To Blog or Not to Blog
Jackie Hosking
What's a BLOG? Do you have one? And if you don't -- should you?
Very simply, a BLOG is an online diary, a space on the Web
for you to express yourself. All sorts of people BLOG for
all sorts of reasons. I've done some research and here's
what a few writers have to say.
Simon Haynes:
I talk about writing. Originally it was more general, but
someone left a comment asking me to detail the publication
process for my book.
Simon's BLOG is packed full of great information and well
worth a visit.
www.halspacejock.blogspot.com
Heidi Kneale:
BLOGS can be used to share your thoughts. They can be a
useful professional tool too if employed properly. I have a
pseudoblog. I host it from my web page and update it
sporadically.
Here's the link:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~damian/heidikneale/blog/index.html
Dale Harcombe:
Mostly mine is about writing and books. I find that it is a
good way to write something to kick start and to connect
with others.
Dale's BLOG can be found at:
www.daleharcombe.blogspot.com
Andrew:
I have just started a BLOG too, mostly as a way of
exercising my writing skills, and also hopefully as a way of
creating a resume. It's early days yet, but I am already
enjoying the chance the express myself even if no one else
is reading it!
Andrew's link is:
www.myauntthecarnivorousmoose.blogspot.com
Sherryl Clark
I've had one for a year. Originally I started it to put up
my "diary" from my New York stay and the workshop at
Chatauqua. Although it was "public" I knew not many people
looked at it so I didn't add to it on a regular basis. Now
it's listed in quite a few places (mainly writers' sites and
discussion boards) so I try to add to it at least weekly,
more often if I can. I talk about my own writing, how I'm
going, problems etc. Discuss good and bad books I've read,
and sometimes issues with teaching or new ideas or good
things that happen.
Sherryl's blog is at
www.sherrylclark.blogspot.com /
Dave:
I'm a little torn on the subject, inasmuch as I rarely read
anyone else's blog, and don't much care whether or not they
read mine. Yet I do find it interesting to scroll back
through from time to time to see what events and random
thoughts in my life inspired me to 'blog' them and, as a
writer, it's probably an excellent supplement to all the
notepads and scraps of paper with ideas and themes.
Here's Dave's BLOG:
http://spaces.msn.com/members/dentarthurdent/
Bren MacDibble:
I began a BLOG during my 2004 Clarion stay that will be of
most interest to future Australian Clarion goers. Unlike
Sherryl, I stopped when I returned and find that I prefer to
update my Latest News page on my website instead.
Bren's BLOG can be found at:
http://luggage.diary-x.com/journal.cgi?entry=20031213
Frances:
I have just started a blog and I am trying to use it as a
writing journal but also keep the flavour of where I live
foremost. I am still working through the technicalities.
Frances' BLOG at:
http://overanotherhump.blogspot.com/
Dee
I started my personal weblog in February 2003 and also have
a blog through which I share information about an eye
condition called retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
If you would like to visit Dee's blogs you can find them at
http://inattentive.blogspot.com / and
http://retgen.blogspot.com/ .
So -- should you get one? Before I answer, let's have a
look at the pros and cons as expressed by our blogging
writers.
The Pros:
• Blogs are free, professional-looking web pages that
give an online presence or profile.
• They offer an opportunity for free publicity. A way to
promote your business, your writing, your career or your
cause.
• They enable you to keep in touch with those who are
interested in what you are doing, to share your thoughts and
connect with others.
• They can also be a useful professional tool.
• Blogs are a good way to kick start your writing.
• They are good for making you focus on what you are
writing; your own personal sounding board.
• They allow you to communicate with your audience in a
unique way.
• Blogs encourage you to be creative, to offer opinions
and ideas, and to learn from others.
• The blogging community is a diverse group of people who
enjoy writing, commentary, discussion and ideas.
• Blogs can be a way to record your own progress,
re-reading to see how your opinions, interests and writing
have changed and developed.
• They offer a chance to show a sample of your writing
and show that you can write consistently over time.
• Making your personal thoughts public is exhilarating.
The Cons:
• You can never be sure of your audience. Blogs are
available for everyone to read.
• If you choose to reveal your identity, you may be
judged on what you have written and your personal details
may be available to anyone.
• Finding the time to add to it regularly without letting
it distract you from your other writing commitments.
• Understanding that publishing your writing in a blog is
publishing your writing (usually) for free.
• Reading other people's blogs (essential if you expect
to be read by other bloggers) will take time and possibly
cut into your regular reading/writing time.
• You may find yourself open to unwanted correspondence.
• Being original is often difficult and again, time
consuming.
• The informal and often anonymous nature of blogging
encourages people to write about personal aspects of their
own and others lives.
• Making your personal thoughts public is scary.
Okay, so back to the question -- to blog or not to blog?
Well, I'm not going to tell you. You've got all the facts,
so I'll let you make your own decision!
Here's your homework for this month. Visit my blog!
www.jackieanne.blogspot.com you'll find it there.
Now BLOG off and have fun.
Your writing buddy,
Jackie
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