Hi Dolls! I would love to make an infographic on the physiology of a juice fast from the opposite perspective…you know, that it’s good. But I can’t find any physiological info on this. Do you have any suggestions?

Also, I’d love to hear your experiences with any of this. I only do bagel fasts, so I’m not a good source

could i do it?

of course i could. but i have to wait on others.

i hate waking this desire again because i get burned.

and burned and burned.

and yet, us silly humans,

we can’t stop hoping.

it’s caught in my throat like a sob,

or like victory yell.

caught in my hand like a punch not yet swung

or a delicate butterfly

or a handful of ashes.

-AH

I came to blogging with a very specific vision, and I am a fan of lots of types of blogs: design blogs, healthy living blogs, cute-animal blogs, tiny house blogs, fashion blogs, and craft blogs. What keeps me into a blog is not just the subject matter, but the manner of blogging. 

So after a year+ of studying what makes a great blog, I present to you:

How to write an AWESOME BLOG

1. Content: Quality, not Quantity

(I know I stole this idea from Tim, I know I did. It’s just really wise.) The thing is, unless you are a full-time blogger, you probably don’t have the patience or resources to blog everyday. Or, dear God, more than once a day. Sheesh.

Instead, create quality content. Better yet, become the only place on the internet to GET that content. For example: my blog is the ONLY place on the whole interwebs that has such an extensive collection of original yoga infographics. Folks MUST come on over if that’s their interest.

So take your time, make awesome content, and post it when you’re ready.

2. Stick to a schedule

Ah ha, do as I say, not as I do!

Most big-league bloggers post at least once Monday-Friday. Again, this is not necessary (see #1) but creating a reliable schedule for your posts is nothing to sneeze at. It is possible to lose fans by not giving them that little cocaine hit that your blog posts offer. My famous friend Ellie always posts recipes on Wednesdays. Reliable. Expected. Addicted. Er…

3. Be yourself, and Be Brave

First of all, let’s be clear: this does NOT mean rambling on for hours about every little detail of your life/yoga practice/boyfriend/drama. In fact, please don’t do that. I for one, am not intersted in that business.

What I mean is, find your own voice. Just as in teaching yoga, you don’t have to dilute yourself into the greater blogosphere. I bet that doesn’t even work. Your own quirky tastes and interests are what make your blog stick out from the crowd.

So be brave, and as you create excellent content, let yourself be seen!

4. Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

I read books without pictures, but I ain’t gonna read a blog without pictures. I just won’t. I won’t even read one entry that is missing a picture.

Humans are extremely visual creatures. So give them something to latch onto, visually. There are lots of sources for royalty-free images, but better yet, take/draw your own visual content.

Also, keep your pictures of the same width as often as humanly possible.

5. Create sub-categories

You’ve probably noticed, I have “Quotation Inspiration,” “The State of Yoga” and “Book Review” as categories on this here blog. Instead of facing down a big white page and a blinking cursor, I have established categories in which to create. It’s like instant inspiration. My buddy Tim Ferriss* has a lo-fi TV show he does with his friend every once and a while.

Plus, sub-categories ad nuance and interest for your readers.

6. Bullet Points and Lists

I actually believe this is almost exactly like including pictures: it creates visual interest, as well as clearly dividing up your information to make it easier to read.

7. Don’t be afraid to be titillating 

Sex sells. Perhaps I’m just a sexy person, but I’m a sucker for this.

Did you see my recent post “Soft, open bodies?” I could have easily named that post “Two perspectives on fear,” but I didn’t. It was a choice. Did you see the pic I used for the post “Back in the Saddle?” On purpose.

No shame in that.

Titillation doesn’t need to be about sex, either: just think of ways to grab attention and draw folks into your posts.

8. Stop selling

Lots of folks have blogs as a way to “maximize their selling potential.” This is fine. But no one will read a blog that only ever tries to sell them something.

Rather, offer to your readers. What can you give them for free on your blog that makes them want to buy the product you sell?

And to this I say: see #’s 1-7! Huzzah! Now you’re an awesome blogging expert!

