Just a reminder: We'll be attending the English Writing Capstone readings on Wednesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. in Fireside Lounge. Please be sure to come and support your fellow writers.
Our final class will be Wednesday, April 24. We'll review your blogs and celebrate your continued success.
Blogs should be revised and in pristine shape by 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 25. I'll begin reviewing them for grading at that time.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Reminders
Just a reminder that we'll be meeting in VH 118 tonight at 7 p.m. to hear Scott McLanahan read. Kellie McGough and Alayssa Sarnovsky will open.
There are still some openings for conferences tomorrow if you'd like to meet with me to discuss your blog. The sign-up sheet's on my door, or just e-mail me and we'll work out a time.
Please keep polishing and updating your blogs, as needed.
There are still some openings for conferences tomorrow if you'd like to meet with me to discuss your blog. The sign-up sheet's on my door, or just e-mail me and we'll work out a time.
Please keep polishing and updating your blogs, as needed.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Tonight in Blogging: Catch Up
Now that we're back from snow storms and break and readings and more -- whew! -- we have a night of catch up. Our original presentation schedule ran through tonight, so we'll try to do as many presentations as possible this evening. Please feel free to bring snacks, sit back, and enjoy learning about all these amazing and Top 100 places in the blogospheres.
If we can complete all presentations tonight, this will be our last formal class. If not, we'll meet back here during finals week to wrap up.
From now until the end of the semester, focus on making your blog the best it can be. This includes revising posts and design elements you're not satisfied with, adding new posts if you need to catch up, linking to other blogs and adding blogs to your blog roll, etc. You should have a total of approximately 40 posts (allotting for a bit of time off, some blog-blockage, etc.).
Your grade will depend on the whole package -- complete and regular postings, quality and accuracy (factual, technical) of your posts, good and useful design, evidence of blog community, solid blog presentation, and regular class attendance and participation. If you didn't turn in your blog comparison essay last week, I'll accept it tonight and factor it into your final grade.
To get an A in the course, you should:
* Have a high-quality, strong-concept blog that shows evidence of ongoing growth and improvement in both content and design;
* Have done an excellent presentation on your Top 100 blog;
* Have attended class throughout the semester and participated in your blog community/with your blog partner;
* Completed all assignments (blog comparison essay; etc.) on time, with an emphasis on quality
* Shown evidence of community-building
As always, the concept of revision is important. Improvement from the beginning to the end of the semester counts for a lot. The blog you have now should be much better than the blog you started in January.
If you have any questions or would like to meet to talk one-on-one about your blog before the grading period, you can sign up for a conference. A sign-up sheet is on my office door (208 FOB).
Next week, we'll be attending Writers Festival events. Please meet at our regular class time in VH 118. Fiction writer Scott McClanahan will be here. His latest book is a memoir: Crapalachia.
The following week, please meet again in VH 118 for the English Writing Capstone readings and reception.
If we can complete all presentations tonight, this will be our last formal class. If not, we'll meet back here during finals week to wrap up.
From now until the end of the semester, focus on making your blog the best it can be. This includes revising posts and design elements you're not satisfied with, adding new posts if you need to catch up, linking to other blogs and adding blogs to your blog roll, etc. You should have a total of approximately 40 posts (allotting for a bit of time off, some blog-blockage, etc.).
Your grade will depend on the whole package -- complete and regular postings, quality and accuracy (factual, technical) of your posts, good and useful design, evidence of blog community, solid blog presentation, and regular class attendance and participation. If you didn't turn in your blog comparison essay last week, I'll accept it tonight and factor it into your final grade.
To get an A in the course, you should:
* Have a high-quality, strong-concept blog that shows evidence of ongoing growth and improvement in both content and design;
* Have done an excellent presentation on your Top 100 blog;
* Have attended class throughout the semester and participated in your blog community/with your blog partner;
* Completed all assignments (blog comparison essay; etc.) on time, with an emphasis on quality
* Shown evidence of community-building
As always, the concept of revision is important. Improvement from the beginning to the end of the semester counts for a lot. The blog you have now should be much better than the blog you started in January.
