Blogivation

My name is Mark Rivard, I’m a professional artist out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  I run my personal blog which is “Life Happens, The Mark Rivard Blog,” as well as my professional site, Mark Rivard Skateboard Art.

Life Happens actually started out of pure frustration from trying to remain true to myself as an artist while maintaining a professional career.  I think it was my Mother who suggested I lay off the F-words in some of my writings, and in some situations I agreed with that, but at the same time that was how I wrote and that was the truth of who I am so I didn’t want to conform my writing.  I try everyday to stay true to being an “Artist Of Truth”, and part of that is being able to express yourself with no reservations.  Life Happens is where I go to write about the uncensored part of my life.  The phrase “Life Happens” came about from one of those nights where most people would prefer never mentioned again.  That’s where I’m different.  I’ll tell that story with no shame.  It was following a break up (Of course, that’s where all the good writing and art stems from.), I was out getting hammered and drowning sorrows with my friends when one of them decided it a good idea to start filming the shit show.  The next morning I saw the footage and watched myself holding a large glass of wine spouting off how LIFE HAPPENS!!!  YOU HAVE TO MOVE ON!!!  It was this same spirit, and generally honest attitude through the thick and thin that inspired the blog.  Here’s sample of the Life Happens introductory post…

“It was recently brought to my attention that there may just be a larger amount of people that follow my online presence. Some of which are family, some of which are friends, some of which are strangers to me, and some of which don’t always like my choice of language or the way I express myself artistically. I understand this. I am coming to terms with the fact that I live a public life and through outlets like Facebook, Myspace, and my own website, Mark Rivard Skateboard Art, I am living with very little privacy in my life. I chose this. I like it this way, I am who I am and I say the word fuck a lot. I am also a respectful person, personally I see no issue in the use of profanity, our language is beautifully intricate and expressive and I say we all use it to its full potential. However I can still respect that not everyone agrees with me and sometimes those people are people that have helped me in getting to where I am today. The word fuck, is one of the most versatile words I can think of. Along with dude, can you think of any other word that is that flexible and usable in almost any situation?

Diya:

“What ultimately prompted me to start my own fashion blog was when I noticed that there was a huge absence of fashion blogs by people in the science & technology field. With the vast majority of the fashion blogs written by fashion/art/design students, musicians, stylists and photographers, there was almost a hidden implication that science people shouldn’t or don’t care about looking fashionable.”

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Joanna Penn:

“I started blogging because I had just finished my first book, How to Enjoy Your Job, and I realized I had no one to buy it. I learned very fast that marketing a book starts with a central place online and decided a blog was a good place to start.”

(Read More)

Derek Benson:

“Suddenly I was much more appealing. I got more visitors. My page was featured in Parents Magazine in their Dads Hall of Fame article. I was there next to Barack Obama, Jack Black and Adam Sandler. I hope one day that my work inspires those guys to make something of themselves.”

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Wendy Lundgren:

“I was so tired of getting asked these questions and people thinking that vegan meant everything you could eat would taste like cardboard. Well I wanted to prove them all wrong and show them how yummy and healthy being vegan could be.”

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Mike Bertolino:

“I also blog because it sharpens my writing skills. Being a Psychology major, I do a lot more reading than writing, even as I get into upper level classes. So to have that once or twice a week (depending on how motivated I feel) to write and put something out there has been really go for me.”

(Read More)

Corvida Raven:

“I started blogging because I had a desire to do something and didn’t know what to do. I had co-administrated a few message boards. I ran a few livejournal communities and I shared a lot of the tech tips I came across within these personal and private communities. It just seemed best to take it further.”

(Read More)

Linsey Knerl:

“I started blogging as a way to keep busy when my husband lost his job, and I had a new baby. When I figured out there was a business behind it, I went full force into applying for blogging gigs. I wrote for corporate sites doing blog posts and articles…”

(Read More)

Who are you?

Leo: I’m Leo Babauta, a blogger and minimalist.

What blogs do you do?

Leo: I’m best known for Zen Habits and mnmlist.com, and I’m the author of the best-selling book, The Power of Less .

What is the meaning behind/How did you come up with the name of you blogs?

