I was asked a fabulous question the other day even though the person who asked me was actually being facetious. "Why do you blog?" they said. I don't think they were expecting me to answer but I couldn't resist. I could have spent hours telling them my reasons for blogging but instead I cut it short and simply said, "because I enjoy it." I thought that was a good enough reason. The person pulled a face and replied, "wouldn't you rather have a proper conversation than just write stuff down and hope someone reads it?" That was the moment I realised this person would never appreciate the art of blogging and would never know the joys of getting to know complete strangers from around the world. I went on to tell them about the immense support I receive through my blog, about the friends I have made, about the continuous urge I have to express my passion of writing through words that inspire others. A blank face stared back at me.
I dare say even this particular person could start a blog but I'm pretty sure they won't. Their reaction of "oh, that would bore me to tears" kind of convinced me. After they'd gone I sat and thought about my reasons for blogging. In the beginning, five years ago almost to the day, I wanted to make an impression on people, tempt them to read my posts and learn a little about the woman whose dream it was to become a published author. It took a while to accomplish that dream but as time took hold, my reasons to blog began to follow a different path. I discovered a new path that would lead me to a new world, and even I, the one with little confidence, was determined to see what lay at the end of that path.
I've been on a journey with my blog, but it hasn't just been the two of us. Along the way I've been joined by good, decent people who, like me, have a certain intensity for the blogging community. It is with all these people that I have something in common; we appreciate blogging, we enjoy it, embrace it and are enlightened by it. I don't think bloggers should need to explain why they blog other than tell the world it's something they enjoy doing, because if we didn't enjoy it, then surely we wouldn't do it. Why do you blog?
I love that sentence "I've been on a journey with my blog, but it hasn't just been the two of us". Sums it up perfectly!
ReplyDeleteIt's thanks to all the people who read and comment on my blog that I base its success on. I always say, anyone can write a great blog post but if it doesn't get read, the blogger will usually give up.
Delete'Oh, that would bore me to tears'. How rude!
ReplyDeleteYep, blog because you enjoy it. It's simple really x
It was rude! I didn't know what to reply tbh, but I just smiled and said it's great fun.
DeleteBlogging is an invaluable gift to all of us who love to write but lack the platform. I'm lucky in that my career in journalism allows me to write - but it doesn't allow me to write what I want when I want to and it doesn't make you many friends. Blogging has been a wonderful release and I've been struck by how supportive and kindly other bloggers are. I still keep up my daily journal, though, for those unpublishable ventings!
ReplyDeleteIt's the unpublishable ventings that make a blog fabulous, in my opinion!
DeleteA lovely post - beautifully written as usual. It would be our loss if you weren't blogging! And I agree with the other comments.
ReplyDeleteI'd miss blogging tremendously if I ever stopped and hope that day will never come.
DeleteI blog because I love to write and I enjoy it. xx
ReplyDeleteWhen you write as well as you do, Susan, I wouldn't hesitate to share your views with the world :)
DeleteI've no idea sometimes why I do it. I just do. It's something I enjoy. I don't ask fishermen why they fish or train spotters why they spot. I dont ask my OH why he sits on his backside in front of the football for hours on end.....oh, sorry, yes I do ask him, regularly!
ReplyDeleteLol, I often wonder why The Farmer sits in front of the tv watching Sky Sports all night, but you're right, that's someone else's hobby and we shouldn't mock what they decide to do.
DeleteThere are all sorts of reasons why I started to blog - i find it therapeutic, I want to use my voice to perhaps influence others but mainly because I love writing. Its so easy to be influences by someones opinion of what we do that we stopping doing it and become something we are not. If we enjoy it, to heck with everyone else!
ReplyDeleteExactly! I find it therapeutic also. It's a wonderful way to release frustrations, opinions and all the news that builds up on a daily basis.
DeleteMost of us start out because we enjoy writing and want to share what we do. I think we all have some kind of secret passion to be heard, but blogging has led so many of us to so nice things and people that it's impossible to get non-bloggers to understand it really.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely agree with you, SM. The main reason most of us blog is to be heard, plain and simple.
DeleteI love reading your blog and like you, I also enjoy blogging. It is an opportunity to have wonderful connections with other like minded people around the world, a community...
