DEGREES UNEDITED

Richard Taylor explores some common concerns about blogging

During a conversation with one of the much valued Degrees unedited's bloggers, I asked for some feedback on ideas / concerns about blogging that the rest of her peer group had, highlighting general fears and reservations about the blogosphere.

Some of these questions you may have asked yourself: so in answering them I hope you will be encouraged to get blogging, get commenting and get making friends and potential working partners through Degrees unedited.

I'm not sure whether I should start a blog, as I haven't decided what I am doing yet
To blog does not mean you need to know what you're going to say before you say it: for many it is a process that helps in realising aims, figuring out trajectories in practice. With each post you may find out more from your work, and with every step you will be in a better position than before, as perspective is there to be built on... you will surprise yourself!

I'm not so sure whether my work is interesting enough...
So some people may not think twice about the work you make, but for every person who thinks this, there will be someone who will take an interest. Blogging in the Degrees unedited sphere is about meeting people who do have commonalities beyond your institutional remit: there are a lot of people out there who would doubt themselves just as much as you, but the blogs are here to help with this as many of the users are floating in the same sort of boat.

Some people think that it's not 'cool' to look too confident in yourself.
So it's not cool to look to confident? Some people are a lot more confident than others and have more to say about themselves, yet others are equally as confident in their reserved approach. Blogging can be bent round your personality: you do not have to pretend to be someone you are not (unless that is integral to your practice), just be honest and do what you like.

Writing and typing is not my forte, so what use is a blog to me?
Blogging is not necessarily being eloquent with words, or indeed making a post every day just because others do. Some people blog every fortnight, some once a month, some every week: you can say as much or as little as you like.

Some people think their practice is more visual based and less research led. The best thing about the blogs is that you can be descriptive of your practice with documented photos of your work: it is not entirely necessary to have streams of text.

But with being so open, being so public: won't people steal my ideas?
People will respect your honesty on the blogs, and if you want to tell the world about every idea then the world will want to know: there is nothing wrong with sharing you plans with the rest of the bloggers, it is a sign of you being comfortable with your own practice. Without taking yourself too seriously, people will begin to take your work seriously the more open you are about the time you spend on the things you love.

How do I log on, start a blog and start uploading photos?
Once you have registered by sending us your username and email address, you set your password and then you're away. The best place to log on is at the Degrees unedited homepage (degrees_unedited) by using the user panel on the left hand side. If you are a subscriber then you use the same method to sign in.

From here you have an option to start a blog. Under "Have your say" go to the option >>Start a blog. This will take you to a new page, where you begin to put in your details (email, website details included if you like).

With each blog you enter your profile details and also some short words about the blog itself, as an introduction. You also have the option to insert your own personal link identifier, making your blog more searchabel (your link will look like this: www.a-n.co.uk/link/YOUR-NAME-BLOG - find out more here)

Your navigational tools then shift to the right hand side of the screen. Here you begin your new blog post, and with each post after you have entered some text, there is an option to upload up to five photographs: under "This post" on the top right" go to >> Add image. A number of file methods are accepted and you can provide as many details plus a decription if you wish: but don't forget if it is someone elses work, for copyright reasons, you need to provide as much information as possible.

More information on image details is available under the blue link: "Help with this form"

What do you think?
Are there any remaining blanks that need filling in? If there are questions you want answering or concerns your want quelling, do not hesitate to get in touch. Email me at richard.taylor@a-n.co.uk

First published: a-n.co.uk October 2009