,

*our buddyship pending an actual meeting

Another thing that got forgotten was the fact that against all probability a sperm whale had been suddenly been called into existence several miles above the surface of an alien planet.

.
And since this is not a naturally tenable position for a whale, this poor innocent creature had very little time to come to terms with its identity as a whale before it then had to come to terms with not being a whale any more.

.
This is a complete record of its thought from the moment it began its life till the moment it ended it:

…
Ah . . . ! What’s happening? it thought.

Er, excuse me, who am I?

Hello?

Why am I here? What’s my purpose in life?

What do I mean by who am I?

Calm down, get a grip now . . . oh! this is an interesting what is it?

It’s sort of . . . yawning, tingling sensation in my . . . my . . . well, I suppose I’d better start finding names for things if I want to make any headway in what for that sake of what I shall call an argument I shall call the world, so let’s call it my stomach.

Good. Ooooh, it’s getting quite strong. And hey, what about this whistling roaring sound going past what I’m suddenly going to call my head? Perhaps I can call that . . . wind! Is that a good name? It’ll do . . . perhaps I can find a better name for it later when I’ve found out what it’s for.

It must be something very important because there certainly seems to be a hell of a lot of it. Hey! What’s this thing? This . . . let’s call it a tail – yeah, tail.

Hey! I can really thrash it about pretty good, can’t I? Wow! Wow! That feels great! Doesn’t seem to achieve very much but I’ll probably find out what it’s for later on. Now, have I built up any coherent picture of things yet?

No.

Never mind, hey, this is really exciting, so much to find out about, so much to look forward to, I’m quite dizzy with anticipation . . . Or is it the wind?
There really is a lot of that now, isn’t there? And wow! Hey! What’s this thing suddenly coming toward me very fast? Very, very fast. So big and flat and round, it needs a big wide-sounding name like . . . ow . . . ound . . . round . . . ground! That’s it! That’s a good name- ground!

I wonder if it will be friends with me?

And the rest, after a sudden wet thud, was silence.

Curiously enough, the only thing that went through the mind of the bowl of petunias as it fell was

Oh no, not again.

Many people have speculated that if we knew exactly why the bowl of petunias had thought that we would know a lot more about the nature of the Universe than we do now.

-Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

I’m on quite the little Sci-Fi kick, n’est pas?

Fear is a universal experience.

Even the smallest insect feels it.

We wade in the tidal pools and put our finger near the soft, open bodies of sea anemones and they close up.

Everything spontaneously does that.

It’s not a terrible thing that we feel fear when faced with the unknown.

It is part of being alive, something we all share.

We react against the possibility of loneliness,

of death,

of not having anything to hold on to.

Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.

-Pema Chodron

I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I will remain.

-Dune

]]> http://alisonhinksyoga.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/soft-open-bodies/feed/ 8 Alison anemone leftquotes rightquotes leftquotes rightquotes http://alisonhinksyoga.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/now-accepting-blog-sponsors-new-rates/ http://alisonhinksyoga.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/now-accepting-blog-sponsors-new-rates/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:25:29 +0000 Alison Hinks http://alisonhinksyoga.wordpress.com/?p=3163 Continue reading →]]> Oh my gosh, I loved Mad Men, btw…

Hello precious fawns!

Just a note to let you know I am now accepting sponsors for the blog! Email me for rates: alisonhinksyoga@gmail.com

These are your three options:

1. BUTTON ADS

2. ONE-LINE TEXT ADS

3. SPONSORED POSTS

PS: “Men love scarves.”

I got it into my head I wanted to buy a 3/4 size guitar.

I ordered one and got four.

I traded two to my friend with two little kids for a full-sized, fancy-pants guitar.

I will give the remaining two to two little girls who I think will rock.

I am an Aries.

I don’t believe in serendipity.

I believe in willpower, my power, momentum, fighting for your right to party, and force.

Mars (my boy) is in retrograde, which means my firepower is extinguished for a while.

And then I get this hippy-dippy, water-sign surprise of 4 guitars.

It’s unnerving.

But I’ll take it.