You get to choose what happens next
Do you remember those books? You started reading and then came to a point where you could:
- Go up the ladder.
- Climb down the hole.
Whichever choice you picked offered new choices, and so on and so forth. It was exciting because one physical book actually contained several stories. The number of possible stories was ultimately fixed, however – let’s say limited to 50 different variations that you could take.
But, that was the 80′s.
Today, I open up Firefox and I start reading my daily feeds. That first post contains about 5 links, and it all begins. I click on a link, read that article which contains other links. The machine is set in motion and there is no way of knowing where it will take me, what I’ll find. And, there is no fixed number of stories. I suppose some MIT scholar could give us some idea…but it’s a big number. Huge, incomprehensible to the likes of me.
It speaks to me of potential and opportunity as a writer, as a speaker, as a consultant, as a person. It reminds me that the possibilities are endless and that I can create whatever I want in my work and in my life. Exactly the sentiment I’m riding as I burst into this new year.
And…you?
blogs are a good thing
When I talk to clients about using a blog to grow their business, sometimes – not always – but sometimes, people say mean and nasty things about my dear friend, the blog. Like this:
‘Aren’t blogs where people go to talk about what they did on a Saturday night?’…and this…
‘I read that the average blogger is 12 years-old.’….and this…
‘Isn’t that like a chatroom? Chatrooms are creepy.’
First of all, if I wrote about what I did on a Saturday night, no one would read my blog (think 2 kids under 3). Second, with over 80 million live blogs, that 12 year-old stat still leaves us with plenty of blogs to work with, yes? In addition, the kind of blogging we’re talking about here should be in a different category entirely. And, finally, YES, chatrooms can be creepy, but a blog is very different. Most importantly, the author is in control, not the community – and, here’s the kicker, the author can moderate comments. Blogs also have mechanisms (plug-ins) that catch comment spam. So, while blogs are a place for connection and conversation, the blog author has final say about what can be published. And creeps are usually not allowed.
Here are some fantastic blogs that do wonderful things, which to me, means sharing information, entertaining, connecting, starting conversations and fighting the good fight:
1. www.ecochildsplay.com – great info on everything non-toxic for kids
2. www.dooce.com – raw, human, delightful, sweet, sorrowful, HILARIOUS
3. www.debbieducic.com – supporting women as they grow their businesses, helping them overcome their fears of technology, full of great easy to understand info
Check ‘em out!
Filed under News | Tags: blog, blog writing, Blogging, blogs, chatrooms, copywriting, Debbie Ducic, Dooce, ecochildsplay, internet, Julie Roads, Marketing, Writing Roads | Comment (1)
