How to Manage the Blog ~A Self Help Guide for Blog Writing Addicts~ Part One

    In the old days, people who wrote about their life experiences were virtually undistracted by technology. There weren’t a lot of electronic gadgets vying for their attention; life was simple because life was uncluttered.  Imagine no phone, no answering machine (with caller ID), no cell phone, no computer (e-mails and instant messenger), no tape player, no CD player, and no radio. It's hard to fathom isn't it? Now think back to a time when there was no blog.

    I remember when I first learned what blogging was back in May of 2005.  I actually felt a little jealous that my job as a "journaling mom" had been usurped. First of all, I'm the one who taught my children to journal (not those people I’ve come to love on the blog). I’m the one who encouraged them to get their life stories on paper as they happened. It wasn't uncommon to hear me say, "You need to write that in your journal," or "You REALLY need to write that in your journal." As the kids grew older and their schedules got busier, those words of encouragement would sometimes be met with resistance (especially from Claire who is a free-lance journalist and spends most of her time writing!)

     Then the blog came along. Suddenly, I didn't have to say a word. My children were totally self-motivated, capturing everyday moments and trying to figure out how to turn them into interesting entries. The words blog, blogging, and blogosphere replaced the words journal, journaling, and family writing. The question, "Did I get any comments?" replaced the quiet satisfaction of knowing that you were writing for yourself and posterity. The immediate replaced the eternal. 

     Of course I wasn't immune to the lure of a worldwide audience either. Before May I was writing for my family alone. Well, I was also revising a book about family writing, but no one would be able to read my writing unless it was in a magazine article or on my website. The blog changed all of that. Now I can write a post any time of day and be guaranteed that at least 100 people will probably read it before the sun rises in the east. It's unsettling. 

     I'm grateful to meet so many wonderful people out there in the blogosphere, but what concerns me is what I've lost since May. Actually it's not all the blog's fault. I have a health issue that that has made me more sedentary, and the magnetic pull of the computer has managed to crowd out time with my own family. I've traded the daily delight of their conversation for my opinions on the more significant and weighty matters of life. In other words, I've become more self-focused. Blogging has its place, but unless it is well managed it can present some major problems when it comes to keeping the hearts of your children, and capturing family memories.
     Before my son challenged me to a blogging duel, I’d already slacked off on blogging. I realized the snare that the enemy laid for me and I was determined to stay focused on my family. But blogging grabbed me again, hook, line, and sinker and before I knew it, I was back to the inner dilemma wanting to write about everything from the price of tea in China, to the Tse fly in Timbuktu.  

    Now lest you think I toss the baby out with the bath water, I could never do that! So please stay tuned for How to Manage the Blog~A self help guide for blog writing addicts~Part Two.  

10:03 PM - Dec. 5, 2005 - post comment

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Blog writing or blog reading...I'm an addict. I know.

I'm curious to see what you have to say in part 2! For me, I have to allow only twice a day and for an actual time limit...if not, the minutes/hours/day just slips away... I could not imagine what it would look like if we had any type of blogging duel in this house! Utter chaos, I would imagine! LOL

Hope you have a great night!
Marsha

drewsfamilytx - 8:17 PM - Dec. 5, 2005

staying tuned here...

and looking forward to part 2! Eleanor

ejoyce,ink - 4:13 AM - Dec. 6, 2005

This is good!

I can't wait to hear more! Thanks, Jill!

PatriciaWHunter - 4:29 AM - Dec. 6, 2005

Thank You

Your thoughts reflect alot of my own. And, very recently, I've thought of stopping my blogging for a while. I think I've fallen into a trap that is distracting me from the 'finer' things in life ..... Kevin and the children. Pride also is an enemy I constantly fight and desiring comments all the time isn't good for me.

I'd love to hear your next post before I make a definite decision to stop for a while. I'm praying and have actually stayed off today until I saw this email about this post. The title intrigued me.

Love in Jesus,
Belinda

Belinda - 10:45 AM - Dec. 6, 2005

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