how to blog

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by tony pierce, 110

1. write every day.

2. if you think youre a good writer, write twice a day.

3. dont be afraid to do anything. infact if youre afraid of something, do it. then do it again. and again.

4. cuss like a sailor.

5. dont tell your mom, your work, your friends, the people you want to date, or the people you want to work for about your blog. if they find out and you’d rather they didnt read it, ask them nicely to grant you your privacy.

6. have comments. dont be upset if no one writes in your comments for a long time. eventually they’ll write in there. if people start acting mean in your comments, ask them to stop, they probably will.

7. have an email address clearly displayed on your blog. sometimes people want to tell you that you rock in private.

8. dont worry very much about the design of your blog. image is a fakeout.

9. use Blogger. it’s easy, it’s free; and because they are owned by Google, your blog will get spidered better, you will show up in more search results, and more people will end up at your blog. besides, all the other blogging software & alternatives pretty much suck.

10. use spellcheck unless youre completely totally keeping it real. but even then you might want to use it if you think you wrote something really good.

11. say exactly what you want to say no matter what it looks like on the screen. then say something else. then keep going. and when youre done, re-read it, and edit it and hit publish and forget about it.

12. link like crazy. link anyone who links you, link your favorites, link your friends. dont be a prude. linking is what seperates bloggers from apes. and especially link if you’re trying to prove a point and someone else said it first. it lends credibility even if youre full of shit.

13. if you havent written about sex, religion, and politics in a week youre probably playing it too safe, which means you probably fucked up on #5, in which case start a second blog and keep your big mouth shut about it this time.

14. remember: nobody cares which N*Sync member you are, what State you are, which Party of Five kid you are, or which Weezer song you are. the second you put one of those things on your blog you need to delete your blog and try out for the marching band. similarilly, nobody gives a shit what the weather is like in your town, nobody wants you to change their cursor into a butterfly, nobody wants to vote on whether your blog is hot or not, and nobody gives a rat ass what song youre listening to. write something Real for you, about you, every day.

15. dont be afraid if you think something has been said before. it has. and better. big whoop. say it anyway using your own words as honestly as you can. just let it out.

16. get Site Meter and make it available for everyone to see. if you’re embarrassed that not a lot of people are clicking over to your page, dont be embarrassed by the number, be embarrassed that you actually give a crap about hits to your masterwork. it really is just a blog. and hits really dont mean anything. you want Site Meter, though, to see who is linking you so you can thank them and so you can link them back. similarilly, use Technorati, but dont obsess. write.

17. people like pictures. use them. save them to your own server. or use Blogger’s free service. if you dont know how to do it, learn. also get a Buzznet account. several things will happen once you start blogging, one of them is you will learn new things. thats a good thing.

18. before you hit Save as Draft or Publish Post, select all and copy your masterpiece. you are using a computer and the internet, shit can happen. no need to lose a good post.

19. push the envelope in what youre writing about and how youre saying it. be more and more honest. get to the root of things. start at the root of things and get deeper. dig. think out loud. keep typing. keep going. eventually you’ll find a little treasure chest. every time you blog this can happen if you let it.

20. change your style. mimic people. write beautiful lies. dream in public. kiss and tell. finger and tell. cry scream fight sing fuck and dont be afraid to be funny. the easiest thing to do is whine when you write. dont be lazy. audblog at least once a week.

21. write open letters. make lists. call people out on their bullshit. lead by example. invent and reinvent yourself. start by writing about what happened to you today. for example today i told a hot girl how wonderfully hot she is.

22. when in doubt review something. theres not enough reviews on blogs. review a movie you just saw, a tv show, a cd, a kiss you just got, a restaurant, a hike you just took, anything.

23. constantly write about the town that you live in.

24. out yourself. tell your secrets. you can always delete them later.

25. dont use your real name. dont write about your work unless you dont care about getting fired.

26. dont be afraid to come across as an asswipe. own your asswipeness.

27. nobody likes poems. dont put your poems on your blog. not even if theyre incredible. especially if theyre incredible. odds are theyre not incredible. bad poems are funny sometimes though, so fine, put your dumb poems on there. whatever.

28. tell us about your friends.

29. dont apologize about not blogging. nobody cares. just start blogging again.

30. read tons of blogs and leave nice comments.

if you’re going to ripoff/mimic/be inspired by one blogger make it raymi, shes perfect.

274 thoughts on “how to blog”

  6. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://futurballa.blogspot.com/2004_06_13_futurballa_archive.html#108748498267340248″>Blogrules</a>
    Excerpt: Tony Pierce of Busblog has a list of rules for Bloggers. While most of what Tony writes can be of questionable veracity, his analysis is usually spot on. And this list rocks!
    Blog name: Futurballa Blog

  9. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.mysinglemomlife.com/blog/archives/000646.php”>I was going to go lay down</a>
    Excerpt: and rest my back again but then I decided that I don’t want to. I just won’t do any cleaning of shit today. I slightly over did it yesterday. But there’s a reason for that. See, I could smell this…
    Blog name: My Single Mom Life

