Betsy Horvath

Category: Blogging and Social Media

  • 10 Good Things About Blogging Regularly

    Betsy bloggingWow.  I can hardly believe it, but as of this Friday I will have been blogging regularly for two years.

    I know!  It’s crazy, right?  Yeah, I’ve missed days here and there, and I had a time in the fall last year where I didn’t give my blog much time, but for the most part I’ve been routinely posting three times a week since I went “live” on March 29, 2011.  And they said it wouldn’t last.  Well, okay, I said it wouldn’t last.  Yet here I am!  Top of the world, ma!

    As with all things in this imperfect existence of ours, I’ve found blogging regularly has its ups and its downs.  Because I’m a sunny, glass-half-full kind of a girl I thought I would share a few of the good things first.  We’ll save the bad  things for the next post.

    Okay, so here we go…10 good things about blogging regularly!

    1.  You have to write regularly.

    Duh.  Blogging regularly means you have to write regularly.  Yes, as a writer I receive great benefit from the routine practice of writing and publishing – even if it’s “just” a blog post.  But I think everyone needs to practice writing well on a regular basis (as opposed to, oh, texting).  Trust me – I have the emails to prove it.

    2.  You have to communicate

    In our interconnected society, communication is key.  Whatever you blog about, whether it’s poverty, politics, or your grandmother’s hamster Fred, you are trying to communicate something about something.  Blogging helps you practice, not only the craft of putting sentences together, but the art of having the sentences say what you want them to say.

    3.  You have to come up with ideas

    Ideas and creative thinking are important no matter what you do in your life.  If you blog regularly, you have to come up with things to blog about.  This both stretches your creativity and gives you confidence that you CAN come up with stuff when you need to.

    4.  You have to decide whether or not the ideas are worthwhile

    Creative thinking is great, but not all ideas deserve the time it can take to express them, and some ideas aren’t right for certain platforms.  Blogging regularly means you have to put on your editor pants and make decisions about which ideas seem worth the effort.

    5.  You have to meet deadlines

    Just coming up with an idea for a post isn’t enough.  If you want to blog regularly, you have to, um, blog regularly.  That means hitting deadlines – even if the deadlines are self-imposed.

    6.  You are helped by your own posts

    Blogging lets me express thoughts or emotions already bubbling in the caverns of my mind, but a lot of the time the act of writing helps me decide what I think about the topic.  Trying to communicate a thought forces me to refine my opinions.

    7.  You have a presence on the web

    Blogging is a great way to have your own consistent presence on the Internet, if you care about such things.

    8.  You have a place to play

    My blog is where all of the voices in my head can come out and frolic.  Uh, maybe that shouldn’t be considered a “good” thing…

    9.  You are forced to commit

    Blogging regularly requires some commitment.  But the good news is the discipline you develop while blogging will serve you well in many other areas.

    10.  You put stuff out into the world and people read it.  And you don’t even KNOW some of them!

    How cool is that?

     

    Oh, don’t you all just want to run out right now and start blogging?  Assuming you’re not blogging already?  Well,hold on there, my little grasshoppers.  Not so fast. Maybe there are a few bad things you should consider too.  How about we chat about those the next time?

    Let the anticipation begin.

     

    computerwithcat

  • The Search For A Post, A Blogger’s Tale

    fairytaleOnce Upon A Time… there was a girl who wrote a blog.  Although it was not all she wrote, and although she did indeed have other tasks to perform, the blog did demand that she doth update it regularly.

    “Dance, little writer!  Dance!”  it would yell as it cracked a whip over her head.

    And she did dance.

    “Scurry, little writer!  Scurry!”

    And lo, she scurried.

    “Write, little writer!  Write!”

    And verily, she did write blog posts and keep the blog updated regularly.  And the blog, it was pleased.

    Then came the day when, alas, the writer did not know what to write on her blog.

    She did think and think and think.  And, lo.  Her thinker doth break and was sore.

    So she walked from the house lest the blog realize she could not update it as it demanded.  After she had walked for some time, she came across an ogre.

    “O Ogre!” she did cry.  “Please truly tell me what to write in my blog post!”

    But the ogre did just howl a great howl and brandish a club and chase her into the forest.

