blogging

Writing Daily for Practice!

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NateCowlishaw

So I’ve been doing photography for 15 years, obsessively. I cannot claim to have been naturally talented with it. Quite the contrary. It took a lot of practice and being a geek with my passion. That’s what I tell people who are just starting out learning how to take better photographs. I’ve rubbed off on a few people who had no prior interest in photography but my enthusiasm encouraged them to develop their creativity. I’ve been hearing a lot about applying this same logic to writing daily to develop skill, etc.

So, I’ve revamped four blogs and started writing again. I’m utilizing the StudioPress Genesis Framework on my four WordPress installations and use Media Temple for my hosting. Yes, these blogs are self-hosted and I update the software regularly. I’m blogging as an experiment and to gain experience. Simply writing a few times a day will help me improve my ability to build rich content for my readers, if I actually get a few?

So I’ve got this little bit of curiosity about affiliate marketing and living a life of nonconformity. As a photographer, I’ve managed to live this lifestyle and survive up until now. As they say, I’ve never had the 9-5 job but I have managed to lead of life of outdoor adventure and travel, etc.

Like all things worthwhile, daily practice is essential to developing talents and honing skills down to a formula that works and gets better over time. Regarding the affiliate marketing and learning to write more creatively on a blog, I’ve stumbled across two resources that I may try pretty soon: Copyblogger & Wealthy Affiliate – But I won’t simply pull the trigger on these two learning resources until I learn a bit more about them both. I’ve learned to avoid MLM marketing and anything that has to do with a pyramid styled business.

On that final note, this isn’t about the money, or what may come financially. As a photographer, I am learning how to survive and monetize but I believe in serving others FIRST before doing anything else. I believe money or economic gain comes from building professional networks and helping real friends when they are in need, etc.

Political Pundit or Just Reminiscing?

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Is ranting on a blog going to become the bread & butter of my life? The daily interest in creating something has all-a-sudden reawakened to write and keep daily happenings on paper. I’ve taken the first uncertain step in my life and moved 45 miles away from my old hometown. This was a giant leap and it’s turns out, there’s a great existence outside of Cedar City, Utah. I’ve got big plans in the making. I’ve been a car salesman for a month now and I’m getting ready to smack the turf. Oh, and this town, St. George, has an abundance of beautiful-educated women.

I’m tempted to get political and become a pundit. They talk about developing a niche blog to build a community but I’m not so savvy on that idea? I don’t want this work to be canned and was thinking of doing exactly the opposite! Keeping it canned is what killed my creativity before. I don’t want to be afraid of stepping on toes and earning a few enemies.

Blogging appeals to me because I love writing. My first blog back in 2003 was a MovableType installation. WordPress is simpler without so many nuts and bolts. I miss the complexities of MT for sentimental reasons when blogging was such a new concept and Facebook hadn’t seen the light-of-day.

Oh how the world has changed in ten years, and the web as  become the new social media reality. Now we are looking at revolutions in the Middle East sparked by Twitter. We can blog about corruption in government and pig-like politicians. We can venture out as citizen journalists, as well as pundits. Isn’t that sweet!