The Chicago Cubs are coming off of an 83-win 2009 season which was good enough for second in the NL Central division. But after two straight division titles, second is not good enough. The Cubs however have not really taken any steps to seize the Central Division crown once more.

The Chicago Cubs added Xavier Nady in the offseason, but he doesn’t really offer much to think they can improve on last season. They also have too many players, like Jim Hendry, that are on the downsides of their careers and can only be expected to fade.

New Owner Tim Ricketts is expecting this team to win a World Series, but he is being a little naïve if he thinks this team should threaten. The Cubs have a chance at the division title, but they will need for a lot to go right if they are to beat the St Louis Cardinals.

Soriano and Zambrano will both need another big season and they will need players up and down the line-up to over-achieve by a little.

The biggest need for this club is a right-handed reliever. Two of their three right-handed relievers are rookies. If they are not able to provide some quality innings, expect a trade for a veteran eighth inning guy.

The Chicago Cubs should be able to win 83 games, but they are a little too heavy on aging players and need some young arms to continue to be a successful baseball team. It remains to be seen how the new GM will shape this team, but they should have a decent season finishing in the top two in the NL Central.

Finding tickets can be a serious headache. Sometimes it’s just a matter of knowing where to look, and finding a seller that you are happy with. Here are some tips for gaining access to three of the most popular events: the Kentucky Derby, Chicago Cubs and Dallas Mavericks games.

Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is the biggest horse racing event in the world. And, it is also the toughest to get into. They have fewer seats than they have people who want them, so you can have a lot of difficulty getting in.

They sell general admission to the event, and they’re all fairly inexpensive. What’s the catch? They’re only sold on the day of the race! That means there are perhaps 20,000 seats and over 50,000 racing fans camping out, lining up, eager to get a spot at the track. Good luck!

There is an easier way to go about it, but it looks tough at first. Some tracks offer advanced sales to their members of a site specific Chicago Cubs. Anyone can become a member. You simply fill out an online membership form. After approval, you can apply for advanced tickets.

Don’t be turned off by the seeming hassle; the form isn’t tough to fill out at all, and then you’re instantly a member. Once you’re a member, you have access to all the perks, including advance purchase. They select members based on loyalty to the Derby, which means that the folks who have been going there for years will get picked first. But don’t give up. If you don’t get in this year, try again next year.

Also, the application asks you where you’d like to sit. You will increase your chances greatly by saying that anywhere will do, especially if you are a new member. Welcome to the club!

Chicago Cubs

There’s nothing like seeing the Cubs win on home turf in Chicago. You can get Chicago Cubs tickets at any outlet in advance of the game, but what if you’re in a pinch?

The best place to do last minute purchases is online. Don’t buy from scalpers! The stadium is notorious for its scalpers, and you’ll end up paying way more than you should. Scalpers know that if you’re looking to buy when you get to the field, you’re desperate enough to pay anything.

It’s also a good idea to avoid online auctions. Online auctions are not so great for buying tickets, for a variety of reasons, including high prices and seller unreliability.

There are tons of online ticket dealers. Remember that you can always shop around. If the staff doesn’t reply promptly, or isn’t friendly and professional, look for another seller.

The best way to check out the dealer’s reputation is by looking at the customer ratings. Read these carefully and you’ll know if you’ve got a good one. You’ll be able to find an online dealer that will ship quickly and at a much lower rate than you’d pay some scalper outside the ballpark.

Dallas Maverick

You can find Dallas Maverick tickets almost anywhere on the web at dealer sites. This is because they are one of the most popular professional basketball teams, and many outlets sell out quickly. Online, you can find discount tickets sold by wholesalers or people who couldn’t go at the last minute.

If you want those tickets fast, your best bet is to go with a regular dealer online, and not just somebody who is selling at the last minute. This is because the dealers rely on good ratings, customer satisfaction and fast delivery for their business.

Buying tickets is always tricky, but if you shop around, you can find a seller that will satisfy your needs.

