Blogging and writing.
written by Julie R. Neidlinger 2 comments link this postEric, over at the Fire Ant Gazette, is working on a presentation entitled "Five reasons writers should blog, and five reasons they shouldn't". He's posed some interesting questions to bloggers in regards to how blogging affects -- either good, bad, or both -- writing. I thought I'd share my thoughts here and give others a chance to read and/or respond on what they think.
Reasons blogging has helped my writing:
- Blogging forces me to accurately observe events in ways that go beyond merely noticing, but into translating what I see into what it means. In other words, I know that I have to recapture it on my blog for readers who were not there and I need to do it in a way that is concise.
- Speaking of concise, I see my writing becoming less wordy, though it still has a way to go. I, as a blog reader, don't like huge blocks of text and unwieldy writing, so I know that when I write for other such readers, I need to use words wisely. Most readers are coming in at so many blogs that they don't have time to sift through screens and screens of writing all the time. I've only got so much space and time to say what I'm going to say, and it makes me a leaner writer.
- Bloggers don't blog in a vacuum. That is, we're reading other blogs, too. I've learned a lot about argumentation and debate and ways of presenting ideas in a way that is meant to instruct and not confuse, just by reading other blogs.
- Blogging doesn't let me be lazy because my readers can interact and point out errors in reasoning, writing, and even (I hate to admit) grammar and spelling.
- When other bloggers link to what I've written and carry my idea further or take it in a new direction, I enjoy seeing doors open up that I had not seen before.
Reasons blogging has hurt my writing:
- Blogging has taken on certain forms, kind of like reporters get used to using the AP Stylebook. There is jargon, there are specific blogging techniques...I find that this sometimes carries over into other writing where it doesn't work. Much of blogging, such as placing a heavy weight on letting a link do the explaining (like a footnote or parenthetical statement in other writing) so that I can move on with my main message, is very much tied to the medium that blogging is.
- I've actually, in some cases, become "too" concise and truncated in my writing, always writing for a blogging audience when, in other writing arenas, the audience doesn't need to "get in and get out" and actually wants a little more explanation or description.
- Because I know that readers can, and will, comment on my writing, there are times when I write in a passive way so that I can find a back door out of any argument someone might have with what I'm writing. If I'm not careful, I don't write in declarative statements or with confidence, but weakly so no one can pin me down and I don't have any regrets later.
- I spend so much time blogging bits and pieces of thoughts and of life that I don't sit down and write a short story or a long essay or article for other publications or projects. Blogging is addictive and can suck up time that could be used to exercise other writing muscles. Its instant gratification is very addictive.
- It's easy to rely on other writers, through linking, and be lazy while feigning wittiness through sarcasm.
I'd recommend blogging to writers if:
- They have the discipline to write in other ways, besides blogging.
- If they have a thick skin and can take compliments and criticism.
- They don't have hopes and dreams of writing the Great American Novel.
- They can edit themselves.
- They don't mind having their early work out there, like underwear on a clothesline, for everyone to see.
- They don't fall into the trap of those bloggers who link to an article or source on the web and then post a quick comment on what they think about the topic of the article. It's a lazy kind of blogging, almost a forgivable plagiarism. At the very least, it's climbing onto someone else's statue and pointing out what's wrong or right with it; it is by no means the same as carving their own statue.
Copyright (c) Julie R. Neidlinger 3/08/2007 10:53:00 PM
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2 Comments:
They don't have hopes and dreams of writing the Great American Novel.
I wish you'd expound on that a bit further. It sounds like you're contending that being a blogger and being a novelist are mutually exclusive, and I think that folks like Roger L. Simon would disagree with that.
Excellent points overall, though. I especially like the one about the form and style of blogging lapping over into other areas of writing. I had never considered that. But then, I'm not a writer.
By 
Eric, at
March 09, 2007 7:41 AM
I can't speak for Roger L. Simon, of course, but only myself.
This is a point that kind of ties into the idea of all the rest, how, to keep a blog fresh, full of original content (because I think a blog should have mainly original content and not just regurgitated stuff from someone else), updated and interesting, it takes time away from my other writing and directly affects the way I write. It is difficult for me to then sit down and think in terms of long, fiction novel instead of short, digestable opinion essay.
Speaking for myself, of course.
By Julie, at
March 09, 2007 9:43 AM
