This week's Writer's Workshop is to do a list of Do's and Don'ts. Oh my gosh, I thought you'd NEVER ask!

I have long wanted to do a list of the do's and don'ts of blogging.

Disclaimer: Just to clarify, this is *my* idea about the do's and don'ts of blogging. I would never tell someone what they could or couldn't put on their blog. To me, your blog is like your own Country and you are entitled to determine the laws that govern your Country. However, if you want me to ever visit your Country, you might want to pay some attention to this little list. Unless you just don't care, in which case you can bite me (that's allowed under the laws of my Country).

Let's start with the Don'ts:

Don't put auto-music on your blog. Really, just don't do that to people. I think this is the item that people complain about the most. I don't know how many times I've been startled by "ambush" music, or autoplay videos and usually, I just hit the back button and jump right back off of it. If you want to put some great music on with a little button for me to push, that's great. I've been known to hang out on a blog all day that has really great music.

Don't blog about poop or other bodily functions, yours or your kids. I think this is my absolute biggest pet peeve. I have seen people post about nasty diaper blow-outs, barfing kids, yeast infections (in painful detail), menstruation, I mean just about anything disgusting you can imagine. Why, people, why? Out of all the things you can post about, why do you pick something disgusting? There was a featured blogger on SITS a while back that had two of her three best posts that were about her kid's poop. Out of her whole blog, that was what she wanted the whole blogging world to know about her. I just don't get it.

Don't post the same kind of things day after endless day. I think it's great when someone has a regular weekly feature like my Clutterbugs posts, or Wordless Wednesday or something, but I've abandoned a few blogs because they were just too boring. This originally started as a blog to highlight my Stampin' Up! projects, but I just got so bored with seeing the same kinds of stamped projects day after day.

Here's a don't for the commenters. Don't set your account up with NoReply@Blogger. That is so pesky when you want to answer a question or just thank someone for a nice comment. I've even had to disqualify someone from one of my giveaways because I had no way to reach them. Here is a link to a tutorial on how to fix this little problem.

Same thing for that darn word verification thing. Just don't do it. I can see why you want to keep the spammers and the nasties off your blog, but if you have Comment Approval on, you don't need the word verification thing too. It's like a belt and suspenders - ugh!

Now for the Do's

Do post lots of fun, interesting, and heartfelt posts. You don't have to share every secret you've ever had with us, but that's the whole point of having a blog is to share your personality and experiences with us.

Do post the occasional contest and giveways. I don't live for these things, but it is nice to have a chance to win a little swag now and then. I especially like the ones where a little skill is involved. Rhea of Texas Word Tangle is great at this. She does a contest where she takes pictures of everyday objects and you have to guess what they are.

Do return comments. I'm not perfect about this, but I do try to leave at least 20 or 30 comments a week, which is about all I have time for. I always like to put my two cents in on different topics and I like my bloggy friends to feel loved and supported.

Do post often. I know, I am SO guilty of this. I knew I would never be able to be one of those fabulous bloggers who could come up with a daily post, so I never even had that goal, but I do try to post at least a few times a week. I do get a little annoyed with people who don't blog for weeks or months at a time. Why have a blog if you aren't going to post sometimes?




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