  10. OK, I copied that shit and stuck it right there next to my monitor. We agree on that Raymi thing. If I wasn’t so bald and flat chested I probably would ripoff/mimic her. I’ll just have to settle for being inspired. k

  11. dear oz,
    but i like to write about i’m listening to at that very moment <em>sometimes</em>. it reflects my mood, my inspiration; it gives you a window into my ears, and a key to my heart. though right now i’m not listening to anything which means i just woke up and haven’t thought about clicking over to kexp.com to hear whats pumping. but see that should show you how special your blog is to me that one the very first things i did this morning was click right over to it to see what’s new. and if ever you want to share with the blogiverse what’s playing on your stereo/ computer, i’d think that was cool.
    🙂

  13. loving it…
    too late about the name and letting family know, though.
    question: how do you get people to start reading your stuff?
    (pleeeeeease don´t say “build it and they will come”!!!)
    cheerio

  15. q. how do you get people to start reading your blog
    a. it will start with your friends, if they have blogs they will link to you and talk about you, and it will spread that way.
    if you dont have any friends who blog, eventually you will find yourself in a circle of blog-friends who will link to you and vice-versa and it will start that way.

  17. Excellent advice. There are three I think I should be doing, including one for lack of balls.
    And, the first four lines of #20 are pure truth. They clicked in my head after reading the busblog only a couple times a long time ago.

  18. Tony, I love your list but I think you are partly wrong on #14. I love it when people tell me what they are listening to so I can see what the deal is. Word of mouth on new bands. Like Tsar for instance. 😉

  19. i’ll accept posts about new bands, or mentions of bands, but
    <i>wearing: a&f wifebeater
    listening to: incubus “evenflow”</i>
    is unnecessary in my opinion

  22. Thanks for writing this, Tony. There are so many immature people out there who need to know what a post should look like, and how to write. Blogging is so much about learning to express yourself better, every day. Thanks for the great instructions (and the kick to get us started).

  26. tony, i’ve been trying like hell for a week to get raymi in a box to send down to you. So far i’ve been in the hospital twice and i think i’m pregnant too.
    I know i promised raymi but..
    i think its easier to come get you and bring you to raymi.
    if you see a very large bald guy trying to sneak up behind you, please don’t run. Raymi broke my leg.
    🙂

  37. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://sandiegoblog.com/archives/2004/06/17/blog-advice/”>Blog Advice</a>
    Excerpt: By Tony Pierce, who is crude but inspires me. The best advice is this one:
    dont apologize about not blogging. nobody cares. just start blogging again.
    Amen.
    Blog name: San Diego Blog

  38. Ric,
    thats a good point. commenting is a very good thing to do to get people to know that you are alive and have a blog.
    miss montreal,
    regardless what you read on here, i miss you too.

  39. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.umarsiddiqi.com/index.php?p=33″>how (not) to blog</a>
    Excerpt: since I have been talking about blogs lately, here is another one.
    Tony Pierce has jotted down certain do’s and dont’s of blogging. The list is interesting but not applicable to everyone. Some of the points that I want to comment on are as foll…
    Blog name: Umar Siddiqi

  47. kissing my ass is one thing
    agreeing with me is very different
    if you read my comments you will see that people arent afraid to disagree with me.
    look no further than the posts below this one to see my point.
    plus whats the point of kissing my ass, it’s not like i have anything to offer anyone who does it.

  49. i never get tired of it.
    but then, i never get tired of people being shitheads either. i’m easy going.
    i think there was something about a girl fight up there..
    where and when. i will charge my camera batteries.

  52. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://simonworld.mu.nu/archives/032588.php”>Enemablog</a>
    Excerpt: It is time again to look at the week that was around the blog-o-planet. My desperate bid for traffic finally hit pay-dirt this week. Firstly a link from Michele, then from Sgt. Hook of Operation Shoe Fly has seen the Sitemeter spinning off the charts. …
    Blog name: Simon World

  53. having people disagree with you and writing to prove them wrong makes for good material.
    i’m glad people disagree with tony. and i’m glad tony writes for us. twice a day sometimes.

  54. franny, you ever think that maybe people say nice things because they’re thinking nice things?
    Last link to him on my blog referred to him “spitting on graves” as I put it.
    He’s a killer writer though and about the only person I can think of who can write a post like this without sounding stupid. It made me want to write, not just blogging but any kind of writing.
    But, doubt the truth if you feel like it. It’s never the truth who looks stupid.

  57. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://threebedtwobath.blogspot.com/2004/06/again-tony-pierce-gets-it-right.html”>Again Tony Pierce gets it right</a>
    Excerpt: This will never be as personal a blog as Tony’s, but every movement needs its Thomas Paine.
    Blog name: Three Bed Two Bath

  58. I think you need to add one:
    “Don’t post lyrics without comment. People don’t know the tune and don’t care to read lyrics on your blog that they can look up elsewhere.”

