My 3rd Grade Notebook (with 5th Grade photo “enhanced” by 5th-Grade-Me)
How to Choose a Blog Name
Ten years ago, I launched my blog site with this quip: “Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3. Is this thing on?” I thought it was funny. So did some guy who wrote, “Awesome!” and reblogged it. “Cool!” I thought. “I’m on my way!” He was the first and last person ever to read that post. (In space no one can hear your blog scream.) So the next day I relaunched with a series of posts about how I chose my blog name, which was really just a way of introducing myself to readers–of which I had none. I do have a few now (thank you!). So I’ve decided to re-post those first five blogs.
Lavish fanfare. “Thank you, thank you! Please, you’re embarrassing me, really. Thank you…no, really…thank you…” The crowd settles. I begin to speak. My voice is full of warmth and humility: “On the auspicious occasion (asion, asion, asion) of my first official blog post (ost, ost), as I look out upon my legions of imaginary fans (ans, ans)…”
OK, so you’re wondering how I’ll make an epic multi-part story out of how I picked my blog name when my blog name is simply, well, my name. Answer: I can make an epic multi-part story out of anything!
My blog name needed to be special. By contrast, naming my children was easy. After all, they hadn’t developed personalities yet. My blog name, on the other hand, had to embody not only my passions and ideas, but a very well-developed (some might say overly developed) personality. Hence…
Name choice #1: Don’t Read This, You’ll Only Encourage Him! I figured I’d hit the bulls-eye with this. After all, as a kid I regularly inspired adults to say, “Don’t laugh, you’ll only encourage him!” And as a result, did a lot of elementary school time-outs for blurting too-good-to-keep-to-myself one-liners. Long before it was labelled ADHD, my type of behavior was called “poor citizenship.” To this day, when I see “Citizenship: ________” on a form, I feel like I should answer, “Needs improvement.”
I had a lengthy run in sketch comedy groups during the 80’s and 90’s (Isaac Air Freight, Mitch & Allen, National Lampoon Players). But I also did un-funny things like college teaching, filmmaking, and conference speaking. Don’t get me wrong, I love making people laugh, always have and always will. But…
I needed a name that said more. So I reluctantly abandoned Don’t Read This, You’ll Only Encourage Him! vowing to repurpose it as the title of my first post. Hence, this post.
Which is now over.
To read the next episode, click here.
This was too funny, and as for the elementary teachers saying, “Don’t laugh, you will only encourage him.” That always made me laugh harder.
Me too, Kamina! ;>)
Haha Great minds think alike 😉
I understand about the name of a blog, you want to say as much as you can with as few words as possible, mine was simply, “Kingdom Thoughts”, that left a door wide open for me, perhaps…
Blessings, I really appreciate your posts.
Thank you, Pete. Keep up that Kingdom thinking.
Mitch like you I can make a short story long, or, in my case, write three books!
You are a top rated storyteller to many of us!
Brad
Aw, thank you, Brad.
Thank you for sharing this and making me smile 🙂
My pleasure, Maja.
“Don’t Read This, You’ll Only Encourage Me ” is a great blog title and it suits your blogging style. But I guess “Mitch Teemley” does, too. After all, you are Mitch Teemley. 🙂
Yep, no one else has laid claim to the name, so it seems I am. ;>)
Need a smiley face for this!
I love this. My brother always says that it’s family trait to make a short story long, so reading this makes me feel like you’re part of the family.😊
Thank you, my Anonymous friend. Wish I knew who you were.
Sorry, I read this. Now you’ll only be encouraged. The narrative content and style are funny. Sorry that it’s over. Thank goodness it’s continued.
;>) Thanks, Christopher.
And now, how did Isaac Air Freight get its name?
Isaac (loosely translated from the Hebrew) means “laughter” (Isaac’s name was inspired by Sarah’s laughter when she was told she would have a child). And “Air Freight” is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the rapture (inspired by seeing the words on a billboard).
Then you write few more posts.
And comments start coming!😃
Thank you for inspiring us new bloggers! Love this so much.
My pleasure, Nicole!
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A lot of bands have the same issue here in Kansas City so they just slap “KC” onto the front or back end of the name. Rock Band KC, Blues Band KC, etc.
Maybe “Mitch Mitchellaneous”??
That makes me think of the way Wham UK had to add the “UK” to their name back when they first got started, because there was already an American group called Wham.
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