February 07, 2004

To blog or not to blog?

When do you blog? What do you blog about? Why do you blog?

My story is that when I was studying in England, I wrote back after I had just arrived to let everybody know that I had got in ok, and the funny things that happened to me along the way (I left my radio in the luggage hall at Heathrow and didn't discover this until I arrived in Guildford, Surrey - for one). A couple days later I followed it up with some other episode of the life that I was now living. Pops e-mailed back to say he hoped I was saving these. I wasn't and wasn't planning to either.

But it gave me an idea that perhaps people might like to know how I was getting on. And so "Guildford Chronicles" was born. No, you won't find it on the internet as they were typed and e-mailed to everybody. Then when I moved up to Nottingham, the writing continued with the "Nottingham Niblets" series.

Then I got into writing for CaribbeanCricket and the editor Ryan suggested that I set up a blog. Before "meeting" him, I didn't know that people did this.

So here I am blogging. Of course, given what I'm doing at a particular time, the blogs are frequent or they come in trickles. I have a lot of time on my hands, so hence many blogs during the last 3 months or so.

But then, somebody said to me the other day that he finds a certain sameness about the blog, so he doesn't visit often anymore.

The question is, do I blog about my life? Do I blog about issues that are topical? Do I blog about the world that we live in?

I've chosen to blog about my experiences, to kind of replace the stories I used to send from England. But those readers tell me they don't seem to come here everyday. Mi spoil dem by emailing stories to them.

So the readership has probably changed, and there are the old faithfuls who come and visit daily, or every few days and there are those who have to be reminded when I send out a link to an entry that I want them to read.

So far, this blog thing is great (thanks Ryan), and I'll continue blogging as long as I have a computer and an internet connection.

Ok, I'm not going to do like Dr D and delete what I've just written! But I am going to bed.

Posted by yamfoot at February 7, 2004 11:28 PM
Comments

LOL. That write then delete thing doesn't happen often.

How I got started? Mad Bull had been doing it for perhaps a year or so before me. He works with computers, I don't. My computer know how is limited. I think it was some of my comments to his site that made him think that I could blog. However, other than Mad Bull, I hadn't really ever visited anyone else.

He then 'set me up' on 'The Doctor is In!' Created the site and there I started. Now the 'testblog' in my web address. That's because he thought it would have been a fleeting thing for me, I would probably drop it after a few weeks. Well, even though we know each other bout 25 years, him clearly don't know how much I can give suppem my all once I decide to take it on.

What to blog about can become a problem. First off, I would say to you blog about things that are of interest to you. Do not feel compelled to blog if you are short for a post. Some of your personality should come out in your writing. How much of your personal life you wish to share depends on you. I like your stories about travel. Keep on blogging.... when you feel like.... don't force the issue. (I didn't delete anything from this long comment!)

Posted by: Dr. D. at February 8, 2004 04:33 PM

Hah hah.

Yes, my life is like an open book....ask the people who used to get my Guildford Chronicles and Nottingham Niblets. But because this is the internet and I can't control who goes on to the site, I need to be a little bit less open.

But I still want to keep some anonymity, for eg, I wouldn't do that bio thing and picture like Mad Bull has on his.

so when you going ot get your owna web page?

btw, did you attend Charles Ross's talk the other day? Saw the article in the papers today.

Posted by: Michelle at February 8, 2004 11:21 PM

I don't have a bio page either.

Charles Ross' talk???

Posted by: Dr. D. at February 8, 2004 11:50 PM

Hey Mich,

I am new to the blog world and just started a web page. I too find it hard to come up with topics to blog on. I never know if my interest are the same as those of the readers or if it is interesting at all, but I just put it out there anyway.

I like your blogs, so keep them coming when you can.

Posted by: Trish at February 9, 2004 10:12 AM

thanks Trish

Dr D, it was in the newspaper yesterday, that he went to talk to doctors about what their options were for investing. Sterling Asset Management I believe is the name of the company.

Posted by: Michelle at February 9, 2004 11:12 AM

Just write what pops into your head. some days it may be more personal than others and some days you will have more to say than others but dont sweat the format.

Posted by: J did at February 9, 2004 01:56 PM

J did, do you have a blog?

Posted by: Michelle at February 9, 2004 07:35 PM

Investment options eh? I didn't see it, but maybe they didn't bodda wid me...nutten nuh deh deh fe invest my girl!

Posted by: Dr. D. at February 10, 2004 08:10 AM

Keep blogging. It is like having a conversation with you every now and then my friend.

Posted by: gesmith at February 11, 2004 10:04 AM

Michelle, I dont have a blog but I do write ...occasionally and I find alot of what I write is dependent on my mood so day to day my efforts vary.

Posted by: J Did at February 16, 2004 04:43 PM