If you have any questions or would like to meet to talk one-on-one about your blog before the grading period, you can sign up for a conference. A sign-up sheet is on my office door (208 FOB).
Next week, we'll be attending Writers Festival events. Please meet at our regular class time in VH 118. Fiction writer Scott McClanahan will be here. His latest book is a memoir: Crapalachia.
The following week, please meet again in VH 118 for the English Writing Capstone readings and reception.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Catch Up (not Ketchup)
This week, please post once on your blog to let readers know you'll be taking a few days off. Tell them you'll be back next Thursday with new posts.
Then use your down time to write a short essay comparing and contrasting your blog to one of your favorite blogs on your blog roll.
Analyze your blog-roll blog by looking at the following things:
* What is the purpose of the blog?
* Who is the audience for the blog?
* What is the tone of the blog?
* How does the design of the blog enhance or detract from the purpose of the blog?
* What does this blogger do that you admire?
* What weakness, if any, do you find with this blog?
* How often do you visit the blog and why?
* How important is this blog to your writing life and why?
Then compare your own blog by looking at the following things:
* What is the purpose of your blog?
* Who is the audience for your blog?
* What is the tone of your blog and how is it matched to your audience?
* How does the design of your blog work with the purpose of your blog?
* What do you like most about your blog?
* What weakness do you find with your own blog?
* How important is your blog writing to your writing life and why?
Your paper should be between 3-6 pages. Bring one hard copy with you to class next week. You'll turn in your paper to me for a letter grade.
Remember we'll be meeting in VH 118 next week for the Written/Spoken reading featuring Jimmy Cvetic and Bob Ziller. I'll ask you each to blog about the reading, so come ready to take pictures, notes and ask questions during the Q&A.
Then use your down time to write a short essay comparing and contrasting your blog to one of your favorite blogs on your blog roll.
Analyze your blog-roll blog by looking at the following things:
* What is the purpose of the blog?
* Who is the audience for the blog?
* What is the tone of the blog?
* How does the design of the blog enhance or detract from the purpose of the blog?
* What does this blogger do that you admire?
* What weakness, if any, do you find with this blog?
* How often do you visit the blog and why?
* How important is this blog to your writing life and why?
Then compare your own blog by looking at the following things:
* What is the purpose of your blog?
* Who is the audience for your blog?
* What is the tone of your blog and how is it matched to your audience?
* How does the design of your blog work with the purpose of your blog?
* What do you like most about your blog?
* What weakness do you find with your own blog?
* How important is your blog writing to your writing life and why?
Your paper should be between 3-6 pages. Bring one hard copy with you to class next week. You'll turn in your paper to me for a letter grade.
Remember we'll be meeting in VH 118 next week for the Written/Spoken reading featuring Jimmy Cvetic and Bob Ziller. I'll ask you each to blog about the reading, so come ready to take pictures, notes and ask questions during the Q&A.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Next Week: Written/Spoken Series Featuring Stephen Ramey
Next week, we'll be meeting in VH 118 for the Written/Spoken Series. The reading begins at 7 p.m. Stephen Ramey is our guest writer. Visit his blog, Ramey Writes to learn more about Stephen (and the art of author-blogging). Audrey Antolovich, the author of the Suburban Hoofbeats blog, will open. Audrey will be reading fiction. Here are more details from the official press release:
*********
*********
Stephen Ramey, Author
of “Glass Animals,” Opens Spring Series
Stephen
Ramey, author of the just-released short story collection, “Glass Animals,”
opens the Spring season of Pitt-Greensburg’s Written/Spoken Series on
Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in Village Hall 118. The reading is free and open
to the public.
Senior English Writing major and
fiction writer Audrey Antolovich will open.
Ramey is an acclaimed author of
contemporary and speculative fiction. “Glass Animals” (Pure Slush Books, 2013)
is his first full-length collection.
Kristine Ong Muslim, author of the
flash-fiction collection “We Bury the Landscape,” called “Glass Animals” an “intimate look at a matador’s passion and pain, a bus
driver’s brush with mortality, a jilted lover’s dilemma, a disfigured man who
inhales his salvation, and a young man hounded by glass animals in a pool.
