Comments on: How to Narrow Your Blog Focus and Expand Your Sense of Purpose http://confidentwriting.com/2008/05/12-simple-ways/ 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: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2008/05/12-simple-ways/#comment-2492 Joanna Young Sat, 24 May 2008 08:33:48 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=416#comment-2492 Hi Hope Nice to meet you! Glad you enjoyed this post and whatever else you stumble across in the archives :-) Joanna Hi Hope

Nice to meet you!

Glad you enjoyed this post and whatever else you stumble across in the archives :-)

Joanna

]]> By: Hope Wilbanks http://confidentwriting.com/2008/05/12-simple-ways/#comment-2491 Hope Wilbanks Sat, 24 May 2008 00:18:48 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=416#comment-2491 Excellent post! I really enjoyed this one. Your blog is new to me, but I can see I'll be around for a little while this evening reading more. :) Excellent post! I really enjoyed this one. Your blog is new to me, but I can see I’ll be around for a little while this evening reading more. :)

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2008/05/12-simple-ways/#comment-2490 Joanna Young Tue, 20 May 2008 23:22:12 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=416#comment-2490 Jason, it's a constant juggling act as you say. If your blog becomes too purposeful it can become less fun, creative, spontaneous... I guess I use the themes as I way of writing with a sense of purpose, and also to make sure I've always got loads of things to write about. But I wouldn't want to drop those things that pop into my head! (Actually it can be quite fun trying to work them into my themes...) Working from home with technology sounds like something I should be following... will pop over and take a look Joanna Jason, it’s a constant juggling act as you say. If your blog becomes too purposeful it can become less fun, creative, spontaneous… I guess I use the themes as I way of writing with a sense of purpose, and also to make sure I’ve always got loads of things to write about. But I wouldn’t want to drop those things that pop into my head! (Actually it can be quite fun trying to work them into my themes…)

Working from home with technology sounds like something I should be following… will pop over and take a look

Joanna

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2008/05/12-simple-ways/#comment-2489 Joanna Young Tue, 20 May 2008 23:17:35 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=416#comment-2489 Karen, thank you so much for the feedback, and for sharing the journey with me from one theme into another. Really you are a reader and commenter to be treasured (not to mention a great friend) You boost my confidence daily. Thank you. Joanna Karen, thank you so much for the feedback, and for sharing the journey with me from one theme into another.

Really you are a reader and commenter to be treasured (not to mention a great friend)

You boost my confidence daily. Thank you.

Joanna

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2008/05/12-simple-ways/#comment-2488 Joanna Young Tue, 20 May 2008 23:10:14 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=416#comment-2488 Hi Crafty Green Poet I think blurry limits are a good way to get our creative juices going! Thanks for stopping by - good to meet another Edinburgh blogger Joanna Hi Crafty Green Poet

I think blurry limits are a good way to get our creative juices going! Thanks for stopping by – good to meet another Edinburgh blogger

Joanna

]]> By: Jason Slater http://confidentwriting.com/2008/05/12-simple-ways/#comment-2487 Jason Slater Tue, 20 May 2008 19:46:33 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=416#comment-2487 Writing with a purpose certainly gives a better sense of focus and I believe a regular theme helps engage readers more - mind you I cannot resist the temptation to pop some posts on my Blog as and when they come into my head. On my Blog I try and combine the two, things that grab my attention or interest me at a particular point in time but I also keep a particular theme in mind (which also helps for those inevitable times when not a lot happens!). These themes are then compiled into lists called "42 things..." which themselves act as posts. So far I have done: 42 Things you should know about Networking 42 Things you should know about Web 2.0 in 2008 My next theme is Working from Home with Technology. Jas. Writing with a purpose certainly gives a better sense of focus and I believe a regular theme helps engage readers more – mind you I cannot resist the temptation to pop some posts on my Blog as and when they come into my head.

On my Blog I try and combine the two, things that grab my attention or interest me at a particular point in time but I also keep a particular theme in mind (which also helps for those inevitable times when not a lot happens!). These themes are then compiled into lists called “42 things…” which themselves act as posts.

