In an earlier post I promised to get back to the subject of TypePad, the not-free platform for blogging. What better time than now, in the last post of the week?
I found out about TypePad, and the possibility of blogging myself, from Gretchen Rubin, referred to hereinafter as “G.R.”
G.R. is the author of The Happiness Project, a book that began as a blog. I bought it originally when my older son mentioned that G.R. had been my daughter-in-law’s roommate in law school. I do like to read things by people I am in one, two or no more than three degrees of separation from.
And The Happiness Project has now brought G.R. quite a lot of money and renown as a “happiness expert.” But whatever you think of the goal of seeking happiness in and of itself — I once had a shrink who told me sternly that “happiness is not the goal of therapy! — G.R.’s book does contain a number of useful ideas for getting your life going in the right direction if you feel you’re spinning your wheels. One of these ideas, suggested to G.R. for her own life by her literary agent, was to start a blog.
“Oh, I wouldn’t know how to do that,” I answered. “It’s too technical. I can barely figure out how to use TiVo.”
“These days, it’s pretty easy to set up a blog,” she said. “Think about it. I bet you’d really enjoy it.”
She’d planted the idea in my mind, and I decided to give it a try. Reading the research on the importance of challenge to happiness had convinced me that I should stretch myself to tackle a large, difficult goal. Not only that—if I did manage to start a blog, it would connect me with other people with similar interests, give me a source of self-expression, and allow me a way to try to convince others to start their own happiness projects….
….Then, around this time, I happened to run into two acquaintances who had blogs of their own, and together they gave me the few pieces of key advice that I needed to get started. Maybe these providential meetings were a product of cosmic harmony—-“when the student is ready, the teacher appears”—-or maybe they were examples of the efficacy of articulating my goals. Or maybe I just got lucky.
“Use TypePad,” my first adviser suggested. “That’s what I use.” She kept a blog about restaurants and recipes. “And keep it simple—-you can add features later, as you figure out what you’re doing.”
“Post every day, that’s absolutely key,” insisted my second adviser, who ran a law blog.
If this short excerpt interests you, the rest of what G.R. has to say about blogging on TypePad can be found in the section of her book captioned “Launch a Blog.” (The Happiness Blog, HarperCollins 2009, pp. 74-75. ) Which is followed by “Enjoy the Fun of Failure,” and “Ask for Help.”
As for me, I can’t figure out how to use TiVo either. Even Apple TV nearly flummoxed me.
However, as you already know, LeMasney is a WordPress guy, and I did sign up for his course. Of which there are two more sessions. So I guess I’m on WordPress for the duration.
Sorry, G.R.
The jury may still be out, though.
We’ll see.
LEARNING TO BLOG 