How to choose Blog topics.

The more I explore how the blogosphere works, the more I realize that common sense governs the ingredients in a successful blog.

1. Commitment
As I mentioned in my first post, "How Many Blogs Can One Geek Create?" it is extremely easy to create a blog. As I often histrionically lament at parties, it is not easy, however, to keep up with one's blogging. To be successful, one must commit to keeping a blog fresh.

2. Organization

Now that I have committed to the process, I am discovering that remaining organized requires some thought and effort.

2a. Frequency: Once blogging becomes a required task of doing business, it falls into the SOP pool and needs to be attended to on a regular schedule. I am too new to recommend an ideal frequency but I have read that once on the weekend, once at the beginning of the week and once on Thursday is a good routine. To date, I have only been able to take the "baby steps" of committing to my weekend blogs.

2b. Topic: Choose a topic and stick with it. I have read from several people that the most successful blogger is an expert in something. Usually they have a personal interest and maybe that interest has taken them into a field of study. They have a specialized knowledge base and the drive for discovery that grows their base. From such a treasure, a successful blog on a topic is born.

Alas, I am a multitasker of Thurber-esque proportions who harbors a strong belief that most postulates are unproveable and therefore "good enough for Jazz". I have flitted from hill to dale since before simulated multitasking was a standard methodology. It is difficult for me to choose a topic and stick with it. One day I am a farmer concerned with perfect composting technique and the next all I can think about it is the p-calculus, grid computing, caring for cats or girls.

Flights of fancy notwithstanding, as I continue to explore this blogging activity, I have discovered that, while I am loath to say what I am, I have little trouble saying what I am not. It is more likely, for instance, that I would agree to recover the crashed hard drive of Senator Al Frankin, than to agree to write an spreadsheet template for Sean Hannity. This is the kind of insight that helps me pick blog topics.

In this case, I discover emphatically that while I like low level file sector table linking, I truely loath technically supported financial fiction.

How many blogs can one geek create?

Blogging is not difficult, but it does require a commitment. Indeed, setting up this blog only took 15 minutes and that included pouring a cup of coffee. The procedure is quite simple. If you have a google account already, simply login. Go to www.blogger.com and tell it to create a blog. Choose a name, a sample template and start typing. I really is that simple.

For me, that is just the start of the story, however. I am haunted by feelings of inadequacy. I read blogs written by well read and prolific people and wonder what I think I am doing jotting these ramblings at all. I was never all that good in English class and still owe my professor a paper or two from freshman year.

On balance, however, does it really matter? The point is, blogging is easy to do and, as long as you are not expecting to win any prizes, fun as well.