Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Ten Reasons to Blog

Here's where I blog.

I've been asking myself—why do I blog? TravelinOma is five years old next week, and this is my 5,000th post! Each post takes me at least two hours to write, so that's over 10,000 hours I've spent working on this little hobby—not counting all the prepping, designing and linking. Since I don't have ads, there's no money-making involved. So is blogging worth it?

Ten Ways Blogging Has Paid Off For Me
  1. Blogging introduced me to one of the great loves of my life—Mac. You can read about him in a post I called An Affair to Remember.
  2. Blogging is it's own reward—I'm becoming a better writer. I've got three shelves of books on writing that I'm always studying, and I use my blog to practice the techniques I'm reading about. Looking back at my early posts, I see improvement, and that's satisfying to me.
  3. Because of my blog I take more pictures, download them that day (in case I want to use them on a post) and label them immediately so they're easy to find.
  4. All my old photos are now organized in iPhoto. At first I was searching through boxes and scrapbooks for pictures to use on posts, so I started scanning them in and making digital albums, labeling them with names and dates. (Another bonus from blogging.)
  5. I learned how to scan—and create files to store scans in. And color code my files. Initially it was just for my blog, but my eyes were opened to a world of possibilities. (You have to remember I was raised during the Dewey Decimal decades, and this is all new to me.)
  6. I learned to cut and paste, and then to copy and bookmark and explore icons, which taught me to add images and make italics, and change fonts. That gave me confidence to try other writing programs like Pages and Scrivener. Now I can create my own templates for newsletters—and novels!
  7. I haven't even mentioned what I've learned from your blogs. You find humor in the mundane and miserable moments, and you relish the joyful ones. Reading what you write encourages me, and I feel refreshed by dipping into your day. (Even though I hardly ever comment anymore.)
  8. When something interesting pokes my mind, I think, "Blog." It's a great motivation for research. I wrote about Anne Frank once, and that post alone has had 51,000 hits!
  9. Blogging has given me a new outlet. Even the bleakest of days can turn into a memorable post.
  10. Finally, I love blogging! At the beginning of my blogging career the prevailing attitude (of non-bloggers) was that it was a waste of time. I felt defensive. One of my most popular posts is called Wear Your Paper Bag With Pride, and after I wrote it, I settled into my blogging grove—with pride.
"When I sit down at my writing desk, time seems to vanish.
I think it's a wonderful way to spend one's life."

—Erica Jong

How long have you been blogging?

Leave a comment before Saturday November 5th at midnight,
and you'll be entered to win a copy of my book!

Buy it here!






13 comments:

Chiska said...

In March I'll have been blogging 3 years. It started for me as a way to see the postive in my Day and to share some of our life with my parents that we don't get to see very often. I think I would add to your list that opens doors for friendships that could never exist before.

Diane said...

I started April 28, 2008. I just put up my 676th post. I'd like to write more, but time seems to run away from me. I share many of your same reasons for blogging. One of my biggest boosts was doing your school days. Thank you for the help!

Amy C said...

I'm just getting started...it's been about six months so far! I blog mostly for friends and family who are far away, and it's been a great way for me to share things with them (even mundane things).

Christie said...

Holy cow! That means I've been blogging for five years, too. I still like it and don't see myself stopping anytime soon.

Raejean said...

I've been blogging for about 2 1/2 years. I published my 688th post today. Blogging is therapy for me; it makes me feel like I have something worthwhile to share.

Polly said...

I've been blogging since 2007. I mainly use my blog as a journal, to help me remember how I feel from day to day. Also important days. I also hope it will be of importance someday when I'm no longer here, as I've loved reading my ancestors letters and journals, this will be a more colorful, interesting way for my grandchildren and others to know me and my history.

crissy // mama boss said...

It's 3 years this month since I started. It has been a roller coaster experience that has included several blogs that have been started and terminated, as well as a complete, clean-slate, re-start of my main, and currently only, blog.
I feel like I'm in a rut fairly regularly, but I've just had a thought to re-post old entries from time to time, since they're all hidden away. Remembering is fun, right?

Nancy said...

Dear Marty,

Congratulations on your 5th Anniversary of blogging.

I enjoy reading what you have written but seldom comment.

I do have a question for you. How do you preserve what you have written and your photos and all?
Do you have any back-up system for your memoirs?

I have been seeing commercials on TV recently about companies who specialize in safeguarding your material for you and the price is under $100.00 a year.

How do you handle your treasured writings and photos?

~Kristina said...

Congrats!
I've been blogging 4 years now and crave it more and more. Its an outlet for me. I also love the connections I've made online because of blogs. I feel like I've gotten to know people just by the words they write.
Cheers!

audrey said...

It's been 4 years - since September 2007. I was shocked to find out it has been that long!

I actually started my blog at the suggestion of my graduate advisor to be able to work on improving my writing abilities - and I think it has helped tremendously! Even though I finished my master's degree in 2008 I have felt as though the writing improvement has enriched my life in so many ways aside from completing my thesis.

Amanda said...

I just started blogging in August this past summer. I've been reading blogs for a few years (Marta's is one of my favourites!) but was never brave enough to start my own although I desperately wanted to. Finally, I just went for it.

I absolutely love your 10 reasons for blogging, especially the last 5! I feel the same way!

And now I'm off to add you to my Google Reader :)

Grandma Cebe said...

I started my first blog in August 2007 as a chronicle for motorcycle trips. It morphed into a place to record events, feelings, etc. Unfortunately, I lost my steam and interest and on occasionally post to it. My second blog was inspired by you. I spent a lot of time recording my life, but have run out of steam on that one as well. I need to get back to the 2nd blog because my life isn't over yet...need to keep recording it.

Lindsey said...

I wish my ads made me money! Hahah! I love blogging for all the same reasons. I just love the record that it is. I have been blogging since 2007, and I love looking back, and I put things on there that I can't even remember! I love that! I think my kids will enjoy it in the future too!