Wow. This was more work than I thought to get this experience up and running. There is still more to do for smoothing the interface between the Writer experience and the supporting site by RESA 23 Things being used. For now, I'll take a moment to catch my breath. The process was exhilarating. Seeing the possibilities I'm excited to share this and support those who test it out. A shout out to the Deadwood Writers, a phenomenal writer's group who keep pushing the envelope of what defines a group of writers who support each other.
I am gifted with working with very talented people in my field of work. My colleagues and I work hard to stay on top, and ahead, of best practices in teaching and learning; and reflect on how best to model and teach ourselves. In this instance, the Writer 23 Things is based on my experiences participating in Wayne RESA's: 23 Things Teachers Need to Know About Web 2.0. The intention of that course, as with Writer 23 Things, is to help practitioners harness the tools available online. The architects of that experience are Jacki Campbell and Carol Mayer, two talented and smart individuals who do great things for the educators they touch with their work.
I thank Carol and Jacki for allowing me to utilize their work and transforming into an experience for writers and authors. This would be a monumental task without their advice and support. Thank you.
Table of Content Here is the list of 23 Things. Use the links to travel through the Writer's journey of collaboration tools. It's going to be a great experience to see many resources that you can use to support yourself as a writer and author in all genres and formats. RESA 23 Things is a resource site for a different perspective. (Acknowledgment)
Wow! It's been a long winding journey. Take a few moments to reflect on your experiences with Web 2.0. As a final leg, watch these two videos before posting your thoughts. Thank you for your participation, and contribution of your best thinking.
Video 1 : Web 2.0 - The machine is Us/ing Us
Video 2: Writers on Writing
Blog Prompts for Thing 23 How has your thinking changed between Thing 1 and Thing 23? What are your big "take aways" from this experience?
Final Experience Reflection for Things 1-23 How will you use your blog and some other tool(s) to support you in your writing (and other areas)?
One way to see the value of a wiki for your work is to sign up for one and play with it. Create a bio with links to your blog and resource lists from Delicious.
To complete Thing 22 you must: A. Create your own wiki B. Reflect on thing 22 on your blog
Here's a list of Wiki sites to create your own. Read about each and choose the one that's best for you.
Video 2: How to add content Optional Experience You may want to try using someone elses wiki before creating your own. One place to test the tool is Wikipedia. It's a free account. Choose a topic you are knowledgeable about and add helpful information. Please stay true to their mission and add information that will help others on the topic.Give it a try if you wish.
Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 22 In your blog post be sure to include the link to your wiki. Then discuss your feelings about using a wiki. How does a wiki differ from a blog? When is one more appropriate to use than the other?
Wikis are a great way to build a site of your own. Link it to your blog. Or try a Weebly, a combination of a wiki and a blog. Their strength is as a collaboration site where a group can develop and maintain the information together for public or private use. Your choice. Here's more...
To complete Thing 21 you must: A. Learn how wikis work B. Explore a variety of writer-based wikis C. Reflect on Thing 21 on your blog
Learn how wikis work Let's start with a video to explain the process.
Wikis and Weebly are easy to build. No special skills are necessary, works on any computer platform, and it's free. On a wiki, you can require users to log-in before being able to edit. Use the history feature to keep up on what's been changed and by whom. Earlier versions of a page can always be accessed.
Describe a wiki you found that inspires you to create one of your own. What hurdles might stand in the way of your using a wiki? What would it take to remove the hurdles? Is it worth the fight?
In the last Thing, you've delved into podcasts. Now it's time to find ones you want to follow and setup podcasts to download for your listening pleasure, like an RSS.
To complete Thing 20 you must: A. Search for podcasts B. Use iTunes to browse, download and subscribe to podcasts C. Reflect on Thing 20 on your blog
Podcast Search Sites
Search for podcasts Here is a list of search sites for podcasts. Explore them. Mine for your gems.
Itunes Links Itunes is one tool that can be used for subscribing and scheduling podcast downloads. Here's a video tutorial. You can learn more about Itunes, and then download the program. With iTunes, you can search for and subscribe to podcasts. Here's a video to show you how. Subcribing to a podcast series, you can listen to new episodes as they become available. iTunes is an easy subscription tools, but you can also use your Bloglines account to subscibe. The methods you learned are from Thing 5. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 20 Include in your post the name of at least one podcast to which you subscribed. Describe your experience using the various search tools. Which do you prefer and why?