ReplyDeleteBlogging is a fabulous community isn't it. I feel very fortunate to have met so many lovely people from all walks of life, albeit online.
Deletei think those that dont blog dont understand and its hard for them...i did not before i started and it was several months in before i really felt like i got any kind of handle on it...it is the people for me mostly...but so much more...
ReplyDeleteBrian, I remember when I was first told about blogging and I had no idea what it was. But I gave it a shot and look where I am now, five years on and communicating with lovely people like you from thousands of miles away!
DeleteI love this :) And I agree 100%. The community and support is absolutely incredible.
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
It is incredible; it's been one of the best supportive communities I've ever been involved with.
DeleteGreat post and I'm going to say just that if I ever get asked the question!
ReplyDeleteDo! It's a question we all get asked as bloggers by the non-bloggers, and if I can make just one person understand then I'll be a happy bunny!
DeleteI blog because.....all the above really. That, and the fact that it's less taxing than selling your body.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried selling your body then?
DeleteJust wondered!
CJ - for all of the above! That's why I blog - sometimes I frget and refcently it has been difficult what with internet failure etc but bloggers like you remind me why I love it so in good times and in bad...
ReplyDeleteThere are always good friends to be made aren't there, Tattie. I've known you in the blogging circles for a long time now - I think we met through PurpleCoo didn't we?
DeleteI'm not a particularily eloquent person in my daily speech or my writing, although i have my days. Today seemed to be one of them, i have used a number of long and good words. But i blog because i want to. I vent on my blog, i have just opened up about my panic attacks on there. I blog and through it have found likeminded friends, some of who i may never meet and some i may. I blog to write about me and i hope that my personality shines through.
ReplyDeleteAs an added thought, some people may blog because this is their only contact with the outside world. High functioning Autists may find they can talk reasonably well through a blog but face to face with a person they can't speak, other people because they have agarophobia. There are many individual reasons for blogging and they are all personal to the writer.
Yes it does shine through. In all our words we are able to show a side to ourselves that no one would otherwise see. I find it easier to write things down rather than talk face to face. That's my strength, and it's possibly yours, too :)
DeleteI've only recently started blogging. I did, not because I'm great at writing, but because I have things I want to say that others may find useful or interesting, and also because it was a way of getting my inner rants out. I had no idea of the power of the on-line community. I find it amazing connecting with people all over the world with similar views and experiences.
ReplyDeleteIt is an amazing community. You meet some incredible people on your journey, and some you wish could be beamed into space, but on the whole, it's a journey to enjoy and look back on with pride.
DeleteI blog because I enjoy it, its become a new creative hobby and I've discovered, dare I say it, that I can actually write!
ReplyDeleteOf course you can write! The more we enjoy it, the better we write - we are an inspiration to ourselves most of the time.
DeleteI blog for me to help me explore ideas, to record what i do . In doing such things I am able to discover like minded people who can further my love and understanding of SEN.
ReplyDeleteI have met some fabulous people through blogging.. though blogging can bring out people dark sides I just ignore that and just continue to do what i do .
I've come across a lot of dark sides through blogging though I'm pleased to say they will never out-do the good sides!
DeleteI 'blogged' because I was struggling with depression without knowing it and writing about made it easier - [so write a diary and don't share it] - nah blogging is far more creative. I then found, like you, support and a whole network of positive feedback. So now I blog for the enjoyment and satisfaction of people enjoying what I write (I'm not a very good writer, I'm just honest and I think that's why people come back). When people take the time to comment it makes me happy. Lovely post and your friend doesn't know what they are missing out on. xx
ReplyDeleteBlogging is extremely creative and apart from the pleasure of meeting new people, it also helps you become a better writer of expressive language.
DeleteI blog because of many of the same reasons you do. What has surprised me is the response of those fellow bloggers out there. I had no idea how supportive the blogging community could be. I wonder if I would have made it through the past few years without having a place to write about the trials and joys of my life, and without the support of my fellow bloggers. Others, who don't blog, don't get it. They don't have too. Those of us who blog know of how enhanced our lives have become because of it.
ReplyDeleteI wrote about some of the reasons why I blog here: http://sallysbloggingspot.blogspot.com/2012/04/community-value-of-social-networks.html