How to publish your own blog?

If, like me, you have ideas to discuss, issues to rant about, photos to share, and books and films to recommend, you'll want to answer this question: how can you share all your creative genius with the world without being a web designer and building your own Web site?
Millions of people (myself included) have discovered that the answer is blogging. A blog (shortened form of 'web log') is a type of Web site for the individual - a space on the web where you can share your ideas and life experiences. There are two fundamental differences, however, between a Web site and a blog:
1. You don't have to design a blog, you just need to choose a space.
2. A blog isn't a static space—it is designed to be regularly updated.
The key is that a blog constantly moves forward, whether you update once a week or three times a day.
A blog gives you easily accessible (and free) space on the web to have your say, even if you want to keep your thoughts private. The decision is yours whether to keep your comments for your eyes only, share them with a select group of friends or simply let anyone in the world read them, if they're interested. If you choose to 'go public' you will find you are taken much more seriously as a blogger if you update regularly. The blogging community gets bored quickly if you don't keep up.
If you set up your own blog (a quick and easy process—as you will see later), you will need to decide what theme you're going to give it, or rather, how you're going to make it work. This can be the hardest part of the blogging process, but it's worth some consideration, especially taking into account the amount of blogs where even the writer gets bored and stops contributing!
In short, think about what you want to achieve before you get set up. Why not browse other blogs first to see what you like, and what you don't.
Step by step
1. First of all, I had to choose a blog tool. There are loads of free blog tools available on the Web, but at the very least, your choice should allow you to:
o easily type and submit entries
o easily receive feedback from people who read your blog
o post photos
o create a personal profile
o browse profiles of other bloggers
I decided to go with blogger.com, as it allowed me to do all of this, and looked simple to use.
2. Next I had to create my blog account. This involved the usual username and password drill, giving my blog a name, and then choosing a page style from a large selection of templates. Clear instructions took me each step of the way through the process, and within five minutes I was the proud owner of my own blogspot.
3. Now that I had created my account, I was left with nothing more than to post my first blog. I typed my latest thought into the empty text box, chose a font and hit 'Publish Post.'
4. I then chose the option to view the published blog in a new window so I could see what I had just posted. It looked clean, professional—and expectant!
5. The easy bit was now done. Now it was up to me to start regular postings and generate some interest in my work. Suddenly my outlook on life shifted perspective. What to share? What to keep private?
Give your blog a theme
Want to set up your own blog, but you're short on creative ideas? Try asking yourself the following questions:
Are you going through a difficult or thought-provoking time? If you have questions to ask the world (and don't we all), why not post your questions on your blog? Maybe someone out there will answer them...
Have you found amazing places on the Internet you've wanted to share with others? Blogs are a great way to share links and open windows into strange or interesting worlds.
Have you endured something you want to share in order to teach through your own experiences? Maybe a pregnancy, getting a new job, being a teenager or suffering an illness. Do you want to help others who may be going through a similar experience? Why not share your wisdom or encouragement through your blog.
Are you passionate about your interests? Do you think your love of knitting, kite surfing or amateur psychology deserves a spokesperson? Why not inspire others? You may find a community of like-minded individuals out there.
Do you want to showcase a talent, such as painting or photography? Blog sites normally provide bloggers with plenty of web space.
Do you simply want to write an online diary of your activities and/or thoughts?
How interactive do you want to be? Do you want to encourage comment or just release your thoughts into the ether? Bear in mind that comments and feedback are the core of most blogs (they're part of what it is to blog—whether they're appreciated or not!).
Whatever you choose, or if you decide just to see where your blog takes you, it's time to build your blog and share your thoughts with the world.