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Do you have a blog? And if so, why?

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Re: Do you have a blog? And if so, why?

#61

No. I don't have a blog because my perfectionism keeps me from even starting to write. I feel like if what I write isn't extraordinary, I have no business putting it out there at all.

This is basically EXACTLY how I feel. I sometimes think about starting a blog, to showcase things I've worked on, or interesting things I've read about, or new things I've learned, but I often think that it wouldn't be original enough to warrant doing. The thing is, you don't know until you try...

You should read Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones. She describes exercises to help get over these feelings, and gives you permission to suck. Or rather, convinces you to give yourself that permission.

Re: Do you have a blog? And if so, why?

#62
Several, but my main blog is my technical/professional journal. http://www.codedevl.com

I update it when I feel there is something to say, not out of a need to keep it current for activity's sake.

I write for two reasons: Firstly, to get my ideas from my head into written form for personal reflection upon either a concept, experience or reaction to piece of relevant content. Secondly as a means of sharing my own experience(s) with others who might be looking for a different perspective based on someone else's background. I have also found that my technical blog has gained me several acquaintances, a few good friends, and considerable work. While my CV is rather lengthy due to my fifteen years in the industry, I have found that my blog posts offer far better insight into my thinking processes. As such, my best and brightest works situations transpired from those companies which found me via my writings.

Re: Do you have a blog? And if so, why?

#63
Yes. I've found that pretending people are listening helps keep me focused on moving forward on projects. And sometimes people really are listening, and that helps even more.

My most successful blog, though, is my house blog (http://big-old-house.blogspot.com) - although I suppose that's my most ambitious project to date, too...

Re: Do you have a blog? And if so, why?

#64

No. I don't have a blog because my perfectionism keeps me from even starting to write. I feel like if what I write isn't extraordinary, I have no business putting it out there at all.

How can you ever start writing something that's extraordinary if you never start writing at all? Do you really think Mark Twain started out writing Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer? It is a skill that requires effort to become good at.

Re: Do you have a blog? And if so, why?

#65
Yes-ish. I posted weekly programming essays in college, and post sporadically now.

I had developed lots of opinions about programming, and I couldn't clearly articulate any of them. Writing them for a broad audience forced me to adopt a consistent view of the programming world, and helped my writing develop.

As an added bonus, the internet is overly relentless when you make a mistake. It made me strive for a higher level of precision and quality that I wouldn't have developed just through my college courses.

Re: Do you have a blog? And if so, why?

#67
Yes,

To contribute back to the community blog is part of.

As outlet of my creative thoughts.

As brainstorming/honing exercise (having to write it out really helps explore/define an idea).

To solicit comments, criticisms, improvements to my ideas.

My blog is primarily about RPGs, the pen and paper kind, http://trollandflame.blogspot.com/

Re: Do you have a blog? And if so, why?

#68
Two blogs:

Technical blog where I mostly just write about my own projects and experiments. The blog exists so I can publicize my work and other people can find it and use it. It's also a way for people (including potential clients/employers) to find out more about me. Maybe most importantly, writing about my work motivates me to finish it, and forces me to make it understandable and useable: http://limpet.net/mbrubeck/

And a personal journal, just for keeping in touch with my extended circle of friends and family: http://mbrubeck.livejournal.com/

Re: Do you have a blog? And if so, why?

#69
Mainly just for fun. I don't expect that my blog will ever be read by any significant number of people, and neither do I try to make any money out of it with ads. Writing down your ideas helps to clarify them sometimes.
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