Today's challenge is one I am skipping for now. I've got a lot of blogs I follow, years and years worth of blogs I follow and I almost never read them. I would like to take time to weed through my list to find which are link rot, moved and can have a fresh link and find new sites which I would love to add to the list. That all takes quite a lot of time though, more than one day for sure.

So this day three of the WordPress Blogging 101 will have to be on the list of extra things to do later. I'd like to do the same for all of my sites. Actually, links I have on the two main sites need to be sorted into relevant topics which would fit on the niche sites too.

Lots of work to be done!

Blogging is a communal experience; if you didn’t want anyone to read your posts, you’d keep a private diary. Today, begin engaging with the blogging community, the first step in building an audience.

Today’s assignment: follow five new topics in the Reader and five new blogs. Why spend time reading other blogs?

Publishing posts is only half of blogging — engaging with the community is the other. Considering what other bloggers write will inspire you and sharpen your thoughts. Part of what makes blogging such a rich experience are the relationships we develop with people from around the world. Those relationships only happen when we engage with one another — just look at The Commons. Plus, reaching out to other bloggers is the best way to have them return the favor.

The first step is finding the people you want to connect with. By following topics you care about in the Reader, you’ll discover a world of blogs. Some of them will become favorite reads, and some of their authors will become your fans.

Want to share your great finds? Visit The Commons. To get you started, review our tips on using the Reader to find and follow blogs that speak to you. A few of our editors have also shared their favorite Reader topics. Add five topics, so you can access them quickly whenever you feel like doing some reading. As you browse the topics, follow five new blogs, too.

The Blogroll on The Commons is another great place to explore. There are over 1200 of you participating — you’re bound to find some new favorite reads. Scroll through the list, and click on titles that intrigue you, seem up your alley, or make you laugh. (Adding the “blogging101″ topic to your Reader is also a great way to keep up with your co-bloggers.)

If you don’t blog on WordPress.com, you can still use the Reader if you have a WordPress.com username. If not, there are other ways to explore — your blogging platform may allow you to browse, or you can visit blogs you love and check out their blogrolls and commenters’ blogs.

Feel free to publish a post in addition to completing today’s task if you’d like! Write the post that was on your mind when you decided to start a blog, or take a look at our prompts and challenges for more inspiration.

Erma Bombeck (1927-1996) was a wife, Mother and famous humour writer in the US.

I remember Erma Bombeck.

She was a newspaper columnist, a woman who shared a way of looking at life and living, telling everyone not to take it all so seriously and to actually live rather than just work your way through life. Erma Bombeck wanted women in particular, to remember to enjoy life and not worry about getting the laundry done or the oven cleaned.

How Erma Started Out

Erma lived in Ohio, married and had three children. As a child she was a great student and she loved to read, a lot. In 1940, she wrote a column for her high school newspaper. She worked as a copygirl for the Dayton Herald, newspaper, in 1942. Her first feature interview for the newspaper was with Shirley Temple when the actress was visiting town in 1943. After high school Erma continued working with the newspapers planning to attend the Ohio University. However, she didn't do well on her literary assignments, was rejected from writing for the university newspaper and was not able (for financial reasons) to return for another year at the university.

Maybe it was fate. If she had graduated from the Ohio University she may have become a reporter and never have created the career she did, as a humour writer.

What Erma Did

At the University of Dayton, Erma was inspired by Bro. Tom Price who told her "You can write." Sounds simple but this man inspired her to keep writing, even though she had been feeling discouraged. (There is an interview in the videos below where she talks about this).

Erma attended university and wrote for the student newspaper. During this time she worked at a department store and wrote for the company newsletter. She also worked part time at an advertising agency and as a public relations person for the YMCA. In 1949 she graduated and married Bill Bombeck, who had been at the same university.

Erma Bombeck Writes

You may think it was all writing from there. But, no. Her first career move was to become a Mother. One adopted child (they were told she could not have children) and then two sons were born afterwards. Those early years she was a wife and Mother first. But, she did write a series of columns for the Dayton Shopping News.

In 1964 Erma took up writing as a career again. She began with weekly columns, written in her bedroom/ home office. (In those days a home office was a desk with an old fashioned typewriter and something to sit on). From this small beginning Erma Bombeck's writing career took off. In 1965 she wrote two columns for the Dayton Herald Journal which were a hit within just weeks. Her column, "At Wit's End", was syndicated in 36 major US newspapers. In 1966 she was giving lectures and by 1967 her columns were being published in book form.

