First And Foremost When I Blog
Tagged as: Jul 30Web logging. Weblogging. We blogging. Oh yeah we’re blogging!
Why do we do it? Why do I do it? It’s such an interesting phenomenon. People have been writing in journals and diaries for years and years. But those always seemed to be meant to be secret. Along come computers and the Internet and all of a sudden there are people who have a desire to write things in a completely public forum. What is the attraction? I know that I have met people who have asked just these questions.
So why do I do it? Well I think that a large attraction for me is to be able to freely express myself in whatever way I want. I can say something and not be graded or judged (okay I guess that you could judge me in some ways) based on it. I am able to say what I want when I want. I can rant about the guy that bugs me or I could talk about the small pleasures of life. Some people have their radio shows, others have their newspaper columns. But for the average Joe, what public forum is available to express the joys and outrages of life? Aren’t our opinions as worthy (if not as well voiced) as those more famous opinion expressers?
Rory over at Clean Cut Blog has a Group Writing Project that is intended to allow many people to write about what their absolute first rule of writing is. I was reminded of it after reading Shelly’s post Fishing For An Audience.
So after thinking about my reasons for even having a blog, I realize that I’ll only do it when it is interesting to me. That seems rather obvious, but it very accurately describes what I do with this blog and why I do what I do. That is why this blog is not like others. Hopefully that is not why it’s not the most popular blog on the Internet. I mean, I’d like to think that what I am interested in has some appeal to other people.
Anyways, although there are many many good blogs out there and the popular opinion is that they should focus on a particular area, I think that I like to keep this blog a place where I can show people how I go my own way. You know, the wong way. And each time I write a post, that is what I keep in mind.
I like it that you go the “wong way!” I know that niche blogs are popular, but I love the idea of never quite knowing what I will find each day on a given blog. Face it, there is only so much you can say about “blogging” or “finance” or “caring for your cat” before you begin to start being redundant and repeating yourself, also, too. Keep being yourself. That’s what makes your blog special. Excellent post, my friend. I will go link it now.
[...] Derek Wong added First And Foremost When I Blog [...]
A simple and important point, Derek. If it’s interesting it’s going to show.
I really appreciate you going in for the GWP.
@This Eclectic Life
Thanks for putting those shared feelings into words. After reading your comment, I realized that’s pretty much how I feel! You just said it a little more concisely.
@Rory
Thanks for your comment and for being willing to start the GWP in the first place. I look forward to seeing what other people have to say.
Hmmmm…I definitely miss on the focus thing…actually I always miss on focus whether it’s blogging or life…
For whatever it’s worth, I think your blog’s a fun one!
Excellent point. And when you write about something you’re actually interested in that shines right on through.
@Jill
Well thank you very much, Jill! I always appreciate having someone willing to read a little of what I write. And don’t worry, you’re not the only one who has a hard time with focusing.
@Robin from Israel
Thanks for commenting! I definitely think that writing about things that you’re interested in is beneficial (if only for yourself). I liken it to the ability to laugh at your own jokes. So even if you tell a horrible joke that nobody laughs at, someone will have a good time: you.
Niche blogs are definitely harder to maintain! I constantly find the scope of topics on my niche blogs ‘ever-widening’! LOL!
I’ve been rather enjoying John Pozadzides blog lately, as he says that ’specialization is for insects’! I just love that! His blog is http://onemansblog.com
I bet you’d like it, too!
[...] Write about what interests you [...]
@Lisa Marie Mary
Thanks for commenting, and thanks for the link! I’m enjoying his blog from what I’ve read so far.
It’s definitely true that it’s very easy to slowly expand and broaden the topics that one could cover in a blog. It seems like one’s weight, it’s easy to go wide and difficult to go narrow.
[...] Wong over at Going The Wong Way gently exhorts writers to appreciate the power of the blog. In First And Foremost When I Blog he says, “A large attraction for me is to be able to freely express myself in whatever way I [...]
Derek, I like your “Wong” way. Nice play on words. I picked the title of my blog so that I could cover whatever I want to write about on my blog. If it is a part of my “journey”, it is open for possible discussion. When I started writing my blog on June 1, 2007, I had just a general idea as to the direction I wanted to go with it. I plan to travel from one topic to another as I feel the “need” to write. Writing isn’t a luxury for me. It is a need. Have a glorious day.
[...] Write about what interests you [...]