If you are asked to define modern culture and you are at a loss for words, feel free to use an apt phrase: 'Blog culture'. Particularly after the revolution brought about by laptops and notebooks, it is no longer an exaggeration to describe the contemporary times as the Blog era.   Honestly, if you are not already blogging, you are lagging behind and aren't living in the contemporary world. Today, blogging is the most favorite pastime of all those, who are fond of reading and expressing themselves. Whether you like to think on burning issues or trivial mundane matters, Blog is your platform to express yourself.
 
How to go blogging?

The first step towards creating your own blog is to find a blogging provider. Explore a good number of sites to find out the features offered by them either free or for a marginal fee. You have a plethora of sites to choose from. Choose one that arouses an instant liking in you. The majority of these sites offer you ready-made templates and push-button publishing for which you don't have to be too tech savvy.

As soon as you sign, you have in front of you ready-to-use templates to select from. After selecting one of them, personalize it by adding your name, hobbies, images etc.

Feel free to use freebies such as images, buttons, moods, blog chalks, guest maps, guest books, tag-boards, comment-boxes for readers' inputs.   

Now you have to determine whether you want your blog to be exclusively private for yourself and may be your family or you want all Net visitors to be able to view it. Password-protect facility prevents others from viewing your posts.

Now figure out the format of your blog, that is how it should look. Select a color scheme and layout. Exercise your option to either choose one of the available ready layouts and schemes or put together something on your own. Now your blog has been set up. In order to test it out, post a few pieces adjusting the layout and style. It is a good idea to write something beforehand and keep it ready to post. Keep adding to it on a regular basis, if not daily according to the availability of your free time. When you run out of ideas visit other blogs to pick up something to write on. While visiting other blogs you may leave your comments adding your own blogging address, so that others could visit you as well.

Thankfully there are a couple of sites equipped with Photoshop and HTML tutorials that can help you make your site more attractive.

Don't feel shy about publishing your blog by sending its URL to your friends and well-wishers. Leaving your URL with your posts, when you visit other people's blogs is a good idea.

Why blogging?

Blogging is the best way to communicate not only with your friends, but also with the world at large without intruding on anyone's privacy. You are not claiming anyone's time on your own. You are not demanding their attention. Nevertheless, by blogging you interact with the world and the world interacts with you without coming in anyone's way. Blogging is a way of socializing without stirring out of your living room and without dragging others out of their own houses. Blogging is a public platform to share with the private world of your own thoughts and feelings.