  60. Oh, great. Just what we need.
    Bullet-point inspiration for another generation of insipid hair blogs. “I fucking hate my hair. My dog barfed today. I love Sonic Youth, but only the stuff up to Daydream Nation, the rest is shit except for that new one. I think these new shoes are so bitchin.” Yawn.
    OTOH, Tony, you put it eloquently, succinctly, and entertainingly – it’s instruction and inspiration enough for anyone doing it now to do it better, and for anyone still not on the vast blog barge steaming down the river of clues and keystrokes to climb the fuck aboard. Thank you.
    Oh, and you’re linked now at LAVoice.org.
    Shameless plug for my other blog, HEAVY LITTLE OBJECTS: http://factoid.lavoice.org/heavy

  62. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://jerolson.blogspot.com/2004/06/never-saw-monkey-on-monkey-bars-im.html”>Never saw a monkey on the monkey-bars</a>
    Excerpt: …Then he said, yeah, I gotta get going, I have to go steal some pretty girl souls with this camera. I think he was kidding because he was nice enough to leave me some notes about blogging scribbled on his napkin before he left. I put the napkin in …
    Blog name: WAFOS

  64. this is awesome. great advice to those starting out, and a great reminder to those of us who have been doing it for a little while now.
    i need to follow rule #18 more often. half the time i forget, and that’s always when i’ve just written something i really dig.
    anyway. good job.

  70. 31. don’t use capital letters. this complete disregard for the shift key will reveal to the world your true rebellious nature.
    32. tell people what to do as often as possible, as they are probably unable to think for themselves…this is especially applicable if most of your readers are girls between the ages of 15 and 21.
    33. if you have no original thoughts, nudity is an acceptable substitute. the internet needs more jerk off fodder- that especially applies to readers finding themselves on number 60-something of a comment sheet.
    34. all blogging software besides blogger is evil- especially livejournal. content is no longer the most important aspect of a good blog, it must first be powered by the software of my choice.
    35. when your comment is this far down a list, you should copy and paste it into your blog. that way you will look as self-riteous as possible to as many people as possible.
    36. monkeys really draw a crowd. get a monkey to write your blog if possible.
    37. a three-day drug binge is sometimes the only way (assuming you channel burroughs) to arrive, via stream-of-conciousness, on the correct tangent.
    38. logic is the enemy. no, wait, livejournal is the enemy. ok, the enemy list is still 1. livejournal 2. logic 3. clothing.
    39. 4. the shift key.
    40. all good lists end at 40, even if you have to tack on nonsensical jibberjabber to make it so.

  72. there are already so many ridiculous “how to blog” lists out there, I wasn’t expecting much. But as I started to read your list I realized that this was no ordinary list. By the middle, I was captivated. By the end I had fallen in love with you, you creative-genius i love you.

  73. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://nip.blogs.com/patent/2004/06/a_must_read_for.html”>A must read for bloggers….</a>
    Excerpt: Via a June 17th Tech Law Advisor post, a link to another blog on “How to Blog.” An interesting, extremely honest discussion of what to do, what not to do (applies more for a personal blog than a business/professional one).
    Blog name: Necessity’s Progeny — Nipper’s Patent Law Blog

  75. don’t blog about politics. keep it strictly sex and religion. if you have to blog about politics, please don’t blog about whatever was on CNN that day. or the presidential race. unless it relates to sex and/or religion.
    i thought we’d get more people self promoting on this comment thread. cuz what the world need’s now is a little more self promotion.
    read my blog. my blog is the best. no capitalization, lots of stuff on religion, pictures, and i freely rip off tony’s style when i think i can make it work. if can’t, i don’t. if you can’t, you shouldn’t.
    also, please don’t blog about your boring day job and how much you hate it.

  77. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://nofancyname.blogspot.com/2004_06_01_nofancyname_archive.html#108829430002399202″>tony pierce’s “how to blog”</a>
    Excerpt: Of the 30 items in Tony Pierce’s How to Blog list, I’ve broken a few “rules”, not adhered to a few “rules” and generally don’t feel too bad about either. Here are a few that I like, or have broken, or just don’t feel I need to do:
    Blog name: No Fancy Name

  78. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.hideouskinky.net/2004/06/three_minute_sex.html”>three minute sex</a>
    Excerpt: “and it’s a story that might bore you, but you don’t have to read it…”
    Blog name: hideous kinky

  79. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://3sth3r.blogspot.com/2004/06/oh-what-tangled-web-we-weave.html”>Oh, what a tangled web we weave …</a>
    Excerpt: I read an interesting blog about “Love American Style”, which led me to “No no no .. you’re doing it all wrong” which then took me to “How to blog”.
    Blog name: Life in Pretoria, or is that Tswane

  81. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.iampariah.com/blog/archives/000403.html”>How To Blog</a>
    Excerpt: Tony Pierce has a very interesting (if contentious) post about how to blog. Most of his list is right on…
    Blog name: Blog

  83. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.misanthropic-tendencies.com/archives/000150.html”>how to blog. by tony pierce.</a>
    Excerpt: i just recenty discovered tony pierce, and just now during my lunch hour discovered this entry. it’s his rules for blogging. i have to say i agree with some and don’t agree with others. read it, see what you do…
    Blog name: misanthropic tendencies

  84. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.magicianb.com/archives/2004/07/how_to_blog_by.html”>How To Blog by Tony Pierce</a>
    Excerpt: A great article on how to blog. Man I’ve definitely reached nerdom. Anyway, it has some great rules on how to make a blog that people might care about and actually read. Basically it says, be yourself, say whatever comes…
    Blog name: Mind Poop

