Of course my next question is, who is your blog for?
Dave Pollard, at How To Save the World offers a beautifully thought out comparison in his essay, Is the Blogosphere Like a Railway Network? I must agree with Justin, who commented there, Dave’s blog is often more of a destination than a way station. But then I find myself wondering if someone who thinks and writes like Dave knows of some other interesting blogs. My gaze drifts toward his blogroll. Then I realize, his post was a response to something he read on another blog, where an article asked the question, after its author read still more blogs. A viral form of communication is taking place. This is exciting and powerful stuff!
My blog is a way for me to express myself freely, almost with a sense of thinking out loud, but in such a way that anyone who wishes to partake is free to drop in and even interact if inspired to do so. If visitors don’t connect, they’re just as free to move on. At times it may seem as if I’m talking to myself. At others perhaps I strain to put something in words that I haven’t yet identified myself. I’ve shared my fiction, my favorite reads, my experiences, my politics (much to the disappointment of some of my visitors). But who am I really writing for, here? Myself, of course. Don’t we all, if we bother to express ourselves? If we’re honest? Don’t we all want to be understood just as we are, and accepted at face value? Don’t we all seek out like minds? We wonder who is like us and, sometimes with dread, who isn’t.
If people are nothing else, we’re social beasts. A kind of flash passes between two strangers, when they meet, or when they finally connect after a period of acquaintance. Some have said when we do this we’re communicating on a level beyond the physical, via our throat chakras. Have you ever met someone you were certain you already knew? Or suddenly seen a coworker through new eyes? Perhaps it’s this kind of experience we bloggers seek, a flash of recognition via the written word. Perhaps some of us hope to catch a glimpse of our true selves, in a Zen kind of self-realization.
Another writer-blogger, Vikk Simmons at Down the Writer’s Path, recently asked on her blog if blogging is first draft writing, and in a way this blog is. I don’t always post my thoughts instantly. I may spend days over some posts. Others I write on a whim and publish immediately. Often I sneak back and edit out the flaws, or add something. But I sometimes think it’s the very spontaneity of those “whim” posts that appeals most to readers. The idea of posting “first draft” writing apparently strikes fear into some writers. But if we compare writers who blog with artists, then is it so strange to think of sharing one’s sketchbook?
So why do you blog? Who do you blog for?
For me, blogging is a cocktail party without the cocktails – the conversations I wanted to have when cocktail parties still existed. Your blogs are like bling to me – and clearly, I am probably misusing both words. I would have never experienced blog if not for you, Barbara. I find your blog stimulating and enjoy responding. I went on Peter’s site and enjoyed his musings as well.
But back to the question. Blogging is simply conversation for me – conversation that seems to ends too abruptly, much to my dismay.
Jesus, Joseph and Mary – who came up with the dreadful word, blog? It looks ugly and sounds ugly – it’s amazing it can inspire people so richly!
Reenie, the word blog was coined by Peter Merholz back in 1999 when he broke the word weblog into the phrase “we blog.” Other interesting tidbits about weblogs and blogging history can be read at wikipedia.org.
I ran across the above reference when annotating my article What is a Blog? written in answer to that question asked of me by email.
I agree it’s an ugly word, Reenie, and I suspect the word itself even put me off blogging for a while before I decided to give it a go. It sounds like something one does to country western music, while wearing too large shoes. Or like slogging through deep mud, something I’m sure few people relish doing. But it is a lot like conversation—with a delay similar that of space travelers phoning home.
Thanks, Ken, for the explanation.
Thanks both, for the feedback. Ken, you’ve made me curious, Barbara, you made me laugh. Ken, the weblog explanation made so much sense. I’ll pursue your suggested reading. And Barbara, I’ll continue laughing!
What an interesting question. I blog because I like to share some of the things I have heard - or learned - or seen. There isn’t a lot about me in my blogs, I am a very private person. And sometimes the nicest part of blogging to me is to see what other bits of life bloggers are willing to share.
Also, there are 6 bloggers in our family, and it’s such a nice way to keep up with their lives and actually get to understand them better.
Thanks for making me think.
Each blogger has to set their own level of personal exposure, and some blogs I come across contain more than I wanted to know. Each of us is a little different in what we’re ready to share. I’m also a very private (read extremely introverted and sometimes shy) person. Thus the title of my blog. I tend to be more outgoing in writing than in person, which is why I find blogging such a great outlet.
I’ve struggled with who I’m blogging for. Really, I want to write it for myself, to not have to be so aware of an audience as I’ve become with most of my writing. To goof off. Be self indulgent. Like I used to do all the time writing for fanzines. Blogging is supposed to be *just fun*. But I can’t quite forget there’s an audience out there.
My blog is for those liking snippets of knowledge, often maths and/or languages, and for those 49% of US people who like Bushwhacking
[...] A recent Washington Post column queried Bloggers on the Reasons Behind Their Daily Words. Reading it got me to thinking yet again about why I blog. [...]