Comments on: Thinking differently about blog tags http://confidentwriting.com/2007/12/thinking-differ/ The art of writing, for non writers Tue, 28 Feb 2012 07:00:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Why comments count | Confident Writing http://confidentwriting.com/2007/12/thinking-differ/#comment-21328 Why comments count | Confident Writing Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:17:37 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=280#comment-21328 [...] okay, this isn’t going to be another post about blogging, whether that’s how we handle blog tags or why I wish all blog owners would reply to their comments. Nor am I going to try and analyse the [...] [...] okay, this isn’t going to be another post about blogging, whether that’s how we handle blog tags or why I wish all blog owners would reply to their comments. Nor am I going to try and analyse the [...]

]]> By: Simply Seven Things I’m Up To (Or Not) | Confident Writing http://confidentwriting.com/2007/12/thinking-differ/#comment-5976 Simply Seven Things I’m Up To (Or Not) | Confident Writing Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:09:15 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=280#comment-5976 [...] add these non-rules that I learned from Jeanne Dininni.  Really I think they should be added to all tags and [...] [...] add these non-rules that I learned from Jeanne Dininni.  Really I think they should be added to all tags and [...]

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2007/12/thinking-differ/#comment-1056 Joanna Young Mon, 24 Dec 2007 08:33:11 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=280#comment-1056 Jeanne, sorry your comments got buried (filtered by over aggressive Typepad) earlier. I'm glad I found them. I think you've hit on three most powerful principles for looking at tags in a different light. I'll find a way of compiling the learning points from this comment conversation - and highlighting yours - in the New Year. Joanna Jeanne, sorry your comments got buried (filtered by over aggressive Typepad) earlier. I’m glad I found them.

I think you’ve hit on three most powerful principles for looking at tags in a different light.

I’ll find a way of compiling the learning points from this comment conversation – and highlighting yours – in the New Year.

Joanna

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2007/12/thinking-differ/#comment-1055 Joanna Young Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:11:25 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=280#comment-1055 Robert, this was a most auspicious comment :-) I have enjoyed some of your tags - in particular the Home Town meme (and it was a great way to learn about other bloggers too) and my life as a building - which deserved to go viral around the blogosphere it was such a brilliant idea (IMHO) But yes, I'm with you on group writing projects - they're creative, interesting and voluntary. There's also more chance of us getting round the 20-30 participants to comment, share links, make connections - I just give up when I see a list of blogs over that length. Taking part in your own writing challenges has given me a great opportunity to share a bit more of the face behind the blog, making it more personal as Jamie mentions in other comment. Thanks again for all your input in organising them. joanna Robert, this was a most auspicious comment :-)

I have enjoyed some of your tags – in particular the Home Town meme (and it was a great way to learn about other bloggers too) and my life as a building – which deserved to go viral around the blogosphere it was such a brilliant idea (IMHO)

But yes, I’m with you on group writing projects – they’re creative, interesting and voluntary. There’s also more chance of us getting round the 20-30 participants to comment, share links, make connections – I just give up when I see a list of blogs over that length.

Taking part in your own writing challenges has given me a great opportunity to share a bit more of the face behind the blog, making it more personal as Jamie mentions in other comment. Thanks again for all your input in organising them.

joanna

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2007/12/thinking-differ/#comment-1054 Joanna Young Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:07:29 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=280#comment-1054 Jim, they're a bit of a mixed blessing for sure. But it makes it easier to work out whether to play if you've got a clear idea of why you're blogging in the first place - and it sounds like you do. Joanna Jim, they’re a bit of a mixed blessing for sure. But it makes it easier to work out whether to play if you’ve got a clear idea of why you’re blogging in the first place – and it sounds like you do.

Joanna

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://confidentwriting.com/2007/12/thinking-differ/#comment-1053 Robert Hruzek Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:51:24 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=280#comment-1053 Joanna, I want to thank you for rounding up all these thoughts in one place! As someone who's participated (and attempted to start) my share of memes over the last year, my thoughts have pretty much ended up along the same lines as you (and apparently others, too). Much as I enjoy a meaningful meme (the Home Town Meme was my favorite), I've come to realize that one-on-one, personal communication with a few is better and ultimately more fulfilling for me than a shotgun approach. I don't think I'll be tagging many folks this coming year for that reason. Now Brad brought up group projects, and of course I happen to LOVE those! They provide (voluntarily) an outlet for creativity that sometimes can't be beat. (And by the way, I'm a little like you in that I tend to see how far I can bend things too :-) Joanna, I want to thank you for rounding up all these thoughts in one place! As someone who’s participated (and attempted to start) my share of memes over the last year, my thoughts have pretty much ended up along the same lines as you (and apparently others, too).

Much as I enjoy a meaningful meme (the Home Town Meme was my favorite), I’ve come to realize that one-on-one, personal communication with a few is better and ultimately more fulfilling for me than a shotgun approach. I don’t think I’ll be tagging many folks this coming year for that reason.

Now Brad brought up group projects, and of course I happen to LOVE those! They provide (voluntarily) an outlet for creativity that sometimes can’t be beat.

