When I was a little girl, my mother gave me a diary in honor of my first day of school.  It was a small 6x4" blue and purple book with teddy bears dancing on the cover.  It was garnished with a dial lock, my first taste of privacy.  I was 6.  Mom handed me that thing and told me that one day I'd understand why writing the happenings of your own life can be such a good habit.  Of course, at first I wrote about things like glitter stickers and boys I wanted to beat up.  Eventually, though, I chronicled some of the most important moments of my life thus far, from triumphs to personal tragedies.  About 4 years ago, I went from journal scribbling to personal blog writing.

In those 4 years (and counting), I've seen the woes that come with writing about your life in "public"...  Here, are my tips for personal blogging: