Thursday, August 17, 2006

Why Do You Blog?

I began last year because so many of my friends and relatives wanted me to write them of our first year off the grid. My husband and I were venturing into an area none of them would dare ("Leave my tv? No way!"). I strangled at the thought of writing an email stuffed with information and it not be published. Also, I needed to satisfy my desire to write for myself only. Since 1992 I've attended writing classes and discovered that (1) I could write a scene (2) I could write magazine articles but(3) NOT a novel. I did get a few short stories on paper, but no one who supposedly knows what makes a writer thought them good enough for me to proceed with other stories. Blog was a word bantered about on TV, referred to on radio, but I wasn't sure anyone could participate in this unknown world of words. I didn't want to add my two cents about political and religious thoughts. But, once introduced to "Compose", this blank page dared me to pour out the words. Later I discovered that blogs were forever!. I can imagine my gggggggggdtr (who may be a writer herself) finding me online one cold winter day of boredom and laughing at the simplistic manner in which I pen my words.

A few weekends ago NPR had an interview with the creator of www.technorati.com. I was driving and jotting notes at the same time, so if some of my facts are off, please correct me, if you heard the same program.

Mr. Technorati mentioned:

1. There are over 500,000 bloggers, two new ones every scond!
2. Growth since 2002 has occurred every 5-7 months.
3. Blogs by non-English writers have risen tremendously, many wanting to "have their say" about world events. (Probably, this is the only medium where self-expression is uncensored!)
4. The most popular blogger is an actress from China who writes daily and includes photos she takes on her phone of what is happening behind the scenes of her films.
5. Most bloggers write because of the power it gives them.
6 And, last note, Mr. T. believes this need to express oneself about world events will reinvigorate civics. (This is a notable point.)


His website is jammed with good reading, and when I have nothing to do, or I can't sleep between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., I'll read the happenings in the blogging world.

Power--I don't think of this as the basis of my writing. I appreciate that each of us writes words of encouragement to those whose entries we read. We've become cheerleaders. A wonderful sense of goodness emanates from these. Breaths of fresh air lure us away from the daily headlines and give us the sense of connection...

...so... why do you write?

3 comments:

GeekyDad said...

I don't know why I do. It's more like a personal journal. I too also write stories. Although nothing really as long even though I'v tried and made some attempts.

I think it's because media and all that is so one sided. Take Israle incident and Palistine. In america we want the Isralies to win. We haven't even Touched on Hizbalah and or any of that.

Yet, that is a side and that is a thought. But, since they are "terrorist" we have to not talk about them and or show them in any human light. Because if we show them in a human light then we betray those that died in 9/11. It's really bizarre. It's not showing them in a bad light it's showing them as not Monster's. We love Monster's we can understand them. But, a human monster that has thought and resoning and such..like we do....we don't even want to try that.

Also too it's a way to chat about My choosen lifestyle and hopefully change people's opinion and thoughts on it. lol.

MojoMan said...

Good question, Vivian. It got me thinking and it lead to a post of my own. I hope you'll read it.

Anonymous said...

Writing is my oxygen.
It keeps me honest with myself.

Blogging brings it to a more public level. And although it is scary to think someone may laugh at me or my ideas I know there will be cheerleaders too and those are the ones I'll listen to with the strongest ear.

And if my ggggggdtr reads my blog herself one day I'm confident she'll love me anyway.