Why do we blog? Redux.

In response to my post "Why Do We Blog", my friend Pam had a great comment. I asked her if I could share it. I love the way this lady thinks.

"I blog, therefore I am.

:-)

Words have power, spoken, but especially written. Even in cyberspace written words create a tangible record of thoughts and feelings and invite a response from the reader. Would we blog if no one ever read or commented on our blogs? I don't think I would.

I blog to exercise my writing muscle.

I blog mostly to engage with other people of differing opinions and view points. In a crowded room it can be difficult to hear what someone is really saying. I have to get past the external obstacles, like appearance and age and gender. In the blogosphere I engage with people purely on a mental level, sometimes emotional, but for me it's primarily an intellectual discourse. It's like being a part of a huge discussion but everybody can get their two cents in without interruption. I can get my words out before someone cuts me off.

For me, I do try to write in the way that I would speak. If I can't speak of it than I won't write it. But that's because I blog under my real name.

I understand the need for psuedonyms for many bloggers. I've considered having an "alter blog" under a blogger name where I would write more freely about personal topics like family.

But I don't have time for another blog.

I would love to blog full-time and earn money from it. I need to look into that.

Lately I've even been wondering if, in this digital age, building up a writing career through the internet is to be preferred than dreaming of being a book author? Would love thoughts about this.

Maybe I'll blog about that!"