Photo Credit: David Reece via Compfight cc

New directions for The Information Dojo

Hello all! Lately, I've been pondering my blogging strategy and topics for The Information Dojo. I've been blogging for almost four months but have yet to get any long-term subscribers. And I want to start building my list seriously. So, I'm switching up my strategy, topics and website design.

New website coming! 

Sometime next week (I hope) I plan to launch my new WordPress website. I'm working with an excellent web designer, Charlie, from Charfish Design, and he has so totally brought my ideas to life. I'm super excited to launch it and can't wait to make the transfer from Blogger to WordPress.

New topics! 

I realized that I had too many topics I was trying to cover in my blogging. And I'm whittling it down to several that I feel are the most important for the direction I want to take my blog.

My new topics will include:

• Personal Knowledge Management 
• Creativity 
• Confidence 
• Courage 
• Writing 
• Blogging 
• Technology
• Mindfulness 

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courtesy of Maria on flickr

Recently, I've gotten it into my head that I want to write an eBook for this blog. It will be the first eBook I've ever written and I want to share the lessons I've learned (so far) after two months of working on it.

Lesson 1: Know your blog/website 

This should seem like common sense but it's actually extremely difficult. When I started writing my eBook two months ago, I had no where near the clarity or vision for my blog that I do now. And writing this eBook has helped bring me clarity for my blog in many ways.

I know the changes I need to make and I've found a new vision for my blog. I've hired a professional web designer to redesign my blog to match these changes. In this sense, I'm extremely grateful to my half-written eBook for the lessons it's already taught me about my blog.

Lesson 2: Make an outline

I can't emphasize enough the importance of the outline. eBooks are so different from traditional print books in a number of ways. But the most important thing for an eBook is that it's easy to read. And remember, you're putting your eBook on the Internet, and you'll have no idea where it will end up or with whom.

To make my eBook matter to my blog readers, I needed to put a ton of consideration into the content and how I wanted to present it. This is where the outline became super handy.

Lesson 3: Accept that it's a process

Writing an eBook is a time consuming process. It will be full of both excitement and complete exhaustion. And there will be times where you just want to give up. I know I had many of these moments the last two months. I didn't know where my eBook was going and I was sick of writing in circles.

If you are writing an eBook, or want to write one, remember that it is a process that will take time and energy.  If you're feeling frustrated or stuck (as I was), seek feedback from other people. I'm part of a online writing group and they helped me to get unstuck and clarify my goals for my eBook.

These are the three lessons I've learned so far. I've included a couple of  resources at the bottom of this post that have helped me in writing my eBook.

As always, thank you for reading :)
Melissa

Resources

How to Write a High-Quality eBook in 30 Days from Copyblogger

eBooks The Smart Way by Pat Flynn (from Smart Passive Income)

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This week I want to review the blog/website ProBlogger which is owned and maintained by Darren Rowse.

What this blog is about

ProBlogger is dedicated to helping other bloggers learn the skills of blogging, share their own experiences and promote the blogging medium. Actually, it's the go-to resource for bloggers. If you have any question whatsoever about any aspect of blogging, go to this website.

The blog has posts for bloggers of all levels and features tons of resources, including a page for ways to make money blogging and a page for jobs as a blogger/writer.

About Darren Rowse 

Back in 2002 Darren Rowse stumbled upon an article about ‘Blogging’. He didn’t know it at the time but that moment changed his life.  Within 24 hours of reading the article he had started his own blog – a personal blog where he's explored issues of pop culture, spirituality and blogging ever since. He has since started many other blogs.

As his blogs grew in popularity and began to generate income, blogging grew from a hobby (some would say an obsession), to a part time job through to a fully fledged business in recent times. He has slowly built his blogging into a income source that has enabled him to dedicate more and more time to the medium to the point where he is currently a full time blogger – a ProBlogger.

Why I love this blog

As a beginning blogger, I have found this website and blog to be invaluable. And I respect the owner, Darren, because he started small and worked his way up to this powerhouse of a website. He worked up from blogging as a hobby to blogging as a professional (hence ProBlogger) and I guess I would like to hopefully do the same (someday).