RIP Erma Bombeck

Not everyone will know who she was now. It doesn't seem like very long ago that she died, but it is actually about 18 years ago, in 1996. That's a lifetime ago for some of the young people walking and talking, even old enough to have a job, a vote and a family of their own, these days. What would Auntie Erma say to the fresh generation of people born?

Erma Bombeck Writers's Workshop

Erma Bombeck Collection

Waterproof, Washable and Antimicrobial Mice? I really don’t know why a computer mouse cover or protector is so hard to find. I don’t want to protect my mouse from harm – I want to protect myself from harm FROM the mouse. I don’t understand people who claim to be so germ conscious/ obsessed and yet they ignore simple and basic things like washing hands and cleaning up the things we handle often, like the computer mouse.

If you could see the gunk which gets under the parts of your mouse you would be far more horrified than any movie could make you. Your computer mouse can (and possible already has) make you sick.

It isn’t hard to find a keyboard cover. People think those are the bigger issue because when you eat food over them, type with messy hands and all of that, you can see the junk that falls between the keys, gets stuck to the keys and all the day to day dust.

We seem to ignore all the dirt, germs and grime which we bring to the mouse, but it gets handled as much (if not more) than the keyboard.

Be honest – do you really wash your hands before you begin using the computer mouse, every time? Of course not. I wouldn’t even believe anyone who claims otherwise.

When did you last give your computer mouse a really good cleaning?

• I'm not sure. I don't really think about it.
• Fairly recently. I clean it when I think about it.
• Fairly recently. I clean it when I notice it looks a bit dirty.
• This week sometime. I have a routine for cleaning my computer hardware.
• Today. I give it a good clean up every day or close to it.

When did you last clean your mouse? I don’t mean a quick wipe. A spray of something isn’t enough either. It needs to be cleaned, as if it were a medical instrument, because it picks up and keeps, a lot of grime, bacteria and germs of all sorts. Everything you have touched during your day you bring back on your hands and transfer to that computer mouse.

If you can’t find mouse covers (I found them difficult to locate online and did not find any in my local area stores) then regularly sanitize your mouse and keyboard. You can use a round of kitchen type cleaner and then a second round with hand sanitizer to give it a better chance at decontamination.

I've decided to go a step farther and will see if I can find something to use as a sanitary mouse cover. Possibly a surgical mask which would fit over the roundness of the mouse and leave the underside still open.

I would have liked to buy a washable mouse but they are not so available and the one I did finally find will cost as much as my current mouse but lack the features, such as being wireless and able to work well on any surface (great for when you are not at your desk).

Make Blogging Fun Again

Keeping a site up and running isn't light work. Writing, scheduling, promoting, proofreading, maintaining, updating, replying, publishing... all of that takes time and energy. Bloggers get burnt out trying to keep up with it.

What can you do to avoid burning out while still being productive with fresh inspiration to go on creating more?

• Change where you write.
• Change how you write.
• Get some sleep!
• Make writing fun (again).

If all else fails, reconsider your topic. Maybe you just don't have a blog niche which really suits you? Make a list of the things you really do love to read about, find out about and above all - what do you like to DO? Chances are something you are actively participating in will be a much better topic than something you watch from the sidelines.

Write Something Different: Interview Troubleshooting - problems with solutions Profile someone or something Quiz or polls Personal stories Quotes Conversations Explain decisions Answer questions Thank someone Round ups Goals Update old posts Q & A Follow up Checklists Trends Controversial Live blogging - report on an event Life streaming - report on yourself Video posts Promotional - talk about your ebook, etc Contests Ask questions of your readers FAQ (Frequently asked questions) Top ten list Podcast Review Editorial Rant Critique Special reports Post in a series, linked together Cheat sheet Infographic Hand drawn post Web comic Art journal Jokes Webinar Repost a discussion held on Twitter Debate Curated links Collaboration (trade posts with another blogger). Historical Future predictions Shopping ideas How-to Seasonal On this day... Whatever happened to... Tutorial Images with minimal text Advice column Hypothetical (What if...) Satire Inspirational/ motivational News Definitions of words/ jargon Directory of links Join in on a meme, blog fair or other project

Write it Differently

Stop writing everything like a standard blog post. Look at other formats. If you run WordPress make note of the formats available in the toolbar menu to the right.

Get out of your same old post rut and try something new.

