Comments on: What Makes A Good Blog? http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/ Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:38:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: alexanderhayes http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13409 alexanderhayes Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:15:42 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13409 My anti-spam word was getreal54. Say's plenty. My green tea's going cold. My eyes are sore. DET locked me out today so I'm internet-less. Went home. Clicked on 'mapsamongus'. Checked my del.icio.us feed. Noticed Graham had posted me a link and spen the next half a day buried in code up to my neck before finishing atkinsontraining.com Moodle hack by night fall. Added some others to del.icio.us/alexanderhayes Sent off an invoice.One day I might get paid. What makes a good blogpost ? One that speaks to others. Something bigger than 140 caricatures :) My anti-spam word was getreal54.

Say’s plenty.

My green tea’s going cold. My eyes are sore. DET locked me out today so I’m internet-less. Went home.

Clicked on ‘mapsamongus’. Checked my del.icio.us feed.

Noticed Graham had posted me a link and spen the next half a day buried in code up to my neck before finishing atkinsontraining.com Moodle hack by night fall.

Added some others to del.icio.us/alexanderhayes

Sent off an invoice.One day I might get paid.

What makes a good blogpost ? One that speaks to others.

Something bigger than 140 caricatures :)

]]> By: Graham Wegner http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13404 Graham Wegner Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:14:24 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13404 @alex. I'm sorry about the About button and its false link - I've changed themes to resolve the issue. Now the link isn't visible until you hover over it but it is linkable! @Jess. Voice is a really important word to use here because I think that when writing becomes formulaic, the writer's voice is harder to capture in words. I've now found your reflective blog (as opposed to <a href="http://www.technolote.com/" rel="nofollow">Technolote</a>) and added it to my Google Reader. We still need more Aussie voice in the edublogosphere, I reckon! @ken. Readers are good but only comments will tell you what they're thinking! @ann. Thanks for the suggestion - I did create <a href="http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/09/04/proud-to-be-an-open-educator/" rel="nofollow">another award icon</a> that bloggers could display on their blog if they supported the idea behind it, but only a few bloggers caught the bug and subsequently eradicated it! Feel free to use it - it's over in the Awards section. @Sue. See what evolves from Twitter! @Mike. Stop lurking (well, don't stop completely) and get blogging, I say! @alex. I’m sorry about the About button and its false link - I’ve changed themes to resolve the issue. Now the link isn’t visible until you hover over it but it is linkable!
@Jess. Voice is a really important word to use here because I think that when writing becomes formulaic, the writer’s voice is harder to capture in words. I’ve now found your reflective blog (as opposed to Technolote) and added it to my Google Reader. We still need more Aussie voice in the edublogosphere, I reckon!
@ken. Readers are good but only comments will tell you what they’re thinking!
@ann. Thanks for the suggestion - I did create another award icon that bloggers could display on their blog if they supported the idea behind it, but only a few bloggers caught the bug and subsequently eradicated it! Feel free to use it - it’s over in the Awards section.
@Sue. See what evolves from Twitter!
@Mike. Stop lurking (well, don’t stop completely) and get blogging, I say!

]]> By: alex koritz http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13402 alex koritz Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:07:07 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13402 Can't click 'About' on this blog, it just brings up the edblogs advertisement every time. Frustrating . . . Can’t click ‘About’ on this blog, it just brings up the edblogs advertisement every time. Frustrating . . .

]]> By: Jess http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13398 Jess Sun, 24 Feb 2008 07:14:14 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13398 I'm glad to be reading about this topic. It's so easy to get caught up in thinking that you have to do things a particular way and then losing your own voice as you do. It's great to be reminded every now and again that blogging and other things in life, don't need to be this way. I’m glad to be reading about this topic. It’s so easy to get caught up in thinking that you have to do things a particular way and then losing your own voice as you do. It’s great to be reminded every now and again that blogging and other things in life, don’t need to be this way.

]]> By: » Can You Really Identify Features That Makes A Good Blog? Mobile Technology in TAFE http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13396 » Can You Really Identify Features That Makes A Good Blog? Mobile Technology in TAFE Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:38:41 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13396 [...] Wegner’s What Makes A Good Blog masterfully captures the essence of why it is an issue for me. Several weeks ago Graham and I had a [...] [...] Wegner’s What Makes A Good Blog masterfully captures the essence of why it is an issue for me. Several weeks ago Graham and I had a [...]

]]> By: ken http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13395 ken Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:04:01 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13395 for what it's worth, I've discussed with my other, more self-conscious personalities, and they all believe that readership matters more than comments. they tell me this, most likely, b/c the collection of comments on my blog are so infrequent that, should the blog ever convert itself to a trash can, Oscar would never even spend one night @ mine. And I...love Readers!!! for what it’s worth, I’ve discussed with my other, more self-conscious personalities, and they all believe that readership matters more than comments.

they tell me this, most likely, b/c the collection of comments on my blog are so infrequent that, should the blog ever convert itself to a trash can, Oscar would never even spend one night @ mine.

And I…love Readers!!!

]]> By: Ann Oro http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13393 Ann Oro Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:07:15 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13393 I enjoyed your previous post on creating icons as well as this one. Is the award above another homegrown image? You should awarding it to your favorite bloggers (maybe with upper/lowercase letters). I enjoyed your previous post on creating icons as well as this one. Is the award above another homegrown image? You should awarding it to your favorite bloggers (maybe with upper/lowercase letters).

