Hooked on Blogging

 

Are you a blogging addict?

Blogging addicts, beware.

 You’re in good company. And the condition isn’t new. It actually started decades ago.

 The advent of the blogosphere (somewhere in the 1990s) made self-publishing accessible to the masses. For little of no cost, anyone with a computer and internet access could create a weblog, or blog, and begin publishing on any topic imaginable.

 All of a sudden, web-surfers became blog writers, hawking free subscriptions to gain coveted page clicks and advertising dollars for their daily (or weekly or monthly or whatever) entries.

 Although these changes initially to have created greater global community, another phenomenon arose. Blogging addiction quickly reached epidemic proportions. And it’s still with us.

 This diabolical disease has no known cure, and it has caused countless social isolations and physiological infirmities.

 Blogging addiction is considerably more dangerous than any known computer virus, primarily because it attacks computer users directly, rather than merely infecting their hardware or software.

NOTE: Written by this author, this copyrighted material originally appeared on another publisher’s site. That site no longer exists. This author holds all rights to this content. No republication is allowed without permission.

 

Symptoms of Blogging Addiction

 Are you a blogging addict? Countless millions face this affliction.

 How can you tell if you are addicted to blogging? The signs are simple to spot.

 First, several physiological symptoms are commonly exhibited by blogging addicts.

 

Blogging Addiction: Physiological Symptoms

 The blogging addict’s eyes may display a glossed-over appearance, often accompanied by a vacant stare. This results from constant concentration on a computer (or tablet or phone) screen, as the blogging addict peruses blog after blog after blog. The technical term for this condition is “screen suction.”

 The blogging addict’s mouth may be drier than normal. In the most severe cases, halitosis may be present. These symptoms arise from the mouth’s remaining in a closed position, as the blogging addict distances himself or herself from personal interaction with other human beings. On the isolated occasions when the blogging addict does converse in-person with others, his or her conversation generally revolves around blog subjects and cyberspace blog friends.

 The blogging addict’s hands may contain fingertip callouses from overuse of computer keys or electronic screens. The favored hand, which generally controls the blogging addict’s mouse or other cursor device, may exhibit carpal-tunnel syndrome or (in milder cases) occasional muscle spasms. These symptoms are generally caused by click/tap, after click/tap, after click/tap, as the blogging addict posts repeated blog entries and places strategic clickable blog links on innumerable other blog sites.

 The blogging addict’s spine may reveal excessive curvature, often matching the angle of the computer monitor’s screen or his or her general posture during screen times.

 The blogging addict’s gluteus maximus, or rear end, may seem to have increased in size. The region’s muscle tone may be diminished from lack of exercise.

 

Blogging Addiction: Psychological Symptoms

 Blogging addiction also exhibits several psychological symptoms, which may be more difficult to diagnose. Generally speaking, however, the blogging addict will demonstrate an overall withdrawal from interpersonal contact, social participation, and spontaneity.

 In fact, an electrical power outage, a modem mishap, or any other loss of Wi-Fi or signal, may send the blogging addict into a full-blown panic attack. Of course, the best remedy for this is to restore the all-important internet connection as soon as possible.

 Overall, however, blogging addiction presents no threat to life or limb. The most dangerous and contagious complication of blogging addiction is generally blogarrhea.

 

Beware of Blogarrhea

 What is blogarrhea? Blogarrhea is a now-epidemic condition (most often found among blogging addicts) with several symptoms. The most common manifestation is this: a constant need to express minute and inconsequential details of daily existence into the blogosphere. This expression is often accompanied by blog photographs.

 Blogging addicts may, out of interest for the general welfare, monitor their own output to avoid blogarrhea.

 In the most severe cases, a physician may prescribe Im-modem-um for blogging addicts with chronic blogarrhea. This medication seems to shut down the disorder completely, at least, for a time.

 

Daily Therapy

 Blogging addicts often benefit from daily writing exercises. If you are a blogging addict, then you need to know that the first step towards recovery is to recognize your addiction. Next, you will want to join other blogging addicts for frequent therapy. Blog prompt sites like The Meme Express and Simply Snickers are ready to help.

 

All together now:

 “Hello. My name is _______, and I am a blogging addict.”

Image/s:  Public domain image

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Is blogging worth it?

 

 Blogging is fun, but it can also be a lot of work. It starts as an adventure, especially for the creative communicator who is enthusiastic about sharing information and expertise ono a chosen topic. In time (often sooner than one might expect), the blog can actually become a burden, particularly if the blogger hasn’t counted the costs (of all kinds) and fully committed to this endeavor.

 This is true of basic blogs (from poetry to photography, from technology to tourism, from cooking to construction, from fashion to financial planning, and from hospitality to healthy living). It’s also true for video blogging, podcasting, and other platforms.

 

Is blogging worth the effort?

 Are you considering diving into blogging? Or are you pondering dusting off an existing blog, which you may have left dormant for a while?

 Maybe it’s time to ask a few probing questions.

 

Why do you want to blog?

 People blog for countless reasons, such as personal passions, profit, and professional promotion. Some folks blog to keep in touch with friends, extended family, or even fellow alumni from their alma maters. A smart first step in blogging is to find your reason for doing so, as that will boost your own motivation and creative energy.

 Hey, enthusiasm is contagious!

 

Do you have a focused interest?

 Identifying your own niche is critical to successful blogging. Be specific.

 Here’s a helpful book (available in paperback and Kindle formats): A Niche in Time: 12 tips for finding and working a writing niche.

