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Craft of Writing

Jayda McTyson

Should You Be Blogging?

I developed a delicious addiction just two days after joining a writing network. During those first couple of weeks, everything took second place to my new, all engrossing and time consuming activity. If you have ever kept a weblog, I imagine that you are nodding in agreement as you read this. But why would a writer be interested in blogging, and just what is blogging anyway?

A weblog, or blog, for short, is an online, interactive journal. You post as often as you like and receive feedback through a comments section. The material you post to a blog is limited only by your imagination. You can post anything from daily activities and stories currently being written, to articles on religion and politics. A writer may have several reasons for keeping a blog. The reasons are all advantageous.

Increasing Discipline Through Practise
I stumbled upon the idea of blogging while searching for writing jobs. The whole concept piqued my interest enough for me to join a network. It was not what I expected, since it was marketed as a place for writers, but to date I have no regrets about joining. To move up the rankings on this particular network, it is necessary to post regularly. It takes some discipline, especially for a new writer, to sit down and write something every day. It's even more difficult, if your intention is to write something meaningful.

The main way to improve your writing is through practise. The old adage says 'Practise makes perfect'. Without the will or desire to sit down and write frequently, it is not possible to keep your writing in shape. Blogging is an excellent way to practise as you are challenged to write on varied and interesting topics to keep readers coming back. This process stimulates creative juices and as the habit of writing everyday is developed, your skill level gradually improves.

Learning To Be Competitive
Since blogging sites have thousands of members, it takes work to develop a following of readers. The more interesting you can make your posts, the more you will be read. Engaging the reader's imagination is crucial. Talent and originality also go a long way in helping you retain faithful readers. You will also need that something extra. That something extra is—ambition and drive. This pair will keep you plugging away in order to keep your blog amongst those at the top, which is not the easiest thing to achieve. A word of caution: Enforce strict time management strategies, otherwise you will find yourself doing more reading and blogging than pursuing your other writing goals.

Making The Most Of Marketing & Networking Opportunities
If your weblog is dynamic, you can also make money while blogging. Say you specialize in a particular subject area and you're seen as an expert, chances are, traffic through your weblog will be heavy. This is an excellent marketing opportunity to use to your advantage. The benefits that accrue from being an expert are manifold, chief of which are increased earnings and personal satisfaction as an established or soon to be established writer in your chosen field.

You can interact with your visitors and keep them coming again and again. If your area of specialization is not immediately clear, with repeat visits, they will eventually know what it is that you do. Links on your blog page are good and will do some of your marketing for you.

Networking is a great way to sell or exchange your services without having to do extensive online searches. Blogging promotes this like nothing else I know in the writing world. It is quite possible to read upwards of twenty blogs in a day and as you talk with other writers through their comments section, you learn about their lives. Valuable information is gained as well. You are likely to come in contact with other writers, editors and publishers. You may also meet manufacturers and distributors who are looking for someone to write a commercial blog for their web site. If your work is brilliant and if there happens to be an editor who is looking for a talented writer, who knows what interesting development may might follow.

Using Valuable Feedback & Idea Exchange
Apart from providing feedback which will be of great value in your progress as a writer, visits to some bloggers' pages will yield links to their web sites, favourite job markets and writer's resources. These links have been invaluable in my quest to become a better writer and to find additional job markets.

Tips, helpful suggestions and ideas are exchanged while communication takes place in your comment section. Information and knowledge is shared as writers explain how they find inspiration, as well as avenues pursued in trying to become successful writers.

Feedback is a major plus, especially if you are not a member of a true writing network or a critiquing circle. I have posted articles in progress in the past, and still do, and have received helpful comments and excellent advice from those who read my posts. Among those readers are professionals who make their living from writing and publishing and are happy to give pointers to less experienced writers. Can you hope to get better help than that? I don't think so.

Capitalize On Your Own Endless Treasure Trove of Ideas
Although you might not think of it in quite those terms, a blogging network can be likened to a huge warehouse of words, with a ready-made supply of writing prompts. Your posts, and that of others, will vary in subject matter. Choice bits of information are contained in each entry. These morsels have formed the basis of articles that I have written and will continue to write. I'm sure that this is not a strange occurrence for those of you who keep a blog. A great way to spark ideas for your own posts and articles is to read posts by other writers. It takes just a small amount of imagination to add flesh to the bare bones of ideas that get started from browsing posts.

Blogging has spread across the Internet at a rapid pace since 1997. In years gone by, it was used exclusively by the U.S. military. Today, blogging is not confined to ordinary folk, but is also employed by people such as Ray Ozzie (creator of Lotus Notes and founder of Groove Networks, Inc) and Mitch Kapor (designer of Lotus 1-2-3 and founder of Lotus Development Corporation). Major corporations make good use of this highly interactive form of communication.

Blogging is a means of communication, learning, self expression, storytelling and marketing. Interaction is significant and is the means by which knowledge and expertise are shared amongst people with similar interests. Writers benefit from blogging through using it as a means of instilling discipline through regular practise. Some use it to keep themselves in practice and thereby competitive in their respective network. Still others use blogging to get feedback on their work from other writers.

Blog sites are also used as a marketplace where you can display your skill, while networking with others in the same industry. Finally, blogs are a wonderful source of ideas that can be arranged into articles or stories as needed.

The one major downside to blogging is that it can consume all of your writing time if you are not careful. However, the benefits to the writer who keeps a weblog far outweigh any disadvantages that come to mind.


About the Author
Jayda McTyson writes both fiction and non-fiction and has special interest in the art of writing, parenting and relationships. She lives in sunny Jamaica and is always on the lookout for the makings of her next article or story. Feel free to contact her at writesmith@fusemail.com