Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Blogging Thoughts & Ephemera

  • I love this as much as I did the first day I started. No, more. I've had a couple of flat periods where I struggled to post, and in hindsight my posts took a turn to the darker side of things, but that was really more of a sign of where my head was at than any attitude towards blogging. Black Dog blogging, so to speak.

  • I love that blogging gives me the freedom to post whatever I'm thinking, without an editor (other than the one in my head). Freedom bordering on anarchy baby! I'm in awe of disciplined bloggers, the sort who have 'topic' blogs, or do themed days like Such & Such Thursday, or Something Or Other Tuesday. I could never be that disciplined.

  • Friendships. I've made so many friendships through this blog, and the other blogs I read. Some of these friendships are only online, and some are face to face, and all of them are special to me. So much for The Internetz Super Highway Web making us all socially isolated, right?

  • Discovering new blogs, and new circles of blogs, opens your eyes to the wealth of human experience out there. For instance, my recent discovered passion for knitting has meant that I've been seeking out knitting and craft blogs. Cruise the knitblogsphere and not only will you see every kind of knitter represented somehow, but the entire gamut of creativity. Some of the stuff I've seen has blown my tiny mind, and opened my eyes to the amazing creativity possible in what some people think of as a dowdy 'domestic' craft. Aside from blogs on a particular theme, just reading blogs from people who are documenting their lives can amaze, surprise, touch and sometimes horrify, but it's all human experience and elements of it connect us all.

  • It allows me to play with language, to practice writing, to see if I can make people smile or think. That's a massive bonus for me. I don't use this blog as a writing lab, but just writing regularly does help me feel more confident in my own voice and enjoy the craft of writing.

  • There are so many great writers out there in the blogsphere! Great blog writing to me is personal, creative, maybe touching, maybe hilariously funny, frequently suprising - I guess writing that has life and personality is what I really mean.

  • Feedback. I've said this before, but having the facility for online commenting is what really brought this alive for me. Not just feedback directed at me, but the way that comments sometime develop into mini chat rooms of a sort. I guess it's all about connecting. You guys connecting with me, and sometimes with each other. I love that!

13 comments:

M-H said...

You're welcome. :) Can I add this post to the list of posts I am collecting on why people blog (for my PhD?) I would ask you privately but I can't find an email link on your blog...

The Other Andrew said...

M-H, feel free to take what you need. I just realised the other day that I lost the text on my sidebar that gave my email address. I should fix that...

Kenyo said...

Your blog is such a delight. And I am certain it is because you too are a delight. Thank you and keep blogging.

The Other Andrew said...

Kenyo, thanks! That's very sweet.

Ur-spo said...

that was nicely summarized. thank you.

nash said...

Yep, I agree. And even on those daze when I don't feel like blogging I still love to read what other bloggers have to say. I love the tangled web, you never know who you'll come across or what you'll find...

Cecilia said...

I am brand new reader but I'm already hooked! Blog on!

Anonymous said...

hey hey i went back a few as we said and i simply lurve the beard it is super and yes, well trimmed perfectly symmetrical i think :)

Christopher said...

I've really enjoyed "connecting" with you as well...too bad it's only online...oh, wait...that's not you were talking about was it?...my bad!

xoxo

Anonymous said...

I love this post! I am totally with you on the structured topically driven blogging; I just blog what I am feeling. I went through a pretty dry spell, but I feel on track now.

I am glad that there are people out there (you) that blog for the same reasons I do!

The Other Andrew said...

Ur-spo, thanks!

Nash, I think the interweb (or at least the blogsphere) is like a Venn Diagram sometimes, all interconnecting circles with ourselves at the centre.

Cecilia, glad you're enjoying yourself!

Q, thanks kind lady!

Christopher, yeah I'm all about 'connecting' baby!

Duane, thank you kind sir. And yes, I do think your blogging mojo is all fired up at the moment! It's a good thing.

Michael Guy said...

I adore your little spot on the web, Andrew. I can't explain it but it feels like we've been friends for a very long time. Past life?

Nice post. Warm & Fuzzy like minus me paying for dinner and drinks.

The Other Andrew said...

Thanks MG, I feel like you known you forever too, sista. Kindred spirits.