Thursday, June 2, 2011

What's in it for me???

So back from the blog vacation and while I was "gone" I was thinking about the next big post I wanted to write. In the real world I was working a lot. I am on a task force (sounds very formidable and formal doesn't it?) that is putting together a training manual for The Library. It's not finished yet but the biggest part of it is done and is a 250+/- document. My share was much smaller but it took a lot of my energy. So now that we've got the big stuff done, perhaps (perhaps???) blogging can be more like usual. Life when I wasn't working has been full of the usual walks on lovely mountain paths...
At any rate, as I pondered what I would I write and one of the things that I have been thinking about was why do I blog? Why do any of us blog?

So maybe I should just start at the beginning. (This may take more than one post... ) 

In October it will be three years. I began blogging because a teacher friend- Amy Kalinchuk  of Craft e-Revolution said I should blog and join NaBloWriMo. Why would I do that? and what in the world is NaBloWriMo and why would I join? A blog is an online journal she said as she sat in my comfy blue chair and NaBloWriMo is National Blog Writer's Month and a bunch of us all sign up to write on our blog every month. And why would I do that?  Because you're a writer and it's good practice- a place to write every day. 
Blue skies peering down at us through the rock.
At the time, I was working as a middle school librarian with the pay of a paraprofessional. I didn't have a teaching degree or a MLS but I was expected to do all the same tasks the teaching librarians did (learning on the job)... without the pay. In some regards though it was a great job and one of the great things about it was that I had some time to write when the work was all caught up and there wasn't a heavy stream of kids in the library. Kids would trickle in and I would have time to do my own thing whilst supervising the book shoppers (although generally they were just trying to get out of class so I always had to make sure I was keeping an eye out on the time). Blogging seemed an easy way to write what was on my mind without requiring too much solid concentration. 
Mo took this picture a mile or so into our hike. 
NaBloWriMo was quite a challenge but it was fun. I didn't really know the etiquette of blogging, didn't know I should follow people or have any desire to have followers (in fact I kind of dreaded them I think). I wrote on politics and religion and my family and I was always somewhat surprised (perhaps taken aback!) when someone would comment. It wasn't until I met a real blogging (Key West Diary) community that I started seeing how fun a blog could really be! 
You meet people and you have conversations. Perhaps you support one another or you just have fun. Whatever the case, many times you find things in common because you are writing about things that you care about and that others who like what you like are commenting on your blog or commenting on your comment. So, now I found two reason to blog. I was writing and I was making connections (although admittedly there were still not a lot of people stopping by my blog). But as I move on, I think there it's time to process this thing out because blogging takes time and building a community of followers who are really friends takes time. Having gained 182 followers (and I appreciate each and every one of you!!!) takes time! But is it worth it? Is it taking away too much from writing? Or will it have pay off and if so, how? What's blogging doing for me? 

So what about you... What is blogging doing for you?  

11 comments:

  1. First of all Danette, these are some stunning pics.

    I enjoyed your post about why you blog.

    Blogging has been a wonderful outlet for me in so many ways. First, I've learned so much about writing. This community is so helpful and bloggers/friends go out of there way to help.

    Second, I have an outlet to help others. I love helping people and it makes me feel great to give back.

    Third, It is a great way to showcase your writing/art. I enjoy posting my work and getting feedback on it.

    And finally I have met so many wonderful people who I really do consider friends. Friends who share a common interest. Friends who sincerely care about your writing and you. And friends who support and join you on the journey to publication.

    I think I covered everything....LOL

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  2. Thank you for more gorgeous pics! It's like a mini-vacation every time I visit here. :-)

    Blogging for me is a release, of sorts. It's a way to connect with people in an otherwise very solitary profession. I do it because it's fun.

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  3. Blogging is what I had to do, said my publisher, because I could promote my book otherwise. And let's face it, I think this is what most of the writers here do it for. But also to connect, make friends. I would now keep blogging even if I didn't have a book to promote! I love my followers.

    I esp. love this picture of you in that desert close to where I grew up, that I know and love.

    I just sent you an email.

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  4. Those pictures are your best yet. Just stunning!

    I write for a living, and have to write for customers. Blogging is a way of writing for myself.

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  5. I guess that blogging has brought me support and a sense of community in my writing. It's been a way of touching base with other people who are going through some of the same things as I am and have already worked out strategies for dealing with some of the issues.


    By the way, the poll is still open for what book I should read and share my thoughts about next on the Kelworth Files, and I really need book lovers, (particularly science fiction and fantasy) to give me their opinion. So, come by http://kelworthfiles.wordpress.com/2011/05/29/a-wizard-of-mars-chapter-fifteen/ and check out the poll options!

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  6. That picture is so preeeeeettty!

    As for why I blog, I wanted to reach out to other writers, and I've sure found some amazing people! :D

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  7. Awesome pics and post dear!

    I love blogging, its time consuming but I try to get around to my friends as much as my schedule allows. With a full time job as well, its hard but I wouldn't trade it in. I've cut back to focus on my WIP though, thats one thing I've learnt is to find balance so you can focus on your writing! Blogging has helped me develop my writing voice too - which is one of the key reasons I took it up.

    Nowadays, I try to take regular breaks, also important to spend time with family and friends, yah? ;-)

    The writing community is so supportive too, I think I would miss it too much not to blog and tweet!

    Have a fab week! xx

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  8. I started my blog because I like to see pictures of places and being on forums became tedious with all the personalities and general lack of information.

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  9. I think I enjoy blogging for two reasons; one is that it has connected me to a great many other writers, some of whom have become friends and mentors. And two, because it lets me practice writing by writing something else, something that isn't fiction.

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  10. I bagan in fear and trepidation because the advice said 'blog' - I continue because I have met some really nice people here in blogosphere - helpful - surportive yes but also fun - interesting - plain whacky! It's like having a stack of good magazines around to browse through. I have gained confidence and my writing has improved -only regret is that I am supposed to be writing so do not have enought time to wander through all the blogs I would like

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