Saturday, January 21, 2012

Why Blog?

There are so many reasons to blog, I’m sure I’ll miss many but here’s my take as a writer.

Blogging fulfills an essential need in me to express myself regularly. In my writing ambitions, that need is critical and should be fed as often as I can manage it. This was my favorite part of being a newspaper editor – my weekly editorials. Blogging has taken that small satisfaction and magnified and multiplied it many times over. Now, I express myself and people around the world read my piece immediately. That’s a trip!

Regular posting also keeps my mind sharp and my fingers warmed up for my great love, fiction writing. This is a fire I must always stoke because for me, that’s the heavy lifting. Blogging or editorializing comes fairly easy to me, but pumping at a lengthy story takes Gatorade, aspirin and fortification. I love it, I truly do, but it’s seldom simple for me. I recently wrote about the experience of easy, joyful writing, so it does happen but it’s not the norm.

As a recent post by Bert Carson (The Indie Writer Two Step To Success) pointed out, it’s also an essential ingredient for building and maintaining a readership base. I’m not sure how many of my blog readers have bought a book but I’m sure there’s a few and that’s good. Blogging gives readers a chance to see if they like your writing in a general way and possibly decide to take a chance on one of your books.

Another great aspect for me is being able to support a cause or encourage others. Blogging allows you to do good things in the world. That’s probably the most important one to me in the end.

So, if you’re considering starting a blog – jump in, the water’s fine.

13 comments:

  1. You say everything well - What a simple, beautiful, way to discuss the joy and purpose of blogging.
    Nice!!!!

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  2. Wonderfully put, Kathy. Blogging does serve several purposes and there is such a variety. Something for everyone. A thrill for me is having people from all over the world reading my post. Still not sure why... but they do.

    It's not just for writers or people trying to market, what ever. It is a great release and a way to meet new people.

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  3. I find it a great release and therapeutic. It is a great way to support causes too and spread the word too.

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  4. I never thought I would be a blogger, but a little over a year ago I started to write a blog when I found how easy it was to start one by using blogspot. I use blogging as a way to express my thoughts as feelings. At first I didn't really care if anyone read my blog, but I found I was looking at the stats to see how many people read my blog everyday. I do want to have more people reading my blog. That is just human nature. I now have two blogs for different audiences, and I am also looking at ways to increase my readership. Blogging is just fun.

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  5. I started blogging a few months ago, thinking it was about pre-publicity for the book I'm working on, but what's surprised me is how much I enjoy it, especially the conversations it has sparked for me with readers around the world

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  6. It introduces you to this amazing community of writers,artist and readers that you would have never been able to engage with if you hadn't.

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  7. I'm having great fun with it! I usually post poetry, but Triberr stimulated me to do a little more prose. It IS therapeutic, as Lisa says. Great write, Kathy!

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  8. I love how blogging pulls people out of seeming nowhere, people you would otherwise never meet, then suddenly they are part of your life. Novels don't easily create that sort of relationship with readers, but blogs are more leveling, everyone is a peer. Thus connection takes place easily and fruitfully. Just the feel of your blog, Kathy, says all that and more. Nice piece.

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  9. I've blogged ever since the invention of GeoCities. It's a habit I can't break.

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  10. You're so right: "jump in, the water's fine!" And I agree with you: the most important thing is to be able to (maybe) nudge the world a little towards the greater good!

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  11. I just like waffling away to myself.

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    Replies
    1. Definitely this. If I had any audience, I might have to behave myself ;)

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  12. Too true! You've nailed it. It's great to be part of a community like blogging provides.

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