By my calculations I’m reaching a point where I could legitimately claim to have been blogging for 20 years. I began my blogging journey as a teenager back in the early 2000s. My very first blog was on Diary-x.

I clearly got the blogging bug as after that I’ve had blogs on:

  • Tumblr
  • Blogger
  • Wordpress (both hosted and self-hosted)
  • write.as

At any one time I’ll have at least two blogs on the go; one more personal and one more professional. I’ve also set up blogs for specific projects and training programmes. In a past life I even used a blog to teach people how to blog.

I can’t say what prompted me to start blogging, but I know why I’ve continued. A blog is a space to:

  • think and explore what interests you
  • develop writing skills and style
  • express yourself and share ideas publicly
  • start conversations and get feedback

Can social media or newsletters replace blogs? I don’t think so. These other places to write and express yourself are an addition to, not a replacement for, blogs. If anything, I think we’re seeing a renaissance of blogging through challenges like 100 Days to Offload that help build the habit and confidence to write, and services like write.as that make it so much easier to publish.

This is day 20 of my #100DaysToOffload challenge. Want to get involved? Find out more at 100daystooffload.com