Leo: Zen Habits simply brought together two of the key principles behind the changes I’d been making in my life: live simply and in the moment, and change habits slowly.

What motivations drove you to start blogging?

Leo: I wanted to share what I was learning, in hopes that it would help others. Blogging also became a way for me to reflect on my life.

What motivations keep you blogging today?

Leo: I absolutely love it. It’s incredibly rewarding to share my ideas and findings with the world, and to connect with others passionate about the same things. I never thought it possible for my life’s work to be this fun.

What future projects are you working on?

Leo: Right now I’ve been focusing on my next book, called “focus”. It’s online, uncopyrighted, in draft form: http://focusmanifesto.com. I’m having a blast creating it, and the response so far has been extremely positive and encouraging. After that, who knows what I’ll choose to work on next? Certainly not me.

Which blogger inspires you the most?

Leo: Oh, there are too many to name. I’ve been getting more and more into thoughtful, carefully written blogs, often with longer pieces. Some inspirations include: Maciej Ceglowski and Mandy Brown and Chris O’Byrne.

What are some of your favorite blogs to read and watch?

Leo: Again, so many good ones! I’ll name a few but if you’re not on here, that just means I didn’t have the space or you didn’t roll off my typing fingers first:

* Shareable
* Bobulate
* Derek Sivers
* The Mindfulist
* Joe Posnanski
* The Minimal List
* Lifehacker
* Unclutterer
* The 99 Percent
* Rowdy Kittens
* New Urban Habitat
* Marco Arment
* SF Streetsblog

Name one thing that you have learned from blogging?

Leo: I’ve learned everything about myself — blogging is a mirror that you hold up to yourself, and let the world see as well. Of the many things I’ve learned about myself, I’ve loved most the discovery of slowness, and its absolute perfection.

What randomness would you like to share with the world?

Leo: Whatever you do today, try doing less of it, and doing it slower. It’ll make it that much better.

Who are you?

I’m Amy. An Eighteen year-old dreamer with a love for short story reading, ballet dancing, Wes Anderson films, tea drinking,photography, and discovering the meaning of the universe. I live in to super hot Arizona desert cooling off with sips of iced tea from juice glasses with octopus’s on them. I play Regina Spektor songs and Erik Satie pieces on my beautiful piano, singing to myself when no one’s listening.

What blogs do you do?

My personal blog is Amour Et Chocolat. I also have a tumblr by the same name.

What is the meaning behind/How did you come up with the name of you blogs?

Well, originally my blog was called “My Pointe Of View” as a sort of play on the word “pointe” referencing pointe shoes and my love for ballet, but earlier this year I decided that I grew out of my almost two-year-old title and renamed the blog “Amour Et Chocolat”. I actually gave my readers a vote it was between “Amour Et Chocolat” and “Blue Jay Way” (“Blue Jay Way” being the title of my favorite Beatles Song). Amour Et Chocolat’s meaning has less to do with yummy chocolate (although I do love chocolate) and more to do with my love of Joanne Harris’s novel “Chocolat” and my love for literature in general. So in English: Love and Chocolat.

What motivations drove you to start blogging/vlogging?

Originally I began blogging as a creative outlet whilst on a hiatus from ballet due to a foot surgery. I used it to voice my opinions on various interests of mine, and as an outlet for my restlessness. It has turned into so much more over the years though.

What motivations keep you blogging today?

The community first and foremost. In addition to having this amazing tool for complete creative freedom on my hands I have a portal to another world, the blogging world. I’ve met so many wonderful people through this medium. Friends even. Like minded people that send each other packages via snail mail and have late night conversations together. It’s really an awesome community.

What future projects are you workings on?

Right now Aren, Shelby, Kait and I have an idea for a group blog in the works. It will be a place for us to share information about our favorite authors and books.

Which blogger inspires you the most?

I don’t think I could choose just one. I’ve come to know so many wonderfully inspiring bloggers over the years. But Aren, Shelby, Kait are most definitely my go-to bloggers for inspiration.

8.What are some of your favorite blogs to read and watch?

