Fw: The Premiere Blogarama Newsletter

Reposted in full below. Scrqp the horiscope. But burnout in Pgh has been huge.

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

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From: Blogarama <news@blogarama.com>

Date: 12 Apr 2010 16:55:47 -0700

To: <mark@rauterkus.com>

Subject: The Premiere Blogarama Newsletter

Welcome to the premiere issue of the Blogarama Newsletter! No matter what part of the world you live in, you are about to be moving into the changing of the seasons. For those of you who will soon be welcoming spring, you may be finding a place outdoors where you can sit with your laptop and blog away the day. If you are about to move into autumn, you may start planning some chilly days blogging by the fireplace. Wherever you are, things are going to change. Whether the month of April means spring or autumn for you, it will be a time for moving ahead and revving your blogs up to reflect the changes. The Blogarama Newsletter hopes to offer you guidance as well as a bit of fun thrown in. Our newsletter hopes to bring you some guidance as well as a bit of fun thrown in. Regular monthly sections will be "Blogging 101" and your monthly "Horoscopes". In Blogging 101, you will find tips for the new blogger. Although it is centered on someone who is new at blogging, often there will be tips that veteran bloggers will also find helpful. So be sure to give it a glance each month! There will also be a special featured article each month regarding something that bloggers will find interesting, and perhaps, helpful. This month Tips to Avoid Blogging Burnout is featured. Everyone needs a bit of fuel to keep those creative blogging juices flowing. To that end, you will find a recipe for an easy to make, delicious AND nutritious snack to keep you going while you blog! It is sincerely hoped that you will enjoy what you find within this newsletter. In addition, please feel free to offer comments and suggestions as to what you would like to see included in future issues of the Blogarama Newsletter. Blogging 101 Use your Passion The very first thing to do as a new, or beginning, blogger is to create your blog around something you are PASSIONATE about. This may also be the most important thing you do with regards to your blog's success. Everyone has something that stirs and excites them in ways that nothing else does. Find out what that is for you and base your blog around it. Chances are great that if you truly love a subject, you will know quite a bit about it just from being involved with it so avidly. Your blog is going to be about the knowledge you have gained and can share with others on your chosen topic. It will also be where you state your opinion on said topic and invite others to agree or disagree with you. When you sit down to write a blog post, you want to feel eager and excited about doing it. Again, your passion makes this possible. Stay away from things that you have heard others say is "popular" right now. Suppose new technology is what a large number of readers are flocking to read about. However, you have no interest in or knowledge of modern technology. Should you blog about it anyway just to ensure that more people visit your blog? NO, no, a thousand times NO! Consider that if something is boring to you, what you write about it will come across as boring. People will not enjoy reading something that presents itself as painfully disinteresting. Your writing is a reflection of your thoughts and feelings. If you couldn't care less about what the latest cell phone is capable of, no one reading your blog will, either. What you are going to aim for instead of writing about what "everyone wants to read about," is to create enthusiasm for YOUR topic. For example, suppose you LOVE doing a particular craft. It may not be something that others would think to search for in a blog, but you are going to write about this craft with such passion and enthusiasm, that people will find you and get caught up in your craft. Soon, people will be actively trying to LEARN your craft just because your blog is so filled with joy about it. Yes, you CAN do this! Everyone had to start somewhere. It is completely possible to create a blog about something you love and draw readers to it. Find your passion and be ready to write about it to share with others. Next month: How to Set Up Your Blog Tips to Avoid Blogging Burnout Burnout is something that all writers experience from time to time. This is true no matter how much you adore writing and blogging. It can come about due to having a schedule you want to adhere to, or a deadline you are definite about meeting. Whatever the reason is, you may have just set yourself up to develop a serious case of blogger's burnout. This can be a very limiting "disorder" because you will suddenly not have any idea what to write. Even if you are the most passionate person in the world about your particular blog topic, you will not be able to think of a single thing to write about. Though this can be very disheartening for the normally enthusiastic blogger, there is hope to move past it and be happily blogging away again. Have a look at these tips to keep your brain feeling fresh and alert: Don't set yourself up to develop blogging burnout. Make a realistic schedule. This should be one that you can stick to easily without being over worked. On occasion when you feel that you have more to say on a particular week, you can certainly sit down and write it. Just don't force yourself to stay on a schedule that stresses you. On a day when you are feeling particularly creative and the words seem to be just flowing, write until your heart's content. Then stockpile these blog posts. For many bloggers this is something that works quite well. They choose one or two days a week and write all their posts at once. This can work whether or not you are doing daily or weekly posts. Then you will have some to choose from when you're busy or when you just can't seem to find the words to write. Don't be too rigid with your schedule. Leave some flexibility for yourself to get enough rest, spend time with your family, relax, and have fun. Believe it or not, these are the very things that keep your mind working and ready to produce your thoughts when it is time. When you find yourself out of ideas to use for posting, look around for a related subject to give your thoughts on. If you have a decent following, encourage them to participate in the discussion. You may even hold a contest of some sort for your readers. If you start to feel overwhelmed with your workload, take a break. Don't let your joy become a burden. A lot of times it