Name That Blog!

You want to enter the blogosphere and you've chosen a niche (subject).  Now you have to pick a name.  According to Professional Blogging for Dummies, your blog name is one of the most important parts of your blog, and one of the most difficult to change.  If your blog is active even for a short time, it remains in the Internet's memory and will be difficult to get rid of in the event that you change its name.  Remember, it sets the stage for your words.  So, choose wisely.

Here are ten tips for choosing a blog name:

1.  Brainstorm by writing down topics that you would like to blog about.

2.  Use your ideas as building blocks, experimenting by pairing different words together.

3.  Search keywords and phrases to avoid duplicating another blog name.

4.  Test the name that you choose on your family and friends.  Does the name match the content?

5.  Avoid song lyrics, movie lines and show titles to prevent copyright infringements.  If you are determined to use a certain title ex. Field of Dreams, use it in your tagline (the little explanation that follows your title) instead ex. The Best Baseball Blog with the tagline "A Field of Dreams".

6.  Remember your target audience.  What is the purpose of your blog ex. to entertain, to make people laugh, to educate people?

7.  Research similar blogs for ideas.

8.  Visit a blog name generator and it will punch out dozens of suggestions in seconds.

10.  Keep it short, to the point, and easy to remember.

Fore more information, read http://www.blogclarity.com/the-guide-to-choosing-a-blog-name-you-wont-regret-part-1/.

Here are some good examples of blog names:

-Simply Scribblings at http://simplyscribblings.blogspot.ca/ is my writer friend's blog.  It's simple, it uses alliteration and it encompasses a wide spectrum which makes it long lasting.

-Three Kids and a Teabag (now Three Kids, A Husband and a Teabag) at  https://threekidsandateabag.wordpress.com/ is the blog of my Bible study friend.  It peaks your curiosity:  what's the teabag all about?  It turns out that's what your tummy looks like after you've had three kids.

-Centsational Girl at www.centsationalgirl is a frugal living blog.  The play on words is cute.

-Earth Wind & Flour http://www.earthwindandflour.com/ is a food blog which plays on the group Earth Wind & Fire.


-The Patient Gardener at https://patientgardener.wordpress.com/ plays on the movie The Constant Gardener.

-To Love Honor & Vacuum at www.sheilawraygregoire.com is my writer friend's marriage blog.  It's catchy and it gives you an immediate mental image of a housewife.

Nurture Your Creativity

"The grass is always greener when you water it." (Unknown)

Just as grass needs watering, our creativity needs nurturing.  If we neglect grass, it could become dry and brown.  If we neglect our creativity, our creative juices can also dry up.  Here are ten ways to stimulate our imagination.  

1.  Simplicity and creativity go hand in hand.  De-clutter your life.  If you surround yourself with clutter, your mind might also feel cluttered.  Clear the mind for optimum creativity.  

2.  Relax.  Go for a walk or take a long shower.  

3.  Meditate or pray to focus the mind.    

4.  Set up a supportive space to create.  Artists like lofts.  Find a room where you feel comfortable and where you can find the tools you need to be creative.

5.  Exercise your creativity by getting the creative juices flowing.  Brainstorm.  Keep your internal editor at bay.  Embrace your imperfection.  Don't be too quick to veto your ideas.  Write them down. What might seem silly might actually work with a little tweaking.  

6.  Find a hobby.  Pursuing a hobby helps clear the mind and get the creative juices flowing.

7.  Visit nature.  Beautiful scenery and fresh air can also stimulate the brain.

8.  Read every day.  Be inspired by other people's ideas.  

9.  Be curious.  Be observant.  Employ the five senses.    

10.  Have a purpose for your writing, painting, sculpture.

Note:  Read The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.  For more information, read my post at http://alinefromlinda.blogspot.ca/2013/06/june-18.html.

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