Living life, online.

Last week, I was really surprised when I opened up my roster for the summer semester of Blogging for Beginners, because it was nearly full.

I’m not saying I have a mediocre product that doesn’t deserve to be sold out, it’s just that it hasn’t happened since my first two semesters of the class. The first thing I wondered was, what happened in the world where people all of the sudden realize they need to be blogging?

Of course, I live believing that everyone should have a blog, as everyone has a passion and a story they deserve to share with the world.

When I met my students, it didn’t appear that there was any major change in the world, pushing them to sign up for class (unless they haven’t told me yet), but it got me thinking.

Although a lot of us have been living online for years, lately, it seems like things are really catching on. I don’t mean catching on as in, “Oh, this is cool,” I mean… living like this is completely changing our world, our culture.

Yesterday, I went to see The Fault in Our Stars, a movie based off the bestselling novel (selling 7 million copies so far) by John Green. Even though I didn’t go to the theatre on opening night, it was obvious this book and its film adaptation, have a cult following.

On one hand, the book is phenomenal. Then there’s the fact that it’s about teenagers… who have cancer. This brings in another audience. And some high schools put it on their reading lists. And teenagers are just the kind of age group that’s Tweeting, and Facebook-ing, and Instagram-ing there entire lives.

So, go search #TFIOS, and I guarantee you’ll see what I’m talking about.

It makes me wonder if this is just a one-time thing, or if this is just the way things are going to be from this point forward — everything huge and online.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, but in the meantime, I’m really loving it.

Social Media Dictionary.

I wanted to continue with the series I was writing, based off of the information in the 2013 edition of the Associated Press Style Guide.

As part of their added information on social media practices, they’ve got a “Key Terms and Definitions” section that I found to be useful. Below are some of the terms and definitions I think you might need to know:

• Android: An operating system created by Google that’s used in many smartphones and tablets.
• App: Short for application. A program that runs inside another service. Many cellphones allow applications to be downloaded to expand their functions. App is acceptable on first reference. explain the term in the body of the story.
• Blog: A website where short entries are usually (but not always) presented in reverse chronological order, with the newest entry first. Can be news, commentary, photos, video or any combination of the above and other items. An update to a blog is a blog post or blog entry. Blogs can also be distributed outside the website context via RSS feed.
• Check in (v.) check-in: When using a location-based social networking tool such as Four-Square, the act of sharing a location via mobile device.
• Direct Message: A personal message sent via Twitter to one of your followers. DMs differ from mentions and @ replies in that they can only be seen by the sender and recipient.
• Emoticon: A typographical cartoon or symbol generally used to indicate mood or appearance, as 🙂 and often looked at sideways. Also known as smileys.
• Facebook: The world’s most popular social media service. Users communicate with friends and other users via private and public messages. Posted profiles, photos, lists of personal interests and privacy settings are key elements.
• Google Hangout: A function within Google Plus that allow users to have live, face-to-face, multi-person video chats with chosen participants. Google Hangouts On Air are Hangouts in which the video stream displays publicly on the Google Plus profile page of the user who launched the chat. They can also be displayed on the user’s YouTube channel or website.
• Hashtag: The use of a number sign (#) in a Tweet to convey the subject a user is writing about so that it can be indexed and accessed in other users’ feeds. If someone is writing about the Super Bowl, for example, the use of #superbowl could be an appropriate hashtag. No space is used between the number sign and the accompanying search term. Hashtags are sometimes used on social networks other than Twitter, such as Instagram.
• Instagram: A social network in which users share photos they’ve taken, usually on a smartphone or other phone, with people who have chosen to follow them. Some users apply filters to Instagram images to make them appear old or otherwise stylized, and hashtags are sometimes used to help users find photos related to particular topic. Instagram photos are frequently shared onto other social networks. Facebook agreed to buy Instagram in April 2012.

…To be continued…

Vodka blogs.

I like to drink, and lots of times, I like to drink vodka. Hey, it’s Friday.

Turns out, there are lots of people that love vodka, and they love it so much, they even blog about it! Here are some blogs on the subject you either love or you hate:

• This Bottle of Vodka
• Drink Vodka, Eat Pickles, Repeat
• Vodka Infused Lemonade
• Cooking With Vodka

…Enjoy.

Will you be sipping on any vodka this weekend?

3191 Miles Apart.

Several years ago, I was watching the Martha Stewart show, and she mentioned a book called, “A Year of Mornings” about two friends who lived many miles apart. They vowed to each other that for one year, each morning, they would take a picture representative of that morning, and post it on a blog.

One of many shots from 3191 Miles Apart.

Then, they made a book out of it.

Well, that was in 2007. Since then, they’ve maintained their blog, and made another book including “3191: Evenings” and a quarterly magazine, “3191 Quarterly.”

What’s magnificent about looking at all of their pictures is that often, they are similar in color or even composure, living 3,191 miles away. Check out their page, “A Year of Sundays” to see what I mean.

Here is some more info from their blog:

Instagram to follow.

If you’re new to Instagram, and looking for someone worthwhile to follow, check out former reality TV star, gone fashion designer, and all-around awesome person, Lauren Conrad.

She finds the most clever ways to represent her personal and professional life, and I love to sit back and watch it. Here are some of my favorite ‘grams from Lauren:

Such a beautiful reception! Cheers!

I’m definitely going to hurt someone (most likely myself)…But totally worth it.

Good morning honey.

Flower arranging in flea market finds…

So, give Lauren Conrad a look—might be worth a follow!

Blog idea: Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day is Friday, is your blog going to be a part of the celebration? Over at my other blog, The Bitter Lemon, I posted a “Survival Guide” for being single on Valentine’s Day, and tomorrow, am posting a History of my Valentine’s Days.

Need more ideas? Here’s some Hearts Day inspiration I’ve stumbled across:

 

• Got any beauty tips for a Valentine’s Day date?
• Nail art that would be fitting for the day?

 

• Are there any scenes in your city that you love?
• What about romantic spots nearby?
• Or even Valentine’s Day decor.

 

• Recipes for delicious Valentine’s Day cupcakes and cookies!
• Your favorite heart-shaped candies
• Rate boxed chocolates

• Ideas for DIY Valentines!
• Valentine’s Day craft ideas

I got all of these pictures from one of my blog crush’s Instagram account, @GlitterandGrace. Visit her blog: GlitterandGrace.com, she just LOVES Valentine’s Day!

 

Need ideas?

Let’s face it—some days, there just isn’t enough on your mind to write/blog. And that’s okay. But have you ever considered utilizing a prompt?

There are several books and websites dedicated to writing prompts. Once you find one that interests you, find a prompt and get to writing!

Here are some prompts I’ve come across:

• Imagine your life is a book. In 100 words, write what’s on the back cover.
• Write about the biggest lie you’ve ever told.
• Write about something that’s bothered you this week.
• Write about a habit you find hard to break.
• I’m supposed to be getting married today, but…
• What country should fictional villains be from?
• If you got one whole day where you were both unable to feel any pain and totally indestructible, what would you do with that 24-hour time period?
• You get a set of minions for the week.
• Retell a story that you know, but this time, add monsters.

Happy writing!