- Had very little idea of what a blog actually was. Rather puzzled at the time of why anyone would actually want one of these.
- What's changed about the way you now understand blogs or wikis - and how?
- While I by no means see myself as a lifelong blogger, I do see the usefulness of them, and actually have come to enjoy the activity somewhat.
- an example of the change
- I was excited to create a project blog centered around my favorite guitar.
- I still feel detached from the blogging community, and struggle writing for a blog, specifically. Maybe I don't struggle, but it certainly feels like I do.
- My irregular posting, and lack of inspiration to post sometimes.
How are you spending your time on your projects?
- time spent/week
- Varies, but I would say 3-4 hours weekly on average.
- Anywhere from 2-4 times weekly
- I have a tendency to work in bursts, in that once I get started posting I will sometimes post 2 or 3 entries in one sitting, sometimes spending a couple hours. Other times, I put up a quick post just for the sake of posting something.
- Looking for an interesting blog entry topic, then writing on it. The majority of my time is spent searching.
projects
What's going well? What's going better than expected?- I am sticking with my project, for the most part. I have been consistent in thinking about it and posting somewhat regularly.
What's going not so well? What unexpected problems have you encountered?
- I have had some difficulty using Blogger from the dial-up machine at my home. Not sure why, but I can almost always get it to work after a few tries. Not a huge inconvenience, but if I am particularly uninspired some days, it will deter me. Also, I sometimes feel like I am not focused, in both my topic choice and my writing. However, I believe this is due to my still-lingering discomfort with writing for a blog, and may be a problem that does not exist to the extent that I make it out to.
What are you going to do next?
- Continue with business as usual, for the most part. I will try to increase the frequency of my postings.
- I wouldn't.
writing spaces
Has keeping a blog/writing in a wiki changed your writing habits, and if so how?- If anything, it has caused me to write in a more casual manner. I also find myself spending less time editing, keeping the more spontaneous feel (along with the typo's.)
- No.
Has keeping a blog/writing in a wiki twigged you into developing any new writing strategies?
- Not that I recognize. I am not very analytical of my own writing process.
Has keeping a blog/writing in a wiki twigged you into experimenting with any new forms or genres of writing - either traditionally recognized (the sonnet; the aphorism....) or (purportedly) new (the list, the linked essay...)
- No.
Has keeping a blog/writing in a wiki changed your understanding of writing, or your understanding of your self as a language user?
- I do find writing for a blog to be still somewhat difficult, and this is something that I had not anticipated. I feel I am getting better, but do not fully understand why.
realm of usefulness
As you see it now, how might you use a blog or wiki to support what kind of writing?- I do not see myself using blogs or wikis as a professional writing space, at least at this point.
generative questions
You're now approaching a level of expertise that allow you to address these questions with some authority. So- In exactly two sentences, define a blog, distinguishing it from other forms of writing spaces, including a wiki and paper.
- A blog is an online journal-type document that is posted to by its publisher. Postings appear in reverse-chronological order, and a space is provided under each posting for comments from outside readers.
- A wiki is an online document that is open for editing by a selected group, geared towards collaborative writing. Unlike a blog, wikis do not display submissions in relation to time.
- I seem to be able to write in a more stream-of-consciousness style on a blog, probably due to the informal nature of most blog writing that I have read.
- Immediate publishing.
- Control over who views the content.
- In a blog, I feel less pressure to write perfectly. I write more conversationally, even if it ends up looking a little awkward in print.
and so
- What are you finding you're gaining by keeping a blog / writing in a wiki that you didn't expect?
- A more casual writing style, and discipline in having to produce content regularly.
- Possibly discipline in quality of writing. Rather than taking the time to rework everything until it flows really well, I am more likely to leave it as it was written the first time, because of the pressure to produce something regularly.
CategoryExercise