    In the forest, she did climb a tree and confuse the ogre.  After it had gone, she did climb down and begin walking.  And she did walk and walk until she saw Bigfoot.

    “O Bigfoot!” she did cry.  “Please truly tell me what to write in my blog post!”

    But Bigfoot did just give a mighty Bigfoot yell and he did then lift his leg and mark a tree.

    And the writer did say “Ew.” and began walking again.

    And then she saw an elf that doth look eerily like Orlando Bloom riding upon a white horse.

    “O Elf!” she did cry.  “Please truly tell me what to write in my blog post!”

    But the elf did just sneer and ride off on his white horse.

    Finally, all despairing, the writer did returneth home.

    “O what shall I write!” she did cry.  “The blog will be much displeased with me!”

    And she did shudder at the thought of the blog’s displeasure.

    Then one of her cats did come forth and spaketh thus:

    “Oh, for God’s sake!  Just write any damn thing you want to write!”

    And so the writer did.

    And they all lived happily ever after.

    Except for the ogre, because ogres are notorious for their bad moods.

     

    The End

     

    unicorn

  • Now. What Shall We Talk About?

    hello, blogosphereHi, Blogosphere.

    Hey.

    Thanks for seeing me on such short notice.

    You paid me to show up.

    Er…yeah.  Um…Okay.  “Heh, heh, heh… Now.  What shall we talk about?  Heh, heh, heh.”

    Why are you wheezing?

    It’s a reference to a scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark.  I was trying to entertain.

    Sure.

    But seriously.  I wanted to get some input on what you thought I should blog about on my blog.

    *silence*  Let me get this straight.  You want to blog about what you want to blog about on your blog by talking to the blogosphere?

    Yeah.

    A blog!  Why did it have to be a blog? Why couldn’t you have set up a nice static website?

    Hey!  Nice allusion to another pithy Raider’s quote!

    Let’s just get this finished.  I’m expected in a Honey Boo Boo chatroom in fifteen minutes.  They pay more than you do.

    Okay, okay.  *searches through papers*  *finds pen*  Okay, tell me what I should blog about.  The sooner you talk, the sooner you can leave.

    I’m not sure it’s a good idea to invite the blogosphere to leave your blog if you want people to actually read it.

    See?  See?  That’s good.  *scribbles*  What else?

    Oh, for heavens… *sigh* All right then.  Lots of people talk about things they’re expert at.  How about that?

    I’m not expert at anything. *ponders for a moment* I guess I could write about writing.

    Yeah, because you know SO much about that.

    Hey!

    Oh!  Oh!  I wish I had ONE writer blogging about writing out here in the blogosphere.  It’s been so lonely!  There are only about…a MILLION of them.  Sheesh.

    *defensive* Well, it’s what I do.  And I suppose I’ve found out some things about publishing in the last couple of years.

    See comment above.  Nobody writes blogs about writing and publishing anymore (insert sarcasm here).

    Well, do you have any other brilliant suggestions?

    Let me think.  Okay, how about religion or politics? 

    No way! People get mean when you talk about religion or politics.  I’m a lover not a fighter.

    Hmmm…  Well, I guess you could talk about your family or your workplace.

    Sorry.  Someone might read it.

    You really think that’s going to be a problem?

    It could happen.  And I don’t want to get fired or disowned.  Come on, Mr. Smartypants.  Give me something.

    Your own dark and disturbed psychological musings?  Or maybe…cats?

    Oh!  Oh!  Good!  *scribbles, scribbles, scribbles*  And I guess if I don’t know what to blog about, I could always talk to, well, you.

    Not if I see you coming first.  *Blogosphere leaves the post*

    Blogosphere?  Hey, Blogosphere!  Come on!  Come back here!  Blogosphere, I will not be ignored!  *Betsy leaves the post*

    [tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3IFVERSQkA[/tube]

  • The Blogging Poem


    I did not write a post today.
    I could not think of what to say.

    I did not write one in my car.
    I did not write one in my yard.

    Nor at my desk or at my table
    I could not write. I was not able.

    A good idea I could not find
    Inside the caverns of my mind.

    Yet all the readers count on me
    It’s such responsibility.

    What to do? aloud I wondered,
    I need a post that’s unencumbered.

    One that’s witty and lithe and free!
    O Muse, please come and talk to me!

