OTish- Blog ideas?
I'm a developing sports writer and was thinking about starting a blog to practice etc. When I thought about it, I realized the only topic that would keep me interested and occupied was Michigan football/basketball. I'd like to do something with recruiting, but we already have TomVH/rivals/scout/3 million other blogs. I'm also a data person so I was thinking about something along the lines of profootballfocus.com with Michigan games this year, collecting stats on missed tackles, coverage percentages, QB hits etc. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
... if what you want to blog about isn't blindingly obvious to you, I'm not sure you're ready yet. You have to have (a) a unique focus and (b) a real passion.
I've had a blog (not sports-related) for over 5 years. It's NOT easy to sustain your interest and reader value unless the subject practically drips from your fingertips.
Why don't you start posting some things here and then go from there?
The key is to write, every day. And don't use "etc."
Good luck...
Right now I'm just at the gathering ideas phase. From there on I'll research the topics and see what really grabs my interest. But honestly my problem is I've got enthusiasm for too many aspects of Michigan. I need to narrow down my options.
I agree with Sven. I think you're doing it backwards. Idea first, "I should blog about this" second, vice "I want to blog, now what should I blog about?"
And right away, you'll have this little catch-22: Michigan is probably the best-covered school you can think of when it comes to blogs, so you need to do something very unique to stand out - but if you go too specific and too esoteric in an effort to find a niche, you're not going to have enough material.
If you're going to do recruiting, you'll have to be better than the recruiting sites and MGoBlog. If you're going to do stats, you'll have to be better than a lot of the folks around here who do stat breakdowns, like Misopogon.
If you're just doing it to practice your writing, then it almost really doesn't matter, just write stuff. But you still might find yourself without any feedback if you're not standing out.
Write a blog covering other blogs?
Not a horrible idea... Critique sports writers that cover Michigan sports. We need a blog that spends all of it's time telling us what an ass Drew Sharp is, right?
You can alternate entries on money saving tips with reviews of the classic Mel Torme albums.
You're welcome.
Plant the seed(start the blog). Watch it start to grow(just be you, do what like covering. Find a style). The flower will bloom(if you stick to it, people will come. Slowly.. but they will come). Good luck. Once you get started throw me an email on MM and I will add your blog to my "read".