Blogging Old-School Style

really old-school style

Published on March 17, 2005 By Gene Nash In Blogging

In a recent article, Gideon MacLeish lamented not being able to hold onto ideas till he could get to the library computer to blog them.

I recommended using legal pads in the interim.

I've noticed most people seem to blog by typing into the form and pressing send. That's a dangerous practice; you're libel to run into technical problems that can make your article go bye-bye.

I used to write all my articles in a WYSIWYG HTML processor, then cut-and-paste as "preformatted HTML." Lately, I've just been writing them in a plain vanilla text editor, adding HTML as I go, then letting JU add the line breaks after I cut, paste, and submit.

But, as per my advice to Gid, I've also blogged far more old school. Not only have I written some blogs long hand, then typed them into a word processor later, I've also written blog articles on a portable typewriter, then used OCR software to scan them in for posting.

Don't get so caught up in thinking of blogging as being a "computer thing" that you loose a great article to the ephemera. You can write your articles with anything at hand, then digitize them later. For all we know, cave paintings were actually the world's first bloggers' hurriedly jotted notes.

I don't think I've gotten quite old-school enough, though. I think I'll go buy a quill as soon as I log off.

Comments

Danny Bassette

on Mar 17, 2005

Notepad all the way

Be it the simple text editor on the computer or a plain pad of paper and pencil. Although I'm liking the quill idea too.

Gene Nash

on Mar 18, 2005

I'm liking the quill idea too.

I got lazy and plucked a passing duck.

I guess I'll have to drain my calimari if I want some ink.

Danny Bassette

on Mar 18, 2005

That works, then you can cook them while your writting. Nothing like a snack once the words are out

MasonM

on Mar 18, 2005

I agree that pre-writing the articles or at least making a few notes is a good idea. I like to use the plain text editor way myself.

Have you ever tried writing with a quill and ink well? It can get messy. Amazing that people could turn out clean, decent looking (and even quite fancy) documents using that method. Last time I tried I wound up with a very messy looking, barely readable page. Modern paper isn't well suited for the task either. You'll have to find yourself some parchment.

Seriously though, good pointers.

Dynosoar

on Mar 18, 2005

Ugh,

How nuevo, try using a charred stick ( hell, pluck the damn duck, skewer him with the stick, roast him on an open fire, then write a critic of the meal in the sand with your greasy fingers )
Now that's old school................

Gene Nash

on Mar 20, 2005

I agree that pre-writing the articles or at least making a few notes is a good idea.

I have about 6 pages of blog titles/ideas I've never used.

write a critic of the meal in the sand with your greasy fingers

Shhhh, or Aeryck will be in here quoting John 8:6 to prove Jesus was the first blogger.

Sir Peter Maxwell

on Mar 22, 2005

"Don't get so caught up in thinking of blogging as being a "computer thing"..."

The dream of a paperless office is one I share with Bill Gates. Not only because it saves money, but I can monitor everything my peasants write!

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