This Thursday I will be speaking to about a dozen students from the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University.
Poor fools.
I think they got suckered into this because of how the workshop was pitched. The following email was not written by me. It was sent out by the Beedie Global Office to their international students. These students will soon be living abroad while they finish their studies.
It reads:
When you are on exchange or are travelling the world your family and friends most likely want to follow your adventure. A great way to document your experiences and share your stories is through blogging.
We would like to invite you to attend our upcoming workshop How to tell Your Story Through Blogging facilitated by award-winning travel blogger Colleen Friesen.
Colleen is a Vancouverite with a passion for traveling. Her love of other cultures inspired her blog “Traveling Light”, where she shares her stories in a fun and personal way. Colleen’s passion for adventure has taken her to over 50 countries and inspired a book by the same name ‘Traveling Light’.
Colleen is excited to share her expertise with you and teach you how to document your memories in the best possible way!
By attending this workshop you will learn:
– What makes a blog interesting
– How to write an interesting blog article
– How to tell your story through blogging
– How to have a successful blog
– Q & A session with award winning blogger Colleen Friesen
As you can see, those students have been sold quite a bill of goods. The problem is, I have to deliver said goods.
So. Here’s where you, dearest reader, can help (I’m trying not to beg but I’m definitely bordering on whinging).
- What blog posts have you found most interesting? (Not necessarily mine, but on any blogs you might read).
- What is it you like to read in a blog post (mine or anyone else’s)?
- Is there a perfect length that works for you?
- Do you enjoy lots of photos or none at all?
- What could I write about that I’m not currently covering?
- If your son/daughter were traveling in another country, what kind of posts would be meaningful to you?
- Do you like reading details about the local culture/food?
- Do you like profiles of other people encountered?
- Any other ideas?
- Lastly – What does it mean to have a ‘successful’ blog?
Please add your thoughts/feedback in the comments section below, or tweet me a line or two, or email me at: colleenfrATyahooDOTcom or add your thoughts on my FB page.
In other words…throw me a bone!
I’m hoping your thoughts and feedback will help me give them the best information I can. I really appreciate any ideas at all. The deadline is fast approaching.
And we all know that the deadline is the impetus to start the project. I really need to get started!
Muchos gracias.
My biggest challenge with travel blogging? Where to find the time! Being in the moment is important. Writing, downloading pictures, uploading articles, inserting links, being funny…. it all takes precious time. Time I could be spending gazing at another Icelandic waterfall, or being mesmerized by the swish and swing of an attractive kilt. How’s a girl to do it all??!!
I love your pictures, your emotional honesty, the reality you show us that life isn’t always a happy hour, how you explain the best laid plans don’t always turn out but then along comes the gem in the form of the unexpected, you share your learning, your adventures, your ups and downs, your tips and tricks, what Kevin is up to as your travel//life partner, and how your Menno roots play out.
Since I don’t have a son or daughter, I think my parents wanted to hear that I was safe and in good hands.
Elinor. Finding the time is certainly an issue. I do recall that I used to blog five times a week, then it was three and now it’s (yikes!) only once a week. I like having this baseline of one post/week so that when I’m on a trip I can ramp it up if I want and leave it alone if I can’t make the time. I have to say that I feel like something is undone if I don’t get my weekly post out.
Thanks for your lovely feedback; I’m glad you appreciate the photos and can put up with my not-so-happy times. It’s so nice to have company on this crazy ride. I realize that what I love too is how these conversations in this comment section evolve. And how sometimes, readers who have never met each other, are referring to, and building off, each other’s comments.
How cool is that?
I consider this the ‘success’ of my blog; the building of a community–a cool tribe of people who share in these moments.
First off, I only read your blog but I love it for several reasons (not necessarily in order):
– gorgeous nature and people shots, especially close up and vibrant colours
– sense of humour of the ridiculous, crazy joie de vivre (sp)
– heartfelt and genuine, never pretentious!
– videos or real life screw-ups, survival, rain soaked and bedraggled, or the wind blowing the words out of Kevin’s mouth (makes me smile just thinking of that hike)
– cliff hangers on your adventures so I couldn’t wait to read the next instalment … perhaps you should consider being a script writer for TV or the movies
More will probably come to me but the garden is calling.
Love ya,
Blessings Martha. I really appreciate your generous feedback. I truly wasn’t asking these questions to solicit compliments on my blog, but since that’s what you’re handing out…I’ll take them! And by the way, I love that video of the wind blowing the words out of Kevin’s mouth too. One of my all time favourites in fact 🙂
I will do my best to keep having adventures and writing my best to keep you coming back. Thanks again for being such a faithful reader.
Meanwhile, enjoy that garden!
I love humor and when things do not go as planned. Food yes, photos yes but most importantly, sharing your heart. I love the little video clips and stories about the quirky bed & breakfast owners, the broken shoe that needed duct tape and the weather! I know weird, but the descriptions of the weather, flora and fauna too. I’m excited for you!
Thanks Karen. I love the twists and turns in story/life too. I think when you talk about quirky innkeepers, broken shoes with duct tape, and other ‘moments’, you’re talking about the lovely details that bring a story to life.
I’m excited for me too 🙂 Looking forward to the roundtable and to see what the students have to say.