Another aspect I really love about this blog is the emphasis on small steps to building a blog and, eventually, a business. It's a great reminder that it's okay to slowly go through the process of building a blog through lots of hard work and patience in a realistic and sustainable way.

I look forward to purchasing Darren's workbook 31 Days to Build a Better Blog. I also hope to eventually join the ProBlogger Community, which is a home for bloggers to come together to collaborate, learn and network in a private, supportive and authentic environment.

As always, thank you for reading :)
Melissa

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courtesy of samluce.com

Today I thought I would share the lessons I've learned (and there are many) since I started my blogging journey a couple of months ago. I'm going to limit this post to three for now :)

Lesson 1: choose your topics...carefully 

I had the hardest time, and still do, pinning down the topics I want to blog about. There are so many things I'm into and want to talk about. But I'm learning that I can't just write what I want to. I need to be consistent.

Lesson 2: choose your platform...consider all options

I chose Blogger at first because I already had a Gmail account and several other bloggers I follow use it too. However, my blog, and the other projects I want to do, are quickly outgrowing the Blogger platform.

I just recently hired a designer to design a WordPress site so that I can move my content over to a self-hosted website. It will give me more of a chance to own my content and keep track of it.

Lesson 3: set up a schedule (otherwise known as an editorial calendar)

It took me multiple tries to get my blogging schedule down. This is where you need to know what topics you want to blog about because you need to be able to fit them into a schedule. I had too many topics at first and had to whittle them down.

Whether you blog three days a week or five, be consistent in your schedule. It will help you accomplish your goals for your blog in small steps.

As always, thank you for reading :)

Melissa

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This week I'm going to look at the blog Sheep Dressed Like Wolves, which is written by Andy Mort.

What this blog is about

Sheep Dressed Like Wolves is the blog and podcast for people defined as reluctant leaders and gentle rebels who long to make an impact in a sometimes strange, absurd, and often overwhelming world. Andy's goal with this blog and podcast is to encourage, inspire, and equip other introverted and highly sensitive people (HSPs) looking to find meaning and variety in their own lives.

He wants to assist them so that they can live out their deep passion and purpose and make their unique gentle impact on a loud world that easily overwhelms them (see the About page for more information).

Why I love this blog

Any introvert will love this blog. I just also happen to be a highly sensitive person and an introvert and I was sooooo happy to find out I was not alone in my struggles. Andy gives out the Gentle Rebel's Manifesto when you subscribe and it was so helpful to understanding exactly what makes highly sensitive people different.

I also recently joined his Member's Haven to meet other highly sensitive people and introverts. Please check out this blog if you are an introvert or feel overwhelmed in our noisy world.

As always, thank you for reading :)
Melissa

P.S. I am not affiliated with this blog or the products Andy sells. I simply like sharing blogs that I have personally found helpful in my journey :) 

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This week I am reviewing the blog Zen Habits, which is written and maintained by Leo Babauta.

What this blog is about

Zen Habits is one of the most widely regarded lifestyle blogs on the internet with more than a million monthly readers. Zen Habits is about finding simplicity in the daily chaos of our lives. It’s about clearing the clutter so we can focus on what’s important, create something amazing, find happiness. Some of the topics it covers include: simplicity, health & fitness, motivation and inspiration, frugality, family life, happiness, goals, getting great things done, and living in the moment.

About Leo

Leo Babauta is a former journalist of 18 years, a husband, father of six children, and in 2010 moved from Guam to San Francisco, where he leads a simple life. He started Zen Habits to chronicle and share what he's learned while changing a number of habits. Find out more about him on his post My Story.

Why I love this blog 

What's not to love about it I think is the better question. Every time I go exploring on this blog, I always find something I needed to read. Leo also blogs a lot about writing, which I find very useful. The theory in Zen Habits is that you can accomplish anything but you have to start small and build your habits one by one. By building habits, you stick to and accomplish your goals.

Leo also offers some courses for building habits, including his Habit Course and the Simple Fitness Habit course. I plan on taking both of these :).

Check out Zen Habits. You won't regret it!

Resources 

Zen Habits - http://zenhabits.net/
Leo Babauta - http://leobabauta.com/
The Habit Course - http://habitcourse.com/
The Simple Fitness Habit - http://simplefitnesshabit.com/

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This week I am looking at the blog Yes and Yes, which is written by Sarah Von Bargen.