]]> By: Sue Waters http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13392 Sue Waters Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:44:42 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13392 Excellent post Graham. I think my views on how individual people's personal preference is for writing style has been further highlighted by the varying types of blog posts I'm seeing shared through Google Readers integration with our GTalk friends. Close examination of what each shares shows such wide variety in personal preferences - I don't think there is such a thing as "A single formula for a Good Blog" but there are features that will enhance that enhance posts and blog layout. Perhaps also the difference between yours and my preference in blog posts relates to how we both read the posts. I subscribe to a large number of blogs, which requires me to speed read them. Really deep thinking posts mean that I have to slow down - take my time. As bloggers we have to find our own voices - work out what works for us - know what we like and don't like - and be true to ourselves. Oops thinking those may have been some of Alex's wise words of wisdom :) . Excellent post Graham. I think my views on how individual people’s personal preference is for writing style has been further highlighted by the varying types of blog posts I’m seeing shared through Google Readers integration with our GTalk friends. Close examination of what each shares shows such wide variety in personal preferences - I don’t think there is such a thing as “A single formula for a Good Blog” but there are features that will enhance that enhance posts and blog layout.

Perhaps also the difference between yours and my preference in blog posts relates to how we both read the posts. I subscribe to a large number of blogs, which requires me to speed read them. Really deep thinking posts mean that I have to slow down - take my time.

As bloggers we have to find our own voices - work out what works for us - know what we like and don’t like - and be true to ourselves. Oops thinking those may have been some of Alex’s wise words of wisdom :) .

]]> By: Mike http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13391 Mike Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:07:43 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13391 Hi Graham, Your last 2 posts are spot on for me... First, as an expat kiwi, it's nice to see what people are doing over there...Lynnes latest post on blogging was particularly useful, and is next on my "must comment and say thanks" list. I've found plenty of useful stuff from lurking around your blog... Then, just as I'm having another go at starting a blog myself, you post this bit to get the mind whirring. Nice work, cheers. Hi Graham,
Your last 2 posts are spot on for me…
First, as an expat kiwi, it’s nice to see what people are doing over there…Lynnes latest post on blogging was particularly useful, and is next on my “must comment and say thanks” list. I’ve found plenty of useful stuff from lurking around your blog…
Then, just as I’m having another go at starting a blog myself, you post this bit to get the mind whirring.
Nice work, cheers.

]]> By: Graham Wegner http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13389 Graham Wegner Fri, 22 Feb 2008 05:37:02 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2008/02/21/what-makes-a-good-blog/#comment-13389 @ken Believe me, <a href="http://gwegner.edublogs.org/files/2007/02/skypechat.jpg" rel="nofollow">language mangling</a> is a compliment. And Artichoke is definitely one of the bloggers who has made me think the most about what I write and do as an educator. So, another big compliment, in my eyes. @dina You're right, you know. I skirted around this whole "what makes good writing" issue but you spotted it straightaway. I certainly believe that writing can and should be playful, a form of expression (that's not to say that there aren't times when formality and clarity will be the best way to communicate) and I firmly believe that the English language is a hybrid mishmash still evolving and its "golden rules" are open to re-interpretation and re-purposing without necessarily becoming proof of illiteracy. In fact, someone who can consciously do so has a literacy capability higher than most! I suppose I'm intrigued by what people perceive to be good writing style on a blog - that is subjective, although it is easily spotted when poorly executed. And sometimes creative turns of phrase also exclude and confuse ESL readers - that would be one reason that might count against some of my most beloved blog reads. Certainly, a deeper blog post might be in order soon. @Kerrie I'm a bit worried when some people reduce this blogging caper down to some sort of formula that will guarantee wider readership or more comments. Comments are an interesting measure anyway. When I collated all of my comments, only a handful of people contributed more than a handful of times. Readers who find your writing strikes a chord are the return commenters and often the ones willing to get into a conversation mode as well. I agree that “what is a good blog” is an interesting idea to tussle with and more conjecture sometimes only muddies the water! @ken Believe me, language mangling is a compliment. And Artichoke is definitely one of the bloggers who has made me think the most about what I write and do as an educator. So, another big compliment, in my eyes.
@dina You’re right, you know. I skirted around this whole “what makes good writing” issue but you spotted it straightaway. I certainly believe that writing can and should be playful, a form of expression (that’s not to say that there aren’t times when formality and clarity will be the best way to communicate) and I firmly believe that the English language is a hybrid mishmash still evolving and its “golden rules” are open to re-interpretation and re-purposing without necessarily becoming proof of illiteracy. In fact, someone who can consciously do so has a literacy capability higher than most!
I suppose I’m intrigued by what people perceive to be good writing style on a blog - that is subjective, although it is easily spotted when poorly executed. And sometimes creative turns of phrase also exclude and confuse ESL readers - that would be one reason that might count against some of my most beloved blog reads. Certainly, a deeper blog post might be in order soon.
@Kerrie I’m a bit worried when some people reduce this blogging caper down to some sort of formula that will guarantee wider readership or more comments. Comments are an interesting measure anyway. When I collated all of my comments, only a handful of people contributed more than a handful of times. Readers who find your writing strikes a chord are the return commenters and often the ones willing to get into a conversation mode as well. I agree that “what is a good blog” is an interesting idea to tussle with and more conjecture sometimes only muddies the water!

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