web log". A "web log" is a simplified web site, or section of a web site. It is a site designed for making announcements, getting feedback about announcements, and starting conversations about announcements. Common entries made to "web logs" include:

diaries
recipies
debates
opinions
news
personality tests and "quizzes"
poetry

There are countless of other ways that aren't listed here.

Where can I see what blog entries look like?

Livejournal is the largest single provider of web logs on the Internet. At the time of this writing, there are over 5 million members who on Livejournal who have "web logs". There are also hundreds of entries made to web logs every minute. For the most recent ones made to Livejournal, click on the following link: Livejournal's Latests Posts. No matter how fast you hit reload in the other browser window, you won't see many of the same entries you saw before pressing reload.

How do I start my own blog?

Starting your own blog is easy. In its simplest form, it can be started by making your own web page, using only dates and times followed by whatever you'd like to talk about. More likely, you'll want to set up an account with a blog provider such as Livejournal, Blurty, or another one listed in the following DMOZ directory: Arts/Online_Writing/Journals/Resources/Hosts/. The only problem with these free blogging services is that they normally will not let you associate your weblog with your own domain name. If you're serious about doing this, you'll want to look at web hosting providers that have specialized blogging software such as the Livejournal software (which happens to be open source), or Movable Type.

If you decide to turn a plain web site into a blog, you'll need something that lets site visitors fill out forms if you'd like them to leave comments on each of your entries. It's more likely that you'll want to use web site software that's designed for blogging.

What is unique about LiveJournal?

Livejournal is the largest web log service provider on the internet. This is most likely a result of its early free accounts only being available by invite only from paid members, or by other holders of free accounts, who could only invite one person onto the system each.

In the early days of Livejournal, not everyone who wanted a free livejournal account could get one right away.

Livejournal also has something called a "friends list", which makes it very community oriented. When you visit a person's Livejournal, you can read the most recent entries written by their friends who have Livejournal accounts, or any blog accounts that can generate XML feeds. People can read their own friends lists easily and leave comments on each others' Livejournal entries.

What are the benefits of blogging?

Part of blogging is creating interactive web site content. It will attract repeat visitors to your web site. It can help you meet friends online. It will give you a stronger internet presence. It can make web site content development possible for people who have minimal computer training.

What can I put in my blog?

Anything that you write can be posted in a blog. Just remember, especially if you're using a system like Livejournal which has a friends list: whatever you post probably will be read by other people. Try not to post material that may be found offensive by your readers, and try not to be too easily offended yourself.

If you're having "writer's block", you might want to start with one of the pre-made Livejournal quizzes that use systems like Quizilla, or start by reading blogs which belong to your friends and commenting on them.

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