2005 Overview:

With the departure of slugger Sammy Sosa, the offensive output for the Chicago Cubs has been replaced by the likes of superstars Derek Lee (.335 46 107) and Aramis Ramirez (.302 31 92). Both players came into their own in 2005 along with the help of Jeremy Burnitz (.258 24 87), catcher Michael Barrett (.276 16 61) and 2nd baseman Todd Walker (.305 12 40). Lee in particular impressed in 2005, hitting 27 home runs prior to the all star break and leading the league in hitting by the end of the season. Starters Carlos Zambrano (14 6 3.26), Greg Maddux (13 15 4.24), and Mark Prior (11 7 3.67) joined closer Ryan Dempster (5-3 3.13 35 saves) to provide the pitching depth in 2005 as the Cubs posted a 79-83 record to end the season 21 games behind the division leading St. Louis Cardinals.

Off Season Moves:

GM Jim Hendry traded for Florida Marlin’s Juan Pierre (.276 2 47), who will lead off and play center in 2006, both of which were troublesome spots last year. Hendry also strengthened the Chicago Cubs bullpen with two free-agent signings: lefty Scott Eyre (2-2 2.63 – obtained from the San Francisco Giants) and right hander Bobby Howry (7-4 3.47 – acquired from the Cleveland Indians). The Cubs spent $23 million to lock those two players under contract for the next three years.

Pitcher Wade Miller (4-4 4.95) was also picked up from the Boston Red Sox. The other noteworthy signings were free agent right fielder Jacque Jones (.249 23 73 from the Minnesota Twins), who will be looked upon to replace the offense for the departed Jeromy Burnitz. John Mabry (.240 8 32) was also traded from the Cardinals to help in the outfield. The Cubs are hopeful he can return to his 2004 offensive form when he tied a career high in home runs with 13.

2006 Analysis:

The restructured bullpen should help improve the pitching in 2006. Hendry also did well to pick up Pierre and Jones. Pierre improves the defense and leadoff position and should spell more RBI opportunities for Lee and Ramirez. The biggest non-pitching question remains at shortstop, where veteran Neifi Perez and 23-year-old Ronny Cedeno will be expected to help provide the answer. Lee and Ramierez will need to continue to provide the bulk of the offense in 2006.

The starting pitching remains a question mark. If Kerry Wood can return and pitch more then the 66.0 innings he did last year and Maddux can improve a bit on his record the pitching might surprise some fans as a strong point in 2006. If the

2005 Overview:

With the departure of slugger Sammy Sosa, the offensive output for the Chicago Cubs has been replaced by the likes of superstars Derek Lee (.335 46 107) and Aramis Ramirez (.302 31 92). Both players came into their own in 2005 along with the help of Jeremy Burnitz (.258 24 87), catcher Michael Barrett (.276 16 61) and 2nd baseman Todd Walker (.305 12 40). Lee in particular impressed in 2005, hitting 27 home runs prior to the all star break and leading the league in hitting by the end of the season. Starters Carlos Zambrano (14 6 3.26), Greg Maddux (13 15 4.24), and Mark Prior (11 7 3.67) joined closer Ryan Dempster (5-3 3.13 35 saves) to provide the pitching depth in 2005 as the Cubs posted a 79-83 record to end the season 21 games behind the division leading St. Louis Cardinals.

Off Season Moves:

GM Jim Hendry traded for Florida Marlin’s Juan Pierre (.276 2 47), who will lead off and play center in 2006, both of which were troublesome spots last year. Hendry also strengthened the Chicago Cubs bullpen with two free-agent signings: lefty Scott Eyre (2-2 2.63 – obtained from the San Francisco Giants) and right hander Bobby Howry (7-4 3.47 – acquired from the Cleveland Indians). The Cubs spent $23 million to lock those two players under contract for the next three years.

Pitcher Wade Miller (4-4 4.95) was also picked up from the Boston Red Sox. The other noteworthy signings were free agent right fielder Jacque Jones (.249 23 73 from the Minnesota Twins), who will be looked upon to replace the offense for the departed Jeromy Burnitz. John Mabry (.240 8 32) was also traded from the Cardinals to help in the outfield. The Cubs are hopeful he can return to his 2004 offensive form when he tied a career high in home runs with 13.

