This weekend we attended one of the highlights of our summer: Giffords Circus in the Cotswolds. I made mental notes, jotted down observations and took pictures with my iTouch. I’m kinda in love with everything about Giffords and I wanted to convey that excitement and affection with my blog post.
As a result, I was looking at an Instagram picture when the acrobat on the aerial silks fell dramatically from the top of the tent almost to the floor. I was jotting down an aperçu when the rest of the audience gasped at a gymnast’s feat. Eventually I had to put down the camera so I could enjoy the show.
This isn’t the first time I’ve missed things in pursuit of a good blog post. As a journalist I was accustomed to the trade-off between documenting something versus enjoying it. But with blogging, the idea is that the only thing you’re reporting is your own experience and perceptions. So why am I missing out?
My theory is that – like a lot of other bloggers – I can’t help responding to the jump in quality we see these days. Blogging has improved so much that it’s not enough to post just any old thing. Free-form observations, creative writing, stream of consciousness, photos that speak for themselves – these are all great formats and fodder. A good blog shouldn’t read like a newspaper; in the same way, it shouldn’t be written like you don’t care if nobody reads it.
The good news is that the quality of blogging just keeps going up. A side effect of that, at least for me, is that posting isn’t effortless. It requires forethought, planning and occasionally a bit of sacrifice.
— Jennifer Howze (www.jenography.net)
Does blogging interfere with, interrupt or enhance your experiences? Tell us what you think.
(Picture: From Foxtongue via Flickr)
About Jennifer Howze
Jennifer Howze is the Creative Director and co-founder of BritMums. She blogs about family travel at Jenography.net, tweets at @JHowze and Instagrams at @JHowze. Previously, she wrote the Alpha Mummy blog at The Times and as a journalist has contributed to The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Wall Street Journal, Travel & Leisure, Budget Travel, CNN.com, Allure, SELF and Premiere, among others. She won The Maggie Award from the Planned Parenthood Federation of America for a health article in Seventeen magazine.
Iota
Wednesday 27th of July 2011
For me, it works both ways. Blogging makes me think carefully about an experience. Writing helps me work out what I think and feel about an issue. It's a discipine. But there have been times when I've thought that blogging makes me a bit detached. It can make me more of an observer than a participant, which is a tendency I already have, and not one I want to encourage in myself! That's been one reason why I've taken a break for a few weeks from time to time. Interesting post. I guess that as a journalist, you've had to think about this issue quite a bit.
Stigmum
Friday 22nd of July 2011
Oh bollocks... please accept my apologies... there was no comment removal....just I don't get "show more comments" on my blog and only saw it on yours afterwards. Doh. Really sorry! Blogging cramp my style? Hmmm, there's your answer...
Stigmum
Friday 22nd of July 2011
I'm pretty sure I left a comment on this post and it's not there!Gone!! Wow! There's something to blog about (because I did blog recently that a blogger had deleted a comment I wrote but I wasn't going to out her) Interesting! I won't write it today though, not sure when I will..Summer holidays! My boy doesn't know I blog so I tend to do it when he's away. Cramp my style? Oh I can't be arsed to write it all again....Is that an answer?!
Jennifer Howze
Tuesday 19th of July 2011
Ha ha. I know what you mean, re: not getting any good pics. I don't like to show my kids' identities on my blog either so if I shoot "for the blog" they are no good for granny.
Jennifer Howze
Tuesday 19th of July 2011
Potty, I agree - I like the perspective that blogging gives me. I also like that something will happen or I'll read something and my immediate thought is "I'd like to know what other bloggers think about this."