Podcasts are a wonderful tool for writers to get their voice out there. Whether you listen to podcasts or produce them, podcasting enables you to communicate to your readership through audio. Perhaps with a reading excerpt, or find podcasts that help your writing or other interests. Podcasts are accessible, portable, easy to create, and free.
To complete Thing 19 you must: A. Learn what podcasting is B. Listen to a variety of podcasts C. Reflect on Thing 19 on your blog
Learn what podcasting is
Podcasting is the ability to create or listen to audio or video content. You can listen live, or downloaded a copy to listen to at a more convenient time. A podcast is like a radio show or mp3 music. They could be episodes, such as on NPR, that you listen to on your computer or digital player. Any player, not just ipods. If you like a particular radio show, course, or audio blog, you can subscribe to it, and new podcasts from the site will automatically download to your computer.
Here are three videos that explain about podcasts. It's three different approaches of which some might work best for you than others. View them all and see what best fits.
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Listen to a variety of podcasts
Try some of these Podcast Links. Some are search engines to voluminous list. Enjoy.
Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 19 Which podcasts did you find interesting? Identify one or two podcasts and describe how you would use them in your writing and/or work. (Be sure to include links in your blog entry to the podcasts mentioned.)
Slideshare is a repository of online slideshows. Like Youtube, it's a great resource for finding material for presentations and to support ideas in your posts. These resource can be downloaded and/or embedded into your blog as seen below. There are many ideas produced by others that are made available for you to expand your thinking by seeing perspectives, perhaps, different from your own. You'll need to set up an account. It's well worth the experience.
To complete Thing 18 you must A. Explore Slideshare B. Embed a presentation into your blog B. Reflect on Thing 18 on your blog
Explore Go to Slideshare and search for presentations that interest you. Try clicking the links at the top to view the "Most Viewed" and "Most Downloaded" for some of the popular presentations. If you are a PowerPoint (or other presentation software) user, you may want to upload your own presentations. Again this is a way to make yourself know to an audience, and perhaps draw them to your blog or website. Here's a video that describes Slideshare.
Embed Select a presentation to embed on your blog. Look for the embed code -- just like when you embedded a video. For a review on how to embed, see Thing 10. For your convenience, here is that video:
Reflect - blog prompts for Thing 18 What did you like about the presentation you embedded? How might Slideshare be useful in your writing? In your work?
Web 2.0 offers many, many ways to collaborate and communicate with a broad audience. It can feel overwhelming at times. The best thing to do is focus on a few that resonate, and immerse yourself in them. Knowing a few tools well is more productive than a surface understanding of a lot. Here are tools for thinking through ideas and brainstorming. Delve in a few of them. You're exploration begins now...
To complete Thing 17 you must: A. Explore an online productivity tool B. Reflect on Thing 17 on your blog
Explore an online productivity tool
Some of these tools may require setting up an account. Enjoy.
Bubbl.us- brainstorm with concept mapping tool Zoho Show- create, edit and share presentations online Remember the Milk- create task list, share with others, and get reminders 30 Boxes- calendar LibraryThing- your own cyber bookshelf Trailfire- create a "trail"of annotated web pages on any subject Knowtes- create a deck of virtual note cards
Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 17 Give a review of the tool you explored - what worked, what didn't work, how might it be used in your personal or professional life? Are there other Web 2.0 tools available online that you could share?
Easy-to-use Web 2.0 tools enable people around the world to collaborate so much easier than in the past. Google Docs is an online workspace to produce, upload, and share work with others. It includes a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor. All are compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.
With Google Docs, there are zero barriers for working on documents anywhere, anytime, and with anyone. You could collaborate with someone on the opposite side of the globe, working at different times and rates.
A Google account is required. If you have a Blogger account, you have a Google Account. If not, now is a good time to have one. Go to Google Docs.
Online Productivity Google Docs is a great tool for writers. An online copy allows for working from any computer, and is good for collaborative work. Don't take my word for it, try it out here.
