be original.

I got tagged for the Be Original blog project by Susan of Scrappin' Without Scraps.  Thank you Susan. This has been really fun thinking out loud about this.

So here's the scoop.  It all started with a 'Be Original" post on Mohit Singhania's blog. 

Summing up from Mohit’s original post, here is how it works:

1. In a new blog post, list and write about 5 to 10 methods you use to create original posts.
2. At the start of your post, tell your audience (briefly or at length) what you are doing with the “Be Original” Project and link to the project. 
3. Link/trackback to the blogger who tagged you for “Be Original”
4. Share your “Be Original” methods with your own audience
5. Pick as many bloggers as you want and “tag” them to take part in the fun…
   After all, that is how a meme works (a unit of cultural information transferable from one mind to another.)
6. Sit back and learn from the discussion.

How Do I Come Up with Original Blog Post Ideas?

Susan created a list of eight ways she comes up with original blog posts. Hmmm, my initial reaction to this is that I'd be hard pressed to come up with two! But I'm going to walk through a few thoughts to try to facilitate creating an actual list.

First, I want to share why I even have a blog. I took the plunge because of Ali Edwards. I signed up for a class at Art House in Portland a few years back. It was AFTER I took her class that I discovered her blog and how useful a communication tool it was. Since my family lives in California and I had just gotten a digital camera, I wanted a blog so I could share my life with them on a regular basis in what I thought was a super cool, fun way. So that's why my posts will often times just be me rambling on and on about such riveting things like the choosing the color of my bedroom wall or or my new glasses or planting tomatoes or the wacky shenanigans of little Atticus...

(my boy!)

It is BECAUSE of blogging that I am now involved in lots of projects and even on the justjohanna Design Team. The blogging community is an AMAZING variety of beautiful, encouraging, thoughtful, talented, creative, inspiring, and articulate people. I gotta tells ya, I'm havin' a blast!

Okay, so here's my brainstorm of coming up with original posts:

1. I like to make spontaneous posts. I like to blog about real life. I feel like those are the more meaningful ones for my family. I once saw a woman with a t-shirt that said, "I'm Blogging This." I had to laugh. She was walking into the pharmacy. Hmmm.... maybe a little too real?

2. I try to queue my posts which helps me create shorter, more frequent posts. If I know I'm only going to have one free night to play on the computer, I'll queue up several posts to publish in the future. My sister once told me that was cheating. :-) But I find the benefit in this is that I can then mentally focus on one topic and not appear to be a complete ditz who can't complete one cohesive thought. When I used to try to post about lots of things, I'd go back and re-read it and it made NO sense! So for me, short works!

3. I like sharing my projects. I think that just in itself promotes some originality in my posts. And certainly running in a pretty cool circle of bloggers provides me with lots and lots of opportunity to explore my creative potential.

4. I have a cat named Atticus. He alone, is foder for many, many posts. When I first began my blog, he was usually my topic. He's funny, furry, likes to climb trees, and sleeps curled up under my neck. His nickname is "L'il Partner" because he is always in the same room as me. Right now while I'm typing this, he is laying on top of the computer monitor.

I know this picture is blurry, but this is the kind of stuff he is always doing...just always has to be right in the middle of things!

I'm sure I'll think of some other things later but I only have one more way of coming up with original posts...

5. Just be me. I try to let my personality come through in my posts. I am an original. I have gotten to the wonderful point in my life where I am not afraid of putting myself out there. Meeting new people. Having new experiences. I could NEVER have had a blog when I was 20 (aside from the fact that the internet didn't exist when I was 20!) because I would NEVER have been so brave as to make friends with "strangers." Well I now know that no one can tell me "you aren't very good at being you" or "you're not doing you right!" I am the only me. I define me. I get to make me up. I get to decide what kind of person I am. I get to chose how I will interact and react to people. And if someone tries to bully me or tries to make me feel bad about myself, I can CHOOSE not to go there. That's been a long time coming, people. Aaaah...the joys of being a grown ass woman.

So now that brings us to the next phase of this project...

Tag, You're It!

I'm not going to name names but if your eyeballs land here, then PLEASE participate in this. It is a fun exercise. It sure got me thinking and I sure look forward to hearing how YOU come up with original posts.

So here's the scoop.  It all started with a 'Be Original" post on Mohit Singhania's blog. 

