Bernstein, Lenssen, & Mahoney
We've looked at more than a few blogs, have read a few web-based articles about blogging and blog-writing style, and have made at least a couple posts to our own blogs. Let's step back a bit and think about the tips we are (and aren't) trying to employ in our blogging.
Key Questions
- Bernstein - What specific tips from Bernstein do you think you're employing? Which tips seem important to you? Which tips are you NOT going to follow in your blog?
- Lenssen - Which of Lenssen's tips are you DEFINITELY using? (Are you crediting your sources? Hmm.) Your reader should see you starting to use at least 3 of them. Which ones do you need to use, but are not yet using? (What's holding you back?)
- Mahoney - "Offer something new." Copy-paste is so easy even a caveman can do it. How are YOU offering something new in your blog? Are there other tips from Mahoney that you're employing in your blog? How?
Your Task
- Post a comment to this page that responds to the key questions above. Break your comment into three parts (Bernstein, Lenssen, Mahoney). And use those little tools in the comment box to add some style!
- Make sure the link to your blog in the Blogroll sidebar of this page actually goes to your blog! If it doesn't work, add a link to your blog right in your comment and shoot me an email with the correct URL. (Hint: The link won't work if you don't adjust "Privacy" settings in your dashboard Tools so that your blog is visible.)
Comments
Berstein - The tips im using are forshawdowing, surprise, and backstory which will keep my readers interested. one thing im not follow is my style of writing which leads me to Lenssen offer information to a global audience. I may sometimes use landuage thats mainly used in a classroom setting. My goal is to offer something new which Mahoney makes a clear empasis on which I need to as well to keep my readers interested which is the keep to creative writing.
http://relationships.blog-city.com
The website I choose covers all aspects of Berstein, Lenssen, and Mahoney make clear
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Bernstein (Make Good Friends)
Following Bernstein’s tip to make good friends, I found 4 credible ways to keep friends. However let me tell you a quick story. Last night, I told my friend to come meet me so we could find new ways of mixing these tracks together, so he agreed and said that he would come to my house in about 10 minutes or so, but I had just finished my workout and my phone was left on silent because I wanted to hear the conversation that my father and mother were having. Next thing I know, I fell asleep, a deep sleep mind you and my friend visited and waited outside for 45 minutes before leaving, all the while, he was texting me, calling me and I was asleep so I was unable to respond. The next day, he told me oh, im not your friend anymore because I dont even wait 45 minutes on my girlfriend, and you had me waiting there mad long with no response, I dont wanna be your friend anymore.”
The first thing I did was I apologized. I said I am very sorry, you know yesterday was not that cold so I was outside playing basketball and working out (yes in the snow) I love outdoors. Then I asked him, what about all those times when you asked me to do something for you, I would be on the road to your house without a question, so please understand yesterday’s circumstances, my phone was left on silent which is rare and I always answer my phone, you know that. So are we still friends? A few minutes later after he was finished being mad, he responded, yeah, but please dont do that to me again because I was waiting for a very long time and I had other people waiting as well because of you.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200612/six-ways-make-friend
On this site, it highlights 4 ways to keep a friendship as well as gaining new friends. In this list, I will explain a few tips of my own mixed with the tips on the site.
1) Make the friendship a priority- Set aside the time to be with your friends, give them the time they deserve to express whatever their feelings or what struggles they might have gone through with their families, siblings, other friends and or girlfriends/boyfriends.
2) Hug it out- Be intimate, tell your friend how you feel, that you miss him/her and that you do not want to lose this person as a friend, their important to you because they keep you smiling and when you talk to them, you can always relate to them and you can confide in them.
3) The miracle of free long distance- E-mail that person. Use professor Cripps’ site and send that classmate a quick blog about how the weather is cold, and that you just made some hot soup, wouldn’t you like to try some? I’d use UPS ground and send you some since we’re so far away!
4) Face Time- The best time to spend with a friend is obviously in person. Arrange a meeting with the friend and try not to keep them at arms length. Be welcoming and always look at your friend in the eye. Remember eye contact shows the friend that you are listening and attentive towards them and nothing else going on. Shows that you actually care for what their saying and your not just nodding your head in agreement, like “oh yeah” wow! really? Repeating those things get kind of tiring to say and to hear!
Now the task is up to you my fellow friend makers, go out, meet new people, use my tips and Im certain that at the end of the day you will have some decent friends to look forward to talking to and meeting with.
