I started “Charisma” in November 2022, however I did have a previous fashion blog around 2010 or so.
Why did you start Blogging in Second Life?
I am a fine artist by profession. I started the blog because I needed an additional form of creative expression to work on when I was not being active in my offline painting studio. Gotta keep the creative juices flowing at all times, you know!
Do you feel the Blogging community in Second Life has changed since you started Blogging, and if so, in what ways?
I’m not sure about the community, but I think blogging *itself* has changed a great deal since I first started participating in it a decade or so ago.
It used to be simple fashion images, editorial, etc. My own work is still pretty traditional, similar to pin-up poses, I guess — however I noticed that many of my fellow bloggers now produce a single, complex image (a vignette of sorts) in order to tell a story. I am often very impressed by these works… and then other times I miss the point completely. Like it’s a lot of bells and whistles, a huge theatrical production that doesn’t go anywhere for me.
I am humble enough to admit, it could just be me, though. 🙂
I also feel compelled to mention something else about current blogging:
There is a huge, kink-filled, exhibitionist world in Second Life — and there’s nothing wrong with that as long as everyone involved is an adult and no one is getting hurt. Seriously, do whatever you want to do in the privacy of your home or club, I don’t care.
For some reason, however, there are bloggers who just decide to post full-frontal nudity and extreme sexual interactions — without warning, mind you! — like everyone in the freakin’ world wants and needs to see that sh*t.
To the bloggers who do this: there are many, many people in the world who have survived a LOT and have very valid reasons why they would rather not be visually assaulted by your sexual images. It’s bordering on weird, predatory behavior for you to continue to do this to unsuspecting viewers.
BE CONSIDERATE. Put your explicit images in an album to share with those you know will be appreciative if them.
I’m probably going to be labeled as a prude but I don’t care. I’m glad I spoke up.
Do you think that Bloggers have a positive impact on Second Life culture and community, and if so, do you have any stories about that?
When we share helpful information, beautiful & interesting images that spark wonder about our world, when we make each other laugh with our silliness, when we give each other encouragement and pats on the back for a job well done – I believe all of those things have an immensely positive impact on our Second Life community and culture. (And therefore the whole planet!)
I will continue to be a blogger as long as I know I am contributing to the positive spirit of things here. It makes me happy to know I may be doing so.
Are you approachable as a Blogger by content creators that may have interest in you as a Blogger for their Brand/Store?
I believe I am open and friendly and perhaps would work quite well with many creators, however being under contract to a store or designer will have to wait a while.
First, I am tending a partner who is having serious health issues and my time with him is a priority.
Second, my offline life and work has gotten super busy recently.
Third, I gotta get this PBR thing figured out before I commit to doing any work for anyone! Gahhh!
I’m sure I’ll fill out some applications when life is manageable again. 🙂
Do you have any tips or tricks that help you with the Blogging process that you would like to share?
One thing that I started doing a couple years ago is using Gyazo as a visual note taking device while I am working. (Others might already do this too, I dunno.)
For example, I always want to give credit in my posts wherever I can, but I kept forgetting to write down the information of the poses I was using. So what I do now is this: while I am “in pose”, I will pull the pose stand HUD close to my avatar on the screen. Then I use Gyazo to grab a little screenshot of the information, which I then download to my desk top. All of this goes into a folder and when I am ready to compile my blog post I have an accurate record of the pose creator’s information, etc.
See what I mean?
You can use this method to record any details on anything rezzed in-world and it can really be a time and brain saver.
Some more tips:
The stand that I use in-studio right now is “Professional Pose Stand” v 1.2.4 sold by Eru NeoK. Costs L$1 on Marketplace. You can also see in the screenshot that I use Animare Plus Pose System and Amacci Neck Pose HUD — those two items cost much more, but sure come in handy every photo shoot. You may want to try them, too.
What kind of Blogs appeal to you as a reader, and what would you like to see more of in the Second Life Blogging world?
I do enjoy blogs where the author is chatty and talks about their everyday Second Life experiences. I have to admit, I have shied away from doing that myself because I wasn’t sure that I had much to say here. But maybe I do after all.
This little challenge has loosened me up a bit. Haha.
I’d definitely participate in blogging challenges in the future when they are offered.
Do you Blog content that you yourself would wear/use always, or do you blog content that is expected of you to blog due to commitments to stores/events?
I absolutely could not blog content that I wouldn’t wear or use myself.
Do you feel that imposed time limits, and a set amount of content featured changes the way you blog content, and does it feel less authentically you?
To me, working that way would be about as creative as slapping together a sloppy fast-food hamburger and setting it in front of someone. Yeah, no. Can’t do it.
Do you use Social Media, and/or other platforms outside of your Blog/Website to promote the content you have shared?
Do you pay for any aspect of your blogging other than the clothing or items in your images, such as Website Hosting, Photoshop etc?
Website hosting and domain name
Flickr Pro
Primfeed Pro
Photoshop/Adobe Creative Cloud
Gyazo Pro
My home parcel where my Charisma Studio is housed
Evernote
Note about this last item: Evernote is an app/program I use every day for composing, documenting, saving clippings, etc. Blogging would be dreadfully tedious without it!
Do you think that Stores/Content Creators should have a Website/Blog for their Brand?
It’s not necessary, but I think it’s always beneficial for any business or creator to have a well-maintained, currently updated website.
Conversely, if a store or content creator has a crappy, eyesore website that hasn’t been kept up, it kind of tells you a lot about the quality of what they produce and how they present themselves.
Do you have any suggestions for Content Creators/Stores to consider, when it comes to their Bloggers, and Bloggers that they may want to have Blog for them?
I fully realize how important it is to run a tight ship — after all, it’s your business, your money, your time — you have to keep things in order. I get it.
However, some of the requirements I have read and/or heard about on blogger applications sound a bit power-tripping and overly demanding. I wouldn’t like to work for any place like that no matter what the perks were.
I think it’s important to give structure and boundaries, but don’t kill a creative person’s passion with excessive whip-cracking. They may pleasantly surprise you if you give them a little room to breathe and explore. They may even move your brand in a better direction than you could imagine.
Then again… I’ve never owned and operated a virtual business, so I could be totally wrong. Working with a bunch of bloggers might be like herding naughty cats for all I know.
Do you have any advice that you can give other Bloggers that may be new to the experience, or even advice/wisdom that you want to share with the Blogging community as a whole, new or old?
Work hard and stay focused, but have fun, too!
Above all else, follow your gut instinct and stay true to YOU. There are so many things in our first lives that can can grind us down, anything we do here should nourish our souls somehow.
Do you have suggestions for which Blogging Platform to use, and why you chose it over others?
I’ve used WordPress for at least 15 years for my first life blog writing and it’s all I’ve ever used on my fashion blogging in Second Life. It’s pretty easy to learn, very customizable and I highly recommend it.
(Seriously, if a right-brained artist like myself can figure it out, you can, too.)
What do you enjoy and are most passionate about when it comes to Blogging?
What I love the most is when I can successfully present an idea about my (and therefore my avatar’s) personality through a small series of images. It delights me when I can use Laurna to make a connection with my friends and new readers.
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