Blog Project: Day 1; Careers in Writing: Research

Please submit or turn in your homework (story drafts and questions, see previous blog post for details) today for class credit. You can find the assignment on our Google Classroom site.

BLOG PROJECT: Setting up your very own blog

One of the most important marketing/writing skills you will need to succeed as a writer is having your own blog. Many authors have a blog where they can interact with their potential audience(s) and share the process of writing or snippets of their personal lives.

First off, many of you are probably familiar with what a blog is, but if not, here you go--some important information:

A blog is a weblog or web journal. Just like your physical writing journal, a blog can include ideas for stories, your own personal reaction to books/films/national events, etc. It can be a good place to publish your poetry, fiction, and plays before you eventually get paid for your writing. Some companies and media sources hire writers to set up and contribute to a company blog--and they pay you for it! For more info check here.

However, there's a lot to know about blogging. Check out the links below and read a little about blogs before attempting to create one.

• 5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Blogging

Here's a few sample writers blogs (with tips about being a writer)

• Sample Blog
• Sample Author Blog
• Sample blog (writing tips)

To set up your blog:

1. Go to https://www.blogger.com or https://blogspot.com. Some students like to use WordPress.com instead. I suggest blogger because you already have an RCSD Google account. For help setting up your blog if this is foreign to you, you may use this link blogger or Google's blog site. Use your student Google email address when prompted.  

NOTE: If you have already started a personal blog as a side project, or because you have already been introduced to the idea, I don't want to stop you from using your blog. Use your original blog site, but I will be asking that you write things specifically on your blog for our class. If this bothers you, start a new blog. No big deal, either way.

2. You may take a quick tour to get information about the blog site you are going to use, if interested. Otherwise, create a new account.
3. You must enter an email account (Use your student email account please.) Your email account name will be your “username”--Write your password somewhere safe where you will remember it. You will need to keep track of this.

NOTE: Please send me your blog address in the COMMENT section below.

4. Create a password, display your name, look at terms of service, etc.
5. Log onto your blog. Follow the prompts to set up your page. Write down your address/passwords, etc. Again, I can't help you if you screw this up.
6. You may provide biographical info and so on. At some point, you will need to create a NEW Post. Each new post needs a title and you should edit it before you post it.

Again, if you need help creating a blog, check out: How to Set Up a Blog on Blogger.

Once you have set up your blog and sent me the URL in the comment section of this blog post, please continue with the following assignments:

Blog Post #1. An introduction to your website. Your first blog entry should welcome your guests and explain that you are a student @ SOTA, taking a creative writing course. This is important so that people know you are a teenager. Feel free to omit (leave out) your last name. You can also use a pseudonym if you'd prefer for privacy sake.

Blog Post #2. Write a short non-fiction entry about something you feel passionate about. You can rant, rave, etc. but remember that your blog is a public forum and other people in the world can access your writing. Don't embarrass yourself. Check your spelling and language so you don't come across as ignorant or unskilled. As always, it is important for a writer to think about his/her audience. 

Blog Post #3. Watch the linked videos below and listen for each author's advice or wisdom about writing as a profession. What did you learn about the writing field from watching the short videos? What advice do you think is most important for you? What questions might you have? Remember to mention which video you are referring to when writing about what you learned. [Hint: You might copy the URL of the video and hyperlink the title when you refer to it for your readers to enjoy...]

• What does a publisher do?
• How much will I make publishing a novel?
• Walter Mosely (novelist): What Do You Have to Sacrifice to be a Writer?
• Robert McKee (screenwriter): Bad Writers Have Nothing to Say
• Isabel Allende (novelist): Writing Process

Blog Post #4:  LAB WORK/RESEARCH: Complete in class or as homework if you do not complete this by the end of class today. Select 3 of the following occupations you might be interested in or are curious about. Use the internet to find out some information on these jobs. Find out:

A. What is the job? (Describe what the job entails or involves)
B. What is the median (average) salary for the job
C. What education and/or requirements are needed to get the job.
D. Anything else you found interesting about the job.

Please record your answers on your blog. You might find it easier to take notes answering questions A-D in your physical journal, then synthesize or summarize the information you researched and write your blog post answering the questions in paragraph form. You'll need to discuss all three occupations you chose for full credit.

Finally, answer: of the 3 career choices, which one seems most interesting to you? What skills seem most important for this kind of job? Would you pursue this career as a profession? Why or why not?

Writing Careers: (choose 3 you want to know more about and research for your blog post #4): novelist, technical writer, journalist, reporter, copy editor, publisher, advertising/marketing, screenwriter/television writer, columnist, playwright, poet, lyricist (songwriter), ghostwriter, technical writer, instructional coordinator, secondary/post-secondary educator, press secretary, lawyer, communication manager, reviewer/critic, blogger, researcher, public relations, literary agent, freelance writer, travel writer, biographer, grant writer/business plan writer, media relations specialist, social media specialist, translator, comic book writer/graphic novelist, video game writer, speechwriter, comedian, historian, etc.

Blog entries will be graded as participation credit. Please complete them today. The fourth post (see below) is due by our next class.

HOMEWORK: If you did not complete any of these parts (or did not finish writing your blog posts in class today) do so by the beginning of next class. Make sure you have completed Blog Post #4 by the beginning of next class!

Also, remember to send me the URL of your newly created blog in the COMMENT section below!