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Bernstein- The tips which i believe I am employing are write for a reason, write often, write tight & relax. The tips that I believe are important are write for a reason and write often. If you write for a reason, the readers will see that and the reading might become more appealing to them If you write often, it will show that you are dedicated to your blog, and they will continue to follow it. One tip I am not following is make enemies. In my type of blog, I don’t think I can make enemies. My blog is just personal opinions and recommendations. You can either listen and follow, maybe accept a recommendation, or disagree and not listen.
Lenssen- The tips I am definitely using would be use lists,tables,images, credit your sources, make updates & changes & spell check your post, and read them for clarity. The tips that I need to use, but have not as of yet would be inverted pyramid & use descriptive headlines. The reason I have not used these tips is because I have posted before the reading. But I plan on employing them on my next blog post.
Mahoney- I believe that my blog topic/ contents of my blog, the style of my blog and the posts, or information in the posts would be some new things I am offering to my blog. but for the mechanical aspect, the tips from the three readings are definitely somethings new that I am offering to my blog. One tip that I am employing from Mahoney would be to amuse your readers. I would try to relate to them and maybe slip in one or two jokes(whether it be funny or not) for their amusement.
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Bernstein- From Bernstein’s tips the ones that I feel I’m mostly using are write for a reason,write often and write tight. Because I want my readers to read something there are interested in,and are able to visit my blog on a consistent basis and find information with visual images to go along. In my blogs I will not be following the tip let the story unfold because it would not go with my topic.
Lenssen- The tips I will definitely be using from Lenssen are use descriptive headlines,use lists,images and tables,credit your sources,mark updates and changes,spellcheck your posts and read them for clarity, global audience. I need to use first link, inverted pyramid, I am not using these tips as yet because I haven’t gotten around to it.
Mahoney- I am offering something new in my blog, because I am using Mahoney’s,Bernsten’s and Lenssen’s tips to write my blogs. One other tip I am using from Mahoney is amuse your readers because I feel it is good to keep your audience entertained, and if you have your in blog something they can have a laugh at thats good.
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Bernstein
I originally started doing a blog on Social Networks. Since I did not feel like I will end up writing for a reason, I decided to changed my blog topic and write about Jordan Sneakers to be specific, yet associate with something I love. I also used write tight because I am trying to organize my blog in a way that looks neat and clear for readers, yet allows me to express myself in one way or another.
Lenssen:
I followed his rule “use links, images and tables” because if you check out my blog so far I have two pictures of sneakers. I just started this blog today, but plan on putting up more pics and a calendar to show specific sneaker release dates.
Mahoney:
Mahoney explained “the best rules can’t be stated, but you can learn by reading excellent writing”, which is one tip of his that I am following in order to make the best possible blog that I can. It’s time consuming, but must be done if I want my blog to turn out good in the end.
My blog site: http://blogs.york.cuny.edu/wp/jordansneakers23/
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Using your archives—I will work with other peoples image besides my knowledge and images, so I will try to make sure all the images from different sites are updated. As a result my readers could follow along.
“Find good enemies” – this is the tip I will also try to utilize for my blog because not just providing the information, I will also hunt knowledge for myself too. I will try to pick all the comments positively against my blog and try to make it better. Of course, if there was not criticism, the intention to make something good and effective would not be there.
Pretty much all of the tips seem very reasonable to me. However, the tip that I will not going to use is writing often. It is very unusual get a presentable image often.
The tips I have chosen from Lenssen are Use lists, images, tables, Credit the Sources and Write for the Global audiences. Since I will be writing about shooting photo and the images I like I would definitely use list, images and table. Besides, I would try to give the full credit to all the great photographers. Not least, I prefer and admire all the writers who are simple, but clear about their points. So, I would try to keep my explanation very simple.
In my blog there will be given instruction about how to take picture correctly, buy a good camera and other tips. Yes, I am aware of that these information are already all over the internet. Since, this is my first experimental blog; I will try to archive some of my own images, discussion about other good photographer’s photos. As I experience something new and interesting, I will try to log it into my blog.
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The tips that I think I’m employing from Bernstein are tips one, six and ten. The most important tips to me are the first nd seventh ones. The tip I do not want to follow is the fifth one.
The only one of Lenssen tips that I am definately using is the ninth one. I should also be using the first and fifth tip but have yet to use them.
I haven’t really done anything new in my blog but I am thinking of ideas as to things that I can do differently from other bloggers blogging about the same thing I am blogging about. Mahoney’s tip is important and I will incorporate it in my blog.
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1.The tips that I’m applying to my blog are write for a reason, let the story unfold and use your archives since my blog is the NBA I would have to the history of the NBA to talk about whats going. Also I’m writing about something I’m passionate about. Tips from Bernstein that seem important to me are find good enemies, make good friends and write fora reason because without having people feeling the same way or not the same way about your blog then blogs aren’t that fun to do. The only tip that I think isn’t that important is relax because I’m always relaxed. So to me that doesn’t make it a tip.