2006 Analysis:

The restructured bullpen should help improve the pitching in 2006. Hendry also did well to pick up Pierre and Jones. Pierre improves the defense and leadoff position and should spell more RBI opportunities for Lee and Ramirez. The biggest non-pitching question remains at shortstop, where veteran Neifi Perez and 23-year-old Ronny Cedeno will be expected to help provide the answer. Lee and Ramierez will need to continue to provide the bulk of the offense in 2006.

The starting pitching remains a question mark. If Kerry Wood can return and pitch more then the 66.0 innings he did last year and Maddux can improve a bit on his record the pitching might surprise some fans as a strong point in 2006. If the Chicago Cubs hope to make it to postseason play they will need to get more from the starters in order for the recent off season bullpen moves to work. Hendry hopes the $23 million is spent on Howry and Eyre will be money well invested. Fans should be patient in 2006 – if the team is close at the all star break expect a midseason trade or two to perhaps make the difference.

hope to make it to postseason play they will need to get more from the starters in order for the recent off season bullpen moves to work. Hendry hopes the $23 million is spent on Howry and Eyre will be money well invested. Fans should be patient in 2006 – if the team is close at the all star break expect a midseason trade or two to perhaps make the difference.

The new look Chicago Cubs aren’t poised to be so good this year. However, the new regime in the front office brings hope. During the off season, the Cubs have added big names like Theo Epstein as the president of baseball operations,and Jason McLeod as senior vice president of scouting and player development. These are the same guys that brought the Boston Red Sox two world championships, and cemented their legacy in Boston. Now the question is can Theo and company bring the same to Chicago? The answer is yes. That’s right cub fans this organization is being built from the ground up, and the future holds promise of sustainable success that could take the loveable losers all the way.

As a Cubs fan myself, I’ve grown tired of watching them trade away good prospects to acquire players in the latter stages of their careers, or trying to patch positions in the offseason through free agency. This approach has left the team with a weak farm system and a very high payroll full of bad contracts. Although they were able to unload the contracts of Carlos Zambrano, Aramis Ramirez, and Carlos Pena, they still have a lot of expensive contracts still on the books. Alfonso Soriano is still owed 54 million for the next three years, but guys like Ryan Dempster and Marlon Byrd will be hitting free agency after the 2012 season giving the Chicago Cubs some payroll flexibility.

Letting the prospects come up and have some magor league experience will also be a key element in long term success. Prospects like Brett Jackson and Joe Mather are close to be being contributors to the big league club (Joe Mather actually made the 25 man roster this spring) and, the Cubs are spending more money than ever in scouting and player development. This approach will strengthen their farm system, provide depth, and allow the cubs to be more active in free agency or less active if necessary. In other words, they will be able to spend more wisely when good opportunities present themselves, and they wouldn’t be obligated to sign an expensive free agent to fill a hole in the lineup or starting rotation.

Another area of concern for the Chicago Cubs is the back end of the bullpen. Can Carlos Marmol step up and be the closer everone thought he was going to be, or will he remain the same guy who will come in and walk three in a row, then strike out the next three to barely get the save? Can the young guys like James Russell, Shawn Camp take the bull by the horns and solidify their spots on this roster? Can Jeff Samardzija be a future solid number 2 or number 3 for the starting rotation? These are all legitimate questions that Epstein will have to address in the near future, but he will be well equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to make this team a World Series contender by 2015 maybe even 2014. Cubs fans should be patient during this transition but, they should also enjoy the energy and enthusiasm that the new movement in Chicago will provide. It wont be long before everyone is watching them going deep into October.

One of the inherent human facets is the ability to engage in sports activities. Many are endowed with various talents with ordinary level of performance but quite a few are gifted with an exceptional ability to excel in the particular sports field. If you look around practically almost in every popular sports there are consistent champions which engraved for themselves a record in their chosen sports. In America the most popular sports is baseball and practically all highly advanced cities have a professional baseball team. Chicago is indeed fortunate that they have the Champion Chicago Cubs.