So far I have done:
42 Things you should know about Networking
42 Things you should know about Web 2.0 in 2008

My next theme is Working from Home with Technology.

Jas.

]]> By: Karen Swim http://confidentwriting.com/2008/05/12-simple-ways/#comment-2486 Karen Swim Tue, 20 May 2008 18:45:14 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=416#comment-2486 Each month I find myself enjoying the current theme so much that I'm sad to see it end but excited for the next journey. It is not easy to find a focus and stick with it. You are a shining example of how to do it successfully. There is so much value in every post, and tons of tips that I can instantly put into practice. As always I am very excited about this month's theme. Each month I find myself enjoying the current theme so much that I’m sad to see it end but excited for the next journey. It is not easy to find a focus and stick with it. You are a shining example of how to do it successfully. There is so much value in every post, and tons of tips that I can instantly put into practice. As always I am very excited about this month’s theme.

]]> By: Crafty Green Poet http://confidentwriting.com/2008/05/12-simple-ways/#comment-2485 Crafty Green Poet Tue, 20 May 2008 14:08:34 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=416#comment-2485 Excellent post and excellent theme to focus on. I couldn't start blogging until I'd defined the limits of my subjects and its really useful to have those limits, though I blur outside the edges sometimes. So, my blog is: environmental poetry, opinion and reviews and crafts from reused materials, creative thinking for greener living. Excellent post and excellent theme to focus on. I couldn’t start blogging until I’d defined the limits of my subjects and its really useful to have those limits, though I blur outside the edges sometimes. So, my blog is: environmental poetry, opinion and reviews and crafts from reused materials, creative thinking for greener living.

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2008/05/12-simple-ways/#comment-2484 Joanna Young Tue, 20 May 2008 09:57:20 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=416#comment-2484 Rosa, thanks for taking the time to expand on the connection between purpose and values. Your description of how values run through, colour and inform a blog is pure gold :-) It makes me think of Jim's photographic lens, Terry's view through a glass half full, or Amy's kaleidoscope. They're sharing stories, words, ideas and pictures through their unique view of the world. You might be interested in the penultimate paragraph of Lorelle's post where she challenges her readers to think about their world view - she doesn't use the word values as such, but this is very similar to what you've just described: "As you consider your blog’s focus, I want you to look at your entire life, all the threads that make up the tapestry of your life. They all make you, the resulting “fabric” of your life as it is right now. On that fabric you will find colors and patterns repeating themselves. Loudly. Vibrantly. Or possibly they are subtle and almost invisible, but when you look with fresh eyes, they start to stand out from the rest of the threads." Fascinating, wonderful stuff Joanna Rosa, thanks for taking the time to expand on the connection between purpose and values. Your description of how values run through, colour and inform a blog is pure gold :-)

It makes me think of Jim’s photographic lens, Terry’s view through a glass half full, or Amy’s kaleidoscope. They’re sharing stories, words, ideas and pictures through their unique view of the world.

You might be interested in the penultimate paragraph of Lorelle’s post where she challenges her readers to think about their world view – she doesn’t use the word values as such, but this is very similar to what you’ve just described:

“As you consider your blog’s focus, I want you to look at your entire life, all the threads that make up the tapestry of your life. They all make you, the resulting “fabric” of your life as it is right now. On that fabric you will find colors and patterns repeating themselves. Loudly. Vibrantly. Or possibly they are subtle and almost invisible, but when you look with fresh eyes, they start to stand out from the rest of the threads.”

Fascinating, wonderful stuff

Joanna

]]> By: Joanna Young http://confidentwriting.com/2008/05/12-simple-ways/#comment-2483 Joanna Young Tue, 20 May 2008 09:39:28 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=416#comment-2483 Hi Mother Earth That's a powerful illustration of how reducing your focus can expand your sense of purpose - and work in terms of reader engagement and 'getting your name out there'. I'm following the women's health month with interest. Joanna Hi Mother Earth

That’s a powerful illustration of how reducing your focus can expand your sense of purpose – and work in terms of reader engagement and ‘getting your name out there’.

I’m following the women’s health month with interest.

Joanna

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