2. The one tip from Lenssen I’m using is images, tables and list because when talking about players or teams it helps to understand who I’m talking about and what their doing. A tip that’s important but I myself is not gotten to that level is global audience because it really helps when you can reach a major wide audience with your blog and in return it means a lot of people are viewing your blog and participating in your blog.
3.What I’m offering in my blog is a chance for people to view and comment on the topics in the NBA that are most important on a week to week basis, not everything in the NBA people care about but people like Kobe Bryant and Lebron James People care about. A tip from Mahoney that I use is amuse your reader. I feel that if I put out controversial talk like the New York Knicks are the best team in the NBA then people would be entertained to see how I defend that.
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With my Blog I left it as a broad topic so I can basically talk about however I am feeling at the moment. I think this follows one of the tips from Bernstein “write for a reason”. Another tip I am using is “Relax”, so I can just have fun with it. Whatever comes to mind and however I feel that is what I write about on my blog.
From Lenssen tip’s I use the “inverted Pyramid”, where as I introduce what I am going to talk about then I give the details as to why something happened. Also I “use descriptive headlines”, which lets you know right away what I would be talking about in my blog, so if someone does not like the headline it saves them the trouble of reading it.
In Mahoney’s tips I am trying to use the tip “amuse my readers”, its hard to keep everyone amused with your writing seeing that everyone does not have the same taste, but I am trying to write so my readers would know exactly how I feel and could relate as well. Lastly, my blog “offers something new” within every post, because you never know what your going to get out of me. One day it might be something fun and exciting and the next it might be a depressing event that happend or even an injury (I some how always seem to end up on the floor in my games).
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Bernstein
Out of the 10 tips Bernstein suggested, I chose to write often and relax. I post at least once a week, which makes it able for my viewers to stay with what’s going on in surfboarding. I usually update it on Mondays. I also try to get myself in a relaxed state of mind before writing so that whatever i can say can flow naturally. Also, my blog topic is about surfing, which makes you relaxed.
Lenssen
I have tried to incorporate videos in my blog, which I think is a part of using lists, tables, and images. I’m not exactly 100% sure if this is right, but since images, tables, lists, etc. are all meant for viewing; especially images, I figured videos would be a part of it too. I also used spell-check on my blog, so that my posts could be clear for any viewers reading my blog.
Mahoney
I tried to offer something new with my blog too, since surfboarding is still an underground sport, ESPECIALLY in New York City; I figured it would be something new to the York blogs. I also tried to amuse my readers by sharing a story that actually happened to me in my latest blog post.
my blog: http://blogs.york.cuny.edu/wp/tparekh1/
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Bernstein: I have chosen to follow in Bernstein’s footsteps including write often, relax, and be sexy. I am posting atleast once a week to my blog so as that my followers can steadily be updated and not have to wait. I try to post every Monday night so it’s set to one standard time. Monday’s are my day off from work and school, so i am relaxed. I put my enthusiasm passion and effort into what i am writing but i am not to conscious about being perfect. Instead i am including my personal experiences and life within my writing. I am being sexy. I am not going to take out unnecessary words, which is part of his “write tight” tip.
Lenssen: I plan to use Lenssen’s tip of using colors and bolds. I also want to use desriptive headlines. I need to start using spell check and although I am not currently using any sources, I need to credit my sources.
Mahoney: I am not sure what I am offering in my blog. I can not say that I have something that is new and different from other blogs in terms of writing style. However, I am offering myself which is no where else on the internet. In this I mean I am giving quality material. I plan to use the “rules” which includes grammar and focus.
http://blogs.york.cuny.edu/wp/asukul/
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Bernstein : Off the bat, I will not be holding a debate about anything in my blog, nor will I be writing embarrassing. That omits the “find good enemies” and “be sexy” tips, two of which I do find interesting. I will however, be writing for a reason and relaxing.
Lenssen: I am most definitely using the “inverted pyramid” and “spell check tips. I think I need to start using pictures and decorative styles in my blog as well as “descriptive headlines”.
Mahoney: In terms of something new to offer, I believe I am giving the world a place to vent about any topics within that of my blog. While searching for other blogs, I hardly found any with a similar topic. One of the tips that I think I am making use of is “rules”. I do write, for the most part, in grammatically correct sentences with average syntax. It is my job to make the reader at least understand my blog if not like it.