    But nothing came, though hard I thought.
    The time I spent was all for naught.

    I know – I’ll just write something quick
    Then go back to other sh…stuff.

    A poem I wrote about the blog.
    Some may find it rather odd.

    Yet I point out my goal’s achieved.
    A post is written – time to leave.

     
     

  • Dear Internet

    Dear Internet –

    Okay, you and I have to talk. Or not talk, as the case may be. I mean, you know I love you, but this is getting ridiculous. You are just way too attractive for your own good. Or my good. Whatever. We’re going to have to start setting some boundaries in our relationship.

    I’m not saying that all of our problems are your fault. Love is a two-way street, after all. And I know that most of the blame rests on my shoulders. But, honestly, can you be any more appealing? Where else can I look up news on Channing Tatum, then interact with friends and family, then read different blogs, then move from email account to email account, then check out YouTube for “research” or “social media” purposes? Come on! I mean, I say that I’m only going to give you five minutes, but you pull me into your glorious web (hah! Web! Get it?) and by the time I surface an hour has passed. How many times CAN I watch the “Magic Mike” trailer? But you just keep flaunting it in my face and drawing me in.

    So, we’re going to have to come to an understanding. Because I…well, I need my space. I need to find out who I am apart from you. I need to be Betsy again so I’ll know how much of myself I can share with you.

    I know that we’ll still need to have contact. I know we can’t just split. There are the social media sites, after all. And my blog. And the email. But our relationship is going to have to be more limited. I’ve been letting you take over, and I just can’t live like that anymore.

    I love you, Internet. You bring me so much joy. This isn’t about you, it’s about me. But please, try not to be too sad – I know we’ll work it out somehow.

    Love,

    Betsy

     

  • Branding Ms. Betsy

    I’m so glad you’ve agreed to meet with me today, Blogosphere.

    I didn’t have much choice. You kept googling me.

    Yes, well, *hum* I wanted to reach out to you and get your thoughts on how I can build my author brand. I envision this as an informal brainstorming session, if you will.

    I think you should finish your next book.

    You are, after all, the expert on this kind of thing, as well as being a vast repository of knowledge in general.

    You could write more books after you finish this one.

    So, *flips pages* Let’s begin with Facebook. Should I purchase “likes” for my page? Maybe one of those ads that annoy everyone and therefore gets attention? And how should I increase my “reach” and “talking about” numbers to make sure I’m maximizing my placement and message? I want to find the right synergy between transparency and publicity to facilitate interaction.

    You could, you know, write more books.

    Uh huh. As far as Twitter goes, do you think I should increase my involvement? I’m not sure what number of tweets per day would be most beneficial to keep my presence at its most lively. Perhaps I should mention my book in each and every tweet, to wit – “HOLD ME! I’ve been HOLD ME invaded by HOLD ME ants.” What do you think? Perhaps I should schedule tweets every half hour to ensure my book is promoted constantly.

    Maybe writing more books would be good.

    I’m also focused on increasing my number of blog hits. I was considering posting a link for my blog on every page I can find. Maybe I could purchase a banner ad or – OH! – a pop up ad that covers the entire screen when someone tries to open a page. Movement and sound would also be good so others notice and ask about the ad. That would be word of mouth advertising.

    There’s always writing more books.

    Perhaps my pop up web page ad could include a poll asking people if they think I should expand into other social media properties. If a person can’t click through to the page they want to read until they take my poll, I’m certain I’ll get a response.

    Hey! I’ve got an idea! You could write more books!

    *frowns* I don’t believe you are taking my issues seriously, Blogosphere. And I will not be ignored.

    Yes, Betsy.  If you only have one book out, you’re pretty much going to be ignored..

    My sense is that you are telling me to follow the “write more books” paradigm to handle this situation.

    There you go.

    But what about my brand?

    How about “content is king”?

    I was thinking “If you build it, they will come.”  Should I start playing baseball like “Field of Dreams”? Isn’t that the wrong demographic for romantic suspense? Or should I put Kevin Costner up as my banner image to attract the older women?

    You know what? I’m out of here.

    *Blogosphere leaves the post*

    I could sign baseballs and give them away as swag. Blogosphere? Wait! Come back….

    *Betsy leaves the post*