Have you hugged your blog today?

How important is your blog? Do you keep a backup of your posts? Would you mourn the loss of all your content?

I think some of my best (and some not-so-best) writing resides in my blog posts. In fact, I often review some older posts for inspiration.

This is why I decided to back up my entire blog using the settings tab on blogger. It took only a few seconds and the result was an xml file but all the posts were there, with the html code.

This is a good thing. Not only will you have a complete blog backup, you'll also have the files you need should you (gasp) decide to move your blog to another format or site.

Hug your blog. Embrace it. Keep it. Export it frequently.

Related articles

• The Poor Man's Blog Backup (stirrup-queens.com)

Is blogging a waste of time?

Friend of mine asked, “Why do you waste your time blogging?”

I’m not sure what kind of expression registered on my face but I think I looked totally blank, stunned into a frozen posture of disbelief, not certain I heard her right.

“Did you read my early posts?” I asked.

“Yeah, I read them. You’ve got all these people living in your head, talking up a storm. But this blogging doesn’t make money, does it?”

I didn’t want to get into a philosophical discussion about the value of blogging. A quick search and she’ll find hundreds of posts about the purpose behind the blogging urge with a ton of the results focusing on how to make money with a blog.

That last part doesn’t interest me – much. Sure, I’d like people who read these pages to click on the titles I refer to now and again and buy them. But the purpose of the links is to add flavor and to point out content that will fulfill the reader’s search for related information.  

Those affiliate links aren’t going to pay my rent; hell, they won’t even pay for the pens I need to write the rent check.  

Sure, I wouldn’t mine supplementing my income from blogging revenue. Sure, I’d like readers to buy the ebook titles I’ve authored and flog here. But blogging for dollars isn’t part of the master plan.

I don’t do it for money any more than I walk two miles a day for money, any more than I pet my dog for money, any more than I spend an evening carousing the Vegas Strip with friends for money, any more than I listen to music.

Are any of those endeavors a waste of my time?

I don’t think so.



(And now for the shameless commerce part ....)

Go ahead, write

It must be the season

About once a week, I use the Next Blog button on blogger to get a sense of what people are writing about and to see if anything catches my interest enough for follow-up or comment. I look at this as an extension of my hardback reading, as research, and as a voyeur looking into the windows of the soul of others.

This week, I noticed that every time I clicked the next button, the ensuing blog focused on religion – religion of every belief, including Islam, Mormon, Catholic, unidentified Christian, Buddhist. Some of these were very well written, engagingly so; others were rather mundane, and in all but one case, the updates were frequent.

The rash of religious postings prompted me to encourage others to realize that no matter what brand of religion you cling to, the season of Christmas, besides celebrating the birth of Christ, should be a reminder that we all live on this planet, share the air, the water, the ground.

I don’t know why these ramblings appear on this post but this particular exploration made me realize that everyone has a story to tell, including you. So go ahead and write it. Put it in a journal, a manuscript, a blog. It doesn’t matter if it’s a war story, a love story, an inspirational journey or a lesson for life. It might inspire any number of reactions from readers but eventually, it will reach someone who appreciates what you’ve said.

About blogging and writing

I’ve noticed that blogs related to writing and writers perform two major services.

First, they provide information and entertainment. That's a good thing.

Second, they promote the blog author’s published works. That's a good thing.

Sad to say, although I’m getting closer to a publishing deal, I have nothing to sell. Oh, sure, I have some text links to a few products that might earn me a few cents as an affiliate but I don’t count that. Those links are more an learning experience.

 But, if you expect to be a successful writer, you should, as I eventually will, concentrate on the second good thing.

Cross my fingers (and yours, if you wish), in hopes that I’ll soon be able to start showing off my success stories. (A wish that goes to you as well.)