I’m trying to fulfill a bit of a promise to my buddy Andy about the things I have learned from blogging. I think that anyone who does blog learns something, and that all makes us a slice of an expert in whatever it is that we are launching out into the world of the Internet. That can be kinda scary because it is the whole world, and there are moments that, when you get into the depths of blogging, you need to take a step back and examine where you are with this whole thing.
I guess this comes from looking at the total number of posts that I have made last night, and it surprised me.
After 3.5 years and 66 entries ago, I passed the 1000 post mark.
No need to bust out the champagne or give me any pats on the back, but the significance is worth noting. When I did start blogging in January 2004, I kept things pretty low profile. For a few years before that, I journaled by hand, and a college course in nonfiction writing gave me some inspiration for wanting to do more of something I’ve found to enjoy. Not saying I was or am great at it, but it was the kick starter for developing my own style and voice for what I wanted to my writing outlets to become.
My family picked up on the blog first, and after moving to Vancouver, it’s a great way for them to keep tabs on my adventures, not to mention the same thing about some of my friends. However, not all of them are as tech savvy or hip to the whole social media/networking/web2.0 thing.
Then there is that fact that I moved to Vancouver and knew only Rebecca. There’s a handful of other people that I knew through her and are still good friends with, but making new ties would be a lot tougher if it wasn’t for blogging. In fact, blogging is what led to the camping trip from the past weekend, and that is a real unique thing in my mind.
I equate it to my first year in college because I got stuck in temporary housing for almost the whole fall semester, living in a dorm lounge with six other guys. The awkwardness wore off in a few weeks, and pretty soon you all start hanging out together, taking road trips, and being good pals (of which we all stay in contact, for the most part).
Blogging, for me, has turned into that, but on a much different level. I have been able to meet some really great people and develop friendships that are building into a community like I have never experienced before. We all do our own thing, and when you actually meetup, you already have something to talk about and expand the back story on. In turn, those experiences can lead to more material to write about later. It’s an intriguing circle, if not tons of fun.
When I think about it, I hate the idea of defining what we do as blogging as much as it is actual writing. Those who write for a living, in the literal sense, will disagree, but there is merit to the things we post about. It might not get published in a hard cover book or The New Yorker, but there are things that we say and do that can affect the world, even if it is just one person, on a variety of levels. Within that, you breed a community that establishes a variety of friendships.
Whether it’s tech, podcasting, hockey, tv, movies, or whatever, the things I write about allow me to share my thoughts, opinions, and loves. Then, I’m able to become apart of so many communities and make some really amazing friendships.
Writers write. The rest is quibbling for ego.
Oh no doubt, and the only reason I say that is due to some articles that I’ve read lately that I lazily didn’t mention or quote to. Thus, this shows how bloggers can be unresourceful, but… meh. No one’s paying me to do this yet. š
Bravo. Great write and read. My blogging adventures have morphed over the course of the 3 years I have been doing this as well…and I now find my blogging more comfortable than ever before.
And, although I haven’t gotten a chance to actually meet some of the bloggers that I frequent or comment on (I am 1/2 a world away, afterall), it would be great to meet up with people and say HI.
If you are ever in GZ or HK…I’ll buy you a pint…or five.
Holy Crap…Thirty bucks for a bottle of cheap red?
haha! If you do the math, and about four bottles of $6 cheap red could fit into a jug of that size, it works out. And for something like that, it’s the experience that you would end up paying for.
John, I’m certainly very happy to have made your acquaintance through the medium that is blogging, and I agree when you say “Iām able to become a part of so many communities and make some really amazing friendships.”
Funny…me too.