The Conventions of Blogging

I started blogging in the fall of 2005, when several friends of mine shared their blogs with me (ironically these were also the same friends who introduced me to facebook in the previous year, against my own free will, but that’s for another entry).

 

Anyway, my initial thoughts on blogging were, “what the hell do I write about?” and “what’s the point in this?” As an English major (and a writer) this should have been simple enough, eh? But no, it actually took me a couple of go’s to, “get into the swing of things,” so to speak. I just couldn’t get used to “telling the world my story”. I’m naturally shy, and leave a lot of things about myself unexplained (intentionally). After battling a few demons, I started making unorganized, run-on sentences just listing my days in chronological order (as many would do in a diary). As time passed, these blog entries became more and more personal and reflected my general outlook on life.

 

Recently though, I’ve branched away from exposing too much of my personal life and decided to start a blog dedicated to all of the random thoughts and questions that go on inside of my head. I’m not sure how interesting these thoughts will be to other readers, but it’s worth a go.

 

Out of the blue last night, I started this blog and proudly showed a friend [who’s opinion I generally value] my first entry. To this he began to tell me the “conventions” of blogging and that I needed to read some book of his in order to “do it properly” (This coming from the person who does not blog and only reads them at his leisure —Start blogging already, kid). After thinking about it for a while, I wonder, how would you write a book on blogging? What is there an idiot’s guide to blogging? Oh and damn-it, just googled it and sadly a book of this nature does indeed exist:

 

idiot's guide to blogging

 

 

 

I’m page-breaking in the middle of an idea to prove a point here—I’ve never been all too “conventional”. Just ask any of my friends, family members, co-workers….I have a fairly unique way of going through/viewing life, however, I do get things accomplished. I’m not sure what a book could teach me, that I can’t take time to learn on my own. (I’ve always been the person to put things together without reading the directions). It’s kind of like having a book to teach you how to properly enjoy creative writing, art or music. Those aren’t skills that can be learned, but more less talents that people just naturally have the passion for. Some of the greatest things you’ll learn in life can’t be taught by a book.

 

Think about it…When you learned how to ride a bike, did your parents [or other teacher] pull a book from their ass and start rambling off instructions? Like, put your foot there, hold your hands there, shift your body at such-and-such angle, look forward…and don’t forget to breathe! Haha no, I would hope not, because if so, boy were you sheltered! No, the way I learned was I had my dad stand over me, yelling at me to use my common sense and pay attention to what he was showing me and low and behold, after hitting that pavement one too many times, I eventually got the hang of it. You see, like riding a bike, blogging is one of those, ‘learn as you go’ things. It’s kind of trail and error. You write and learn. You learn as you write.

 

Some people mainly blog about their lives, others blog about politics, pop-culture, their pets, their jobs, children etc. Blogging to me is a form of expression and cannot be taught. If I had to list conventions, I don’t even think I could go that far. Aside from of course, staying true to yourself, because everyone’s goals in blogging are different.

 

So in closing, I challenge you to blog [without the use of a book] & see where it leads you. Good luck & have fun.

Tags: Blog, Learning, New