The Champion Chicago Cubs is an American professional baseball team which is a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball’s National League. It has established the legendary baseball stadium Wrigley field as their home ballpark since 1916 in Chicago, Illinois. It was originally built as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Whales, a Chicago Federal League baseball team in 1914. It was later bought by the chewing gum magnate, William Wrigley Jr. and renamed it as Wrigley field. It is located in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood and is bordered by the Clark and Addison Streets and Waveland and Sheffield Avenues and its neighborhood is normally known as Wrigleyville. The area is surrounded with an array of mostly baseball inspired themes sports bars and restaurants. The field’s neighborhood became a business place as many residents rent out their yards and driveways for parking spaces to spectators during playing days. The Wrigley field is the fourth-smallest actively used ballpark with a capacity of 41,118 but its average game attendance is astonishing as it swelled from 1.4 million in 1983 to about 3.2 in 2004. It was considered as the oldest National League ballpark and the second oldest active major league ballpark.

The Champion Chicago Cubs together with is its Wrigley Field Stadium has been drawing hordes of fans to see their baseball idols. You may think that going there would pose a problem especially in getting a booking to Chicago. However, you will be surprised because it will be just easy for you because a lot of travel agents are offering a fantastic package through the Chicago cheap flights promotions.

The Champion Chicago Cubs had a dynasty of its own with a win record of 116 of 154 games and became the back to back World Series titles in 1907-08. This legend started in 1902 with Spalding revamping the team to assemble the best combination of players which was later known as the best team of the early century. It was then sold to Jim Hart, and the franchise ultimately became known as the Chicago Cubs. One of the major innovations of the team was the assignment of Frank Chance to be the player-manager from 1903 to 1912 which reap a good result. The Cubs won four pennants and two World Series titles over a five-year span; moreover, it established an astonishing record of 116 victories and the best winning percentage (.763) of that era. As if becoming addicted to being a champion, Chicago Cubs won again World Series championship in 1907 and 1908 and was known to be the first modern club to win 2 World Series. Moreover, the Cubs was honored and considered to be the first major league club to play 3 times in the Fall Classic.

With this outstanding record of the Champion Chicago Cubs you cannot afford not to see the team and the Wrigley Field Stadium. In going to Chicago you need not worry of the hassle of getting a booking because many travel agents are willing to assist you by giving you their best promotional package, the Chicago Cheap Flights.

Chicago cheap flights are a great way to start your vacation to Chicago Cubs. Vacations to Chicago can be in anyone’s budget. Make sure to book your cheap flights to Chicago and enjoy the scenery and variety.

Getting Chicago Cubs tickets has long been a dream of many fans, both old and young. It is one of the best-known baseball teams in the entire world and is the favorite team of millions of fans. The original name of the Chicago Cubs was the White Stockings. Their name was first changed to the Chicago Colts and finally to the Cubs in 1906. Today, these tickets are as popular as they were back then. Despite all the changes the team has seen, the Cubs remain the only team in Major league Baseball to stay in the same home city since it the start of baseball’s National League, and obtaining Chicago Cubs tickets remains as exciting to fans everywhere as it was in the team’s early days.

The Cubs have played their home games at the historic Wrigley Field since 1916. Visiting Wrigley Field itself is a reason for many fans to wish for Chicago Cubs tickets. Wrigley Field is probably as famous as the team itself, partly because of its unique features such as the ivy-covered brick wall that takes the place of the outfield fences found in most baseball fields. Another big point of interest that has baseball fans everywhere seeking Chicago Cubs tickets is Wrigley’s rooftop seating.. There are several buildings outside the park across the street from the outfield seats which have bleachers set up on their rooftops.

Today it’s easier than ever for fans to get those coveted tickets to a Chicago Cubs game. There are many different ticket brokers at a huge variety of locations from whom to purchase your tickets, and unlike in the early days you can use an online broker to get your tickets without standing in line.

