Sunday, March 17, 2013

Day 17: Why and When Did I Start Blogging?

My first blog post was called "Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3." It was written on April 29, 2010. This is what it said:
"It's nearly impossible  to decide what I want to write about on this blog. Should I talk about my family? music? books? being an author? religion? politics? 
If I waited until I knew what my niche market was, I would probably never start a blog at all. At least we can cross out politics. For right now, I'm just going to be random."
A picture from my early blogging days
Acadia National Park
 Not a lot has changed over the years. I still feel uncertain what this blog is for. I started blogging mainly because I am a writer, and I needed a platform to share with my future multitudinous fans. Still, what was I going to discuss? Writing? My life? Books I've read?

The matter was simplified when I joined The Prosers. Here is a link to my first blog post there: Life Begins At The Edge Of Your Comfort Zone. I still think its a pretty great one. It was published at the end of 2011, and I pretty much abandoned this blog after that. But lately, I've been missing the ability to simply talk about my life.

When this blog flourished, I did a blog challenge. I also had a bucket list of things I wanted to do before I turned 40, which I didn't finish, but which I had a fun time attempting and blogging about. Some of those blog posts still get lots of hits, which makes me happy, but it makes me even more happy that I enjoy looking back, the way I look back on a journal.

But I'm still torn...
I figure, when my (unfortunately still future) multitudinous fans come searching for me, they aren't going to be particularly interested in my blog about writing. My favorite blogs are the ones that chronicle the lives of authors, not the ones that give their writing advice.

And when I look back at what I love about this blog, it is the way it served as a journal, and the memories it evokes. Still, it worries me to get too personal on the internet. I've tried hard to keep my kids names and faces off.

So I know what I want to write about. I just still don't know who my audience is. Do I make this blog private, so I can spill my whole soul into it? Or do I keep it public, and continue to shelter my family? Both ways seem a little empty. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.


31 Day Blog Challenge:



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6 comments:

  1. PaulaMarch 17, 2013 at 9:04 AM

    That is what I love about blogging...you can do just about whatever you want.

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  2. Tiffany: Diva LocksMarch 17, 2013 at 10:08 AM

    Well I for one in the beginning did not name my children either but over time I eased up and decided you know what, no one knows where I live so I started saying their names.

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  3. LauraMarch 17, 2013 at 10:33 AM

    I think blogs that don't have a specific direction are nice. At least that way you don't get stuck in a rut. You can blog about whatever fancy that takes you!

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  4. ramsaygraceMarch 17, 2013 at 11:02 AM

    That's a tough choice. One the one hand, it's glorious to just spill it all and be completely honest, but I totally understand the privacy issues too. decisions, decisions.

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  5. Cristy SMarch 17, 2013 at 12:52 PM

    I feel the same way about being so personal and keeping my kid's name off the internet. But, she has a facebook (which she is never on) so I guess her name is already out there. I just found your blog through the 31 day challenge and have enjoyed what I have read so far. Ultimately it is up to you and what you want to do with your blog.

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  6. benbidderMarch 17, 2013 at 1:04 PM

    Yeah, I never expect that anyone will read what I write, so I just write whatever comes to mind...lol. I guess if I were to think about it and depending on what I wrote, I could always mark certain posts as private..and they would be there just for me. :)

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