Blogging for Beginners

Draft 1.2 1/20
(3) What can weblogs be used for?
(4) Why a weblog?
Draft # 1.2, paragraphs 3& 4 in our 8 paragraphs plan

(3) What can weblogs be used for? Almost anything. They started out with early bloggers just connecting online with humor and lively conversation and providing news links to current news from a diversity of sources. Some are still functioning this way. They have become personal journals, daily logs, notebooks, complaint logs: conversation topics, teacher aids, dialogue blogs, business blogs, customer service blogs, company blogs, team building blogs, career promotion blogs, collaborative writing blogs, etc. Rebecca Blood in The Weblog Handbook puts it this way:

Passion is the purpose of a weblog: passion for a profession or hobby, passion for telling stories, passion for punditry, even a passion for civil, well reasoned debate. The things you care about, the things, you can’t figure out, and the things you find interesting– all are colored by the extent to which you care; if you don’t care, you might as well not publish at all. (Blood, p. 131)

(4) WHY SHOULD I BLOG.
The number one reason is appreciating our differing gifts (Romans 12:6), that is, we are talented, original and each has something to say. Being part of the Mystical Body means that our communities are stronger when we participate and share our gifts to help and heal the whole. The task of the future is not to access more information, but to develop ways to enhance our understanding and mutual cooperation, to empower people and their connectedness, while screening out the rest of the stuff that doesn’t matter. For an increasing number of people, weblogs provide a useful filter and spur to these activities

Although there are many kinds of web logs, there are probably three main motivations for starting and keeping one: information sharing, personal expression and outreach, and reputation building. Any of these can be your primary aim. No matter what you write about, your avocation or vocation, job, your day, your business, your ministry, your take on national or foreign affairs, you are sharing information. As you research and write this, your competence in your subject of choice grows. You summon yourself to know a subject better. You become more reflective and often more balanced as you consider what you have written. When you take time to do this, to say clearly what you want to say, this makes you not only a better writer, but more authentically centered yourself. Furthermore, you can't do this without noticing what you are thinking, without building awareness of your less-conscious self. Evaluating sources of information helps one become a more critical thinker. You may even become an expert in a certain field.

Your weblog can translate into appreciation from distant readers, and greater visibility for some career advancement or simply playful hobby pursuit. If you enjoy spending some time online most everyday, you may be a good candidate for weblogging. But if you use your PC only to check your email and buy an occasional book, or you spend your working day with a computer, you will probably be better spending time with your favorite hobby. When a weblog is an extension of something you already do, such as web browsing, writing, joumaling, you are likely to find the time spent rewarding. If you love reading, connecting with others and exploring new ideas, the new user- friendly weblog sources may be a welcome new online homeplace for you.

I am on target - started writing tonight - have a bunch of stuff to do, so I will get back to it in a bit.