You can easily find the exact tickets you want when you use an online ticket broker. These online brokers will have a schedule of all the Cubs games for the entire season and you can browse through them and select the ones you want. Another great reason to purchase your Chicago Cubs tickets through an online broker is that they can provide a complete map of the stadium seating for you to look at, making it easier to purchase the tickets for your preferred area of the stadium.

And the great thing about using an online ticket service is that their computerized maps are updated in real-time so you can easily locate groups of seats that are located together, making it easy to purchase Chicago Cubs tickets for the entire family.

WGR 55 radio talk show hosts have most of it right. You just don’t get a good feeling this year. The up and down Sabres leave you with the feeling they will be battling for a playoff spot again this year. These are the reasons why:

Coaching: I am a Lindy Ruff fan. I watched him play and coach with passion. He gets the most out of his players. I don’t always like the line combinations and I think the power play point men are bad. Pomminville is not effective and they all lose the puck too often. The assistant coaches are all great too. Can’t blame the coach here.

Players: Here is a review of the Buffalo Sabres, player by player:

9 Roy, Derek C – One of the top five players on the team. Immensely talented puck carrier and great shot. Even mucks it up a little. When he’s not going offsides and faking penalties, he is a top NHL forward.

10 Tallinder, Henrik D – He looked great a couple of years ago. Did injury effect him? He is still good but seems to have lost some fire. Maybe he likes to be more offensive and they won’t let him. Used to be a good point man on the powerplay.

12 Kotalik, Ales RW – I should start with the fact that he is the most frustrating Sabre to watch. He could be the number one guy when it comes to strength, speed, and shot, yet he just plain looks uninterested. He can take a useless shot from a bad angle without looking for anyone. He avoids checks and checking as if he were 150 lbs and sick. Please trade him.

19 Connolly, Tim C – What can you say. Stay healthy. If we could just put him in Kotalik’s body. Laser shot and Gretzky like stickhandler.

20 Paille, Daniel LW – Don’t trade this guy. Strong, young, and hockey sense. He is one of a half dozen Sabres that sctually check people.

21 Stafford , Drew RW – Maybe I thought he had more potential than he actually has. Just a shade slow but has lots of skill. He could flourish if surrounded by some good mockers.

22 Mair, Adam C – Should be wearing the “A”. The team example of determination. The kind of heart you see from players without lots of talent that comes through in playoff tough circumstances.

26 Vanek, Thomas LW – “Work on your defense Thomas”. He wouldn’t need to if he was playing with a whole team that played like they cared every night. This guy is a top NHL power forward and a class act. THE number one Sabre and should wear the other “A”.

27 Numminen, Teppo – You gotta love him because he plays so smart but let’s face it. Do you want to see him in the corners during the playoffs with Lucic or Latendresse? Time to hang um’ up.

28 Gaustad, Paul C – Should be the Captain – hands down, and a regular on the power play. He is all class and tough as nails. Plays hurt. Great in the playoffs.

29 Pominville, Jason RW – Remember that Hartford Whaler who scored 50 goals one year and was never heard from again. The long term contract was a mistake. He has skills and played a lot tougher when he was hungry. The teenage girls buy tickets to see him. Maybe Florida or LA would be a better place for him.

30 Miller, Ryan G – The fans in Buffalo adopt only special guys like Jim Kelly. Miller is a fixture and I think will always be here. He may not be the best in stats but look who he is playing with. He steals as many or more games than any goalie.

34 Butler , Chris D – With all the crappy non-checking forwards in Buffalo , the young defensemen give hope to the future. This guy can play. He does everything well.

36 Kaleta, Patrick RW – I don’t know about you but I think he should be getting more money than several hot shots on this team. He gives up his body every night.

37 Ellis, Matt LW – Wow, a real hockey player! Let’s just keep Vanek, Roy, Gaustad, Mair, Kaletta, Connely, and duplicate Ellis for the third and fourth lines.

38 Paetsch, Nathan D – Ditto again with Butler . Just a good hockey player.

40 Lalime, Patrick – Best backup in a while but could be a little more consistent.

41 MacArthur, Clarke – Cool name. Stands out in one of every five or ten games.

44 Sekera, Andrej – Great puck carrier who can play defense too. One of five good young defensemen this team has (2 are in Portland ). Don’t forget Mike Weber, he could be the best.