Yes and Yes by Sarah Von Bargen

What this blog is about 

Yes and Yes is a lifestyle blog about living a multifaceted life. Sarah interviews interesting people, shares travel tips to cool places, connects nice people, tries new things, finds recipes from awesome books and far-flung countries, and writes about a million how-tos.

About Sarah 

Sarah Von Bargen started Yes and Yes in 2008 and has slowly found an audience of 11,000+ daily readers. She has been self-employed for the the last three years, harnessing all that hard-won know-how for hundreds of clients. She works with creatives, bloggers, and small businesses to create super doable, totally effective, non-overwhelming plans for internet domination.  She can help with ideas for blog posts + social media plans + pitch templates + promotion ideas.

Why I love this blog 

When I first started building this blog, Yes and Yes was where I went to for ideas on how to design it for readers. Sarah has written great blog posts on starting a blog and she also has a small business blog on her personal website. Plus, Sarah's posts are so interesting and she really has something for everybody.

P.S. Sarah also has ads for other businesses on her website. Take a look at them. I've found some creative services and people through those ads.

Until next time :)
Melissa

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Budokai Dojo

Hi everyone,

In an effort to re-brand myself, I've given this blog a new name, one that I think fits more with the message I'm trying to get across.

My blog focuses on the role that information and technology play in creativity and lifestyle design. And I felt that Nerdy Mindful Librarian just wasn't getting that across.

Why The Information Dojo? 

A dojo is a Japanese term that means "place of the way". And I wanted my blog to be the place of the way for learning how to manage information and technology to design a creative and fulfilling life.

Finding the right information has played such a huge part in my life that I wanted to share that with you guys, my readers, to help you design your life and pursue the activities and projects that you love. Life is too short for anything else!

Again, thank you for joining me on this journey and I hope you like the new name :)

Melissa

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This week, I want to look at the blog Be More With Less, which is written by Courtney Carver.

written and owned by Courtney Carver

What this blog is about 

Be More With Less is about living a minimalist and simpler life. Courtney Carver focuses on providing her readers with tips on reducing stress and debt and getting more out of life in other areas besides material things. Who doesn't want those things?

About Courtney 

Courtney Carver is a 44 year old, aspiring minimalist and is making big (and small) changes to live her life on purpose. She is a writer and photographer. She loves yoga, reading, creating simple meals and hiking and skiing in the Mountainwest. She also loves to travel and has her sights on a future in Mexico, living simply, on the beach.

Why I love this blog 

I have been using some of the tips in this to try and simply my own life. I've been putting less emphasis on ownership and more on finding, using, and recycling. When I packed up all my belongings to move to Vermont from Illinois, I consulted this blog to find what I should get let go of and what I should keep. Courtney really goes into the mindset that goes with living a simpler life.

I've also taken one of Courtney's self-paced e-courses, Zero to 100, A Microcourse for Beginning Bloggers, which helped me to get this blog started. I highly recommend it if you want to start your own blog!

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Looking at the title of this blog, the word that will probably stick out the most is "librarian". Yes, I am a librarian and I deal with information constantly. It's my job and I absolutely love it. And I want to share my love for information.

Why did I start this blog? 

Because I have some topics that I'm really passionate about. My blog looks how to explore information at the crossover of five main things: personal information management, lifestyle design, technology, creativity, and nerdy stuff. I want to help you find the right information and resources for these topics. I also want to talk about my passion for manga, anime, and science-fiction (just to spice things up).

Join me on my journey!

I have been in school for the past 20 years of my life (and I'm only 25). This blog will chronicle my adventures as I begin to develop my life after not having much of one :). I'm going to explore personal information management, lifestyle design, technology, creativity, and all things nerdy.

I hope my information will be useful to you and please connect with me!

Welcome to Nerdy Mindful Librarian!

Topics on my blog include:

Personal Information Management

Lifestyle Design

• Wellness 
• Career/Entrepreneurship 
• Blog of the Week 
• Mindfulness
• Minimalism 

Technology

• Tutorials 

Creativity

• Writing 
• Blogging 

Nerdy Stuff

• Manga 
• Anime
• Science-Fiction and Fantasy 
• Book Reviews

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