  88. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.legalunderground.com/2004/09/online_introduc.html”>Online Introductions</a>
    Excerpt: Dennis Kennedy of DennisKennedy.blog, meet Tony Pierce of busblog. Why the introduction? Not long ago, Dennis announced a change on his weblog–he said readers should “watch for more frequent references to songs and long lists of my favorite songs.” …
    Blog name: Notes from the (Legal) Underground

  90. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://elisson1.blogspot.com/2004/09/share-your-big-fat-brain-with-world.html”>SHARE YOUR BIG FAT BRAIN WITH THE WORLD</a>
    Excerpt: Tony Pierce has a heap of useful guidelines in his post on “How to Blog.” You may not agree with all of Tony’s blogging philosophy, but he gives great blog…
    Blog name: Blog D’Elisson

  91. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.unnoticed.org/index.php?p=222″>i’m guilty of all.</a>
    Excerpt: how to blog.
    13. if you havent written about sex, religion, and politics in a week youre probably playing it too safe, which means you probably fucked up on #5, in which case start a second blog and keep your big mouth shut about it this time.
    14…
    Blog name: unnoticed.org

  95. Great post. Right on the money across the board.
    Except for one thing.
    Raymi? I checked it out. Self-indulgent crap, top to bottom.
    Sorry if you are secretly she, or if you know her or whatever. But, hey. Truth’s Truth, and there ain’t no dodging it no how no way.
    mr strauss

  98. I think you should keep a link to this on your front page for ETERINITY.
    I still find myself checking it periodically to remind myself of what I shoudl be doing, not of what I am doing.

  101. I love your blog. And your article and book have inspired me (like so many others, apparently) to clog the www with yet another blog. Hopefully a few of them will be mildly entertaining. Thanks for the advice and for pouring out… well… for pouring out whatever it is you pour out in the busblog.

  104. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://matt.lightwind.org/blog/archives/2005/01/how_to_blog.php”>how to blog</a>
    Excerpt: i just nabbed a signed copy of how to blog, by tony pierce. its getting shipped today, so i’ll review it in the next few weeks to try to drum him up some sales. unless it sucks. but i doubt…
    Blog name: matt at lightwind

  112. My blog has improved significantly because of this entry. I now write everyday and people have said that my style has become much more interesting and well written. Whenever I feel like I am going to be writing about some lame mundane details or have nothing to write about, I go to this entry for ideas and look at your other posts for examples. Thank you

  113. thank you and youre welcome.
    why do i tell people what book im reading instead of what song im listening to? because i think people should read more books and talk about them.
    we’re doing fine with music.

  117. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://orugachan.blogspot.com/2005/02/cmo-bloguear.html”>Cómo bloguear</a>
    Excerpt: Traducción mía, no te fíes…
    1. Escribe cada día.
    2. Si piensas que eres buen escritor, escribe dos veces al día.
    3. No tengas miedo de hacer algo. De hecho, si tienes miedo de hacer algo, hazlo. Luego hazlo otra vez. Y otra vez.
    4…
    Blog name: La broma más bonita del mundo

  118. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://solifeis.blogspot.com/2005/02/inspiration.html”>Inspiration</a>
    Excerpt: My inspiration for blogging is from this awesome blog by Tony Pierce. I recommend it to anyone…
    Blog name: So Life is…

  119. Tony — your rules (most of them) could be rules for writing anything … for being a writer. Awesome rules and a timely, knock-upside-the-head reminder for me. Thanks.
    ps. my website is a WIP — I’m four weeks into a beginners webdesign class. So no judgements, please…
    pps. Good luck with the bloggies (think that’s how I ended up here)

  124. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://narkoleptik.blogspot.com/2005/02/how-to-blog.html”>How to Blog</a>
    Excerpt: Yeah right, like I\’d know anything about that! Fortunately this article by Tony Pierce covers it pretty damn well.
    Blog name: Narkoleptomania

  125. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.mahix2.com/crew/archives/000228.php”>How To Blog</a>
    Excerpt: Here\’s the deal, I put up this blog fully expecting all of the people who said they wanted priveleges to bend over and do nothing. I was more or less right, although it seems that there will be spurts of…
    Blog name: Crew Blog

  127. Who could you, my new blogspiration be? I adore this post. I wish to somehow link it to my own blog someday when I’m awake enough and something interesting has just happened to me. Or actually, just when I’m more awake, cuz the interesting stuff is pretty much few and far between.

  128. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://tomphillips.me.uk/?p=7″>\”How to blog\”</a>
    Excerpt: I\’ve been looking at various blogs online tying to find some that look interesting, and did find one that was quite funny. I also came across this this evening, \”how to blog\”. I think it\’s a pretty damn good article about how you \”shou…
    Blog name: Tom\’s Blog

  130. This is an excellent article; though it does play mostly to a certain style of personal diary blog, there’s a good bit of gold in here, and I’m certainly glad I read it. It’s good to remember that, as professional as most quality bloggers would like to sound, blogging is very much a distinct medium from its published predecessors (newspaper columns, &c.), and is both posessive and deserving of its own distinct style.
    -Skritch, maestro of the run-on sentence.

