With a happy smile I pressed the send button and signed up for Blogging 101.

Blogging 101: Zero to Hero

Blogging 101 is three weeks of bite-size blogging assignments that take you from “Blog?” to “Blog!” Every weekday, you’ll get a new assignment to help you publish a post, customize your blog, or engage with the community.

You’ll walk away with a stronger focus for your blog, several published posts and a handful of drafts, a theme that reflects your personality, a small (but growing!) audience, a grasp of blogging etiquette — and a bunch of new friends.

I was committed, dedicated, determined to make time for myself to follow all the prompts, clues and leads that would be emailed to me daily for the next three weeks. Of course I would have time. I’d simply MAKE time.

Ahhh…the best laid plans of mice and men oft times go astray. Or as my feminist friend tells me, ‘If you want to give God a laugh, tell Her your plans.’

From day one I felt that life was conspiring against me (the list of impediments too long to include here). But so what if I missed following the leads and doing what was needed to become a great blogger. I’d soon catch up. After missing day five I finally threw up my hands and gave up. However I have printed (forgive me for killing many trees) every email and will try to follow the suggestions and sound advice.

Yesterday this email came from Michelle.

It’s our last weekend together, sob!> As always, use this time to catch up, or catch some time away from your blog. But if you want to make the most of these last days of Blogging 101, we’ve got two good ideas for you:

I could not resist sending the following email.

Dear Michelle. I’ve printed your emails but life has been cruel to me these past two weeks and prevented me participating. Can I possibly do blogging 101 again? Hopefully next time around I’ll be able to fully participate in the course. At least I have your emails to work with now that life has calmed a little. Fingers crossed

Would it reach her, or was I replying to some unknown automated address instead of a real person? I was delighted when the following email pinged into my inbox.

Sure, you can take it as many times as you’d like. You can register for August here: http://bloggingu.wordpress.com I’m glad you enjoyed it, and look forward to see you again! Cheers, Michelle

August the 3rd? My birthday? I vowed years ago that the celebrations must last at least a week. No hiding away, no taking off years. I’ve earned every single line in this crinkled face and am proud of every one. No! It’s time to kick up the heels, eat, drink and be merry with family and friends.

Okay, I know this blog font has changed and I haven’t a clue how to make it Times Roman or twelve point or… Bear with me. I will join other learner bloggers and participate fully in getting grounded in blogging basics in the September intake of Blogging 101. After that is Blogging 201: Branding and growth.

At the Blogging University website I found several ebooks