Of course those three beautiful girls I just mentioned! I’m also a huge fan of John and Hank Green of Vlogbrothers, The Dapper Kid , It Ain’t Meat Babe, Inside The Cabinet Of Wonder, and From Lina.

Name one thing that you have learned from blogging?

Only one? Well I’ve learned that what you have to say does matter, maybe not to anyone else, but to you for sure! And that through blogging, even if no one reads it, you can say whatever it is that needs to be said, and you’d be surprised who all is interested in hearing your voice!

What randomness would you like to share with the world?

I’m in the process of folding one-thousand paper cranes. I am not Greek (contrary to popular belief). I am a flexitarian. I don’t drink coffee. I am a complete and total geek at heart. I love lazy Sundays.

Amy

Photographs ©Amy and Amour Et Chocolat 2010 All Rights Reserved.  Used With Written Permission.

Who are you?

I’m a work-at-home, homeschooling Mom of 4 (soon to be 5) who lives on a small hobby farm with my husband. I blog and freelance for private and corporate sites, and have done a little magazine work.

What blogs do you do?

Lille Punkin’ Reviews (a family review blog since 2007)

The Freelance Farmer (my new blog on hobby farming and freelance writing)

I also blog for WiseBread.com, and I’m their community manager

You can see all my work at Knerl Enterprises

What is the meaning behind/How did you come up with the name of you blogs?

Like many people, I’m just struck with inspiration. Usually in the shower. For my own blogs, I’ll have an “a-ha” moment similar to how I get post or articles ideas. Of course, I have no say for the blogs that I regularly write for that are not my own

What motivations drove you to start blogging/vlogging?

I started blogging as a way to keep busy when my husband lost his job, and I had a new baby. When I figured out there was a business behind it, I went full force into applying for blogging gigs. I wrote for corporate sites doing blog posts and articles (The Learning Annex, American Greetings, etc.) while I built up my own blogs and helped grow WiseBread.com

I’m motivated by money, sure. But then there are those days when I really want to communicate something important, and blogging is the best way possible!

What motivations keep you blogging today?

I keep blogging now, because it’s part of my full-time professional writing business. About 30% of what I earn is blogging income. The rest is consulting, more traditional “copy” writing, and social media/community management fees. I recently started another personal blog because I missed that element of my day. You can’t write for everyone else all the time.

What future projects are you workings on?

In addition to my newest blog “The Freelance Farmer,” I’m basically waiting around to have another baby! (That’s not exactly true.. I rarely “wait” for anything.) I’m still working with some of the same clients that have been wonderful to work with in the past, including Tom’s Guide, Red Plum, and My Life Scoop. I’m also working on some speaking opportunities, but of course, they have to be “new baby” friendly

Which blogger inspires you the most?

I am totally awe-inspired by those that can open up in their blogs in a personal way and not care what other people think. Arianne from “To Think Is To Create“  says the most beautiful, truthful things. She writes in a way that I don’t think I could ever.

What are some of your favorite blogs to read and watch?

Out of necessity, I follow over 300+ personal finance blogs for my community position at WiseBread.com. This means I have MANY favorites. I really like those that I stumble across that have nothing to do with work or money. I love blogs on organizing, cooking, and crafting — even though I don’t do much of that stuff. It just makes me feel good to know that there are so many talented people out there sharing — not keeping all the good stuff to themselves! Some super-duper ones:

Mom Advice

Being Frugal

Stuff Christians Like

Cake Wrecks

Sometimes you just need a laugh, too

Name one thing that you have learned from blogging?

The rules change all the time, but some things will always be true (like good content trumps everything else, and you can always delete stuff you wish you never said.) Just remember, there are screen shots and cached pages. Double-check your posts, and then check them again!

What randomness would you like to share with the world?

Blogging helps me clear my head (even if I’m working on a boring piece on credit card rates) and allows me to have some “me” time. When I’m writing, I imagine I look like a zombie… but my family is used to it by now.

Who are you?

I’m Corvida Raven, a Social Media Architect if you will. I am a walking energy of passion for writing, researching, analyzing, and sharing the things I produce and discover using technology.

What blogs do you do?

