Why I blog

I like writing. I like the process of writing and publishing what I write. But I don't have time for it, so I rarely write nowadays, let alone publish.

Why do I like writing? I enjoy the craft. It helps me think. I get to express myself. Maybe it lets me connect with others. I'd also like to think that it elevates my self-image and status, when others read my writing and like it. Hopefully my writing helps others too.

Craftsmanship. Self-expression. Connection. Status. Usefulness.

At the moment, I don't make time for writing. It can be quite a time-intensive process. Plus, I have a new family that demands my attention. Sometimes, I question the part of me that wants to write: what's the point of writing and sharing your thoughts with the world? You have other "more important" things to do. Will anyone even hear your words? Will your words even "matter"?

Well, no one will hear your words if you never share them.

And besides, any sustainable practice should be internally, not externally, motivated. And only two of the needs that writing addresses for me are internal: craftsmanship and self-expression.

I gotta keep those internal needs in mind, and less of the external ones.

Details of my online writing journey so far

As more of a self-inquiry, I wanted to share my thoughts about my online writing journey so far.

• I used to have a personal blog where I talked about my dfferent hobbies and side projects. It was a good way for me to document what I did, and see how my interests have changed over time. Also, writing about my side projects and publishing that writing let me share my creations with the world in a more structured way. I'm realizing that my previous posts were mostly about what I did, rather than what I thought (or what I believed).
• My personal blog did feel a little limiting at times. It was tied to my real name, and thus the identity that came with that name. I sometimes felt as if my writing had to maintain that identity in a way. My personal blog also contained posts that spanned across decades. While great for documenting memories that helped me relive the past, many of the posts contained vastly outdated or incomplete information that would not be useful to all but a few nowadays. Plus, they demonstrated my great naivete at the time. When your writing is tied to your name, you can't help but see its effects on your public identity. I think this demonstrates how external motivation creeps into my (previous) motivation for writing.
  • On second thought, maybe having some constraints can be a good thing, compared to the potentially overhwelming freedom of self-expression without any constraints at all.
• I wanted to experiment with anonymous writing, hence this blog: writing uncoupled (as much as possible) from my identity, my public persona. Maybe this would help me write with less self-consciousness.
• I still wanted to publish my writing. That way, I write as if to share something, even if no one actually reads it. Publishing my writing also leaves the door more open for feedback and growth when it comes to writing and even thinking.