Q1/5: Why I still blog

This is the first of five questions given to me by Clem. I’ve actually changed this question a little, the original was “How did you get into blogging?” but that’s a very boring story, and one that I’ve already told. I’ve changed it into “Why do you still blog?” as I’ve been thinking about the benefits of blogging for a while.

One of the best things I’ve discovered about blogging is that it trains you to write. If you’re committed to posting an entry once a day, once a week or just to keep up an online presence, then you have to get into some sort of semi-regular habit of writing. I cannot express how useful this has been to me recently. I’ve been procrastinating and putting off writing my personal statement for weeks, because I am terrible at selling myself on paper. Last week I decided I had to do it, so I sat down and wrote just over 2000 characters (4000 chars. limit). Most of it was complete BS and I’m re-writing it many many times before I submit it, but at least it’s started. At least I have something to build on, and I know I couldn’t have done it if I wasn’t used to sitting down and writing some form of crap when I had to.

Along the same lines, it keeps me writing. It keeps me fluent, literally (literally? I mean in the literacy sense. I think I just disproved my point.) I write the odd essay for Music, but as I’m otherwise doing science subjects then I don’t normally get a chance to write much. And it’s because of this that I think it’s possible for me to keep writing my story¹. I know I’m able to write fluently and quickly, because blogging keeps me trained. I keep hearing that the best practice for young writers it to write every day, even if it doesn’t make sense. At first I felt I never did that – but look at me! I write far more than many other people I know.

Now we come to the usual reasons. I like having an online presence. Of course, I get that through the forums I’m a part of, but let’s face it, I love to talk, and as I’ve already said, tell stories. I like putting my opinions out there. I like the feeling that people listen to me, particularly when I’m often not able for one reason or another to discuss things seriously IRL.

Finally, I think having a blog lends you a kind of distinction, both online and off. Offline most people don’t have a clue what you’re talking about, and online most don’t care, yet I really enjoy having my own little space and showing it off. I know I’d miss it if it wasn’t there.

So, I’m passing this question on to all of you. I don’t want to know why you started blogging, but why do you still do it?

1. it’s a story until I’m at 10 000 words, if I get there I’ll tell you more about it [↩]

Tags: blogs, internet, me, Question, symphonic, Writing