I've maintained Oly Bloglines for about a year now, my initial list of feeds was based on what Rick already had here on OlyBlog as Favorite Olympia Blogs. I regularly browse through various blog listing services and add new feeds. I try to keep up with members here who also have blogs elsewhere. Remember: if you got local blog and you don't see it listed, let me know.

Most days I at the very least skim through all the posts, I look for ones I want to share and I pay attention to trends. Here are some of my current thoughts on the state of local blogging:

How personal is too personal? Many local bloggers, especially women and especially women blogging about family matters, have had to reassess how personal they get. Some have chosen to take their blogs more private, many blogging groups have settings that can be adjusted according to who you want to see what. Some are reconsidering what photos they post of loved ones.

How many ways can I blog? Local bloggers are very innovative and willing to try whatever new applications are out there. I see a rise in blogging by phone, I also see lots of folks getting really good at photo blogging. Those who are within blogging communities such as Vox and LiveJournal are enjoying exploring all those communities have to offer.

What is my Voice? I don't always like everything I read but I always appreciate knowing where I am, knowing easily who is blogging because they are consistent. I think the best way to develop your blogging voice is to keep at it and blog about what you enjoy. Reading ideas on finding your voice can be helpful too, browse around for tips online and read books on creative writing.

Some examples of local bloggers with strong voices:

• Olympia Dumpster Divers
• Olympia Time
• In The Course of Events
• Flummel, Flummer, Flummo

These are just a few examples, there are many more out there.

What is my beat? Related to that idea of voice is that of choosing a beat. Emmett has a great post here on choosing a beat for OlyBlog, those ideas can work for individual blogs too. You don't have to write only on one subject but having particular themes you enjoy writing about makes for a more interesting blog.

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Posting regularly is important for blogs as is occasionally freshening up the site design and making sure link lists are current. I'm enjoying watching so many local bloggers come into their own. Our community is all the richer for their work.