SheGeeks.net is where I share my usual social media and mobile findings. I co-blog with Chris Miller for EverythingTwitter. And of course I have a Posterous blog and Tumblelog.

What is the meaning behind/How did you come up with the name of you blogs?

SheGeeks represents my passion for technology and learning complicated things. It embodies what I wanted people to think about me when they read my posts. Plus, it’s pretty easy to remember and read.

What motivations drove you to start blogging/vlogging?

I started blogging because I had a desire to do something and didn’t know what to do. I had co-administrated a few message boards. I ran a few livejournal communities and I shared a lot of the tech tips I came across within these personal and private communities. It just seemed best to take it further. With a little encouragement, I took the plunge and started blogging on a consistent basis.

What motivations keep you bloggingg today?

The people I meet keep me blogging today. Their support, love, and encouragement refuse to let me stop. It gets hard, but people let me know everyday how much I am or have helped them through my blog. I’m becoming an entrepreneur and some big opportunities are coming along. I keep blogging because it’s helping me create a better life for myself and the world.

What future projects are you workings on?

I can’t say right now

Which blogger inspires you the most?

Bloggers don’t inspire me, people do. Some blog, some tweet, some don’t do either one. I’m inspired by the people who have taken the time to make our communities better with or without my help.

What are some of your favorite blogs to read and watch?

I keep up with the tech industry usuals, but I like to visit design blogs and music blogs a lot. Design to Inspire and Habitually Chic are some of my favorites in Interior Design. Concrete Loop is my favorite music blog right now.

Name one thing that you have learned from blogging?

Anything is possible.

What randomness would you like to share with the world?

If you believe it, then you can achieve it.

-Corvida Raven.

The reason I blog would be null and void without me talking about why I started reading blogs. The first blog I read was Engadget,where the addiction first started. That led to Lifehacker, which was the perfect gateway for me to start reading HackCollege. By the time I started reading HackCollege regularly (as well as plethora of other blogs) I was in college. This was also when Kelly Sutton put out a call for writers.

I applied, for some reason, I don’t really remember why. I knew the job wasn’t going to be paid or that I would get internet fame overnight, but I knew that it would be cool to contribute to the internet through the best way I knew how, blogging.

I had been following the HackCollege show when it was on the Revision3 Beta network a little while back. I was really entertained by the show and when they sent out a call for writers I knew it was a no lose situation. Looking back on it now, it was all win.

How did I win? Maybe it was the chance to go to Vegas and wear a press pass for CES or reviewing gadgets just like the uber-nerds I idolized in high school. The honest truth here is that I’m happy with the time I’m spending as a blogger.

I also blog because it sharpens my writing skills. Being a Psychology major, I do a lot more reading than writing, even as I get into upper level classes. So to have that once or twice a week (depending on how motivated I feel) to write and put something out there has been really go for me. Whether it’s with HackCollege or another blog in the future I’m going to try and write for as long as possible.

When I started blogging for HackCollege, I would have never guessed how many opportunities I would have had while working with the guys there. It has been an awesome ride and I look forward to what we’ll be able to create in the future.

Hello blogger world, I’m Wendy and I’m a shy 19 year old who loves photography, clothes, food, and animals. I blog about yummy vegan food on my blog Vegan Goodies, which is my second blog. I entered the blogging world with my blog Raindrops on Roses on which I blog about my life and sometimes about things I wear. I started Vegan Goodies mainly because of this question, and I’m sure all you fellow vegans out there know what I’m talking about, “You’re vegan?! But what do you eat??” Followed then by, “Can you eat anything besides lettuce?” or “What do you do for protein?” I was so tired of getting asked these questions and people thinking that vegan meant everything you could eat would taste like cardboard. Well I wanted to prove them all wrong and show them how yummy and healthy being vegan could be. Also I am the only vegan amongst my friends and  family and so I am constantly trying to show them how great vegan food can be and that you really don’t need to eat meat or dairy products.

My mom wanted to raise me and my brother up as healthy as possible and so I was raised vegan, but then a few years back I got so tired of eating differently from all my friends and not being able to eat chocolate, that I started eating everything (but meat) and I loved it.