To complete Thing 16 you must: A. Log-in to Google Docs and start a new document B. Explore Google Docs C. Reflect on Thing 16 in your blog
Log-in to Google Docs and start a new document
Once you're logged into Google Docs start a new document. As you type in the document, it will auto save periodically. Go ahead and give it a try.
Explore Google Docs
This is a good time to explore Google Docs. Try creating another new document or spreadsheet. Or, upload one from your computer. Playing with it is how you'll discover the possibilities. Try clicking SHARE and give others access to that file.
Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 16 How might you use this tool in your personal and professional life? What issues come to mind about using this tool with others (ie, they need email addresses to log-in)? What value might this have with your writing and/or other work you do?
News feeds are a great way to get ideas for articles, stories, characters, scenes, and other creative situations.
You'll be reviewing, cleaning, and organizing your Bloglines account. Hopefully, you've been checking in for updates to the blogs you've set up an RSS. If not, now's probably a good time.
To complete Thing 15 you must:
A. Subscribe to a news feed B. Subscribe to a tag feed C. Clean up your feedroll D. Reflect on Thing 15 on your blog
News Feed In addition to blogs, you can subscribe to news feeds. Using one of the subscribing methods covered in Thing 5, subscribe to at least two news topics, selected from the news feeds available on the following sites. There are a number of feeds based on news topics at each site. Add the feed you want to your account. Most of them may need you to copy the feed address to paste into your account.
Subscribe to a tag feed Next, it's time to add some feeds to your Delicious account. Watch this video 1: Tag Feed
Clean Upyour feedroll Now it's time to do some clean up. This video will give you a start on the process--Video 2: Clean Up
Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 15 Is RSS becoming easier to understand? Do you recognize new benefits of using this tool? Do you remember to check your feeds regularly? Has it become a habit (or obsession!) yet?
Online bookmarking continued. With an account, a customized bookmark list can be shared on topics that interests your readers, and enhance posts. Delicious is one such tool. You could create bookmark lists for:
Writer resources
Genre authors
Recommended reading lists
Techniques for Illustrations
To complete Thing 14 you must: A. Explore Delicious B. Create your account and begin bookmarking C. Reflect on Thing 14 on your blog
Explore Delicious Delicious is powerful for social networking, allowing you to find useful websites through others, and how users have tagged similar links. Watch the following video and then spend some time exploring Delicious. Video 1: Explore Delicious
Create your account and begin bookmarking Now you're ready to create an account. View this video first.
This next video will show you how to create bookmarks. Try some after watching it.
Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 14 Include your Delicious username in this blog post so that others can view the bookmarks that you have chosen to share. Then reflect on how you think social bookmarking can be used in your writing/profession. Does Delicious seem to be a tool that can enhance your productivity?
Social Bookmarking Have you ever spent too much time searching your browser folders for that website you needed now? Doesn't it get frustrating when after a lengthy search, you realized you bookmarked the site on a different computer? There are so many sites for writing, publishers, and editors. Maintaining organization and access regardless of what computer you are on, there is a high need for a tool that helps. Social bookmarking is the solution.
Social bookmarking is a method of saving bookmarks to a website. Then, you can use any computer because your bookmarks are saved online. But wait, it gets better. Throw out the "folders" concept for organizing bookmarks. Tag each website with multiple labels (tags) so they can be associated with a number of topics. You can publicly share bookmarks or you can keep them private -- for your eyes only. Social bookmarking enables you to search other's bookmarks based on search tags, such as writers or writing. Delicious is one of many social bookmarking sites.
To complete Thing 13 you must: A. Learn how social bookmarking works B. Understand tagging C. Reflect on Thing 13 on your blog
Learn how social bookmarking works Review this video for a better understanding of Social Bookmarking. Video: Social Bookmarking in Plain English
Understand tagging You used tags, or keyword searches, in previous Things. For example, in searches on Technorati (blogs), Flickr (photo searches and tagging), and Youtube (videos). Tagging is assigning keywords or “tags” to online content such as bookmarks and pictures. When creating a photo album or scrapbooking, lables are stuck to the pages. Also with organizing files or other physical objects that we want to be able to find and retrieve quickly. The same is done for digital media such as web links, blog posts, photos, or other user-generated content. You can assign multiple tags to a single object when it serves several purposes. I might list a writer's website because of its resources and writing ideas. My tags could be resources and writingideas. Tagging is a critical way digital media is sorted, saved, searched, and shared today.
