Posts Tagged ‘participation’

Nearly every blogger out there has experienced writer’s block. Sometimes you have so  many ideas that you can’t get them down on paper(so to speak) fast enough.

Other times, it feels like you’re struggling just to come up with your first sentence.

What I want to know is what you do when you have a bad case of writer’s block. Do you have any tips or tricks to shake loose an idea? Do you simply give yourself permission not to write? How do you handle it?

I want you to go forth and think on it, then share your thoughts in a post, and on Friday, come back and add a direct link to your post.

See you then!

Oh StumbleUpon.com, you awesome provider of distraction, and enabler of procrastination….I think I love you.

So what is StumbleUpon? It’s kind of a database of sites that are rated by users, and then when you hit the Stumble button, you are sent to one of those sites.  You can also list your preferences, and see sites in certain categories. This also lets StumbleUpon to select from “like-minded Stumblers” when deciding what site to send you off towards. For more explanation, check out their about page.

If you’re interested in signing up, go to this page and register, or go to the main site and click the “Connect with Facebook” button (which only works if you already have a facebook.com account, just FYI) .

So you download your little toolbar and off you go! Your stumble button gives you a random site, and then you can give it a thumbs up (or down..or nothing!), share it on various sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc), view what other people thought of it, or leave a review!

This next part is actually my favorite. Say you’re reading a really awesome blog post. The kind that’s too good not to share. Just hit your little thumbs up button, and if it hasn’t been discovered already, you can add it to the StumbleUpon database! (Sidenote: It’s considered bad manners to only give Thumbs Up to your own content. But I bet you guys could have figured that out!)

It’s a really great tool, not just for discovering new content and info, but also for sharing things you’ve found, and encouraging fellow bloggers.

So give it a try! And come back and leave a link to your profile in the comments. We would love to see what you are loving:)

(And if you are interested, you can find me there as ThePsychobabble)

Twitter

I know a good chunk of you already use twitter. I know this because I harass follow you, and you follow me and we’re a happy family, with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you, won’t you say you…er, sorry. Acid flashbacks.

Anywho…Twitter. It’s a like a micro-blog. You have 140 characters to share your thoughts, feelings and emotions. To connect, inspire, amuse and infuriate. That can be kind of intimidating. Until you realize that people are tweeting things like:
“I had poptarts for lunch!”
and
“I’m tweeting from my TOILET!”

But be not afraid, my dear ones, for you see, I am merely a few seventy followers away from the random number I pulled from you-know-where magical number that will bestow upon me the title of Social Media Guru!
So CLEARLY I am qualified to help you navigate the sea of random thoughts, profound quotes and spam that is twitter!

Today’s lesson will be brief.
How to Be A Twit
If you are already on twitter, this is where you get to skip to the end.

Go here

Fill in your desired name. HINT choose wisely. Use your blog’s name, or your normal screen name (i.e. Mine is @thepsychobabble, because that’s the name I use EVERYWHERE!) I prefer to use just one name all over teh internetz. It solidifies my reputation for people to know I’m the same here, here, here, and everywhere else. Plus, I totally feel important when I google myself then. Moving on….

After you’ve signed up and signed in, head over to the Settings link at the top of your screen. Once you’re under settings, go ahead and select Profile. This is where you build your, well, profile. Go ahead and put in your fake name and pretend location (or do like I did and say “Bring it stalkers!” and use your real info. I know. I’m a moron rebel)
Upload your photo while you’re here, too. (Almost done for today, I swear)

Then follow this link here, and hit the follow button.

THEN (last step, I promise!) come back here, and leave a comment with your new twitter ID, so we can find you amongst the sea of tweeple.

Whew. Who knew being a Social! Media! Guru! who’s only qualification is having both a twitter AND a facebook account was such hard work??

Share your twitter ID in the comments! Also, does anyone know the pay rate for Social! Media! Guru! ? Because I think I’m getting shafted here.