How Blogging Helps Writers
64My Blogging Addiction
Liberating Creativity
In the past, this creative process took place offline, sometimes alone, sometimes with like-minded people. But the fact that creativity is taking place in full view of the world does not negate the viability of blogging as a creative form. In a sense, it gives everyone the possibility of being an artist but allows them to choose the form that their art takes.
Testing Ideas Safely
Blogging is also a good way of testing ideas – sharing the stuff that you think about with others and getting their feedback – sort of like an online editorial or features meeting. This is a key part of offline publishing and I think it lends a lot to online publishing as well. Again, that doesn’t mean I don’t think about what I post. I tend to agree with others that a bit of thought is in order before opening your online mouth.
The learning that I’m doing here is keeping my mind active and stimulating me to ever more creative thought. I’m not making grand claims. Some of the ideas have been for improvements to my website; others have been ideas for posts; still others for work that I might publish offline.
Creating An Online Portfolio
- You blog almost every day
- You're constantly thinking of new ideas for posts
- You try to make your posts useful to your readers
- You don't mind taking a bit of criticism
If all these things are true, your blog will make a great online portfolio. A blog is a wonderful place to rehearse your ideas for articles, stories, novel chapters, poetry or any kind of writing. If the community is active, the feedback you receive will tell you whether your writing is interesting and whether it's readable (not necessarily the same thing). You'll also be able to see where improvements can be made.
When editors are asking to see examples of your work, you can point them to your blog - I do. With two blogs and a website, I've got lots of examples of the variety of writing I can do - and I'll bet most of the writers here have the same.
A word of warning, though. Most editors want ORIGINAL content for their publication or website, so if you've written it on your blog, you'll have to make it slightly different if you want to publish the material elsewhere. But if you're a writer, that shouldn't be a problem. Happy blogging!
Blogging Books
|
ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income
Price: $12.15
List Price: $24.99 |
|
The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging
Price: $7.25
List Price: $15.00 |
|
Blogging For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Price: $12.54
List Price: $21.99 |
|
Publish and Prosper: Blogging for Your Business
Price: $13.69
List Price: $26.99 |
Freelance Writing Advice
This does not appear to be a valid RSS feed.PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down [flag this hub]
Thanks, Mitch. Glad to hear this is useful. I've seen some of your creative stuff on FanStory and elsewhere and you have a real talent. I think that when I step back into fiction writing blogging will certainly help stimulate creativity in that area as well.
Great article. I started blogging almost by accident (having said initially that I'd never have a blog) and my blog evolved. I enjoy many aspects of blogging, but some of the key things I love are the writing, sharing of my ideas and interaction from my readers. Expecially their experiences.
Their feedback has been wonderful. One thing I wanted to add though is that for me it is important that I write what I like to write about. So I blog for myself, rather than for my readers. I feel that if I started blogging to cater for their likes and dislikes, I'd be stemming my own creativity, or not staying true to myself. Havng said that, I don't expect my readers to agree with my point of view in any of my articles!
Yes, Britgirl, enjoying it is a key part of the experience. I mostly write the things that I want to, though occasionally readers ask questions that lead to another blog post, so the interaction is a key part ofthe process, as you say.
Good stuff. It's interesting how one thing leads to another. The weblog gets stuff going that we previously never considered doing. Then that leads to something else. Then we're creating a lens and that leads to more opportunities. All of this becomes part of a rather extended portfolio.
Yes, Malcolm. I've got so many things dotted all over the net now, that I can't keep track of all of them. But it's good to learn new things and speak to new people.
Hey..after reading your article, even I want to start blogging..though I have always had an inclination towards writing (my thoughts, my feelings, my experiences, reviews on movies/books that have inspired me). I must say that so far, I have been writing for myself but that used to give me creative satisfaction. And blogging would be a different experience altogether, so I am all excited for it..Really want to start with it nw.. Plz help do that..Hw can I start with it?
GREAT HUB MIGHT GIVE IT A TRY
I agree. If you post something on your blog or your personal website, make sure you only offer it as a reprint--not an original. And if you want it to be an original and get the higher fee, don't put it on your blog. Editors check these days. I know I do.
Mitchell Allen says:
3 years ago
This is an excellent article!
I find your message to be true about writing, in general. Before I ever picked up a blog pen, I posted to forums. The creative endeavor is not as evident in technical forums (such as software support), but in community-based forums (such as the Board Game Designers Forum), I was able to craft some compelling and helpful forum posts.
I continue to blog on my business website, but I've turned to Fanstory.com for my creative outlet. In the latter case, everything you wrote about how blogging helps free-lance writers, can be applied to how participation in story-telling sites helps authors.