Work on scheduling too. Put together a few posts ahead of time and schedule them to be posted in the days ahead. This way you can actually take a few days off from your daily blogging grind. Do something else. (Besides blog stuff - there is a whole world out there, offline).

Write in a New Location

Do you always write in the same place, at the same time, with the same tools? Why not make a change, something simple which will give you a fresh perspective, fresh scenery and people to watch.

I especially like writing in a coffee shop. I find a window seat and let myself procrastinate for awhile with a good latte. Once I stop trying to write it becomes easier to think of things to write about.

Another great discovery is the local transit system. For the cost of a few dollars I can spend an hour on the bus (it doesn't really matter where I'm going) and let my mind drift. I keep pens and paper in my purse or backpack and make notes with ideas as I get them.

Write outdoors too. Put yourself under the open sky with all sorts of room to breathe, relax and wander. Just being outside never fails to lighten my mood.

Unclutter your mind. It's funny how much easier it is for new thoughts to seep in once you have given them some space. Sleep (That thing you close your eyes for). People who keep blogs work for themselves, set their own hours and can have the most demanding boss. Themselves.

How many times have you stayed up late to proofread a post? How many times have you worked through lunch to put in time posting on Twitter? How many times have you not taken a day off in an entire week? What job has such poor hours, unless it is also someone self-employed?

Go to bed. Take a weekend off. Take a vacation and really stop blogging. Don't check email. Don't write a few lines to Facebook or Twitter. Don't do anything... except maybe jot down a note or two when you get a great idea you can work on tomorrow when you're done with your day off blogging.

Remember When all this Seemed Fun? I began blogging because I loved it.

In time that gets forgotten buried and lost. There are so many demands we put on ourselves. So many things others tell us we should do if we care about marketing, traffic, SEO, readers, comments, guest posts, advertising, monetizing and the list goes on. It's all pressure. A lot of it is just plain peer pressure.

Consider this... why do you read a blog (other than your own?) In some cases you may be looking for news and information and nothing more. But, even then, why do you choose one blog over another?

Something sparks your interest, beyond the text content. Most likely the blogs which get and keep interest from their readers are the blogs which have some spark of life, a sense of fun or at least of not being anti-fun, all work and a real chore.

Put fun back into your own blog and your work there.

Do you still love your blog topic? If not, what can you change about it to make it interesting and fun for you again?

Is there a new niche you would love to know more about yourself, something relevant to your topic? Something you just haven't taken the time to find out about or dive into?

A stale blog can't be fun to write. Bring something fresh to your blog and to your time and energy spent on it. Don't be afraid to boldly renovate and go forth in a new direction. Better to make progress in a new way than to burn yourself out and have nothing at all left to say and no real desire to say anything.

No matter what we tell others or deny to ourselves, we all want to be one of the popular people. One of those blogs which seem to have endless faithful readers. One of those blogs people are commenting on almost as soon as a fresh post is published. One of those blogs you know everyone will link to, refer to and praise as being so great, wonderful and fabulous. But, how do you get from here to there? How do you become one of the popular bloggers? It isn't something anyone or everyone can do. A lot of it takes personality - if you are introverted the social part with be hard for you. Still, there's nothing keeping you from trying and seeing how close you can get to reaching your lofty goal. Don't get discouraged. Not everyone can find fame and fortune. You may get to the point where you find your plateau and realize you are happy right there. Goals should never be so rigid you can't change them to suit yourself. They are after all, your goals, for you.

• Don't give up!
• Stay focused!
• Be friendly!

Don't Give Up Too Soon

Getting a site off the ground takes time. Even if your site is a few years old but you have not been active in the niche community of your site, you are going to need to give yourself time to find your feet and build those social connections.

Take a weekend sabbatical because you shouldn't push yourself so much that you burn out too soon. But, don't give up too easily. If you take more than a weekend off you will lose momentum. Treat blogging like a job with a regular work day. Once you have done your 9 to 5 take the rest of the day off and keep your weekends free.

Focus on One Niche Topic

Pick a niche and stick with it.

You may fear not having enough to write about. So, take paper and pen and brainstorm a list of ideas in your niche. Give yourself an hour or jot down notes over the day as you go along. How many ideas did you get? Review them and see which are not as relevant, which are related to your niche and which are just what you want to write about. A niche can be flexible. Consider seasonal posts which are still relevant content but have a seasonal spin.

