My reasons for blogging
This post is long overdue.
Why I blog
1. I don’t. As you can see, I don’t update often. And it’s a direct violation of #1 rule of blogging: Update as much as possible. Blog often. I know all of this, and yet, I don’t have a writing schedule and I don’t take it too seriously, which results in frequent blog abandonment. Sometimes I forget to blog, and sometimes I feel I don’t have anything interesting to share.
2. I like owning a personal website. That’s how it all started, after all. I opened my first website around 2003, back in the days when blogging wasn’t popular. And I used to hate blogs and blogging, because I didn’t understand the appeal. Many people used blogs as their personal diaries, and I was never into sharing private details online. And I never enjoyed reading other people’s diaries.
But blogs soon became much more. People used them to raise issues, state their opinions and make their voices heard. This made blog reading much more exciting, but writing a quality blog proved itself to be more difficult.
My blog is tricky to define. I see it as a general (non-themed) blog, one of those you see on many personal websites. But on the other hand, it’s far from being a diary or a collection of personal reflections. This makes it, I guess, difficult to find the audience. And yet, I do have visitors- more than I had in previous years. Which brings us to:
3. Visitors. I don’t blog to get hits, but it is refreshing to see there are more visitors lately. This positive trend started about the time I decided to do something about this blog and write about subjects more people might find interesting. The site is far from being popular but for the first time, there are returning visitors and people who actually notice if I don’t update often (thanks for reminding me, Natasha and Zek!)
On the other hand, this requires a certain responsibility. Responsibility to update often and give your readers what they want (in terms of blog posts/articles). I am still learning how to be responsible when it comes to blogging.
4. Practicing my English. This one is self-explanatory. But no matter what, I don’t think my English will ever be decent enough so I could write- really write- serious stuff, such as essays or stories. It’s not a surprise but it makes me pissed.
5. Meeting new people all over the world. Not the same as “visitors” , but closely related. I can’t afford to travel (and I hope it will change!), so at the moment Internet is the only way to meet people from all over the world.
So, these are my reasons.
Possibly related
31 Jul 10 at 11:56 PM | Diary (Personal), Site general, Updates | 10 comments
Natasha W
You’re welcome (for the reminder).
Also, your English is very good. Definitely good enough to write serious stuff.
02 Aug 10 at 5:22 PM
zek j evets
yay for the return of jeff! (lion?)
i agree with natasha; you’re english is perfectly fine. as for finding time/topics to write, that can only come thru luck ‘n’ practice. mostly luck.
either way, keep blogging! (even if it’s only dissertations on twilight, haha.)
02 Aug 10 at 8:01 PM
Mira
Thanks for your support!
And laugh all you want, Zek, but “Twilight” spittings are one of the most popular things here!
02 Aug 10 at 11:19 PM
Mel
Your English is better than you think it is. Most native tongue English speakers can’t compose a proper English sentence, so you’re fine.
06 Aug 10 at 4:10 AM
Mariana
I’ve been studying English as a second language for almost all my life. I’ve been studying English like hell to get the Cambridge exams and you write in English way better than I do and way better than many native speakers I know. I’ve been learning a lot from your writings (and I mean it!) That’s probably because you ARE a tallented writer. I wish I could read Serbian to read something you wrote in a laguage you have full domain. =)
09 Aug 10 at 4:50 AM
Mira
@Mel
Thanks! I know some native speakers have horrible spelling and can’t tell the difference between “their” and “they’re”. But not majority of people…. ?
@Mariana
And I think your English is better than mine.
Maybe I think I’m not that good because a) I can’t speak it- it’s horrible beyond words (I’m shy around people and often block when I need to talk in my own language… Imagine the disaster when English is involved), and b) I don’t think it’s good enough for writing, which, in my universe, means it sucks.
09 Aug 10 at 10:57 AM
Day
Wow, I was on another site, and noticed your commentary. You gave me the impression that you are very balanced and candid, so I clicked.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Your English skills are fine. I have the same problem with learning Italian, so I understand the need to communicate as you would in your native tongue.
Great Blog! Have a nice day!
11 Aug 10 at 9:49 AM
Mira
Thanks for commenting, Day!
I don’t speak Italian, but it’s such a melodic language and you have to like it.
A friend of mine speaks perfect Italian but she’s got a real talent for languages.
11 Aug 10 at 3:13 PM
SW6
Mira,
there comes a time with all endeavors that one has been engaged with for some time where a “tipping point” is reached.
Psychologically you need to stop telling yourself that you are “practicing your English.” You passed that point already. You’re placing a mental block on yourself; their is no need for this.
You are now an English speaker in addition to your mother tongue. If you can read, understand and critique in English a top newspaper/periodical like Psychology Today or The Economist, you are fine. If you can converse in casual conversation you are also fine.
Don’t ever feel awkward about using a dictionary. Language and vocabulary expand as experience expands, dictionary use will be necessary for the rest of life, though at a decreasing rate.
Do not believe that various hiccups in conversation are a fault of your English. English is my mother tongue. I was born in England and most of the time I try to convey meaning in as precise a way as possible. This is not how English is used in Canada; people are somewhat fuzzy with meaning. It causes hiccups for me all the time, but obviously my English is good. You will have your own style of speaking English.
I hope I’ve been helpful.
Hope your keeping well – the worry post notwithstanding.
11 Sep 10 at 6:28 PM
SW6
*you’re
(hah! my good english!:))
12 Sep 10 at 4:22 AM