  132. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://thundercake.com/kurtis/?p=3″>how to blog by tony pierce</a>
    Excerpt: In an effort to get me to write more, and help inform you of the greatest blogging tips of all time, here is the best post of 2004:
    how to blog by tony pierce, 1101. write every day.2. if you think youre a good writer, write twice a day.3. dont …
    Blog name: Idiosyncratic Routine

  134. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.dantewoo.com/blog/archives/2005/0315_own_your_asswipeness.shtml”>own your asswipeness</a>
    Excerpt: In its limited way, perfect. – david denby, review of \”vera drake,\” new yorker…
    Blog name: dante woo / blog \\

  135. You for got one important thing:
    ME.
    That is the only reason I leave comments on anybodies blog. So people can find ME!!
    ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME
    Pretend that the font gets bigger with each ME.

  137. Its a very nice the article but I disagree on some points: first is not a good idea to leave your mail open to the public since you will get tons of SPAM, maybe in an image, a flash clip or a javascript button.
    Second, not all alternatives to Blogger sucks. Blogger is nice ’cause is simple but lacks of every kinda features sometimes we like.
    By the way, I laught a lot when I get to the #18, this is a MUST for bloggers, TRUST ME!

  140. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.bmgwebdesign.com/?p=433″>How To Blog</a>
    Excerpt: How To Blog – If you\’ve been hesitant to start blogging, or you have a blog, but are not sure what to do with it, this is a good article for you!
    …
    Blog name: bmg://theMike.blogs.here

  142. i disagree about the “nobody cares what music you listen to” part. lots of my friends give me feedback on the music i mention and vice versa.
    if there’s people out there that have similar taste in music, its your friends.

  146. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.bmgwebdesign.com/?p=438″>Why I\’m Not A Good Blogger</a>
    Excerpt: Yesterday, I posted a link in my link log entitled \”How To Blog\”. The author of this link lays it out, in no uncertain terms, how to blog. It\’s all there in plain english, 30 steps on how to make your blog a successful blog. I read through …
    Blog name: bmg://theMike.blogs.here

  148. Too late about the real name and about brother/mother/wife/some friends knowing about my blog.
    WordPad is my friend – I write in it, then Copy+Paste into Blogger. Never lost a post that way.
    I make sure I write extreme rants about politics, religion and sex (all connected to each other, of course) at least once a week.
    Agreed, pretty much on all other points, though I have done (and don’t mind others doing sometimes) #14.

  150. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.sebbi.de/archives/2005/03/18/how-to-blog/”>How to blog</a>
    Excerpt: Punkt 21:write open letters. make lists. call people out on their bullshit. lead by example. invent and reinvent yourself. start by writing about what happened to you today. for example today i told a hot girl how wonderfully hot she is.
    Eine so…
    Blog name: sebbi.de

  155. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://blog.captivereefing.com/2005/03/18/how-to-blog-effectively/”>How to Blog (effectively)</a>
    Excerpt: Tony Pierce, has written up a list of things to consider when blogging, and some actually hold some relavanence to the blog-osphere as a whole, others may seem more questionable. Anyhows here\’s my take on it.
    1. write every day.
    I try …
    Blog name: Dave\’s Ramblings

  156. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://rjcarpenter.com/2005/03/18/how-to-blog/”>\”How to Blog\”</a>
    Excerpt: There is an interesting, self-explanatory article on how to blog at busblog.
    According to him, I have made some grievous mistakes in my previous post.
    1. write every day.
    7. have an email address clearly displayed on your blog. sometim…
    Blog name: A Family Guy

  157. Great how-to; I broke a rule or two – I find it hard to write every day and I put up a poll (it was stupid but enlightening, so sue me). One thing I wanted to mention is that TypePad has worked out really well for me, and it includes a stats page right in the program which tracks hits and links.
    That is all! Carry on.

  158. I certainly agree with all of this, though I’d make some slight adjustments for technical blogs, such as:
    Don’t be afraid to show that you are bewildered by something. It’s just human. Be human.
    Pictures aren’t necessarily important for tech blogs, but the well placed screenshot can be, and diagrams can really help.
    Go back and add your own comments when you find you understand something better later – and don’t just fix it so you look like you knew it all the time, try to explain why you had it wrong and what helped you get it right.
    If somebody corrects you, thank them. Even if they are wrong.
    Be helpful. What’s the point otherwise? To show how brilliant you are? Nobody cares. Helpful is a hundred times better than brilliant. Be helpful.