5 Lydman, Toni D – Sometimes is the anchor of the defense. Gets hot and cold in long stretches.

52 Rivet, Craig D – Solid two way defenseman. Should not be wearing the “C”. They need him to lead all those talented young guys.

55 Hecht, Jochen C – Enough is enough. Hecht and Kotalik – Portland or trade.

6 Spacek, Jaroslav D – I like him. He plays hard most of the time. One of the few guys that can come away with the puck from the power forwards. Not so hot at the point although at least gets some shots on the net. He and Rivet should be good teachers for the young defense. Should wear the “A” too.

61 Afinogenov, Maxim RW – Should score 50 goals with his skating and stick handling skills. Hands of stone. Should try a straight stick. Terrible shot.

76 Peters, Andrew LW – Getting a little better as a hockey player. Doesn’t really win fights big anymore. Should be dressed more against teams with big forwards who like to fight.

Mark Mancari – Looked decent.

Nathan Gerbe – Why he didn’t stay up and replace Hecht is beyond me. Tough little guy with skills.

When one thinks Buffalo Sabres, one has to think Gilbert Perreault. Perreault is certainly a must for any vintage hockey cards collector. Gil’s 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee rookie card #131 is worth as high as $100, according to Beckett. The Topps version of the same card is rated at a high price of $40. Very recently, the Topps version sold for $39.99 on an eBay auction.

A bit of useless trivia about the Topps version of the Gilbert Perreault rookie card – it was the second last card in the 132 card series with number 132 being a checklist. That same season, Perreault was also featured in the 144 card Dad’s Cookies set.

Why is Gilbert Perreault so valuable on cardboard? As mentioned above, Perreault is synonymous with the Buffalo Sabre franchise. Gil was the first overall pick in the 1970 NHL Amateur draft. The first two picks belonged to the two new expansion teams, the Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks. The Sabres won the right to the first overall pick by picking a number on a spinning wheel. That number? 11 – Perreault’s jersey number throughout his career in the National Hockey League.

Before the NHL, however, Perreault was already a star in the Ontario Hockey Association (today’s OHL). Gilbert played three seasons with the Montreal Junior Canadiens. The team won the Memorial Cup in Gil’s final two seasons, 1968-69 and 1969-70. In his final season, Perreault was awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHA’s MVP. He finished second in scoring that season to Marcel Dionne of the St. Catherines Black Hawks. Perreault had 54 goals and 121 points in just 51 regular season games. He added 38 points for the Junior Canadiens in 16 playoff games.

In his first year in the National Hockey League, 1970-71, Perreault was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie after a 38 goal performance. The only other major award that Gilbert won during his 17 year NHL career was the Lady Byng Trophy in 1972-73 after sitting just 10 minutes in the penalty box over 80 regular season games.

Gil was a member of the 1972 Team Canada Summit Series team that beat the Soviet Union. Perreault played in just two games with Canada before leaving the team. Subsequently, Gilbert’s hockey card in the 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Team Canada subset was relegated to common card status.

Twice during his NHL career, Perreault topped the 100 point plateau. In 1975-76, his 113 points placed him third in the league behind Guy Lafleur of the Montreal Canadiens and Bobby Clarke of the Philadelphia Flyers. In 1979-80, Gil’s 106 points put his in fourth behind Marcel Dionne of the Los Angeles Kings, Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers and Lafleur.

A four year captain of the Buffalo Sabres from 1982-83 to 1985-86, Perreault is still the all-time Sabres leader in the following regular season categories:

• Games – 1191
• Goals – 512
• Assists – 814
• Points – 1326

Gilbert has nine NHL all-star games under his belt. He is the only Buffalo Sabre to ever wear the number 11 as it was retired after his retirement. Perreault was enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990. Gil will go always be thought of as one of the most exciting players in the game of hockey.

Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.

— Oscar Wilde.

This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.