What I’ve Learned from Blogging in 100 Posts

Posted on August 27, 2007

This post is number 100 for thoughtsparks.net and to celebrate, I thought I’d write a reflective look on what I’ve learned from blogging to date. In its five short months in existence, this blog has gone through some evolution and yet has remained true to its original intent, "Igniting Ideas for the Common Good." I recently debated about splitting the blog into two, but have come to the conclusion, based on reader response that there is an appreciation for the method to my madness. Thoughtsparks.net will remain as it has been, a tech-oriented site with a very human touch mixed with ideas and reflections.

While it would be difficult to write a complete list, some of the things I’ve learned from blogging include:

It is hard, if not impossible, to predict how people will respond to posts. I’ve written some posts that I thought were real zingers that just lay there. Others, that I thought had much less expectation garnered much greater response.
Blogging is fun. I’ve blogged in the past but something struck me through this process that has made it really enjoyable. Maybe it’s being a part of blogging communities like MyBlogLog, maybe it’s that I put more attention to it and stuck with it long enough to gain readership.
Publishing a blog is work. Yes, the tools developed now make it easier than ever, but getting a blog up-and-running and keeping it alive with fresh information takes time, thought and hard work.
I’ve met some really wonderful friends through blogging from all over the globe. This has been a delightful side effect that I was not expecting from the beginning, but there are a good number of people that I’ve met that I’ve developed a measure of ongoing correspondence.
One of the best ways to improve ones writing is to blog consistently. I average about 20 posts a month, which is around 5 posts a week. In addition to comments and correspondence, that is a good amount of writing. The process for writing a blog requires a higher level of thought in structure, content and presentation than most typical writing for work.
People appreciate fresh, original content creation. Authenticity cannot be faked and blogs that are poorly written with rehashed information or media are obvious to everyone.
Ideas are everywhere. When you get in the mode of looking for something to write about, things pop-out from many sources. Sometimes it’s a conversation at work, others something read online or experiences with friends. What makes blogging so fascinating is the ability to take the most unusual aspects of ones life and relay that information to others.
Being an online communicator is a two-way street. Being quick to respond to comments, visiting and commenting on others blogs is a highly interactive experience. Blogging can make one reachable, which is part of the appeal for readers.
Blogging is a smart career move. Developing an online voice promotes oneself as a competent professional.
Blogging becomes part of your daily life. Not just a past-time, it’s a passion and a pursuit. My life is richer for it.

To all my dear friends that write blogs with passion and excellence, thank you for making my life richer. Welcome aboard new readers. Let’s grow and learn together.

Filed Under Writing, Ponderings, Just for Fun |

Comments

19 Responses to “What I’ve Learned from Blogging in 100 Posts”

Sam Chan on August 27th, 2007 8:36 am

You are doing great, Phil!
I learned a great deal from you. Indeed, publishing a blog is work and it can gives us great experience and friends!

Blessings to you my friend.
Phil on August 27th, 2007 8:47 am

Sam, Thanks for the comment. Yes, if it was all work and no play, I think less people would do it. But the enjoyment aspect is very compelling. Glad the site is a help to you. Thanks buddy.
Random Magus on August 27th, 2007 8:47 am

You are so right sometimes the post that you didn’t put as much effort in gets the most reaction. I love blogging, the entire process not just writing the posts but visiting blogs, leaving comments, replying to the ones on your own blog. It is an experience that I treasure!
Phil on August 27th, 2007 9:01 am

Random, Yes blogging is an amazing process of discovery and interaction, never mundane and always changing. I think that’s why it doesn’t feel like work even when we put much effort into it.
Scott on August 27th, 2007 9:16 am

Congratulations Phil , now on to the next 100….
SB
Phil on August 27th, 2007 9:20 am

Scott, Yes, onward and upward! The best is yet to come.
BeachBum on August 27th, 2007 10:25 am

This is my first visit. You design looks clean. I will have to check out your other posts, but this one is well written and provides useful information. I would suggest not splitting the blog in two.

BeachBum
Phil on August 27th, 2007 10:39 am

Thanks BeachBum, yes that seems to be the overwhelming consensus and I definitely am going in the direction. Thanks for the feedback, it’s very confirming. Glad you stumbled upon the site. Welcome, enjoy the ride!
Mike Scott on August 27th, 2007 10:50 am

Congrats on the milestone! I think I have been reading for about 20 of those, but I’m sure I’ll be reading the next 100.

Keep up the good work Phil!
Phil on August 27th, 2007 11:08 am

Mike, It’s been great to have you on board. You’ve been very helpful and an interesting one to read and interact with on tech-related issues with our blogs. Very helpful indeed. Looking forward to where we take our blogs and encouraging one another along the way.
Mike Scott on August 27th, 2007 12:12 pm

Well thanks Phil! I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog and swapping comments with you, as well as the “conversations” that we have had across the mediums.

Thanks for all the help that you’ve given me, and I do look forward to seeing where our blogs go.
Ian Kennedy on August 27th, 2007 12:33 pm

Hi Phil,
Congratulations on reaching your 100th post. Great to hear that the MyBlogLog community makes blogging enjoyable for you.
Here’s to another 100 posts!
Ian
Product Manager, MyBlogLog
kellypea on August 27th, 2007 6:23 pm

The fact that you choose to integrate humanity into a tech blog is what makes your work unique, Phil. I’m so glad you decided to not separate the two — but if you do, I’ll be right there!

And I agree that it’s sometimes a bit bizarre when I misjudge whether a post will spark comments or not. That’s a good post in and of itself, now that I think of it.
Phil on August 27th, 2007 6:44 pm

Kelly, Thanks for the vote of confidence in my little corner of the ether. Yeah, how stuff will fly is as unpredictable as the people who read them. Which in the end really makes it fun. How droll it would be if one knew ahead of time exactly how folks would respond. Life is fun that way.
Phil on August 28th, 2007 9:14 pm

Ian, Hey thanks for the congrats. For some reason your message got snagged by Akismet. I usually comb through it every day or so to catch any ones that didn’t get through. MyBlogLog has been a really great service that encourages the blogging community. One of the things I like about it is that it does a really good job of supporting the blog environment as apposed to being just another social community. I like that dynamic and generally like the direction that the site is heading.
cherann on August 30th, 2007 5:14 pm

Blogging can also get you into trouble…
Phil on August 30th, 2007 5:20 pm

Cherann, Good point. Yes, a sober mind and thoughtful words are valuable assets when you are blogging. I’ve gotten into a couple conversations that honestly I’m not sure how I ended-up there but I did.
Michael Christopher on May 22nd, 2008 9:53 pm

I have been poking around your blog. It is nicely done! Of course, I have been a fan for a long time given that I use your work every day in my job!

Good stuff!
Phil on May 23rd, 2008 8:14 am

Thanks Michael! We are involved in some pretty interesting projects aren’t we?