You know, we all go through those rough patches. Those periods when we actively ask ourselves, why are we doing this? Blogging is one of those hobbies that’s fun but is also suspiciously like work. I mean some people do actually do this professionally. There aren’t that many people that are receptionists just for fun…
Obviously, we each have our own reasons for doing this. But sometimes it’s nice to know what keeps others going. My reason for doing most things in life is usually, “it’s shiny”, “it’s yummy”, “it’s fun” or all of the above (my favorite)! However, when it comes to blogging I do have a few extra reasons for dragging myself in front of…my phone.
I’m not here to lecture you on why you should keep doing this. Instead, let’s all celebrate why we actually do put in the effort and concentrate on the fun rather than the work:
5) It’s a legacy
Legacy sounds like a really grand work. But the fact is, a blog is something real that will forever keep your thoughts and random musings, even after you’ve moved on. Not that long ago, this type of privilege was only reserved for the most illustrious. It’s pretty amazing to be able to go online and see what you wrote and thought about 3 years ago.
Not only as a personal reference guide but as something you can share with the entire world. Maybe you feel like no one’s reading your posts now. But blogs have a much better shelf life than YouTube or Reddit or even MAL. I still regularly stumble across posts that are several years old and read them with relish (only to sadly discover the author has packed up a few years ago).
4) Braggin’ rights
I write an anime blog. An often creatively worded one. It’s light and fluffy, encourages drinking and has quite a few dirty jokes in it if you chose to notice. There are hundreds available on the net. I also work in a fairly stuffy law firm where most people aren’t that familiar with the concept of blogs, let alone anime..
And yet, whenever I happen to mention my blog to anyone at work – or actually show it…- People are amazed! No really. I have 60-year-old partners looking at me like I can do literal magic. I know the actual content probably isn’t interesting to them but just the act of creating something is still admirable.
And I admit, same goes for me. Whenever I meet someone in real life that has this type of dedication, I’m a little impressed.
3) Mad Skillz
Fact is, you’re gonna learn some stuff blogging. Whether it’s sharpening your drafting technique or getting a better eye for design – this knowledge is easily applicable to all sorts of other areas in your life. And I’m not even getting into critical thinking or communication.
OK so this does sound a lot more like going to school than playing games in terms of fun factor. It’s still a really good reason not to give up. It’s a hobby where you can actually get out of it just about as much as you put in.
2) Community
I talk about this pretty insistently. I’m surprised it’s not number one. You know, they’re interchangeable. Fact is, since the dawn of time we long for connections to one another, and the bonds that can form through your blog are unique. They bring a type of interaction to your life that you won’t get elsewhere.
And you are in complete control of how much of yourself you want to share. If you feel more comfortable with a blogging persona, this is your chance to be someone else. If you only want to have specific conversations, you can ignore whatever doesn’t suit you. I guess you could do so in real life as well but it’s much more trouble and harder to keep up.
You can also be as raw and honest as you wish and with an entire world of people out there, you might actually find someone who understands you are. Now that’s real magic.
1) I would miss you
Hey, this is MY reason for You to keep blogging! Look, I may not always show it, but I appreciate your posts. My own sense of community is in great part enhanced by reading your views. When one of you shares their thoughts on an anime that resonated with me, I feel a certain kinship, even if we have completely different views on the subject. It’s a shared experience nevertheless.
I try very hard not to guilt people into posting if they don’t want to, but I won’t lie, I’ve seen a few of my favorite bloggers disappear or take a big step back and it always make me a little sad. It leaves a tiny hole behind in my universe. Obviously, I can’t follow ALL blogs and I’m getting pretty close to saturation, but my day isn’t the same if I don’t check out what you guys have to say.
There you go, if you’re not going to do it for yourselves then you should really do it for ME. I should print that on my business cards…
And now, one more favour. What are your reasons to keep blogging or commenting or even just reading?