Other terms you might explore include:
folksonomy - directly reflects the vocabulary of the users
tag cloud - a visual representation of a collection of tags with font size representing frequency of use
Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 13 Share your thoughts about tagging. Is tagging a useful way to organize your digital resources and why? What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages? What is important to think about before assigning tags to bookmarks or other Internet content?
Adding interactivity to your blog is a great way to maintain a readership, and sometimes collect information for discussion or research. Widgets or add-ons are the mini programs that you can embed into your posts or blog. This can be done by embedding add-on elements into your posts. Widgets can enhance your blog, a post, or emphasize something you want to say.
To complete Thing 12 you must: A. Explore blog widgets and embed one into your blog B. Reflect on Thing 12 on your blog
Explore this list. Add one to your blog post. Look for embed code (review Thing 10 if you need help embedding) and copy it using the "Edit Html" tab when writing your post. For more widgets, look under the Layout tab, click "Add a gadget" to find a list.
Alternative: Google Gadgets on Main Blogger Page Here's a video that offers how to add a gadget (widget for Google) to your main blog.
B. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 12 Review the widget you selected. Are you getting comfortable with embedding code? Do you belong to other online communities? Are relationships formed online as meaningful as face-to-face relationships? Why do you think MySpace, Facebook, and other social networking sites are so popular?
Community building is a primary focus of Web 2.0. Globally, people are able to dialogue, exchange ideas, and network. The experience is about creating and sharing content, whether its videos on sites like YouTube, presentation slides from Slideshare, photes through Flickr, or a compilation of these tools on a blog. Think of the possibilities for Writer's Groups, such as the Deadwood Writers, and Writer's Organizations like SCWBI, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and Mystery Writers of America.
One important component to building a presence is to comment on other people's sites (blogs, Youtube, weebly). It's exciting for the author to receive comments on their posts. The experience is highly motivational to post more. Relevant comments that show knowledge and appropriateness builds your own reputation and buzz. Readers become curious about what you have to say on your site.
Now's your opportunity to become part of the Web 2.0 community through commenting.
To complete Thing 11 you must: A. Comment on participant blogs B. Reflect on Thing 11 on your blog
Review these guides on how to comment appropriately on social network sites. Then review your peer participants' blogs and post 3-5 comments.
Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 11 What do you like / dislike about leaving comments? How did you feel when you received your first comment? Why do you think commenting is so important in online communities? What implications could this have on your work/profession/interests?
When you find videos on a site like YouTube to share with others on your blog, and perhaps use to make a point with comments, there are some options. Include a link to the video. You could also embed the video into your blog (as you've seen throughout this Writer 23 Blog experience) with your comments right next to it. Sometimes you want to download a copy because the video is blocked from playing on the website. Third-party sites, like Zamzar, and software can enable you to do this. Let's explore these options.
To complete Thing 10 you must: A. Embed a video into your blog B. Download a video C. Reflect on Thing 10 on your blog
Video 1: Embed Video Review this video on how to embed one of your own. Then do so with your reflection for Thing 10.
Video 2: Download Video pt. 1 Videos cannot be downloaded directly from YouTube, or most other video sharing sites. There are third-party sites that can do the job. Download a video using one of the tools shown here. Please be mindful of copyright laws. Review Fair Use guidelines for appropriate usage beyond your private viewing. Fair Use does not allow uploading the downloaded video file to other sites.
Video 3: Download Video pt. 2 Another way to download is through a third party site: Zamzar. This video will help.
Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 10 Add comments to the video you embedded. Why did you select it? Were you also able to download a video? How might videos support your writing and/or self-marketing?
Video viewing and sharing is part and parcel of life. Whether for entertainment, promotion, teaching, or for other reasons, videos embedded and linked adds flavor to how we communicate. Find videos that interest you. Look along the side of the screen for the author. Click the author for more of their videos, or look at the list of similar videos by other authors. Read the comments below the video. Post your own ideas. Just as you did in Thing 3 with commenting on others blogs, doing the same gives valuable feedback for the author.