(And by the way, I’m a little like you in that I tend to see how far I can bend things too :-)

]]> By: Jim Murdoch http://confidentwriting.com/2007/12/thinking-differ/#comment-1052 Jim Murdoch Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:39:27 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=280#comment-1052 When Terry tagged me my first reaction was to go on a downer. My head told me to be pleased, this is what I'm here for and this is an accepted way of breaking the ice (not unlike the blog chain I participated in recently), but, as you say, it is the fact that there are expectations that come along with being tagged. I don't mind playing by the rules and I only revealed as much as I was comfortable with, the kinds of things I drop into my blogs anyway, but it bothered me feeling that I had to involve others not all of which have taken the bait. I thought long and hard before asking people like you to join the fray. My main gripe was that it distracts from the reason I am blogging. I don’t mind veering a bit to the left or the right in my blog. I've talked about film and television but, since these are major sources of influence, I'm happy to stray that way but I'm not so hard up for topics yet that I need to do too many memes. Maybe once I've been doing this for a year or two I might think differently. It certainly has been something to talk about though judging from all the comments. When Terry tagged me my first reaction was to go on a downer. My head told me to be pleased, this is what I’m here for and this is an accepted way of breaking the ice (not unlike the blog chain I participated in recently), but, as you say, it is the fact that there are expectations that come along with being tagged. I don’t mind playing by the rules and I only revealed as much as I was comfortable with, the kinds of things I drop into my blogs anyway, but it bothered me feeling that I had to involve others not all of which have taken the bait. I thought long and hard before asking people like you to join the fray.

My main gripe was that it distracts from the reason I am blogging. I don’t mind veering a bit to the left or the right in my blog. I’ve talked about film and television but, since these are major sources of influence, I’m happy to stray that way but I’m not so hard up for topics yet that I need to do too many memes. Maybe once I’ve been doing this for a year or two I might think differently.

It certainly has been something to talk about though judging from all the comments.

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2007/12/thinking-differ/#comment-1051 Joanna Young Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:57:06 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=280#comment-1051 Michele, I try and write my more 'different' posts at the weekends too, but I don't always manage to stick to my own rules! I'm not sure there are rights and wrongs, just what works for you, your blog, and as you say, your readers. I doubt very much you've made anyone feel bad in your tagging, the tone of your blog and your writing is far too warm and friendly for that :-) Smiling too Joanna Michele, I try and write my more ‘different’ posts at the weekends too, but I don’t always manage to stick to my own rules! I’m not sure there are rights and wrongs, just what works for you, your blog, and as you say, your readers.

I doubt very much you’ve made anyone feel bad in your tagging, the tone of your blog and your writing is far too warm and friendly for that :-)

Smiling too

Joanna

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2007/12/thinking-differ/#comment-1050 Joanna Young Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:54:10 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=280#comment-1050 Brad, you echo my feelings here. It's that mixture of honour and appreciation for what you've been given, but awkwardness about what to do with it - not least the fear of disappointing an another person. My preference would be for more of the voluntary projects and an encouragement to jump in too. That way people are responding for positive reasons rather than a sense of obligation. I suppose the only downside is that they don't spread in the same viral way. I'm looking forward to your next writing project, whatever it maybe. Joanna Brad, you echo my feelings here. It’s that mixture of honour and appreciation for what you’ve been given, but awkwardness about what to do with it – not least the fear of disappointing an another person.

My preference would be for more of the voluntary projects and an encouragement to jump in too. That way people are responding for positive reasons rather than a sense of obligation. I suppose the only downside is that they don’t spread in the same viral way.

I’m looking forward to your next writing project, whatever it maybe.

Joanna

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2007/12/thinking-differ/#comment-1049 Joanna Young Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:50:48 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=280#comment-1049 Karen, it sounds like you have a very sound approach to sharing links and resources on your blog. I'm not saying that tags are about self-promotion at all - I've taken part in quite a few myself, and have enjoyed and learned a lot from them. My life as a building was one of the more interesting challenges I was given, and did pass on as a tag because I was so interested in where others would go with it. And they can be a good way of encouraging us to share ideas, information about what makes us tick - and all of that is part of what makes blogs interesting. But get too many and they can seem burdensome, and I guess what I was trying to do here was work out why that was, and how I can best sift through those that I want to reply to and those that I'm just going to let go quietly by. BTW I liked your definition of the benefits of blogging - "the ability to learn from others and sometimes be gently nudged from your comfort zone." Very true. Joanna Karen, it sounds like you have a very sound approach to sharing links and resources on your blog.

I’m not saying that tags are about self-promotion at all – I’ve taken part in quite a few myself, and have enjoyed and learned a lot from them. My life as a building was one of the more interesting challenges I was given, and did pass on as a tag because I was so interested in where others would go with it. And they can be a good way of encouraging us to share ideas, information about what makes us tick – and all of that is part of what makes blogs interesting.

But get too many and they can seem burdensome, and I guess what I was trying to do here was work out why that was, and how I can best sift through those that I want to reply to and those that I’m just going to let go quietly by.

BTW I liked your definition of the benefits of blogging – “the ability to learn from others and sometimes be gently nudged from your comfort zone.” Very true.

Joanna

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