  159. Ok, that is the stuff. Got this link from LifeHacker. Got inspired by LH, and this post in your blog to do it, to actually start a blog on my own.
    Thus, I have created (using no small amount of advice from this blogpost) <a href=”http://wood.box23.net”>Wood Box 23</a>, a blog about wood working, and wood turning (something of a passion of mine.)
    Now to get noticed, and watch the accolades roll in.
    …
    any time…
    accolades…
    c’mon accolades…
    hrmph.
    — Badger

  160. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://blog.endlesstrail.net/archives/2005/03/blog-stuff/20/how-to-blog/”>How to blog</a>
    Excerpt: Nuff\’ said…
    Blog name: The EndlessTrail

  162. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.sasez.com/archives/2005/03/19/lol-how-to-blog/”>LOL! How to Blog…</a>
    Excerpt: This is great! 30 rules of the road for blogging… the one that made me laugh hysterically:
    13. if you havent written about sex, religion, and politics in a week youre probably playing it too safe, which means you probably fucked up on #5, in w…
    Blog name: SasEz! Sweet Spot

  163. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://fourandforty.typepad.com/weblog/2005/03/dave_at_how_to_.html”>Habitual Hello World Introduction</a>
    Excerpt: Dave at How to Save the World published suggestions for content that blog readers desire. It\’s an easy outline to endorse, harder to balance with time, energy and intent. This isn\’t my first weblog. I\’ve generalised and explored a niche.
    Blog name: Four And Forty

  165. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.bibi.org/box/archives/blogging/how_to_blog_tips_for_bloggers_by_tony_pierce.html”>How to blog: tips for bloggers by Tony Pierce</a>
    Excerpt: Tony Pierce has some good tips for bloggers and for people that want to start a blog on How to blog. You may have heard some of those tips before, but it\’s always good to reinforce them. Try to follow \”the rules\”, but don\’t forget not to fo…
    Blog name: Bibi\’s box

  166. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://tvindy.typepad.com/tvindy/2005/03/how_to_blog.html”>How to Blog</a>
    Excerpt: Ever since I started blogging, I\’ve wanted to write a how-to guide for bloggers. I have lots of thoughts on the process, but, since I probably don\’t know any more about it than a million other bloggers, I\’m holding off
    Blog name: Tvindy

  168. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2005/03/tony_pierce_tha.html”>Tony Pierce thanks Xiaxue</a>
    Excerpt: And he explains to Xiaxue, why he used her photo (which started my \”I\’m too sexy for my blog\” conga line. He also has a great piece on How to Blog. Excerpt: yes, it\’s true that i posted your picture
    Blog name: mrbrown

  170. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://photosydney.blogspot.com/2005/03/whats-this-blogging-stuff-about.html”>What’s this blogging stuff about?</a>
    Excerpt: Some of you might be wondering where all this blogging activity suddenly sprang up from. Trine from A Doll’s House asked that question recently and it got me thinking.
    I’ve jotted down some thoughts about the reasons for this growth and some handy…
    Blog name: PhotoSydney

  171. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.michaelhanscom.com/eclecticism/2005/03/how_to_blog_ann.html”>How to Blog (Annotated)</a>
    Excerpt: Shamelessly stealing an idea from Tvindy, I\’m going to take a look at Tony Pierce\’s recently posted \’How to Blog\’ post and contribute my thoughts on his advice. Because I have no original ideas of my own.
    Blog name: eclecticism

  174. Why can’t I use my real name? I do it so that people google-ing my name will more likely get references to me. So, what, isn’t your real name Tony Pierce? (please excuse my ignorance if it isn’t as I only just got here…)
    Why can’t I tell my friends and family? I only started blogging so that I don’t have to do group e-mails updating them on life according to Jhuny. If anyone else happens on the blog, that’s a bonus.
    Why can’t I blog about my work? There aren’t enough people in my profession blogging. Besides, I quite like my work!
    Too right I’m going to break a few of these rules. The rest of the list is pretty spot on, though. Thanks for the ideas!

  175. By internet standards, this post is getting prehistoric, not to mention the comment line. Doesn’t dampen it’s relevance though.
    A pretty comprehensive guide to blogging. thanks for the kick in the teeth. I’ve been one of those inconsistant bloggers so right now I’m kicking to kick the habit… or get into the habit… of blogging, whichever.
    Not sure if someone has covered this here before but to all bloggers out there: please don’t implant your mp3s on your blog.
    cheers.

  177. i agree, &#22934;&#24618;, that a post of nearly one year of age is close to being olde but i still dont see some of my favorite blogs allowing comments on their sites.
    its probably because they have something to hide and dont want bs to be called on them as soon as they hit Publish.

  179. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://blog.thinkhub.net/2005/03/blog-whoring-a-pom-perspective/”>Blog Whoring: A POM Perspective</a>
    Excerpt: Came across Cowboy Caleb\’s and Tony Pierce\’s posts on blogging and decided that I must do one of my own. Applying theories learnt in Principles of Marketing to blogging, here\’s what a very textbook perspective of the blog whoring process would…
    Blog name: The Malady of Johnny Malkavian

  182. I know this is an old blog, but I just found your site thru my fellow blogger, mojoey.blogspot.com. I agree with many things you have said, but I still have not decided between Xanga and Blogger. I started both but I have been using Xanga. Here is an article online about blogging mistakes, http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=smhyla&tab=weblogs&uid=232450203. Anyhow, I will be glad to post a link to this blog from mine. Take care.
    PS. I am going to sign up for a blog email account like you, good idea.

