Thursday, April 12, 2007

Blogging about blogging

An article in the Guardian about how blogging is still a minority sport compared to other social networking areas.

This blog is just over a month old, so I'm relatively new to the game. I started because I wanted a writing project that was different to my novel, so that I had something else to do if I hit a wall. I had no idea how addictive, enjoying and irritating it would become.

I post at least once a day. When I wake up in the morning I immediately think about what I'm going to write about. If I haven't posted early on in the day, the thought of a day's gap nags at me until I've got to get it done or risk being driven insane. I've subscribed to over 100 blogs and I obsessively read each new post as it comes in. I tend to comment on each post I read too, mainly because I love the sound of my own voice and enjoy throwing my weight around. Most of them are better writers than me, which makes me feel inadequate most of the time but hasn't driven me to leave bitchy comments, well not yet anyway.

I'm aware that I've made blogging and reading blogs sound like a sure path to mental illness, but it has saved me from cabin fever and feeling lonely. Before I didn't know any other writers so I felt a little isolated and wasn't able to discuss any problems or concerns I was having. But now I feel like I'm part of a network of other writers now, and everyone is willing to share their writing tips, rejection slips and unblocking tricks, or just their brilliantly written observations or satricial jabs at society and government. I don't know how I managed without them.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good you drew attention on the Guardian post. Am surprised how blogs have proliferated and yet some say it's slowed down in the rate of growth.

Anyway, like I try to keep a daily schedule although I must confess on some days I'm really off.

It's indeed enjoying and rewarding too in the sense of accomplishment and development.

Successful writers claim you should write everyday if you want to become a writer. And to write you need to read...

So keep writing my friend, and reading and commenting.... this is how blogs will survive... and grow.

Yvonne said...

Thanks alfaking. I enjoy reading your blog - we both started around the same time.

Macoosh said...

i sooo don't know how i've managed without my bloggers. I love having my space to write and have people reply. some people i've met here have become close friends and I feel like i know them better than some of the people i see every day.

you've got a great blog here. I adore reading it. :)

Yvonne said...

Hi Macoosh, I love your blog too, it's great to get an American perspective on Dublin. Hope you're enjoying your friend's stay.

Beccy said...

I'm not really around for a day and you have written about five posts, that's some writing!

100 blogs, that's a lot. I read about 70 which is quite a lot and sometimes I feel I spend too much time at the computer but for each blog I decide to stop reading I find a new one to try out.

As for my blog, I started it for my family and am constantly suprised that anyone else would find it interesting but I'm not complaining.

Btw, will be baking the flapjacks next week when the children are back at scholl so your parcel will arrive!

Yvonne said...

Beccy, I love the fact that three generations of your family are blogging, it's a great way to keep in touch!

I read your blog every day and really enjoy it.

Can't wait for the flapjacks, I'll take a picture of them when they arrive and post it!

Angie said...

Hellojed, I recently discovered your blog and I think it's great. I quit my job last year to write my first novel too and this post particularly spoke to me. I've just discovered this great blogging community and find it a great outlet and distraction from the isolation of writing.
Keep on writing!

Angie said...

p.s. It never occurred to me that you could subscribe to blogs and save time trawling for new posts! Thanks for the tip. :)

Yvonne said...

Hi Angie, great to meet another writer who packed in their job! And I've subscribed to yours. I use RSS Bandit as a subscription service, but Google Reader and My Yahoo are good to.

Angie said...

Thanks for the tips, and the add! :)