To this day my favorite food has got to be Gouda cheese. But I got a little older (and a lot more unhealthy) and the main reason, that I became painfully and undeniably aware of the brutal mistreating and torture of the animals that are used to produce things such as dairy and eggs, and of course meat, that I couldn’t eat those things anymore and decided I would become a vegan again and this time for good.

At first it was very difficult to stop eating all those things, and I thought that eating vegan again would be really hard and sort of bland and boring. But then I got a passion for vegan cooking and baking and discovering the many new and delicious foods and substitutes that were available, and how much more creative in my cooking I could be. I discovered many new food combos and how artistic food can be when it’s alive and colorful and not dead and bloody, covered in cheese, or super processed. And also, once I got into the habit of reading labels I realized how many things are actually vegan anyway.

(like most dark chocolate, woo hoo chocolate!)

And being vegan/vegetarian is the most green thing you can do, even if everyone in the world stopped driving their gas eating cars or saving electricity and water, it wouldn’t even compare to if we all went vegetarian.

And so cooking and baking vegan food has become a passion of mine and I hope to one day attend a vegan culinary school so I can keep learning about food possibilities and help broaden people’s culinary horizons.

Joanna Penn is the author of 3 books, blogger at www.TheCreativePenn.com and a speaker on web 2.0 marketing for writers and authors. She is also the creator of the Free Author 2.0 Blueprint: Using web 2.0 to write, publish, sell and market your books.

I started blogging because I had just finished my first book, How to Enjoy Your Job, and I realized I had no one to buy it. I learned very fast that marketing a book starts with a central place online and decided a blog was a good place to start. I read a lot of books about internet marketing and spent about 9 months researching and testing things out before I started my third blog, The Creative Penn. The site is aimed at people interested in Writing, Publishing Options and Internet marketing for books and author-entrepreneurs, but it has definitely evolved over the last 16 months.

My primary reasons for blogging now are:

• Personal branding, platform building and book sales. A blog has to have a person behind it and I try to share my own writing journey with what I learn as well as interesting and helpful information for people who are on a similar path.  I also have 3 books now and am writing my first novel so I am building an audience for my books by blogging online. I use video, audio and text posts to get information across. I also sell my books plus online courses for authors, include “How to blog for authors and writers“.

• Learning and development, for my audience and myself. I started podcasting on the blog as a way to interview people and learn from them. I have over 45 interviews now with bestselling authors, technical specialists and marketing experts which are also available on iTunes.

• Blogging is part of who I am now and it’s fun! The other two reasons were expected and could be considered calculated.  But this was surprising to me! Within about 6 months of starting the blog, I was part of a community online withother authors and people in the publishing industry. Having a popular blog has given me credibility and boosted my web presence but now I define myself as a blogger. I am passionate about the benefits of blogging and how rewarding it can be! The bloggers in the writing community are now becoming friends, and most of them I may never meet in person. What a wonderful networked world!

-Joanna

I’m Derek Benson. I make art for video games. In 2008 I started drawing things on my kids’ lunch bags, and the daily practice was doing me some good. I started keeping a record of it by photographing each one. Later I started posting them online.

The kids like it, and all of us will sit down and draw on the next day’s lunch bags. Often I’ll start a drawing and one of the kids will inform me that I’m doing it wrong. I’ll hand it off and let them finish. The result is always interesting.

There are some unfair gender politics with this. I began the page with nothing about myself; just drawings. Readers assumed I was a mother doing this, not a father. Many of the comments they left were angry and dismissive:

“I bet the maid did this.”

“Spend more time on the lunch and less on the bag.”

“Must be nice to have so much free time. I bet she neglects the kids when they’re at home.”

I left a little more information: that I was a dad, and that I did them during lunch. Suddenly I was much more appealing. I got more visitors. My page was featured in ParentsMagazine in their “Dads Hall of Fame” article. I was there next to Barack Obama, Jack Black and Adam Sandler. I hope one day that my work inspires those guys to make something of themselves.

This isn’t a new idea. I’ve found older web pages just like mine, with the kids grown too big for lunch bags. Other artists are doing it right now, too. If they write me, I always plug their stuff on my page. Send me your stuff. Let’s form a cult.