A niche does not have to be restrictive. But, it may seem that way if you don't have enough knowledge or really love the topic, theme or niche. Over the long haul you need both knowledge, resources and passion to sustain a blog. You also need the focus to keep on topic so readers will know what to expect and come back for more. If you stray too far out of your niche too often you lose credibility and that nice predictability readers are looking for.

Having said that you really do need a great writing voice. Your own personality should shine through your words. Your own experiences, opinions and ideas will engage readers and make them feel they are connected to a real person. You need to become your niche and don't be afraid to show some humour too. Think about the blogs you read versus those you just skim.

Be Engaging and Encourage Interaction with Readers

Engage readers and encourage comments.

Remember you are writing to people. Think about others as you write. Ask them questions, encourage them to give feedback. Leave open ended posts where readers have something to add rather than just the bland, good post, I agree, sort of comments. Stir things up in some way to give people a reason to leave you a note.

When someone does comment follow up on it. Find out who they are, check their own blogs (if they have one) and find them on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and so on. You can choose to follow them or not. Don't automatically follow everyone. Be sincere in who you follow and stick to people you have a reason to want to get to know or find out about.

Keep Them Reading

Get writing and then make sure your posts are easy to find on your site. Promote your own links to relevant and related content on your posts. In the sidebar you can gets lists of your most popular posts, most commented on posts and even your posts from a year (or years) ago. Give people more to read and they won't read one post and move on so quickly. Also, you are showing your own knowledge and authority in your niche.

Don't forget tags and categories. These are a great way to build an index to the content on your site. Tags can cover more ground, smaller and more focused topics. Categories should be limited to the main ideas you want to write about. Think of categories as a table of contents in a non-fiction book. While tags are more like the big index in the back. Both categories and tags, and the search you should also use, give readers the ability to find more of your related content.

Learn to Love Social Media

Make sure readers can follow you and repost your links too.

There are a large variety of widgets you can add to your blog for social media sharing and getting followers. What's a great way to get someone to follow you back? Let them know you followed them and why you did. Everyone likes to know you actually followed them for a reason (other than wanting to beef up your own numbers). Plus, people who have a lot of followers usually don't notice the addition of someone new. So announcing yourself, in a positive way, is a great way to get followed back and likely get your blog noticed too.

Be Active in the Online Community

Get to know other bloggers and those who work for other sites and social media.

This is not easy for me. I'm very much an introvert and I like not being too social. However, if you set yourself the goal of becoming a big fish you need to be a joiner and keep your accounts active. Not just Twitter, the odd repost to Tumblr or StumbleUpon. You need to jump right in there with both feet and become a social butterfly.

Build up your small talk skills. Learn more about the art of conversation. Even though the medium is not face to face your sincerity will show through. So work on becoming socially skilled and do your best to shine.

Of course, there is the other extreme, the troll. Know where the limits fall. Don't become the person who has to have something to say about everything, always has to make their opinion known and makes everything about themselves. If you find yourself taking over too many conversations in the forums step back and take a full day off. Decide to not even read a few of the forum threads. Set limits you (and others) can live with.

Not everyone will want to try things like blog fairs, carnivals, memes and such. But, these are a great way to break the ice and meet your fellow bloggers.

If there is a particular blogger or group you want to notice you, write a review of their site and talk about what they do and what you like about them. Share the link via social media.

Write Outside the Blog

Guest blogging gets a lot of mention but I'm not wild about it. As a blogger I tend to get awful posts in the name of guest blogging. People ask me for space on my site before knowing (or caring) what I post about. I have had amazingly terrible submissions. Never accept a guest blogging post unless it really works for your niche and you actually think your readers will want to have the information or the point of view the guest blogger is promoting. Of course, check any links they want you to post. Check them at the HTML level to be sure you aren't getting more than you expected.

As someone trying to find a place to guest blog... it isn't easy. Most bloggers have not had great experiences with guest blogging. Many won't even read requests because so many of them are useless. So, you have a real up hill battle to get your foot in the door and even be heard. Start by leaving comments (good comments) in the blog you want to guest blog for. Get noticed for something you are doing right and then, when you do have your foot in the door, suggest writing a post for them.

An alternative to guest blogging is to write for networks. They do seem to be disappearing but HubPages and others which are still pretty new, are still around. Get your feet wet, create a profile you can link to with good posts. Build up a readership and direct them to your own site as a source for extra information and more resources.

Both guest blogging and network blogging will give you links to your own site from an outside source. As you write more posts on outside sources you will be giving yourself a nice selection of links back to your site and the search bots (and actual human readers) will find you.