To complete Thing 9 you must:
A. Explore online video B. Join YouTube and leave a comment C. Reflect on Thing 9 on your blog
Join and Comment Create your own account with YouTube. Then, rate and leave a written comment on at least one video.
Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 9 What do you like or dislike about YouTube? Did you find videos that would be useful for writing and/or other interests?
There is something here for everyone. Great programs to create and manipulate images. Flickr encourages 3rd parties to develop applications that use images found on the site. Many of the tools created are called mashups. These tools help users find, organize, and use photos in various ways. The header on this page is an example.
There are also online image generators that use photos from your computer, from Flickr, or from other sources, and enable you to create many types of images, such as framed pictures and posters. Create a calendar with images related to you’re writing interests, or a billboard advertising an event. There is so much you can do.
To complete Thing 8 you must: A. Explore some fun Flickr mashups B. Play around with online image generators C. Post the result of your efforts on your blog D. Reflect on Thing 8 on your blog
Links to try: Addiction warning: These tools will suck you in! The latest version of Flash Player is required for some of these.
Place Your Creation on Your Blog Adding your image to your blog may be just copying and pasting the embed code that the page provides. Or, right-click on the image and save it to your hard drive before using Blogger’s image button to add it to your post - just like you did in Thing 6. Please include a link to the image generator you used. Make it relevant to your blog or blog entry.
Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 8 In the same post in which you placed your creation, briefly describe your experience completing Thing 8. Which of these tools intrigues you and why? Was it easy, frustrating, time-consuming, fun? Share some of your ideas for using the images you can create.
Here's where you get to explore and build your own photo galleries for private, professional, and public use. Flickr allows you to post 100 mb each month, and it's free. Post a gallery of visuals with poetry, or pictures that illustrate your stories. Or, start simply with pictures to share with friends and family, then figure it out from there.
To complete Thing 7 you must:
A. Sign up for your own Flickr account B. Upload photos - Use tag Writing23 C. Reflect on Thing 7 on your blog
Creating a Flickr account Review this video on how to set up an account, and then create your own.
Uploading Pictures Now it's time to upload your own pictures. This video will demonstrate how.
For some of your photos try adding the tag Writer23 and mark it public. When you search the tag Writer23, photos from participants of Writer 23 Things will show. Note: You must upload at least five photos before a search for your tags will work.
C. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 7 Think of ways you may be able to use Flickr to market your writing or in your work and share your ideas. What issues might you face?
Photos and Images Photo sharing online can be useful tool for galleries from book covers to writing inspirations. Attention grabbers and story ideas that draw your readers to your blog.
To complete Thing 6 you must: A. Explore the Flickr site B. Search for and download a photo C. Reflect on Thing 6 on your blog
It's important to know the what and why of online photo sharing before looking for the potential as a writer and/or illustrator. This one from the Common Craft Show. Video 1: Online Photo Sharing in Plain English (If you can't see the video, click here to watch it on the Common Craft website.)
Okay, now you know what online photo sharing is, lets look at the uses, and discover the potential of such sites. While the focus here is Flickr, for common conversation. There are other sites:
Watch this video for general usage of a photo social network, and for creative ideas for writing and illustrating. Video 2: Exploring Flickr
Keep in mind copyright laws when using pictures from any website. On Flickr, scroll down the page. In the right column, there is a section called Additional Information. You will see rights to the photo. If it says All Rights Reserved, you must get permission from the owner to use the picture. Otherwise, you may not use it. One solution is to use photos that have Creative Commons licensing. This gives certain rights to users: Creative Commons on Flickr. The Library of Congress on Flicker also has public domain photos on Flickr.
C. Reflect - Blog Prompt for Thing 6 Create a post on your blog about one of the photos you downloaded. Why did you choose a particular photo? What is it about the photo that you found interesting? Be sure to include the image in your post. Use Blogger's photo upload feature to do this.
Stay up to date with the writers you value for information or entertainment. Here, you will learn about subscribing blogs to your Bloglines account. Subscribe to your favorite sites.