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Bernstein- The specific tips from Bernstein that i am employing in my blogs are “write for a reason” “write often” and “relax”. What Tips seem important to me when writing my blogs are “write for a reason” because i believe that if you don’t write about something that catches your attention then it’s not going catch the readers attention. What i find least important when writing is to “be sexy”, because I’m trying to be not as personal in my blogs because i don’t want my opinion my blogs.
Lessen- The tip that i am most promptly using in my blogs is the “inverted pyramid” I’m trying to catch my readers attention with the first two sentences of my blog. I’m also trying to reach a “global audience” with the simplistic wording i am using in my blogs. I am also “spell checking” my blogs before i post them to make sure that my audience can read an comprehend my blog posts. What i have yet to encounter in my blogs is the ability to make “updates and changes” because i have yet to see the any problems with the blogs I’ve posted up.
Mahoney- What i am offering new in my blog is the ability to get the facts straight from all the Conspiracy Theories that are mainstream and in the public eyes to that the people that read my blog gain some knowledge on what they are. Well I’m trying to be as professional in my writing as I can so that it wont be off putting to the reader
http://blogs.york.cuny.edu/wp/conspiracytheoriesandtheirinfluences/
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Bernstein
For Bernstein’s tips, I believe I employ “Write for a reason,” “Let the story unfold,” “Stand up, speak out!” and “Relax!” All of these tips are important to my topic because it is through these tips that my voice, the details, and the passion in my words can be felt. I definitely won’t be worrying about “Write tight,” or “Write often,” since the former requires me to narrow my words to a direct point when some things that require repeating are so much more hilarious, and the latter requires me to find stupid people all over the place, and I honestly don’t think I can handle that sort of diet.
Lenssen
Among Lenssen’s tips, I focus on “Use descriptive headlines,” “re-introduce core ideas,” and “Spellcheck your posts, and read them for clarity.” I should try to work on the “global audience” tip, since I have a tendency to use multisyllabic words whenever I get the opportunity to and also because I find that angry rants filled with smart-sounding words to be very comical.
Mahoney
I think that my topic of “Letters to Stupid People” is in its own right, something new. I don’t mean the topic, but my opinion and thoughts that get voiced through my blog. It’s possible for similar sounding rants and aggressions to get voiced elsewhere, but it won’t be my words. This blog is solely words that belong to me (until someone copy+pastes them somewhere else without crediting me). I’d like to think that Mahoney’s tip, “Amuse your readers” occurs during the course of reading my blogposts, but I guess time will tell when or if that happens.
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Bernstien’s tips were very helpful. I will employ tip six “let the
story unfold” using foreshadow and surprise. The most important to me
would be “write for a reason.” I can’t just write for NO reason at
all. It isn’t entertaining. One tip that I probably would not follow
is “be sexy” because my blog topic is mostly on my contempt for the
human species. A Lenssen tip I will most definitely use is creating
descriptive headlines and the inverted pyramid. Mahoney – I’d like to
offer something new by having a blog more than just words I’d like to
incorporate photos into my blog also so that readers have a visual to
go along with the words.
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Bernstein– I believe most of his tips are important and are inherent in blog writing. Even the first reason is relatively automatic, despite the blogs out there sometimes having no specific topic on which to discuss. Sometimes as the reader, we simply can’t understand the motives behind the people blogging (without asking, anyway), but I suspect there’s always a “reason.” Anyway, I believe I’ll be following all the tips by Bernstein, though “finding friends/enemies” on wordpress is somewhat more difficult than on other blogging communities (that I’ve experienced, anyway).
Lenssen– I won’t be using lists, images, tables, I don’t think. Links don’t seem to be the best idea in an ongoing creative story, but if I do a non-fiction blog then both aforementioned tips will be used. All the tips are helpful for formatting, but they’re not quite applicable for an ongoing story.
Mahoney– I preferred all of Mahoney’s tips, because the bottom line is communication in blogging. If the thoughts don’t get across due to excessive words or obnoxious phrasing, who’s going to want to keep reading? I know I wouldn’t, so I try to simplify my words … unless I don’t want people to pay the closest attention, or understand.
(The link to my blog is correct, thank you.)
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Bernstein: I definitely want to include back-story and if necessary foreshadowing. However, because I don’t want my blog to be too much of a spoiler, I’ll describe the images in the film vividly, but using descriptive terms to describe the emotions it may evoke. I’m definitely relaxed when I write as I write for a reason.
Lenssen: Like Lenssen, I ALWAYS site the sources that I refer to. I mostly attack links, describe and note the director, and make note of the people I speak with. I also like to use lists or charts to make otherwise very massive details, into a compressed selection.
