BlogWritingCourse

Those who are new to blogging have probably come across either the term ‘meme’, or a meme itself, and been clueless as to just exactly what they have encountered.  When people talk about memes, they can be referring to quite a variety of things, but in terms of blogging, it usually has to do with some sort of list.  It could be a list of questions, a list of favorites, or a list of prompts that people can respond to. 

Memes are usually quite viral (another one of those strange computer terms that means it spreads quickly across the net.)  When someone sees a meme that they particularly enjoyed on a blog, they might decide to use the same meme on their own blog.  They might tweak a little for their own use, as well.  In fact, just like in the game “telephone,” a meme that travels across the world wide web might only vaguely resemble the original meme by the time it has made its journey.  And memes also can come in the form of a blogging “chain letter.”  When one blogger posts a meme, they will often “tag” several other bloggers with the task of continuing the meme on their own blogs.

Popular memes on the web have included Five Things I Own, A Thousand Words, 7 Weird Things about Me, and Works for Me Wednesday.  Each one requires participation from the blogger, who uses the meme to express an opinion or reveal something about himself or herself.

Memes have a variety of reasons that they appeal to the blogger. 

1. They can inspire.  When your writing juices have dried up, and you are clueless where your next post is going to come from, a meme might provide just the jumpstart you need.
2. They can help draw traffic. If you create a particularly clever meme, don’t be surprised when people will crawl out of the woodwork to not only copy your meme, but link back to your site, which naturally will increase your blog stats.
3. They can get your readers involved.  Comments are like catnip to bloggers.  They are addictive.  So when your meme gets even your lurkiest readers to come forward and have their say, you are usually already planning your next one!
4. They show off your personality.  A meme is the perfect opportunity to let your readers see who you really are.  They let you throw off all your winter bundling and show off your naked assets, so to speak.  Memes have a way of bringing out our impetuous side, and face it - - that is just plain fun.

The great news is that just about anything can inspire a meme.  The most random visit to a person’s blog might get your meme-ing juices flowing before you even know what has hit you.  For instance, Diane over at Universal Preschool, recently wrote a fun blog post about “Fun With Scarves.”  In the article she outlines a variety of creative ways to create educational experiences with this one single item of clothing.  In my opinion, this post is a meme waiting to happen.  A blogger would do well to link to Diane’s post, and then tag their readers with the task of picking their top three favorites out of her suggestions, and then adding three more of their own ideas to the list.  If you really want to have fun, you can add a creative title to the meme, such as “Scarfing Up Some Fun”, and there you go…instant meme-age.  With very little effort, you have taken a random subject and turned it into the next big thing to hit the net.  But whether or not meme-ing brings you your 15 minutes of fame, it will definitely bring a little life to your blog, and a little fun to your writing!

I’m one of those people who don’t do anything until I am either required or inspired. Deadlines are my best friend.  So are new ideas.  I didn’t start up a blog until I was asked to take a blog writing course.  Once I had taken the course, I was definitely inspired to blog. 

But inspiration only goes so far, and then you need a jumpstart again.  For me, that comes from reading other blogs.  Some bloggers just “get it.”  They have this intuitive sense of what readers want to see when they come to their site, and they just make it happen.  I am in awe of those folks.  The talent and dedication they put forth in their blog definitely inspires me.

One blog I have recently discovered that has it all together is thepioneerwoman.com. 

How do I describe the Pioneer Woman?  Hmm.  First of all, it’s just scrumptious to look at.  The design in itself is something to drool over.  It’s laid out perfectly, with navigation out the wazoo, and photos to direct you to every aspect of the site.  But beyond the visual and practical, this blog is pure escapism.  If you’ve ever vegged out to an episode of The Bachelor, Lost, or CSI, you understand the draw of drifting into another world for an hour or so.  This is the premise of the Pioneer Woman. 

For those of us stuck indefinitely in suburbia, the Pioneer Woman is our glimpse into how the “other half” lives.  And by other half, I mean, of course, those who wake up one day and find themselves married to a cattle rancher, with four children to homeschool, and cooking up fried cow nuts.  This bloggin’ gal, who might just have more readers than God, is generous enough to share her cooking tips, photography tutorials, remodeling ideas, and the fun and crazy antics of her hubby, Marlboro Man, and her four “punk” kiddos.

If you’ve been looking for something new, something fresh, something better-than-average to inspire you on in your blogging, this site may just be the ticket.

(Warning: BlogWritingCourse.com declares that visiting the PioneerWoman.com is for entertainment purposes only, and takes no responsibility for any addictive obsession you might have after entering the site!)