Why blog and is it wise?

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I see that if you are new to blogging it is recommended that you think or write about why you are going to blog.I am interested in that but in my case I didn’t ever plan to have a blog.That may seem strange but I was ignorant of such things.

I wanted to type my poems in order to print them and being new to the internet and computing I didn’t know how to use Word or Google docs.I decided to use a blog but initially all my posts were private.One day I left my poem on public view by accident.Then someone put a comment on it.I was amazed.Then I decided to let others read them.So I came to it in a backwards way

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While I had that blog I met some very interesting and talented people.Unfortunately I also got a negative reaction from someone who complained I wrote more than one post per day and also she wanted to know more about me personally like what I did,how I felt etc not just to read my poems.As she had been ultra friendly prior to this,I was taken aback.I had no desire to describe my breakfast or the cat being sick nor my anxiety about the health of those near me.Not even what kind of oven I had was of sufficient interest to me for me to disclose it..After a while I left that blog platform.I tried various places.

I began taking photos and writing short stories and humorous pieces.Sometimes I wonder if I should have moved to a poetry website instead because that is my main interest.But when I had viral pneumonia and could not lie down for many weeks I found writing and reading what others wrote helped me.On the other hand it was a mistake to show I was on line far more.You can guess why.I am not paranoid but people do note these things for their use.

I have found some fascinating blogs and also been struck by how much people want to learn either to help their writing or just out of a natural desire.I believe you can keep learning all your life if you make some effort.I n my case it’s not an effort but writing prose seems to tire me.

One thing we have to realise is that we may get great pleasure out of writing a poem but that does not mean the poem is a good one objectively.We ideally have to imagine how it comes across to others.We can ask for criticism.I can tell when one poem is better than another and I notice those of mine I think good get more views.

Writing is like exercise.One needs to keep doing it just as we do if we wish to learn to draw or to cook.We should start with something simple and then move on as we get more practised.If I write every day I get more ideas.Not while I am here but when I am out for a walk.Often it is like the line of a song going through my head.If I had a guitar I’d probably write mainly songs not poems.

Until I began writing I didn’t realise I had a sense of humour.But also writing can bring up painful emotions.[See The Expert guide to poetry writing by Fiona Sampson]

So writing a blog can teach you a lot.But be wary.One site for posting poetry had adult content by default and when I asked them if that was a good idea, someone put a notice on a publlic forum saying I was a whore.Luckily I did not use my real name and I’d only just joined so not much of mine was there.I deleted it.

Remember you are not here just to satisfy other people’s desires and do not let flattery go to your head.And don’t give dishonest comments to win the friendship of others.If you “like ” everything then it becomes meaningless.

Another question you need too ask yourself is:Am I doing what I intended?And if not,Am I happy with what I am writing?I didn’t plan to put media on my blog but again by accident I bought a phone with a camera on it and so began photography.I also discovered digital art tools.I am happy to continue.But if I don’t spend enough time writing poetry because I have been seduced into reading lots of blogs or seduced into writing what gets more readers thus aiming more at what is popular then it is bad for me.Popularity alone is not a sensible way for writers.Unless you can write a best seller,give up your day job and then write what you feel tou are called to write.But who would have thought sado-masochism like 50 Shades of Grey would outsell everything?So some of us may never guess what will sell.Don’t spend your time on earth writing like that as I think it is worrying to make that type of book seem a good idea.Even though people want to read it.What’s wrong with fantasy?

I still don’t know enough about Codes and about layoaut of images.