  185. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.rickey.org/blog/2005/04/how_to_blog.html”>How to Blog</a>
    Excerpt: According to Alexa, rickey.org is now the 110,716th most visited site for the past week and the 279,491st for the past 3 months. That\’s a 529% jump in my rankings. Yay. So how did that happen? Well, obviously, it has
    Blog name: rickey.org

  187. lol! thx for the rules….. I will try to be more brave next time i do some blogging and write stuff out :p hehe and now i’m following one of ur rules by leaving nice comment hehe … and I link to ur page in my blog too!! I’m a good girl :p I follow the rules hehe

  193. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://explosivelaughter.blogspot.com/2005/05/hear-me-roar.html”>hear me roar</a>
    Excerpt: i might take some of the advice that tony pierce has offered on his own blog.
    “13. if you havent written about sex, religion, and politics in a week youre probably playing it too safe, which means you probably fucked up on #5, in which case st…
    Blog name: explosive laughter

  194. I have just started a blog and searching for some hot ones, i found yours. Thanks for this article. I need to write every day and twice a day. So i will do it. But i wont use your blog to promote myself (at least, no yet), so no URL.
    I will be coming by.

  195. I was dipping into the world of the blog and came across your site in the end – worthy worthy witterings – definitely the one about poems – in fact your advice helped convince me to start my own – which can be no bad thing to hear regardless of how it turns out – and however that maybe – there will be no poems god damn it.
    Spo

  196. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://aamuleipa.blogspot.com/2005/06/terrific-tutorial.html”>Terrific Tutorial</a>
    Excerpt: if you don’t have a clue what a blog is, his list will give you a perfect start. if you have been blogging for years, will put a smile on your face.
    Blog name: Aamuleipä

  198. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://towardssupernova.blogspot.com/2005/06/how-to-blog-eh.html”>How to blog, eh?</a>
    Excerpt: A classic how-to-blog post… this post just covers what i’ve been trying get out saying on the basics of blogging…
    Blog name: Towards Supernova

  202. Hello, my name is JJ. I was looking through some blogs and I think you might like a blog I am starting up. It’s called The Human Quilt. The Human Quilt has a goal of sharing the lives, expressions, emotions, memories, secrets, and desires of people across the globe. Share your story in a square. Each square tells the story of a life. I would greatly appreciate it if you take a look and give me some input. Thanks a lot. http://humanquilt.blogspot.com/

  203. Hey man
    i agree with all your points ..well researched
    But man ur point
    “27. that nobody likes poems.”
    doesnt seems to be true for my case
    i have written 4-5 on my blog ,
    probably in hindi and english both
    and my frnds and other people seem to have liked them 🙂

  204. This is really good, I know my blog needs something. After three years, it’s getting stale–unless I’m getting screwed.
    I can do better, this will help.
    Also, the butterfly cursor thing made me laugh out loud for quite a while.

  208. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.bibi.org/box/archives/blogging/where_is_the_blog_etiquette.html”>Where is the blog etiquette?</a>
    Excerpt: Hi, I’m a busy updating my links here and making some few changes. Are you a blogger? If you are a blogger, till my next post spend some time thinking about “Why am I blogging?”. Is it for fun? Are you enjoy? Are you felling depressive with this? If…
    Blog name: Bibi’s box

  209. Awesome essay. I’ve been posting online since the early days of USEnet, and while much is the same, much has also changed with the blog format.
    I’ll definitely be linking to your essay.
    jtg

  213. The one good rule is is “check your spelling.” The rest is bullshit, and in many cases, at odds with other rules.
    “dont be afraid to come across as an asswipe”
    Well, at least you follow your own rules.

  214. i never said check your spelling.
    i said “10. use spellcheck unless youre completely totally keeping it real. but even then you might want to use it if you think you wrote something really good.”
    these rules are trying to encourage people to keep it real, thus, dont spellcheck. UNLESS you think youve written some masterpiece that will get linked and quoted by people – a phenomenom that rarely happens, and far as i can tell has never happened to you.
    my advice is to read things before you put them in quotes.

  216. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://neurofern.net/2005/11/07/how-not-to-blog/”>How Not To Blog – Part I</a>
    Excerpt: I read a lot of blogs, I have my RSS reader split up into four categories, &#8216;Everyday&#8217;, blogs that I read as soon as anything is posted on there, all of the links that are listed in the sidebar are in tucked away in it. Then there&#8217;s &…
    Blog name: Neurofern

  221. I did screw up of 5, 4, 9, 13,16.. what the hell on so many of it, its painful even to count. I just deleted my blog!
    starting afresh!
    thanks a ton.
    -so1o
    PS: you’r beautiful

  222. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://couldntfindablogname.blogspot.com/2005/12/beautiful-tony-pierce.html”>the beautiful tony pierce</a>
    Excerpt: i was blogging (or so i thought) for the last what four- five years now. and i read this article on how to blog. i deleted my old blog. discontinued my hosting service. and started afresh!
    thank you tony. will you marry me?
    Blog name: No name for my blog

  224. Hi — loved your tips on blogging! I just started my own and violated some of your rules, but not the one about poetry! I did put out my name, told my friends, etc. But my point is to be who I am — out in the open! Your blog tips covered that too — so thanks for the reminder to be who I am!
    I like your style!
    Cheers,
    Heather

