If you've spent any time in the blogosphere, you know that there are great blog carnivals around every corner.

For the newbies, I'll explain.  A blog carnival is an event hosted by a blogger, in which she invites readers to post on a particular topic at their blogs.  Then, generally, all the links are accumulated by the host blogger in one post.  This offers a great chance for a reader to stroll through dozens--even hundreds--of post on a particular subject.

I've held a weekly carnival called Works-For-Me Wednesday at my own blog for over two years.  It has been one of the best parts of my whole blogging experience--watching people share ideas, and learning so much myself.  Carnivals can be an excellent way to build that often elusive on-line creature:  a sense of community.

Carnivals like these seem to be especially popular in the momosphere.  An endless selection of family/home-related carnivals awaits the information-seeking reader.  I'll highlight a few really good ones (apologizing ahead of time for the excellent ones I know I'll leave out):

Wordless Wednesday is hosted by 5 Minutes For Mom.  Participants are invited to post a photo that tells an entire story of its own.  The carnival is excellent for any photo buff!  The Apron Queen participated last week with some gorgeous shots of her garden.

This spring, Owlhaven posted a one-time Frugal Cooking Carnival, inviting readers to share their best inexpensive cooking tips.

On the first Tuesday of the month, Ideal Investment Corner hosts the Carnival of Creative Investing.  In this last edition, Heather Johnson of Harold Says offered a piece on how to buy domestic goods.

Her Home Blog offers the Her Home Blog Carnival once a month.  It's for sharing general home-management ideas, especially of the eco-friendly variety.

Randi of I Have To Say offers a monthly Recipe Box Swap.

Are you interested in starting your own blog carnival?  In hosting my own, I've learned a few do's and don'ts along the way:

• Be as broad as possible.  "The Carnival of Cooking With Tomatoes During the Summer for French People" might be something that is important to you (??), but it's so narrowly defined, it will be hard to draw in participants. 
• Be consistent.  Only start the idea if you plan to stick with it.  It's frustrating for readers when they latch on to a clever carnival idea, only for it to abandoned after a short time.
• Consider posting a list of guidelines for participation.  This keeps everyone on the same page, and it will ultimately save work for you.  Be clear and brief.
• Make a button or a badge!  Having a graphic for your carnival will make it easier to identify and promote.
• Tell your friends.  Let your blogging friends know you're doing this, and (graciously!) invite them to let their friends know as well.
• Find a substitute.  This goes back to the idea of being consistent.  If you'll be away from your computer for a while, unable to administrate your carnival, consider inviting a friend to host for you during your absence (and publicize the change clearly on your own blog.)

If you have a favorite blog carnival--either one you administrate yourself, or one in which you participate--I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.

Shannon Lowe is a BlogHer Contributing Editor (Mommy/Family), and she blogs at Rocks In My Dryer.