Talking How to blog on the KCLR 96FM arts show

A big thank you to the lovely Aisling Moore from KCLR 96 FM (Kilkenny Carlow Local Radio), the local radio station at home) who invited me to talk about blogging on Kulture Club, the stations's Arts and Culture show. The show airs tonight, Tuesday 19 August from 8pm.



Among the topics on blogging we discussed were:

# The definition of a blog - what it is and isn't.

I've never looked at blogging as an "online diary" where you have to impart everything you do day to day, from the clothes you wear to the food you eat to the style of your hair. Yes, there are blogs that do that, and some very well, but to a beginner I'd advise thinking of a blog as a newspaper written by you.

It's your thoughts on everything from politics to cooking, from reviews of plays to cool new videos you've found online, from current affairs to looking for advice.

Just as with a newspaper, there is no onus on you to have to talk about anything you don't want to talk about, or to feel you have to cover anything you don't feel comfortable with. The same way sports journalists rarely cover fashion advice, you can be confident in writing about what you're passionate about. People who feel the same will then share your passion.

# The "usual suspects" - who blogs?

If you can write an email, you can write a blog. Anyone can be a blogger.

Yes, there are those who consider themselves geeks who blog (and very well too), but there are so many others. From waiters to people who work in shops, from photographers to cooks, from manga enthusiasts to web designers, from singers to authors, from journalists to radio presenters, from gardeners to people who just enjoy it, there's a huge spectrum of people out there at it and a huge amount of blogs to be read.

# What do people blog about?

When Aisling asked me to read one of my posts, I wondered how we'd fit that extra hour it would take in. In the end I chose this one, but I've also talked about:

• The first time I met my biological mother
• Memories of where I grew up
  
• Studying to be a priest
  
• Being proud of who you are
• Various events I 've volunteered at
• People that I've met including PJ Gallagher, Tommy Tiernan and Pat Ingoldsby
• Amusing things I've done

where-as some of my favourite posts (that I can think of offhand) have been

• Grannymar's post about Jack
• Kate's post about her son and music
  
• Darren's post about adoption
• Lottie's post about the Catholic Church
  
• Brendan's post about driving through a flood
• Andrew's post about Zimbabwe
• Alexia's post about music concerts
• Claire's photos of baby Anna
• Damien's post about sitting room conferences

and so on. It's what I do. What should you blog about? Anything you like, anything you can think of, anything you want to share!

# How can people get started?

For personal blogs I recommend checking out www.blogger.com (like this blog) and www.wordpress.com. For those with businesses and services in the Carlow Kilkenny area, I can point you in no better direction than Mr Ken McGuire who'd be happy to help you out.

While I'm at it, check out Ross Costigan's photography, Ciara's blogging here and of course Kilkennymusic.com

I'd also highly recommend checking out Podcamp Ireland in Kilkenny on September 27. There'll certainly be people there who'd be more than happy to help you out.

As I've said if you can write an email, you can write a blog. There's nothing scary or technical, nothing too difficult and there's plenty of people who will be happy to help you out.

I look forward to reading yours. Just leave me a comment to let me know it's live.



Kulture Club is on KCLR 96 FM from 8pm tonight. You can listen live here. If you do, let me know what you think. Me mammy will be ever so proud...

Newstalk 106-108fm tomorrow: all about Memes

Thanks to Piaras, I've been invited to the Newstalk studios tomorrow from 7pm to contribute to a discussion on Culture Shock, the Arts and Culture show with host Fionn Davenport and ENN writer (and laptop destroyer) Emmet Ryan.

We'll be talking about internet memes:

The term Internet meme is a neologism used to describe a catchphrase or concept that spreads quickly from person to person via the Internet. (Wikipedia)

So, that's everything from Matt Harding to XKCD, from LOLcats to the Arte y Pico award, from tagged memes to Cowen's Downfall. It could be Sophie Merry to the success of Twitter.

Broadly, memes also cover the success of "this-is-cool-and-happening" blogs like Rick's, Jazzbiscuit and The Chancer. On a strategic level it contributes to the rise of personal brands and indeed how blogging itself could be seen to be one big meme.

That one is my personal favourite, simply the hope that sometimes, people see other blogs, they see the way they write, what they write about and think "I could do that too. I'll give it a go". I love to see it happen.

Culture Shock is on from 7pm to 9pm every Saturday evening on Newstalk 106-108FM. You can listen on the website. We'll be on in the first hour.

What are your favourites memes? Have you any examples or any links to share? Let me know :)