Ramey takes on the richness of his characters’ emotional and physical torment
and delivers something morbidly fascinating and keen. A great first collection!”
Ramey’s stories have been published in dozens of literary
journals, including “Microliterature” and “Daily Science Fiction.” He is the co-editor of the fiction
anthologies “Triangulation: Steel Cities” (forthcoming 2013) and
“Triangulation: Last Contact” (2010), as well as the sole editor of “Triangulation:
Morning After” (2012).
He also edits “trapeze,” a twitter-based magazine, and blogs
at Ramey Writes (www.stephenvramey.com). He is an
advocate and economic-development activist in his hometown, New Castle, Pa.
Antolovich will graduate from Pitt-Greensburg this Spring
with a major in English Writing and a minor in English Literature. She’s
currently completing a chapbook-length collection of short stories for her
English Writing Capstone project. Her work has been published in “Pendulum”
magazine. She blogs about trying to live the rural life in the suburbs at
SuburbanHoofbeats.blogspot.com.
Written/Spoken is Pitt-Greensburg’s monthly community reading
series. The series brings local and nationally-known poets and writers to
campus for readings and workshops.
The series is sponsored by the university’s writing program
and is free and open to the public. All readings begin at 7 p.m. in Village
Hall. Book signings and receptions follow all events.
For more information about the series, contact Lori Jakiela,
associate professor of English, at 724-836-7481 or e-mail loj@pitt.edu.
###
Breaking Blogger's Block: How to Keep Going When The Muse Leaves Town
It's normal to go a little blank when you have to blog all the time. Here are some tips to help jumpstart your blog when it stalls (or when the muse skips town):
Breaking Blogger’s Block
1.
Lists –
People love them. They’re fun and provide great opportunities for graphic
elements. Starting with a number gives
your post a ready-made shape. Top 10
lists; 5 Reasons I Love Something; 3 Things That Make Me Itch
2.
Odd Things – This can be a list post or an
individual odd trivia fact you’ve found. People love odd things. (See “News of
the Weird” as an example)
3.
How-To Posts – People love to learn how to do
things (check out eHow, for instance).
Be sure your instructions are complete, easy to follow, and voice-driven.
4.
Reviews – This is a great way to connect your
blog to other communities and to be a good citizen of the blogospheres. You can
review just about anything: products,
books, movies (I know, Kyle), music, recipes, TV shows, art shows, etc. Be sure
your post is fresh, voice-driven, and – this is really important – that you
have an opinion and you clearly state it. It’s probably not useful to spend
time trashing things, by the way. Choosing things you love is a better way to
spend your (and your readers’) time.
5.
Photo – Post a photo related to your blog topic.
Caption it, or not. It depends. Post = done.
6.
Linking Post – A post that includes links to
other great blogs and articles related to your blog topic. Gathering these can
take a little time, but the payoff is big. Readers like these. And by driving
traffic to other sites, you can drive traffic back to yours. Remember, though,
to always write a brief synopsis or an explanation for why you’re linking. You
don’t want people to depend only on the link. They may find that they like the
linked site better than yours. Make your site useful and engaging, always.
7.
Current Events – Your blog isn’t in a bubble and
neither are you (at least I hope you’ll never be). Be curious about what’s
happening in the world, especially things that are related to your blog topic.
By matching your blog posts to the news, you make your blog timely and
essential.
8.
Tips – People love ideas about how to do things
cheaper, faster, better. Offer some.
9.
Do a Recommends list – So you’re off to a
deserted island. What are you taking with you? What can’t you live without?
Recommend products, books, music, etc.
Be sure your recommendations are related to your blog theme.
10.
Interviews – Interview an expert or prominent
figure related to your blog topic, then post the interview. These are great and
can be very easy to do. (Check out the blog How A Poem Happens for examples of
e-mail interviews with consistent questions.) And your interview subject is, of course,
bound to read the post. Then he’ll tell two friends, she’ll tell two friends,
and so on and so on.
11.
Have a Contest – People love to win stuff. Enuf
said. Be sure to promote your contest
everywhere – Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, your blog of course.