Summing up from Mohit’s original post, here is how it works:

1. In a new blog post, list and write about 5 to 10 methods you use to create original posts.
2. At the start of your post, tell your audience (briefly or at length) what you are doing with the “Be Original” Project and link to the project. 
3. Link/trackback to the blogger who tagged you for “Be Original”
4. Share your “Be Original” methods with your own audience
5. Pick as many bloggers as you want and “tag” them to take part in the fun…
   After all, that is how a meme works (a unit of cultural information transferable from one mind to another.)
6. Sit back and learn from the discussion.

How Do I Come Up with Original Blog Post Ideas?

Susan created a list of eight ways she comes up with original blog posts. Hmmm, my initial reaction to this is that I'd be hard pressed to come up with two! But I'm going to walk through a few thoughts to try to facilitate creating an actual list.

First, I want to share why I even have a blog. I took the plunge because of Ali Edwards. I signed up for a class at Art House in Portland a few years back. It was AFTER I took her class that I discovered her blog and how useful a communication tool it was. Since my family lives in California and I had just gotten a digital camera, I wanted a blog so I could share my life with them on a regular basis in what I thought was a super cool, fun way. So that's why my posts will often times just be me rambling on and on about such riveting things like the choosing the color of my bedroom wall or or my new glasses or planting tomatoes or the wacky shenanigans of little Atticus...

(my boy!)

It is BECAUSE of blogging that I am now involved in lots of projects and even on the justjohanna Design Team. The blogging community is an AMAZING variety of beautiful, encouraging, thoughtful, talented, creative, inspiring, and articulate people. I gotta tells ya, I'm havin' a blast!

Okay, so here's my brainstorm of coming up with original posts:

1. I like to make spontaneous posts. I like to blog about real life. I feel like those are the more meaningful ones for my family. I once saw a woman with a t-shirt that said, "I'm Blogging This." I had to laugh. She was walking into the pharmacy. Hmmm.... maybe a little too real?

2. I try to queue my posts which helps me create shorter, more frequent posts. If I know I'm only going to have one free night to play on the computer, I'll queue up several posts to publish in the future. My sister once told me that was cheating. :-) But I find the benefit in this is that I can then mentally focus on one topic and not appear to be a complete ditz who can't complete one cohesive thought. When I used to try to post about lots of things, I'd go back and re-read it and it made NO sense! So for me, short works!

3. I like sharing my projects. I think that just in itself promotes some originality in my posts. And certainly running in a pretty cool circle of bloggers provides me with lots and lots of opportunity to explore my creative potential.

4. I have a cat named Atticus. He alone, is foder for many, many posts. When I first began my blog, he was usually my topic. He's funny, furry, likes to climb trees, and sleeps curled up under my neck. His nickname is "L'il Partner" because he is always in the same room as me. Right now while I'm typing this, he is laying on top of the computer monitor.

I know this picture is blurry, but this is the kind of stuff he is always doing...just always has to be right in the middle of things!

I'm sure I'll think of some other things later but I only have one more way of coming up with original posts...

5. Just be me. I try to let my personality come through in my posts. I am an original. I have gotten to the wonderful point in my life where I am not afraid of putting myself out there. Meeting new people. Having new experiences. I could NEVER have had a blog when I was 20 (aside from the fact that the internet didn't exist when I was 20!) because I would NEVER have been so brave as to make friends with "strangers." Well I now know that no one can tell me "you aren't very good at being you" or "you're not doing you right!" I am the only me. I define me. I get to make me up. I get to decide what kind of person I am. I get to chose how I will interact and react to people. And if someone tries to bully me or tries to make me feel bad about myself, I can CHOOSE not to go there. That's been a long time coming, people. Aaaah...the joys of being a grown ass woman.

So now that brings us to the next phase of this project...

Tag, You're It!

I'm not going to name names but if your eyeballs land here, then PLEASE participate in this. It is a fun exercise. It sure got me thinking and I sure look forward to hearing how YOU come up with original posts.

Comments

[Mizsmoochielips]

Hey gurly, I'm not here! I'm not reading this! lololol. (I'll do this next week, cross my heart, poke a finger in my eye and all that) Just wanted to peek in atcha and see what you were up to :) And that's so cheating!!! But I'm totally going to steal that idea.

[Lilli]

Never met a meme that I liked, so I won't be playing. It seems like this was a useful exercise for you, though. Perspective is always a good thing, and I'm sure that Atti is proud :)

[Karin (creativechaos)]

My eyeballs landed here, but are to sick to d it right now. But I felt guilty just trying to sneak out the backdoor. As soon as I'm feeling better I will do it!!!

[Hanna]

What a great post and list. I agree with you on this a lot! I can't focus on any originality right now, not my own anyway, but I liked reading this post Michelle.