Mahoney: Most people write reviews about the average box-office released movies, however, I chose to write about B movies as an art. Their “flaws” are highlighted into intricate details of artistic expression. It’s all BS but from what seems to be going on in the world, people like BS.
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Bernstein: The tips I will focus the most on are:
Write for a reason
Write often
Let the story unfold
Make good friends
I feel that anyone writing without a reason looks like a blockhead! What I call “Time Pass.” Reasons to write should come naturally. I think it comes from the gut. Or else it’s too wordy. I do go back to cut out the clutter in my wording though. Who doesn’t? Some words are repetitive only to fill up the blog for (bad) paragraphs to look full. I can’t stand reading redundant statements! Bernstein says it best, “Show us the details, teach us why they matter.” So I will try, and Write for a reason!
Secondly, “Write often” is self explanatory! Any clarification? The blog needs input just like we need food. I hope I can feed my blog with new ideas or just go (hungry) let the blog fizzle to its demise, nah don’t want to do that. So I will try, and Write often!
Third, “Let the story unfold” yeah, I think I can make that happen because I want to write for a reason, so that means I need to find the passion, write quite often, focus, and Let the story unfold!
Almost all of Bernstein’s tips are useful depending on how I use them. So for my blog I may not be sexy, because I can only sound sexy, I guess? Maybe I’ll use sexy colors to look sexy? Don’t know! Another thing, I won’t use is the tip about “Find good enemies.” I don’t want to have people hating my blog to capsize my journey. I need to swim, or lose hope, but I like the former, I’ll send out an SOS to make good friends, and maybe not sink in boredom without help. Maybe a life jacket to stay afloat? It’ll be the folding kind to stuff it in the back pocket, I’ll lend it too, so no enemies, all are friends!
Lenssen:
Use descriptive headlines
Spell check your post
Write inverted pyramid style
I like Lenssen’s tips as well, but I will use the above mentioned ones for precise clarity. I want to be descriptive, so that I can catch the attention of my audience, yeah with a global audience too, wow look at this, I just caught two of Lenssen’s tips while writing about one! Great! I’ll spell check for errors too. I think I wouldn’t want to eat something that had spelling errors on the packaging would you? It may suggest other issues. For example, remember the Milk debacle China had? They are creative at duplicating almost anything, and that includes food products. One of their corporate businessmen messed with Milk! That was a huge mistake! One that cost lives! I hope blogging doesn’t do that! Well anyway, I found that in China there are copies of “Frosted Flakes” too. The cereal brand by “Kelloggs.” Except they may have spelled it Frosty Flakes. Get my point? The fake milk scare, China, ring a bell don’t (read) eat it! It can throw you off. Spell check! Ok I am off topic, so I will make sure to Spell check posts.
Lastly, I think writing in an inverted pyramid style may provide some action/adventure in my posts. Like Lenssen states it’s “micro-content” that reveals the point in keeping things alive like the web, so it can breath. Remember Bernie Madoff? Yeah, he’s the one with the Pyramid scheme that’s right! No that’s not what I’m talking about here! That’s a ponzi scheme where people take Peter’s money to pay Paul. Alright, I was just trying take one of Mahoney tips; “Amuse your readers.” Thanks for reading!
Mahoney:
The Rules
Amuse your readers
Offer something new
Beyond Wired
Okay, I’d like to follow the rules, not to break them, or maybe I have to, but that won’t be the norm because my blog is about Web 2.0 “Enter the URL! Good stuff that’s on the Web, and I have to find that good stuff too. “Offer something new” each time. No disconnected diversions as “Mahoney” states, “check it out” or “really cool” and “here you go.” Ok I have done that. I’m going to make an effort to Offer something new each time I blog! I’d like to do this to accomplish using these tips in my blog. I’d like to go “Beyond Wired” too because there’s way too much redundant content out there. I want to Amuse (my) your readers by posting new stuff.
The rules of blogging provide good rhythm, and the stories help readers capture attention without diversions. Thanks to Bernstein, Lenssen, and Mahoney’s tips, I may be able to seize the blog, and live the moment! Stay alive bloggers! Blog you later folks!
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Write for reason this is a good tip for me I do have many reason to write for but how to start is the problem for me. I am not a person to relax and write Iam always in a horry form one thing to another that me not to focus I will pay key attention to Bernstein’s tips and followthem.
Especailly write often that enable me to be able to write a good easy or a blog. credit source is one of the important tips that will maybe give friends as he started that make new friends in crediting source will bring others to my blog and give me new ideals. I think if I follow bernstein’s tips it will help a lot . tip like relax as I it is not in my life so i will learn that tip so I can do thing right.
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