To complete Thing 5 you must: A. Subscribe to blogs using three different methods B. Search for blogs and subscribe to them C. Reflect on Thing 5 on your blog
Here are blogs to review for subscription or use the Blog search engines.
C. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 5 What blogs would you recommend to other writers? RSS can be a difficult concept for some to grasp right away - what questions do you have? How might you use RSS in your personal or professional life?
Now that you've found some interesting blogs, how to keep track of them? RSS is a means to bookmark or link the blogs to one site, where you can login and view new posts when they happen. Some RSS accounts include Bloglines and Google Reader.
Learn about how to get updated information --When-- it's posted. This is also how your readership will know when you post new information, stories, articles, or rants on your blog. Here's a cogent way of understanding RSS:
To complete Thing 4 you must: A. Create a Bloglines account B. Create folders in your Bloglines account C. Reflect on Thing 4 on your blog
Lets begin with creating an account. Watch this video for support: Creating a Bloglines account
Once your account is made you will need to make folders. Include (3) three: 1) Authors, 2) On Writing, and 3) Misc. The folders you make may disappear in view format when empty. This will change as you add feeds to folders. This video will help you understand how to manage the folders once you subscribe to feeds, which is learned in the next Thing.
Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 4 There is sooo much information out there, sooo many interesting sites. How do RSS help you stay up to date? How might RSS help you promote your writing? How do you think an RSS account might help with managing the sites you want to track?
Blogs are easy to create. The writing can be the difficult part. What should I write about? Do I have anything to say that is of interest to anyone? Writers read in their genre to stay in touch with their craft. Reading others blogs is a way to get ideas for your own explorations. Whether for building and maintaining a readership, self exploration, developing voice, or marketing, these are only a few ways you might start your blog writing journey. Check out these blogs for blog craft. Thing 3 gives you a look inside these possibilities as you dive into the rabbit hole...
To complete Thing 3 you must: A. Review some of the blogs on the list. B. Post a comment on this blog C. Post a comment to another blog of your choice D. Look at your blog settings E. Reflect on Thing 3 on your blog
Commenting on blogs is critical to a thriving blogosphere. It's also how you draw others to your blog. Make yourself known by your comments and others will check out your blog. People appreciate comments on their blogs as validation of their efforts. Whether posts are positive or arguementative, a dialogue is created and the blogger has ideas to consider based on your response to their thinking. Pick a few blogs to comment on, beginning with this one. Perhaps post on some of the other participants in this Writer 23 Things, and/or other blogs.
Look at your blog settings
There are many things to consider, such as who can post to your blog and under what conditions. High restrictions makes response less likely. Determine what you want and then adjust the settings accordingly. Check out this video for more support.
D. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 3
How might you use your blog for writing or work? How might you use a blog with readers? How might your blog encourage responses? What concerns do you have about blogging?
Blogs are used for a variety of purposes from personal jounals to communications to businesses, interest-based constituency, or loyal fans of (literary, music, acting) artists. Here, you will be creating a blog to explore the Writer 23 Things and discover how this communication tool might work best for your interests.
Included below are blog sites that offer a home for your thoughts. Check out Blog Services Review: Top 10 for comparisons blog hosts. If you're new to blogging, consider setting up one through Blogger as that is what this experience is using. Other blog sites will work as well, and would need to have a setting that allows other participants in this experience access without an extra account being made. Whatever blog host you select, a Google account or an Open ID (description) is needed to participate.
To complete Thing 2 you must: A. Create your own blog B. Register your blog in the Writing 23 Things at writerthings@storywind.net C. Reflect on Things 1 and 2 on your new blog
A. Watch these two videos to better understand Blogs.
Video 1: "Blogs in Plain English" helps explain the "what", "why" and value of blogs.
Once you have created a blog, send an email towriterthings@storywind.net Include your name, blog name and blog address. Write in the subject header: Writer 23 Things.
C. Reflect - Blog Prompts for Thing 1 & Thing 2 At the end of each Thing, you will be asked to post to your blog. Your reflective post should provide insight into what you’ve discovered and learned.
