This is a letter I wrote to a friend, thought I could share it with everyone.

Anisha,

I am really glad that you decided to start blogging. I wanted to give you some tips in order to make it fun for you and especially fun for us (the readers). Thankfully, you've been reading blogs for a while, so you have a good idea about what makes a good blog. However, it's a little different beast when you are the one composing one. Obviously, I take this all way to seriously.

1. people like to read about things that you do...but not everything you do. Try to minimize the number of posts that are like a running diary. For example your posts should almost never read this way. "First, Lucy and I went bowing. It was fun. Go WILDFIRE!" Then we met up with Chris and got some coffee...don't you just love Starbucks. lol. :P I tried to go to bed right when I got home b/c I have to go to work tomorrow and I'm dreading that. Since I couldn't sleep, I thought I'd write you all a quick one before i fall asleep. Love ya! -Nish" This would be an example of what I'd call a "teenage girl's diary post." There are a lot of things wrong with this example. a) people (once your blog gains popularity) don't know who Lucy or Chris are and therefore don't care. Unless you can establish them as a constant or interesting character in your life, people will cease to embrace posts that mention them. b) WILDFIRE is an inside joke...nobody thinks they are funny. c) we don't know why you like starbucks or why you dread work...either one of those tangents is more interesting than the diary post. d) try not to use internet specific chat characters or emoticons...this isn't a chat window, don't abuse it. e) complete strangers won't feel welcome browsing your blog if all your posts end with a personal goodbye...they'll feel out of the club. And don't worry, plenty of annonymous people will read it.

2. Try your hardest to use proper grammar. Although some of the funniest blogs are the ones that ignore the rules of grammar and phonics, it is generally annoying to read a post that is largely void of punctuation, proper spelling, and good sentence structure. You don't want to sound like a foreign exchange student who didn't do so well in English class. Proofread.

3. Always go funny/quirky over serious/emotional. Especially since you are a more funny/quirky person in real life. Your blog should match your temperament. It is important to (every once in a while) "gush" on the blog so that people know that you are human and that you have feelings and emotions and struggles, but too much of this is really draining. I have read some blogs before that are just about how miserable life is and how down and depressed the person feels; it is tough to keep up.

4. Be careful if you decide to go "religious" with a post. Nobody agrees on this stuff. If you decide to have a religious post, make sure you do some homework, or at least think it through several times. Try to imagine every way in which people might try to attack your theology...because they will (and sometimes it will be me). Also, if you are certain that you'll cause some disagreement or argument over a religious topic, be sure to display some humility about it. Otherwise, people will tear you down. Often, people don't like to hear opinions that don't vibe with their own and like it even less if you have an attitude of "rightness." however, don't be afraid to discuss what you really believe to be true; just be prepared for many anonymous comments (both welcome and unwelcome).

5. Use pictures. I really enjoy a post when there is a photo to go along with it. Sometimes the photo itself is enough for the post. Now that blogger hosts photo media, it is super easy to enhance your posting.

6. If you are going to mention a website, use an active link rather than just writing out the web address. It is really easy to do this. The toolbar has a button that looks like a chain link - click on that and enter the full address of the web page including the "http://" many people also find it helpful if you link to products or articles that you mention in your post. That way if they want to know more, they can always do some side reading/research.

7. Learn some HTML so that you manipulate your own blog template. You want to be able to customize things so that it isn't so cookie cutter. AND if you learn it yourself, you don't have to rely on the help of a friend.

8. Post again: soon. Whenever a person starts a blog, nobody really expects it to be good or updated. You have done the first already (your first post was great). People will continue to keep up with your blog if you continue to write. One of the best times to gain popularity with your blog is at the beginning because everyone you know (that blogs) is excited that you've decided to give it a try. SO, they've linked you to their own blogs, mentioned it in their posts, talked about it by the water cooler, etc... don't let them down by not posting. (be careful not to post too much otherwise it is overwhelming for casual readers)

9. If you can't think of anything to write, just start writing...something great may come up.

10. (You may not care this much about your blog). Don't write out your posts as soon as you think about them (unless the urgency adds to the quality...like a "oh man, you won't believe what JUST happened to me?") Try to have a couple different post ideas and let them stir around in your head for a few days, or a week. That way when you go to write it out, you have a great idea about how you want it to look, read, feel. If you just sit down and wing it every time, then you'll be on suggestion #9 a lot and it will become draining.

Okay, those are just a few suggestions. I am really excited to see what you'll end up doing with your blog.

Oh, and for my sake, don't post jokes where the punch line is about how women are better than men (or men better than women) there is a large demographic that doesn't ever think those jokes are funny.