only takes a short break from writing to get your creative juices flowing again. Invite a guest blogger to post on your blog. This will give you some time to go on vacation or even just take a long weekend. Many times this will offer your readers a fresh take on your blogging topic. Take your laptop and work in different places. If the weather is nice, go outside to enjoy the weather. Visit your favorite coffee shop and use their Internet access to write your blog. Sometimes, just being in a new and inviting environment can work wonders. A lot of bloggers find that their favorite music keeps them feeling upbeat, relaxed, and able to write their blogs more effectively. Think about other things. Do some research on another topic that interests you. In this way, you are able to move your mind away from where it was stuck and let it open up again through something fresh and new. Last, but not least, try just getting up and doing some form of exercise. Go for a walk. Hop on the treadmill. Ride your road bike or exercise bike. A lot of people feel that this helps them clear the cobwebs from their brains and opens up more portals of information to write. So the next time that you start to feel that blogger's burnout creeping into your life, try following some of the above tips. You just might be amazed at how quickly your burnout can be cured so that you can start to write again. As time goes on, you may come up with your very own individual tips to add to the list. Keep Up Your Energy with Healthy Snacks What could be more energizing than a tasty as well as healthy snack of a Fun Snack Mix? It is easy to make, delicious, good for you, and can be placed in a bowl right by your computer to munch on as you work. Fun Snack Mix This is the perfect snack to nibble on while you work. Ingredients: 1 Cup of Diced Dried Apricots ½ Cup of Dried Cherries or Cranberries ½ Cup of Unsalted or Lightly Salted Sunflower Seeds or Roasted Almonds 1 ½ Cup of Unsalted or lightly Salted Roasted Peanuts ½ Teaspoon of Pumpkin Pie Spice 1/3 Cup of White Chocolate Chips (if desired) Put all the ingredients into a 1 gallon size plastic bag. Seal it. Then shake the bag well to mix the ingredients thoroughly. This makes 3 ½ cups or 10 1/3 cup servings, or 4 cups if white chocolate chips were added. See? It's one of the easiest recipes you will be able to find. You can whip it up in no time but spend hours enjoying it. Signs of the Times Have a look at your personal Zodiac sign below to find out what lies ahead of you this month! AQUARIUS (January 21st – February 19th): The month of April brings not only flowers and sunshine but also a new wealth of creative ideas. Use this month to catch up on procrastinations that you just should not put off any longer. Love may not be all you want it to be but you will have your moments. PISCES (February 20th – March 20th): You want to spend a lot of time with your head in the clouds this month but that is really not the best idea. New projects have a great chance for getting off the ground especially if you are considering an independent business deal. Your emotions tend to be on a roller coaster so hold on tight. ARIES (March 21st – April 20th): Understand that everything does not revolve around you. Other people have their own responsibilities as well. This month you need to pay attention to some little small voices telling you there is something you are missing. If you really focus, you will find where you are most needed. TAURUS (April 21st – May 21st): No one is more loyal than you and you will get the chance to prove that this month. Things are heading in a great direction for you in April and you need to take advantage of all opportunities that present themselves. Someone you thought had forgotten you finally makes contact. GEMINI (May 22nd – June 21st): Your communication skills are in high demand this month along with your creativity. The ideas you come up with tend to astound others. Too many new thoughts run through your head in April and it's hard to choose which ones are the best. Go with your amazing intuition. You won't be wrong. CANCER (June 22nd – July 22nd): Do what you can to curb those temperamental impulses in April. If you can't do it, you may lose out on a really important and lucrative opportunity just because you were in a bad mood. There will be many things this month to put a small smile on your face. Some of them may even make you laugh out loud. LEO (July 23rd – August 22nd): There's a lot to be said about your charisma for April. Basically, if you want it, you can have it. You are a bit like the Pied Piper as so many people tend to follow where you lead right now. Use your ability to be a people magnet to draw in those who can help you meet some personal goals more quickly. VIRGO (August 23rd – September 23rd): You have the ability to create order out of chaos when you are in the mood for it. No one is more organized than you are and others realize this. If you aren't careful, you will find yourself doing your work and that of others, too. Pay attention and don't let that happen. Focus on your own goals. LIBRA (September 24th – October 23rd): Nothing is ever just black and white. Believe it or not, there ARE shades of gray. Keep this in mind this month when you are approached by someone who wants you to think outside of the box for a new project. Listen to all of the facts and details before making your decision. SCORPIO (October 24th – November 22nd): Your magnetism is amazing during the month of April. If you want to sway someone to your way of thinking, just train those hypnotic eyes on them and there's no way they will say no. A good friend seems to need your advice on something. However, you've already warned this friend. There's nothing else you can do. SAGITTARIUS (November 23nd – December 21st): Burning the candle at both ends is not the way to move successfully through April. Even though you may feel the need to get a lot done, becoming overwhelmed is not the way to do it. Ease up on yourself a bit and you will be amazed at everything you will get accomplished. CAPRICORN (December 22nd – January 20th): April promises to be a rather productive month for you if you have your goals set. Be ready to jump on a new idea that hits you about the middle of the month. It will open some major doors for you. Friends tend to be a bit needy this month but remember that you will be rewarded for your help. Ok, that's it for this month, Bloggers! We hope that you have picked up a bit of knowledge as well as had a little fun while reading this month's newsletter. Don't forget that we welcome your comments and suggestions. Until next month, Happy Blogging!