Blogging vs. Storytelling

I've been blogging for a few years now.  Almost as long as I've been self-publishing.  I started blogging not really sure what I was getting into.  But I stuck with it.  I've now been around long enough to see plenty of new bloggers come and go.

Blogging takes time.  And if you're a writer it takes time away from when you could be working on a story.  But I don't necessarily feel like it's wasted time.  For me, blogging is a way to get back in touch with reality.  To actually "think" about what I'm saying rather than rambling about in the bowels of some science fiction adventure.

Most importantly, blogging helps me to figure out my storytelling voice.  This is a concept I've really been thinking about lately.  Good writing is not just about having an interesting plot.  It's about making that plot come across in a memorable way.  It's your writing "speaking" voice.  Blogs are fantastic for exploring this.  You're at liberty to spew just about anything on a page and no one gives you guff about your plot or story pacing.

If I look back at some of my old Brouhaha posts the subtle changes that have been taking place over the course of many years becomes obvious.  Yes, it's still essentially me.  But I feel like my personality is now coming across more clearly.  It's not perfect.  I've got a long way to go.  Better get writing?

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