12.
Podcast/Vlog – Do an audio post or a video post.
People like to see other people. Your
readers will like to see and hear you.
13.
Quote-ables (the put-it-on-your-fridge post) –
Find quotes or memes about your subject that move you and post these on your blog. Be
sure to cite your source. (Brevity editor and author Dinty Moore recently
compiled quotes about writing into a new book. A book that came from a blog =
blook. J)
14.
Your Turn Posts – Post a subject (ideally one
your readers will feel passionate about). Then ask your readers to post their
thoughts.
15.
Guest Blogs – We’ve tried this already. And you
can do it again. Just remember to edit guest blog posts as if they were your
own. Your blog is your blog. No matter what, you’re responsible for the content
that’s posted there.
16.
Point/Counterpoint – You can do this in several
ways. You can imitate Stephen Colbert (“Formidable Opponent”) and face off with
yourself. Or you can bring in someone who has a strong opposing view and ask
that person to post along with you. Either way, conflict draws readers. Costco Magazine, a huge corporate
publication, has a standing feature that uses this approach. It’s one of the
most popular features in the magazine.
17.
Answer or Expand on Readers’ Questions and
Comments – Go through your comments sections. Find some comments that stick out
to you or seem worthy of more attention. Devote a post to this.
18.
Animals – People love them. A picture of an animal
that is in any way related to your topic will make readers happy.
19. Proximity/Place -- Zoom in on a place and write a post
that would help readers (either tourists or natives) enjoy their time there.
Think of this as a mini-travel writing post. Relate your place-based writing to
your blog theme, of course.
20.
Look to Other Blogs – Remember those blogs you’ve
been adding to your blog roll. Go visit. Find some posts that really do it for
you, then imitate these using your own voice and content.
Tonight in Blogging: February 20
Tonight, Colin will discuss what makes Threat Level a Time Best-Blog pick. We'll review guest blogging and discuss your roles as editors of your guest blogs.
We'll have a stimulating PowerPoint lecture on how to avoid Blog Block (writer's block for bloggers). We'll talk about how you can use trending and reviews to draw readers to your blog.
We'll visit each other's blogs and talk about the progress we see. We'll work on our editing skills. And we'll examine our evolving blogs for visual appeal.
A Note About Next Week:
We won't be in class. Instead, we'll meet in VH 118 for this semester's first Written/Spoken series reading featuring Stephen Ramey and Audrey Antolovich. I'll ask each of you to write a relevant post about the reading/event for the following week. I'll also be available for conferences between 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday if you'd like to stop by and talk about your blog.
Assignments:
Choose from the list of blog ideas we covered in class. Vary your five posts this week by applying one of these ideas each day. One day you'll have a list post, the next day you'll have a how-to post, and so on.
Work with your blog partner and respond to each other's blogs.
Blog Pairings:
Kramer and Kyle
SuJahn and Caitlin
Alexandria and Taylor
Attend the Written/Spoken series and write a post about it.
We'll have a stimulating PowerPoint lecture on how to avoid Blog Block (writer's block for bloggers). We'll talk about how you can use trending and reviews to draw readers to your blog.
We'll visit each other's blogs and talk about the progress we see. We'll work on our editing skills. And we'll examine our evolving blogs for visual appeal.
A Note About Next Week:
We won't be in class. Instead, we'll meet in VH 118 for this semester's first Written/Spoken series reading featuring Stephen Ramey and Audrey Antolovich. I'll ask each of you to write a relevant post about the reading/event for the following week. I'll also be available for conferences between 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday if you'd like to stop by and talk about your blog.
Assignments:
Choose from the list of blog ideas we covered in class. Vary your five posts this week by applying one of these ideas each day. One day you'll have a list post, the next day you'll have a how-to post, and so on.
Work with your blog partner and respond to each other's blogs.
Blog Pairings:
Kramer and Kyle
SuJahn and Caitlin
Alexandria and Taylor
Amanda and Whitly and Colin
Kelsey and Michelle
Kelsey and Michelle
Attend the Written/Spoken series and write a post about it.
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