What worked, what didn’t, what you might try in your personal/professional/writer life, any surprises, frustrations, or eureka moments.
Provided prompts are optional. Use them or let them be your way for identifying what you wish to say about the Thing experience. Their purpose is to get you thinking.
The title of each blog post must refer to the Thing that you are writing about (by number) -- for example, give this first post the title: Thing 1 and Thing 2
Prompt: Why are you participating in Writer 23 Things? What do you hope to learn? What new insights did you have during Thing 1? How does writing on the Internet, knowing anyone could read it, change how you write or feel about writing?
Web 2.0 is a concept that's gained popularity beginning in 2004. It is about using web tools to collaborate and create content by anyone. It can be argued that such tools have always existed. Yet usability and accessibility has increased so dramatically that anyone, without coding knowledge, can go online to interact, add and shape content, and participate in dialogues through a variety of media--easily. Blogs, social networks, video streaming & sharing, and wikis are only a few of the tools that the cyber citizenry can use for communication and collaborating on ideas and content.
Writers face many challenges in publication, just getting something looked at for publication consideration is a monumental challenge, especially in this digital age. Once a book is accepted and completes a strenuous trip to publication, a writer needs to promote the book. If sales are low, future publication becomes more difficult. Web 2.0 skills can help you, the writer, to make a presence, establish a readership, and market your works to ready-made audience. The beauty is there are many approaches to take. Writer 23 Things will show some of those ways.
Do these two steps to complete Thing 1--
Step 1:
Article: "A Day in the Life of Web 2.0" by David Warlick addresses uses for Web 2.0 tools. His example focuses on middle school students. Consider how what he has to say as it reflects each succeeding generation in how they interact with media, and how best to reach them.
Step 2: Watch these two videos. Consider how they address technology, its users, and the potential for your writing, thinking, collaborating, and interests. Or another way of looking at these is: How can we as writers harness the power of these new technologies to develop a presence and use the tools to create, communicate, collaborate?
As a writer or published author have you wondered how to build and maintain a following? How to market yourself so that your work stays in awareness of actual and potential readership? Today, technology provides opportunities to promote your work, generate more ideas, and expand contact to a wide audience with or without the connections that a publishing firm offers. Most books on publication say that the author is the best promoter for their work.
This experience provides an exploration of Web 2.0 tools that allow a person to create content and build collaborative communities. It is structured after the work of RESA 23 Things site, a blog exploration of the same tools from an educator view point.
Participants will explore the Web 2.0 tools and use their blog to post reflections, and comment on blogs of other participants to support the community of learners.
We'll be using the Educational site for its excellent tutorials. Why reinvent the wheel when a quality experience is developed? Here are the steps for this project:
Use the Writer Things List to navigate to the Thing you're focused on. Everything you need is in the Thing you're exploring.
Post to your blog, and comment on others as indicated.
When done, go to the next Thing and repeat the steps.
I participated in an experience called 23 Things for educators on harnessing Web 2.0 tools. The program is excellent: 23 Things: Teachers Need to Know About Web 2.0. It really opened my eyes to tools that can be used in the work place for learning and collaboration. At some point, perhaps soon, these tools will become out dated, but the concept will remain--How do we make the most of available tools to enhance our efforts to be better at what we do?
So I got to thinking about writers, and how these tools can enhance their efforts to promote work, network, and write well. I'm putting together a 23 Things for Writers. Initially, it will be basic, with strong ties to the 23 Things site listed previously. If it goes well and there is a call for more, the Writers 23 Things will have become self-sufficient in construction.
Welcome to a new experience. Hopefully we can all benefit from it.
There's an 80's song with a hip hop beat and moderate rapping. Part of the chorus, voices like the Ewoks from Return of the Jedi, sing "wiki, wiki, wiki." I wish I could recall the song. If you do, please, please, please post the name, and perhaps a link to the lyrics. Anyway, I'm building my first wiki as a collaboration with fellow writers from a group called the Deadwood Writers. It's intent in part will be to share resources and our take on them. Many places list resources but may not include personal references, particularly the books. The challenge is deciding on a name.
Building consensus on a name is always a challenge. This group will come up with a good one. It's the process that sometimes takes awhile. Open to ideas!
