Blogging has been both transformational and life-changing for me. As a result of blogging, I’ve changed how I learn, I’ve helped others make a difference in their life and changed my career.
So here’s my blogging story (Part II) which I’ve written as part of the weekly #EdublogsClub. You can join me and sign up for the #EdublogsClub here.
Evolution of a Blogger
2017 is my 10th Anniversary as blogger!
It took a year to understand why I should blog after being shown a blog (2006) to starting my own blog (2007). Prior to starting my own blog, I shared my learning via podcasts and wikis; it wasn’t until I reached the point where I wanted to reflect on my learning that I started blogging.
For me it was a combination of not understanding, 1) what is a blog, and 2) the importance of reflection, sharing, connected learning and learning as part of a community.
I’m passionate about blogging because it:
- Helped me become a better writer — I passionately believe that if blogging can help someone like me who continues to struggle with language it can help others that are like myself.
- Gave me a voice and mechanism to share my thoughts and help others.
- Changed my life — blogging resulted in changing my career from an aquaculture lecturer to employment as the Support Manager for Edublogs and CampusPress. Many of my fellow edubloggers have had similar life changes as a result of their blogging.
Seth Godin and Tom Peters video summarizes the essence of what blogging is for me.
PS My Blogging Story (Part I) shows how my blogging has evolved 🙂
Blogging: Becoming a better writer
What’s even more incredible with my blogging journey is I’ve battled writing and processing language my entire life. While my English teacher and I would agree that my expression continues to be rather odd at times — blogging helped me become a better writer.
It’s not perfect — and continues to be a work in progress — but I can’t imagine any of my English teachers or I would ever thought that one day I would be paid to write.
Blogging Turning Point
Looking back on my blogging journey one of the key events that made me a better blogger was participating in Darren Rowse’s 31 Days Project in 2007.
It was a month long series of posts on ProBlogger designed to walk bloggers through 31 tasks that you can do to make your blog better.
We formed our own community and worked through Darren Rowse’s 31 Days Project as a group. It was an intense month — where we read each others posts and learnt together — and collectively improved our blogging skills. Commenting and reading each others posts was as important as writing our own posts.
Some Blogging Tips
Below is a few blogging tips. You’ll find more detailed tips on Why I blog (and how you can too).
My advice to those participating in the weekly #EdublogsClub is make it a goal to read and comment on as many of the posts as possible. You learn as much, if not more, by reading/commenting as writing your posts and it helps generate ideas for things to blog about.
Remember blogging isn’t about writing. It’s about connecting, reflecting and sharing. Mix it up with video, audio and embed cool tools into your posts.
Steve Wheeler says it better than me in 3 Things you should know about blogging!
And don’t forget — what is Obvious to you is amazing to others. Don’t assume others know what you know. There is always someone who will be grateful of what you shared — even if they don’t necessarily tell you.
What is your blogging story?
I would love to hear about your blogging story!
Join me by participating in the #EdublogsClub and writing a post on your own blog! You’ll find the blogging prompts for Week 1: My Blog story from the #EdublogsClub here!
Alternatively, leave a comment to share your story, provide advice for new bloggers, or tell me what you would like to know more about.
Sue Waters 
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