The Benefits of Blogging

 

I remember the first time I attended a gathering of writers. As I looked at the table of books people had brought to sell, it was overwhelming. It seemed as if everyone else there was a published author, whereas I was “just a blogger.” 

Fortunately, my feelings of inadequacy were quickly dispelled as everyone was friendly and welcoming. I learned a lot, but I was also surprised to be able to help others who had questions about blogging. 

Several years later, I have shared pieces in various anthologies, but mostly I am still “just a blogger.” However, it is now a title I own with pride as I have experienced so many of the benefits of blogging. 

Here are just a few: 

Blogging helps to establish a habit of writing and posting.

However frequently you decide to post on your blog, the key is consistency. I always find deadlines helpful, even if they are self-imposed. Without a deadline, the danger is either that I will never get started or that my quest for perfection will prevent me from ever being finished. Blogging gives useful practice in polishing and editing something just enough without getting stuck in overthinking it.   

Blogging allows you to test ideas.

Maybe there is a topic you feel drawn to write on, but you’re not sure how to approach it or you know you don’t have enough material for a full article let alone a book. Writing a blog post can be a helpful way to test your ideas by writing something short and seeing how your readers respond. 

Blogging facilitates real-time reflections.

The process of writing and publishing a book can be lengthy, but with blogging your words can be written and published very quickly, which can be helpful in responding to your current circumstances or world events. During the pandemic, for example, I found it helpful to write to reflect on events as they were unfolding but also to read others’ reflections and learn from their different experiences and perspectives. 

Blogging creates conversation and community.

In my opinion, this is one of the biggest benefits of blogging. Over the years, it has been a pleasure to connect with other bloggers as well as regular readers. I love the feedback element of blogging – that you don’t simply send your words into a vacuum, but that people respond. Whether it is with agreement and encouragement, sharing their own experiences, or raising a point I hadn’t considered, I have always been blessed by these interactions and I’m grateful for the sense of community and the friendships that have developed. 

I think all these factors have improved my writing as well as providing valuable encouragement to keep going. 

What about you? If you are a blogger, what are some of the other benefits you have discovered?

Lesley Crawford blogs at Life In The Spacious Place and contributes regularly at Gracefully Truthful. She has written One Big Story, a Bible curriculum for school groups and contributed to various anthologies, including the ACW anthology, "Merry Christmas, Everyone" and "The Jesse Tree Anthology".