 

Are you an expert in that area?

 Can you come up with fresh ideas that bring new value to your chosen field of blogging? And do you have enough ideas to sustain blogging? Whether you post daily or weekly or even monthly, you’ll need a pipeline of future topics. Too many blogs eventually flop, basically because their producers run out of content.

 

Do you have a following or audience?

 If so, you already have the beginnings of a reader/viewer base for your blog. If not, it may be time to begin networking towards this.

 

Can you choose a platform that fits your abilities and interest?

 Blogs tend to be do-it-yourself enterprises, unless they are professionally produced for commercial or non-profit organizations. For the rest of us, blogging requires at least basic technical expertise. This applies to written blogs, as well as video and podcast pursuits. Many bloggers build their technical skills as they go, but the successful ones begin with at least a hunger and willingness to learn.

 

Do you have the time to invest in creating. producing, and managing a blog?

 Most bloggers don’t become wealthy by blogging alone. Definitely, a few exceptions exist. But most practice blogging as a hobby or a side pursuit. Even skillfully monetized blogs may earn spottingly. Some posts prove profitable, while others may fizzle financially. To continue, the blogger will usually need other means of earning.

 Blogging really is a labor of love, proverbially speaking. It’s not usually a gold mine, but it can be a super means of expression. And it’s a great way to find one’s own voice and practice one’s area of expertise, whatever that may be.

 Image/s:  Public domain image

 

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How taxing is tax prep for freelance writers?

 

Ugh. It’s tax prep time again. (Hey, I was a literature major.) But I’m ready to dig in.

 

Paperwork can be problematic for wordsmiths.

 That sounds contradictory, but it is absolutely not. Writers tend to be creative sorts. Many of us do best with our verbal skills, even in writing. We may generate pages and pages of material on tons of topics. But when it comes to filing our taxes, we generally come up with a collective shudder.

 

We’ll do it, because we have to, but we don’t have to enjoy it.

 It’s a lot like job estimating, time-sheets, and billing. It's not why we got into this gig, even though it must be done.

 (Sure, financial and technical writers are usually great with numbers and formulas and concrete matters of tabulations and organization. But those of us who lean more towards feature writing or even poetry find tax prep considerably more challenging.)

 Here are a few steps I take to try to stave off the tax prep headache each year.

 

A tisket, a tasket. Throw them in a basket.

 Honestly, that’s how my tax prep begins. And it starts at the beginning of each brand-new year. Every little receipt (from business lunches to postage stamps, parking fees, and even reading materials) goes into a big lidded basket. (It’s actually an old picnic basket, but it fits the bill. Some of these slips amount to puny totals, but they will have to be included when my taxes are filed.

 

Scans are super for quick saves.

 A little scanner sits atop my writing desk, right next to my computer. Before cashing any check I receive, I scan it (the whole sheet, including the info side and the actual check). The same goes for any other business-related hard-copy statements or receipts, as I accumulate them.

 I save them as PDFs and drag them into that year’s tax folder on my PC.

 

Screenshots are lifesavers for self-employed pros.

Sure, freelance writers may receive official tax paperwork when we write for actual companies, even if we’re counted as contractors. We may also draw royalties from publishers, who are likely to provide annual statements we can include in our tax filings.

 But plenty of our work generally comes from a variety of news outlets, websites, and publications. That’s where screenshots enter the picture. In any given year, I might include a pile of these screen captures to support the numbers I will enter on the spreadsheet I prepare for my tax accountant.

 

• Sold a few articles via an online writing community? (Screenshot the earnings.)
• Received a stipend for teaching a writing class or workshop? (Screenshot the earnings.)
• Earned ad revenues through a website or blog? (Screenshot the earnings.)
• Collected an honorarium for presenting a lecture? (Screenshot the earnings.)
• Racked up some royaltied merchandise sales? (Screenshot the earnings.)
• Gained commissions for promoting products? (Screenshot the earnings.)
• Paid for page views on a contracted website? (You get the picture.)
• Done any writing projects pro bono? (Yes, Screenshot the timesheet.)

 NOTE: In some cases, earnings may be documented annually. Often, online publishers list them monthly or quarterly. That requires additional documentation and computation. But it still works.

 Screenshots are also handy for online orders, emails, and other tax-related documentation. As these arise, they go in the current year’s tax folder on the computer (along with the aforementioned scans).

 

The annual spreadsheet is the stuff of nightmares.

 This annual project fills me with dread. It’s usually a single Saturday in February. I clear the calendar and push back the furniture in my home office, so I can sit on the floor in a flurry of paperwork. I print out the screenshots in the year’s tax file on my PC. I sort the piles of receipts.

 Next, I set up my spreadsheet, which I create by using the previous year’s one as a template. I fill in the blanks (income and expenses).

Then I generate the totals. (And perhaps I cringe.)

 Finally, I pack the whole thing up and send it off to my accountant, who excels at picking up the pieces (including me). I know tons of freelance writers who file their own taxes without enlisting accountants. Some have become extremely adept at this. Others swear by tax prep software programs, apps, or other tools. I’m willing to shell out accounting fees, both for the expertise and the peace of mind.

 

My tax accountant is worth her weight in gold.

 She has definitely saved me dollars – and my own hide – more than a few times. She lets me know what I can and cannot claim as business expenses. She prevents me from overlooking deductions I can legally take.

 So hold the phone. I’m digging in.

Image/s: Public domain image

 

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