Thoughts triggered by trivial things

It's interesting to look through the blogposts you've written so far, to see the difference in the way you've changed your style and elaborated your topic. In the previous post I've mentioned the things that come from nowhere and trigger an idea that needs to be implemented, no matter what.

The triggering element - topic correlation

In most of the cases I take a note, make a photo or draw a little sketch of the triggering element and it's a brainstorming exercise really, because sometimes I suddenly realize that some of these elements can be combined, thus creating new ideas or topics. It's a cool thing to perceive such connections.

It's like when I was so eager to become a graphic designer after I graduated. Despite my urge it didn't work out for me, so I was looking for other ways of expression. It quickly came down on me that what I needed was writing. It's like a therapy for keeping your thoughts organized and getting yourself ready for new ideas.

What on Earth am I going to write about?!

Things might get a little blurry when choosing future topics for your shiny new blog. People usually have something more general in their minds, like: 'I'm gonna blog about my favorite fashion designer' or 'I can write something about the latest trends in online marketing', but they face the first real challenge when writing the very first blogpost (in case they've came up with the name easily).

I've faced the same problem for hundreds of times in case of many many posts, but the truth is, there's always something to write about and as long as you put yourself into those writings, you can't do anything wrong. I don't consider myself an experienced blogger and I'm obviously not trying to set up any rules for blogging, I write only about the things I've seen and virtually tasted while building my online presence. 

The topic - name correlation

I think it's essential, but should not be too obvious. I like names that contain a clever twist or something (you have a feeling about the topic, but don't know for sure). In this blog I intend to write about lots of funny/interesting/heart-melting things related to what many of us might have in common: a nice job at the office and what lies beneath it, how to make the best of it without losing our creative sanity, sense of humour and taste of beauty.

After pinpointing the topic I looked up the Internet to see if I find any articles regarding the name choice for a new blog and I've found this one. 'Be unique, be amusing, be odd' it says, but I would add a few more things, like don't choose something that's too long and too hard to remember. I usually think of it as a brand - if I'd start making customized penholders, what kind of logo would I invent? I would also check the url of my blog, I obviously don't want to make up a name that simply looks bad.

Sometimes the most ridiculous things can trigger a great idea of a blog name or a topic to your next post, it usually happens to me many a time that a childish rhyme, an amazing melody or a word from the lyrics of great song or poem triggers a whole stream of thoughts. It's nice to discover hidden connections between things you wouldn't imagine, right?

The Office Beatnik was triggered by this song:

A Beatnik salutes you from her office desk

Starting a blog is easy peasy. Sometimes. But other times it's rather more complicated, especially when you have to come up with a catchy online pseudonym and create a ravish design. Later on, of course, all you have to do is to keep things going ( = post reguraly).

I've started blogging while preparing my thesis paper in literature (it was 2006/2007 if I recall it right). I was all over with Hemingway, The Lost Generation and literary modernism and felt the urge to write about my reading experiences in my own manner. I've used Yahoo! 360°, then I switched to Blogger. I have been using Blogger since then.

My current blog is a little personal style book completed with posts about music and literature, but besides that I wanted to create a blog somewhat more specific - this is what you are reading right now.

So who is the Office Beatnik? 

She is a 20-something woman who works at the office, likes beautiful clothes, has an unusual taste in music, novels and design. Because (and not only) of her job she likes to discover and try out everything related to the online media, she's fascinated by all that's geek and hi-tech, but at the same time she's a little vintage lover as well, this is how she became a 21st Century Beatnik.

(Image from Notes on the Highstreet)