The Internet gives us the ability to experience things in real time, so it's no surprise that live blogging has become increasingly popular. Users log onto Tumblr in the middle of big events, fingers ready to type out instant reactions in text posts, sharing their thoughts with the rest of the world.
People often live blog as a way to communicate with others while documenting instant reactions and opinions. Live blogs are also great for catching up on events you missed, or creating commentary for a recorded event. While some users maintain blogs specifically for live blogging certain shows or events, the majority of users simply live blog events from their primary or subculture-specific blogs.
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Live blogging on Tumblr is as simple as creating a text post and publishing it. Despite its relatively easy execution, there are ways to make your live blog more successful and more accessible to other users. If you're wondering how to start, or you're just interested in upping your live blog game, here are seven easy tips.
Image: Sara Roncero-Menendez
You can live blog almost any event: TV shows, sports games, awards shows, concerts, press releases and even social situations (such as parties). Some people even live blog their progress on essays or projects.
Because of this wide range of options, you should always make clear what it is you're covering. You wouldn't want someone who hasn't seen an episode or movie to stumble into spoilers by accident. You can also create a separate blog on your Tumblr account just for live blogs, but it isn't completely necessary.
Whichever type of live blog you choose to do, make sure you tag it appropriately. Don't add tags of other fandoms or shows in an attempt to get more notes and reblogs — you'll likely annoy more people than attract them.
Having a live blog-specific tag helps as well, such as "#Sara Watches the Oscars" so that people can follow you or block the tag if they don't want to see the posts. Also, if applicable, be sure to tag it with #spoilers or hide the post under a "Read More" command.
Image: Tumblr, Zhangyeol
Reaction GIFs are rampant on Tumblr, and many users will store their favorites in a folder for easy access. Sometimes emotions can be more properly summed up in a GIF than in an 150 word paragraph.
It isn't necessary to include reaction GIFs, of course, but it will make your post more eye-catching — and who doesn't love a good GIF? You can also show off your Tumblr prowess by using a GIF specific to the event you're live blogging, like the one above from the TV show How I Met Your Mother.
It isn't likely that everyone who reads your live blog will do so right as the event unfolds. If users are looking to your live blog for information, be sure to include it.
For example, if you're live blogging a TV show, don't just say "They kissed!" without any context — say who kissed, and maybe even when and why. Live blogs aren't recaps, so you don't need to talk about the entire episode, but keep in mind that many readers will be reading it without having seen the source material.
At the same time, don't overthink what you write. If your gut reaction is anger, talk about why it makes you angry. Live blogs are all about genuine reactions, so don't shy away from expressing frustration or elation. After all, that's what people want to read in these posts.
Image: Flickr, Vince_Lamb
If you've decided to live blog an event such as an awards show or a football game, you're going to be tempted to post frequently about who just fell on stage or scored a touchdown. Having a post every few minutes is normal, but posting several times in one minute is definitely not. You don't want to accidentally spam anyone's dashboards by filling it with an excessive number of posts.
A best practice is to collect multiple ideas in one post and then publish it every few minutes. That way, your thoughts are more organized, and your followers won't receive a barrage of text posts.
The best way to learn how to do something is to do it and make mistakes. While this is sound advice, there's also something to be said about learning from others.
Look at the live blog tag, read the entries and laugh with the bloggers as you watch the same episodes and movies. Learning by example can help you formulate your own style of live blogging and better understand the etiquette. You can even discuss common interests and opinions with other live bloggers while following their coverage.
Image: Flickr, Benny Manzur
A given place or time will either be appropriate or inappropriate for live blogging, so it's important to know the difference. For example, don't live blog a movie in the middle of a dark and crowded theater. You need to be mindful of real-life etiquette, too, so try to live blog movies you watch at home or type out your post after you leave the theater.
While you can live blog parties, make sure you aren't upsetting your host or writing things you may regret. If you're at a viewing party, be sure to ask others if they mind if you live blog, and invite them to do the same.
A good rule of thumb is to think about whether someone else live blogging would annoy you. If there are a lot of people on their phones (as is usually the case, let's be honest), feel free to live blog to your heart's content.
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Image: Flickr, Dan Lorentz