Why Read This Blog?

[collingwest]

Reaching Hands
Credit: Jackson David via Pixabay

I talked about my reasons for re-starting and writing the blog in an earlier post, but that topic begs the question: who would want to read this blog? What, exactly, am I trying to accomplish by using a blog to add to conversations and re-establish a community? Why not just become known as a commenter on other blogs, or various social media or writing sites? Isn’t starting your own site just a method of re-inventing a wheel — and one that smacks of control issues, at that?

I’ll admit that it might be. But I’ll also note that the one thing that I don’t see on many other sites is a way to post longer, thoughtful essays about topics of interest while simultaneously being able to continue those conversations in threads. Sites such as Substack and Medium are a good place for posting longer essays, but lack the community-in-response aspect. Social media sites are great for discussion of topics, but aren’t so great for posting the longer essays. I’m looking to do both: expand my writing from quick “sound bites” into actual readable posts, and to discuss them with others.

This leads back to the original model of the blogosophere: where the blog’s owner posts long essays that sometimes derive from comments on earlier posts; sometimes refer back to posts on other sites; and which sometimes also just are sparked by topics of interest. When I think about my personal and career goals, I realize that is the model I’ve always been pursuing; thus, it’s the best model to use for my pursuit of this goal.

Who would be interested in reading what I have to say, though?

The question and my definition of the goals lead to the answer: those who are seeking my commentary on topics of interest, which in my case range from human resources and employee benefits, to Catholic doctrine and matters that affect American Catholics, to less-serious cat posts and personal updates. Thus, the original core audience for the blog is my friends and family: the same people with whom I would start my community anyway.

Friends and family would just be the beginning, though. I’m interested in discussions with anyone whose interests coincide with mine, regardless of their opinion on the topic or their location. That’s what the Internet is best at, and that’s why I’m using the medium of the blogosophere instead of simply participating on other sites. This doesn’t mean I won’t do the latter; anything but, in fact! It does, however, mean that those who notice my comments elsewhere have a place to come see what I’m thinking and writing about in fuller depth. Thus, they would want to visit my particular blog.

In the past, I’ve used a model where I pull links from various sites, combine them into a post where I quote excerpts, and then add my own commentary or spin. I expect that at least half of my posts will be in this format. The other half will be essays sparked by events in offline life and experience. Some of that information may be intensely personal and of interest to few besides my friends and family. Some, though, may very well get the attention of someone whom I don’t already know.

Chances are that person would be someone I would like to know.

Ultimately, too, I’ll admit that since I would eventually like to become a professional writer, having a blog will both give me “clips” that I can show prospective employers and clients; and also represent a reason for regular practice of my craft. Readers may or may not be interested in helping me fulfill those particular goals, but there’s no point in writing only for myself, either. (That’s why I also have a personal journal that isn’t available to the public.) I look forward to getting feedback on what I write, and that can’t be done when the writing is never published or shared anywhere.

My hope is that, eventually, as my “voice” begins to settle into itself, this site will become not just a place where I showcase what I have to say, but also a place where others come to read interesting opinions, essays and comments. There’s an old saying that a plan is just a dream with a deadline. With time, patience and a lot of work, I intend to turn my hope into a dream and then into a plan. Come and join me!

Originally posted at https://collingwest.blog/2021/why-read-this-blog/.