About You

Hello, gorgeous. Tell me about yourself. I want to know all about you.

Your mother probably raised you to believe that it was impolite to talk about yourself too much. No offense to Mom, and pardon my harsh language, but pish posh. In her day, there were no such things as blogs. You’re constructing your own little personal space here, and it’s your chance to step out into the world and let people see who you really are. Even if you’re blogging anonymously, you have an opportunity to be big and bold and honest with your words and thoughts. Here, you don’t have to concern yourself with the normal social restraints, or the advice that Mom gave about staying polite and modest. Cool, huh?

So, let’s talk about your “About” page. It’s an introduction of sorts, a static page on your blog where readers can go to learn a little about the person behind the keyboard. For you, it’s also an opportunity to share information about yourself that you normally wouldn’t. You may not think you’re interesting enough or that your thoughts and opinions are important enough to express, but I’ve got news for you– you’re fascinating.

Use your “About Page” to toot your horn. Ring your bell. Bang your gong. Shine. Some people do this in paragraphs, others write it in list form, i.e., “50 Things About Me.” It doesn’t matter how you do it– just do it.

An “About Page” is also a little snapshot of who you are right now. When you look back on it, you’ll probably be a bit amazed at the person you’re reading about, about the things that were important to you when you wrote those words. We are fluid and flowing and ever-changing, and a personal blog proves it in the most beautiful ways.

On my personal blog, I dive into my “About” page once a year or so. It gives me a chance to review where I was from the place I’m currently standing. It’s a nice vantage point. I see the whirlwind of changes that have taken place– if life seems stagnant, that page is undeniable proof that it’s not.

This brings us to the subject of updates. Since your “About” page is a little personal piece of your history, I recommend not erasing it. Update and add to it, but don’t delete or edit your past. It’s all a part of who you are. And sweetheart, despite what you may think, you’re as interesting as all get out.

Have You Started Yet?

I’m following up on my WordCamp Fayetteville presentation, entitled, “Cheaper Than Therapy: Better Living Through Blogging.”

Now that the glittery, sparkly dust from that weekend has settled, I’m wondering – have you started that blog yet? If you have, are you feeling good about it? Are you creating your happy place?

By “Happy Place,” I don’t mean that everything you write is going to be uplifting and inspirational. I just mean this: Are you making a little space for yourself out here in Blogland that feels good when you stop by to visit– an Internet home away from home (or work. Or your three screaming children and that husband who’s been watching ESPN for so long that one of his hands has permanently curled into the shape of a beer can)?

If the answer to this question is “no,” why not take a little time to do some nipping and tucking? If you aren’t happy with the template you initially chose, prowl around and find one that makes your eyeballs smile. Do a Google Image Search (include the words “Public Domain”) and find a banner picture, or search for information on how to make one yourself, from one of your own photos or designs.

Take a little time to geek and tweak. Discover the features that your chosen template offers. Play with colors and fonts and widgets. Keep a bottle of aspirin handy– it may seem a little overwhelming at first, but I promise, you’ll get the hang of it. And if you get stuck, head over to WordPress Support, or those nifty Forums. You’ll find all the answers you need if you get stuck.

The main idea here is to start creating a writing space that reflects you. A place that makes you feel all nice and smushy when you pull it up on your screen. Hopefully, you’ll be spending a lot of time there, expressing your bad self.

I’ll be back to check on you later.

WordCamp Fayetteville

Oh my gosh! Oh my goodness! Oh my Word! Internally, I feel like a jumping bean on steroids, because WordCamp is coming to a town near me! No, wait– WordCamp is coming to MY town, July 27 through 29, and if you’re a resident of Fayetteville, Arkansas, it’s coming to your town too. I’m not just attending, I’ll be speaking there, which makes it wonderful on about fourteen different levels. I’m so excited that I have to pinch myself to make sure it’s real. Ouch. Okay, it’s real.WordCamp Fayetteville isn’t your typical summer camp. You won’t need a tent, a canteen or sunscreen. It’s going to be held indoors at the Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development on the campus of the University of Arkansas, so you can forgo the insect repellent too. Sponsored by WordPress and held throughout the world, WordCamp is a uniquely educational, inspiring event for bloggers, developers and entrepreneurs at all levels of expertise. It’s an opportunity to gain knowledge, spark creativity and connect with other WordPress users. Fun fact: There is a WordCamp held somewhere in the world almost every week of the year.

My presentation is entitled: “Cheaper Than Therapy: Better Living Through Blogging.” As an unabashed WordPress fanatic, I could gush for days on the subject of blogging your way through life, and the benefits of doing so. At WordCamp, I’ll keep it down to a mere forty minutes.

I’m a freelance writer, but in terms of personal satisfaction, blogging pays just as well (sometimes, better). I’ve done it for years now, and in my opinion it’s an art form, a unique literary genre and, in some cases, a life changer. During WordCamp, I plan to cover a lot about this amazing medium, including:*how to get started

*how to keep going –sustaining creativity

*building a community of loyal readers

*the ethics of personal blogging

*the pros and cons of anonymity

*pitfalls to avoid

If you’re considering attending WordCamp Fayetteville, I urge you to hop on over to the official website and sign up. It’s a great investment of time and money, and for $30, you can’t go wrong. If you’ve already registered, I look forward to seeing you there!