Sunday, April 06, 2008

To Blog or Not to Blog...

When I was a kid, I always had a journal tucked away somewhere. A 'Dear Diary', where I wrote about the things that happened around me. It was a way of looking at the world and trying to make sense of it. When the internet happened, and blogs appeared, it seemed a natural extension of my 'Dear Diary'. Here was a place to write little things, unimportant things, thoughts and opinons that was handy, didn't gather dust of get lost behind the couch, and as a plus, was readable by family and friends. I could keep touch with those in different countries at a time when phones were too expensive to use more than a couple times a year. And so I started blogging. My first blog (back in Feb. 2005,) was about books. I had two books coming out at the same time with different publishers, and I wasn't sure how to promote them. So my first, very first post was more of an announcement. My second post was about my village, and the ice on the hill. I just alternated between book news and village news. Living in the countryside is boring (well, not really, but there's nothing to blog about...), but every once in a while the cows get out (or something else exciting happens) and you DO have something to blog about. Writing is also boring, in the way that nothing happens quickly, and writing is a quiet, time-consuming job. But every once in a while something exciting does happen (or you find a tip you want to pass on) and Voila! A blog post about writing.
What have I learned in the three years I've been blogging?
That you keep your blogging friends (Hi Wynn! - my first reader!) That you meet lots of interesting people. That you can voyage from one side of the world to the next. That bloggers are incredibly generous, witty, and kind. That it's hard to think of a new blog each day, but sometimes the words just flow. That it's fun to look over your own archives to see where you were on a certain day. That I hope I'll be blogging in years to come.
:-)

5 comments:

Rosie said...

I feel the same way about blogging and blog friends Sam. It's made the world a small place and an adventure every day.

I also had a diary at various times in my life even after two of brothers read one of my diaries on the school bus when I was in junior high.

Yes, it really happened. They are still alive even though I wanted to commit murder in the worst way that day.

Travis Erwin said...

I hope you are blogging for years to come as well. Speaking of your village, I'd love to see you join us for My Town Mondays one of these weeks to tell us a bit about you part of the world.

Anonymous said...

Happy blog-aversary! :) I'm almost at 2 years myself now.

You're actually the one that got me blogging. Or at least made me get a blogger account (cause blogger is where I started) I wanted to comment either here, or on your photo blog and had to have an account to make a comment or something like that. lol

I hope to continue to enjoy your writings here for a long time :)

Bernita said...

Yes!
It's the other people who make blogging worthwhile.

Wynn Bexton said...

Wow! Was I your first reader? I feel honored. I always enjoy your blogs and just finished catching up by reading the last few I'd missed. Enjoyed your political one -- yes, it's the invaders who are the 'terrorists' not the invadees, though somehow they always seems to shift the blame. Tibetans are passive, gentle souls. The Chinese commies are not!