Blogging vs Journaling


I was thinking in the shower tonight....as I usually do...it's really the only place I ever have my "deep thougths"....about my "blogging".

I started keeping an online diary/journal in the summer of 2000 at freeopendiary.com. Several of my online friends started writing there, so I did, too. It was a way of documenting what was going on in my life at the time...as a married woman, a mother of 3 young children (Trey was 6 1/2, Matt had just turned 2 and Molly was about to be 1.) My marriage was about to come to an end, or at least it was the beginning of the end, and I needed friends and support, and I needed a place to vent and express myself. I didn't have any "real life friends" to talk to. I was new to the internet, involved in a chatroom, and meeting lots of new people there. We had a pretty tight group there for several years.

I wrote about the kids, I wrote about my husband, I wrote about the separations, and new people entering my life. When my family turned on me for "destroying my life and damaging my kids", I sought solace and support from friends I only knew through online.
A lot of those friends are still with me today. Patrea has been there since my very first diary entry, and we've gone through a lot together. Several others soon followed and have been my "best friends" ever since. We've shared each others' lives, watched the rise and fall of relationships, celebrated milestones and triumphs, consoled each other in losses and tribulations. We've watched each others' children grow up. Some of us have even carried our friendships over to the "real world" and get together periodically for "real life gatherings".

When freeopendiary crashed, we migrated to inthewire.com. Then we lost it and found bloopdiary. Some of us went to journalcommunity, and some back to opendiary when it returned. I shared a private diary with a boyfriend for awhile at some site I can't even remember the name of, and was at DearDiary.com for a bit as well. Some of my friends are now back at the new bloop, and now I've discovered this place. Blogger.com, or blogspot, or whatever it's called.

But I've noticed a difference here (which I guess is what my main point of this entry is). This is not really a "journaling" community.
It's not a place to share a lot of personal things.
I've been reading a lot more people on here lately. I've found a group of women on here that I can relate to, that seem to be more like me, that have some of the same interests or life roles I do. I am thoroughly enjoying reading their blogs.
But I've noticed that it's not as "personal" here.
I guess that's the difference between blogging and journaling.

I don't think I'm a blogger.
I don't have craftsy things that I make and can share with others.
I don't rant and rave about my perceived injustices in the world.
I don't carry on about the "idiots" of the world who don't share my same opinions on things.
I don't have quirky stories to share.
I don't have things to give away.
I can't keep entries short.
I don't know how to create cute backgrounds and boxes to liven up my page.

I just write about my life.
I write about the things I'm doing.
I write about my family.
I post schedules to keep myself organized.
I share pics of my family.
I document our lives as a way of preserving memories.
I use to write TMI entries when life was wilder and I was sewing my oats.
I like getting comments on my entries. It feels like communication. It's validation that my life is important to someone, that someone cares enough to check on me.
I like the personal feel of sharing my life with others, as if we were neighbors, although we may be a thousand miles (or more) apart.

Maybe that's why I don't get as many readers and comments here at blogger/blogspot.
I guess I'm not following the rules, or proper blogging etiquette.
I have my circle of friends at bloop and opendiary....and most of them have been with me for 8 or more years. They are my "homies". (LOL)

I'm hoping to make more friends here...regular readers. I like the women I've started reading over here. They are very fascinating and brilliant in their own ways, and funny and insightful!
I wish I could be more like that. I wish my "blogs" were more like that.
But I guess I'm just a journaler.
And that is ok.
And you are welcome to read all about it.

Comments

momstheword said…
Hey, when I started I didn't know how to do anything either. But people helped me learn how to do stuff. Plus, I won a free blog makeover and that helped.

My free blog makeover giveaway is the first thing I've ever given away!

Lot of people sort of journal their lives with pictures and stories. And that's o.k. If my kids were little, I'd do more of that, but they are grown and almost grown.

There are ways to grow a readership and get more comments. You can google that because I've read blogs that talk about how to do that if a person wants too.

For one thing, they suggest that you visit lots of blogs and leave lots of comments and people will usually reciprocate. That's a tough one though, if you're busy.

Another thing they suggest is joining a meme, as you will get blog exposure from that.

You have a very sweet spirit and I like the way you write. Give it time and it will grow!
October 19, 2009 at 12:53 AM
momstheword said…
BTW, if I knew your name I would find you on facebook but I didn't see it on here!
October 19, 2009 at 12:54 AM
He & Me + 3 said…
It is your blog, so you do what you want with it. Some people comment all the time and some people just read and don't comment. I think your blog is great...it shares your life.
October 19, 2009 at 6:21 AM
Melanie said…
It's your party, so cry if you want to! I love the realness of your blog.
October 19, 2009 at 10:59 AM
E @ Scottsville said…
Hey girly! Just stopped by to remind you to link up with me today if you did a Memory Lane post about the birthday. =)

I'm hangin' in there and doing good. Thanks for checkin' in on me!
October 21, 2009 at 11:01 AM
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