Blog Mentors
Hello!
Welcome to the first post of this working blog. Although things are clearly only just beginning, I’m still getting used to the whole idea of a blog space as it is. There are so many questions that I have going into this that I’m trying to figure out; what is it all about? Who is it for? Why am I writing this in the first place?
I think that with questions like this, it’s generally hard to come up with the answers all on your own and have them be completely solid, because I know that I don’t have any of the answers myself. I’m not the first person to create a blog like this and I know that I certainly won’t be the last, so why should I figure it all out on my own?
That’s where “they” come in: blog mentors!
Blog mentors aren’t as specific or crazy as you might be thinking. In fact, they’re quite simple: two other blogs I’ve found with similar content that this one here will have over time. So, here we go!
#1: Goins, Writer
Written by a self-described best-selling author of five different books, Jeff Goins’ blog is centered around creative work, writing, and life itself. In his About Me section of his blog, he shares his various accolades and outlines his passions and reasonings for his blog-- he also makes his sense of voice/writing style apparent right from the get-go. Someone that knows what they’re talking about, means business, and wants to share their work.
One of Goins’ main points that appear throughout his blog is that you do not need to be starving in order to be an artist and “share your best work.” In fact, he discourages the term itself! This is a philosophy that I like myself because it’s a weird stereotype that has always existed around any kind of creative space.
I mean, ask an English major how their last Thanksgiving dinner career talk went, and I’m sure they’ll tell you the starving artist trope is alive and well in their family’s eyes.
With all of that being said, a few things I like about this blog are pretty basic-- he writes with an authoritative “no nonsense” voice without sounding too out of touch or demeaning. He comes across as knowing his field and having experience, and that’s important for the purpose of his blog and audience that he is aiming for.
The general aesthetic of the blog reminds me of those that center around businesses themselves. It seems very professional, which I’m sure is what Goins was going after.
#2: The Houseplant Journal
Ha! I bet I surprised you with this one, huh?
Although this blog isn’t centered around writing, it is centered around learning and sharing those experiences with their audience, which is something that I am trying to do with my own. Again, my blog is going to be talking about what I have (and am currently) learning about in the weeks before I graduate, and is directed at any other stressed out soon-to-be-grads.
Anyway, according to the writer, Darryl Cheng, this blog is about how to be a good plant parent and ensuring the best quality of life for both the plant owner and the plant itself. He gives his experience in his about section as well, citing his blog’s beginnings and how it has grown since then.
Overall, the blog is neat and appealing to look at. Each of his posts have titles with subheadings and the date they were posted, so it’s easy and fun to navigate around as you go through the site.
The overall color palette is something I really enjoy. Plants are generally pretty colorful, which lets the images stand out on the white background of the blog. The accent colors are subdued and calming, too.
If this blog was about plant care instead of writing, just know that this blog would be my idol.
