Advice to My Fellow Bloggers

Am I truly qualified to write this post?

My blog has what, 11 followers?

I get a comment about once every other blue moon, and I think it's safe to say that my little blog is hardly at the top of any popularity list.

So no, probably not the most qualified.

However, I do read a lot of blogs, and I do write a lot of blogs, and I have made {and hopefully learned from} a great many blogging mistakes...and that's got to be worth something, right?

In a spirit of humility, I'll share a few hard-learned tidbits of advice with whomever decides to read this.

No worries, I won't take much of your time.

Assess your reasons for blogging.
I blog for enjoyment, and because blogging helps me relax and process my thoughts. Journaling would do the same thing, but my writing gets sloppy when I journal. The knowledge that somebody, somewhere might read my blog forces me to keep polishing my writing and correcting bad habits. I don't blog because I'm insecure and I need a million comments to validate my right to exist. I don't blog because I'm bored, or because I believe I have something earth-shatteringly important to say. I blog because it's challenging and fun, and I would continue to blog even if I never got another comment.

Be honest.
Be yourself, and don't write what you think other people want to read. Your most honest, well-planned and well-written posts will {according to my experience} probably be the least popular, but that shouldn't matter if you're blogging for the right reasons.

Don't write ANYTHING when you're angry or depressed.
Honesty is one thing, stupidity is another. You're sure to regret writing when your mind, emotions, and common sense are not functioning normally.

Re-read your post at least twice before publishing it. 
Clarify the meanings of the words you use. Look for needless verbiage, unintentional spelling and grammatical errors {spell checkers and Google make this super easy}, over-usage of certain words, clumsy sentences, etc.

Make your meaning inescapably clear.
Trust me, if your words can be twisted or misunderstood in any way...they will be.

Read lots of good blogs.
This will help you get ideas and inspirations and improve your blogging techniques. Plus, reading a good blog is just plain fun! I have a few personal favorites I could share with you.

Learn to laugh at your mistakes.
Everyone messes up sometimes. It's best to laugh, learn, and move on.

____________________________________

So there you have it! You can take or leave any or all of these tips, or dismiss this entire post as the mindless rambling of an ignorant blog addict.

Or you could leave a comment with some of your own blogging advice and links to a few of your favorite blogs.

That would be kinda cool.