Just finished my talk on blogging basics, talked to Manolo for a while about guesting on his TV show which will be aired next week, then a sumptuous buffet at a Chinese restaurant nearby.
Compared to my last talk on the same topic back in March, this one was a breeze since we used WordPress.com instead of Blogger — less or almost no HTML tweaking, IMO.
What’s more interesting are the topics we discussed about the tone, niche and overall direction of a newly created blog. While seasoned bloggers already know what they want to do before they launched their nth blog, the newer ones tend to have their focus scattered everywhere.
I always make a point that it’s okay to be personal at the start, find your voice, pick up from the experiences as you go along until you find a niche you are passionate and comfortable with, then stick to it.
Another topic I briefly discussed was about breaking blogging barriers. The Philippine Blogosphere is still small and very young which is why seminars like this one (sponsored by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation) is a good way to increase the number (exponentially) of voices out there and help spread the use of blogging as an alternative media.
The blogging barriers is more social than personal. As one of the attendees of the seminar (JotThings) says, “we could actually start having blog breaks instead of yosi breaks”.
Abe, thanks for including a link to my blog. Very much appreciate it. I loved your talk, learned a lot.
idea: Blogging/Podcasting in the academic curriculum ( or at least as an extra-curricular activity).. Starting them young – but making sure they stay the correct, ethical, non-libelous, sober path.
FNF: How about taking the blogging/podcasting seminars to schools?
good job, abe. looking forward to your input tomorrow- and in the future…