Why I Blog
Recently, I’ve had a few people ask me why I write this blog. Of course, there’s no one definitive answer I can give. But just the asking of the question has made me sit back and ponder, what’s this all about? Why do I sit down at my computer a few times a week and type some words for the world to see? What was my outlet before this forum existed (or did I even have one?). Here’s what I’ve come up with.
I am a writer.
It’s what I do. Just about everything I do involves writing on one level or another. I write proposals to land new business for our company. I write strategies for our clients. I write content for web sites, videos, and TV shows. I write press releases, communications plans and marketing materials when I’m called on to do so. I write because that’s how I make my living. And considering I almost flunked out of English in the 11th grade, I guess maybe I write because I was told for so long that I wasn’t any good at it. Not a day goes by where I’m not writing. If I wasn’t able to write, I don’t really know what else I would do. My point is, this blog is a way that I can explore writing on my terms. No editors, except me. No clients to please. It’s what I want to write, when I want to write it.
I am amazed that this even exists.
In 1996, my older brother showed me the Internet for the first time. He brought me into the computer room, sat me down, and showed me a page of black text on a grey background. I wasn’t overly impressed. Then he told me that what I was looking at was actually sitting on a computer somewhere in Germany. It’s the first time in my life that I can remember being truly in awe about technology. 12 years later, I am still in awe. I’ve been able to carve out a little space here, where I can yammer on and share what’s inside my head with anyone who will take the time to listen. I’ve met and become friends with people from around the world. I can talk with anyone, anywhere, at anytime with the click of a button. The Internet continues to amaze me, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to be part of it.
I like communities.
My first real industry job was as a producer at a local community access TV station. The content on the station was created mostly volunteers. My job was to facilitate the productions, and to coach and guide the volunteers in the technical and content aspects of their shows. The real stars of the show were the people from the community who created them. Social media shares so many similarities with community access TV. What we were creating back then was user generated content. The station was accessible to anyone who wanted to participate. There were the content creators, who developed and produced the shows, and there were the participants, who would leave their comments on the viewer response line or phone in during a live show. In the social media world, there are the content creators – the bloggers, video bloggers, Twitterers, YouTubers, Facebookers…and there are the participants – who comment and share their thoughts. Sure, the line is a bit more blurred in the social media world, but that’s a good thing. If you ask me, it’s an even stronger community because everyone here is creating and sharing and participating and learning. I blog because I have always been amazed at what communities are capable of. I embrace community, and this blog is one way I can do that.
What about you?
Those are just some of the reasons I reach out every week through this blog. To the people who take the time to stop by here, I hope that what I write is of value to you. I think everyone has different motivations for blogging. What are yours?