  227. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://www.oneafrikan.com/archives/2005/03/19/how-to-blog-contd/”>How to blog (cont.d)</a>
    Excerpt: Interesting piece on how to blog by Tony Pierce.
    Nice one
    …
    Blog name: oneafrikan.com

  228. <span style=’font-style: larger; font-weight: bold’>Trackback message</span>
    Title: <a href=”http://kvanlierop.blogspot.com/2006/04/baby-there-aint-enough-room-in-this.html”>Baby, there ain’t enough room in this world,</a>
    Excerpt: Not a fan of people tell me how to do things
    Blog name: WASHED

  231. I have to disagree on the “writing everyday” rule. I would say wait until you have something to say, then write. Writing everyday, in my opinion, lessens the impact that your content can make.
    It’s my opinion, just like my asshole, I’ve got one and I’ll share it…my opinion, not my asshole. Stay away from my asshole.
    Also can you add “Use Real words” to the rules. Don’t use U or UR that shit makes me want to strangle a midget.

  232. What can I say that others haven’t? I love your style, I started my blog because I saw yours and here I am still, no clue how to change my layout, bored of it and loving my writing. Any tips? it doesn’t matter, nobody does give them. Thank you for your advices, they are bible for me.
    Have fun and stay in touch xx

  236. I’m just getting started and got constipated on the why and how. You’re helping me cut that shit out. Looking forward to seeing what happens next, keeping your advice in heart.
    Thanks!

  241. Hey tony. I love reading this. Ive been reading it a lot for months now. I have a blog but I want to start a new one for just me and people i meet. Its not for anyone i know personally. So you said, dont use your real name… what should I use?

  246. Fantastic advice! I especially appreciate the advice in sitemeter (I was using GoStats but couldn’t see who linked me). I also like your advice to read blogs, link, and comment. I will do more of that.

  250. I wish I understood what it is that people love so much about raymi’s blog. I’m not saying it’s bad, or that mine’s particularly good, I’m just saying that to describe her as a ‘perfect’ blogger leaves me at her site thinking, ‘in what sense?’ I realise this isn’t the popular viewpoint, but don’t you find it the least bit self-indulgent? Is incoherence and lack of punctuation really that cutting edge? Granted she does speed-typed babbling far more entertaiiningly than the teenage myspace junkies, but if it wasn’t occompanied by 20 ‘me posing, again’ photos, would you even bother to read it? I know so many good bloggers who think she’s the bomb, and I just can’t see it. I like all of their blogs better. All I can assume is that she is awesome in real life and that when they read it, they see her real self in the words.

  252. Blogging is stupid. Just fucking stop. No one cares what you think about anything. Blogging is narcissistic and masturbatory. No one could possibly care about you or anything you think. Stop.

  255. wow… thanks so much for writing that …. it was entertaining and infomative. I ‘ll have to link to your blog when/if i ever get up the nerve to try it. thanks again=)

  257. I’m four years late finding this post, but it’s arrived right on time in my world. A friend sent it as encouragement to me because I just started blogging after a 2-year hiatus. Thanks for the inspiration.
    -Madeline

  263. to think… you wrote this in 2004 and you’re still getting comments after 5 years! fantastic! i need to swear more on my posts – muwahahhahaha! thank you for these awesome tips =)

  267. Is that it?&nbsp; Just blog non-stop?&nbsp; Guess I already knew the answer.&nbsp;&nbsp; I write a Sports Blog.&nbsp; I needed something to force my butt in the chair in the morning.&nbsp; Something kinda fun.&nbsp; I do about 4 a week now.&nbsp; So, I’ll start using it as a platform for my thoughts, about big corporate sports. Get crazy with it.&nbsp; I like this.&nbsp; Why not?&nbsp;&nbsp; Oh, the part about cussing, could be a problem.&nbsp; I sent off one of my blogs to the Boston Globe.&nbsp; I had to erase the word NUDE, (nude model).&nbsp; Sperm donor, that was okay?&nbsp; So what the hell.&nbsp; I’m writing under an AKA already, if you didn’t know.&nbsp; Took a look at ‘Rami the Minx.’&nbsp; It’s all there.&nbsp; Bulkowski-ish.&nbsp; She lives in relative obscurity in Canada, while Kim Kardashian rides in the Super Bowl?&nbsp; Guess that the rewards for a ‘sexy’ (?) internet romp in the sack.&nbsp; (You didn’t say anything about doing a tape.&nbsp; All I’ll need is a cheap bottle of CVS brand Vodka, talk to the lady up stairs, and a body double, and… !)

  268. My comment just deleted. &nbsp;Obvious newbie here!&nbsp;
    So, again, question is commenting back to commenters. &nbsp;How often and how. &nbsp;My blog is new so and quite specific to what I’m doing (surrogacy) and so I want people to come back but it’s crazy talk to thank people for their comments that are saying “Great post!” etc…&nbsp;

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  270. I just came back to this after first reading it in 2005.  Great stuff!  I wonder, though, if there’s anything here you’d change now, six years later.  Just curious; the Internet’s a very different place now.

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