Blogging vs. Writing

September 14, 2005 | 12 Comments

In the beginning, blogging made me a writer. Now blogging makes it harder for me to write.

When I started blogging a few years ago, I’d had very little experience writing. I knew I had a bit of a knack for it, and I’d had a few things published, but I didn’t know much beyond the basics. It could be argued that I’m still not a great writer. However, I’m much improved and I feel that I’m still getting better as time goes on.

Much of this is due to my experience with blogging. I’m learning, slowly, how to phrase things correctly and how to make language work for me. I’m learning how to use words as they’re intended and what to look for when editing my work. But blogging—hell, publishing on the Web in general—is forgiving and because of that I make mistakes with little consequence. I’m hasty at times, and even though I write with a generally conversational tone, there are times when I’m too casual. There are many times when my writing is weak, both in its use of language and in message.

In this way blogging has been a hinderance.

Writing and blogging are different

I’ve always taken a bit of a different tact toward writing things like articles, features and static content. I don’t treat these things as I would a blog post. Most of the time this works out just fine. However, I find the more I’m asked to do these things, the harder it is to switch from “blog-mode” to “write-mode”.

The result? Weaker writing. I end up having to spend much longer than I used to when writing. This could also be the result of a bit more knowledge and experience. Now I know what to look for and some ways to make my writing better. And I feel compelled to do so.

Part of this is also because blogging is so effective. There are times when you can convey the same meaning with many fewer words and much less effort. On a blog you can be blunt, slipshod with your editing and clumsy with your wording and all you’ll get is a few—usually polite—corrections from your readers.

This is a good thing. But it doesn’t help you write any better. A good blogger doesn’t necessarily make a good writer.

I’m striving to be both. I think it’s going to take much more time. I’ll need to find a way to break my bad blogging habits, while at the same time not lose the things that make blogging great. Blogging has helped me in my writing quite a bit, and I’d recommend it to any would-be writer. However there is much more to writing than there is to blogging. That’s something every writer/blogger should keep in mind.

If you’re interested you’ll be able to see more of my, ahem, writing over at Publish.com where I’ve signed on to do a weekly column, and Lifehacker where my Associate Editor role has me writing a few features a month. I should mention and thank fellow Lifehacker Gina for all her help with my writing so far. It’s been fabulous. As well I’ve got a few one-off articles coming up for some other well known publications. Stay tuned!

P.S. — In case you were curious. This was written in “blog-mode”. ;0)

Filed under: Content
Keyword Tags: writing blogging

Comments

1. Steven Ametjan said:

The difference between “blogging-mode” and “writing-mode” has always been a problem for me. Not because I have a problem writing, but because I have trouble blogging. I’ve never been one to not use a more formal tone in my writing unless I’m using an IM client. Having spent quite a bit of time around editors and news reporters, their style of writing wore off on my. In fact, to this day, I still tend to write in an AP style, and edit based on the AP Style Guide.

Maybe I’ll be able to convert my conversational IMing over to blogging and have more success at justifying the time I spend writing in my blog… and if I can break my habit of being so formal, I will probably start posting more, and deleting thoughts less.

Posted on September 14, 2005 03:44 PM | #

2. Michael Moncur said:

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve made a conscious decision to have as little difference between blogging and writing as possible. I refer to what I do as “writing” and seldom use the B-word, in fact.

Of course, like Steven said, I have trouble turning “writing mode” off. My emails and IMs even have good grammar and spelling. Perhaps if I could manage a less perfectionist “blogging mode” I’d be more prolific at blogging, but I like to imagine I can write both good and often.

It probably depends on your background. I hear about bloggers trying to be better writers, and for me it’s the opposite, since I was a writer first.

Of course, Keith, your “blog mode” looks like good writing to me…

Posted on September 14, 2005 03:50 PM | #

3. Keith said:

Steven – yeah, it works both ways. And I really prefer to read things written conversationally anyway. Even non-bloggy things. I think you can be conversational and formal at the same time.

Michael – Thanks. And yeah, I think the goal would be to stay in “writing mode” more. Unfortunatley when you write as much as I do, it is too time consuming. As well, there are times when a more casual style is better.

It’s funny because I just recently noticed that I had a different mindset as well as a different approach. It was a weird feeling.

Posted on September 14, 2005 04:33 PM | #

4. Jorgeq said:

Great observation Keith. By no means do I consider myself a writer but viewing my entries as random rants, relieves the pressure of having to keep some formality in my writing. I write what I think and that is that. But “writing-mode” is the more effective mode to keep because you could be flexible in what you convey depending on the topic.

Posted on September 14, 2005 05:23 PM | #

5. Harry said:

Thats true!!! Blogging is a correct way to start writing even if yuo are weak at it…no hard and fast rules in this.

Posted on September 14, 2005 11:02 PM | #

6. Gordon said:

This issue has plagued me in the past, with a desire to “write” more being overwhelmed by the instancy (?) of the “just blog it” desires.

To that end I’m mid re-design to give myself an area for longer posts (writing) and quick posts (blogging).

Add in the fact that I write software manuals and I have THREE styles of writing to contend with… hang on, is commenting unique/different to blogging??? Aww crap.

Posted on September 15, 2005 02:57 AM | #

7. Matthom said:

I think the vague distinction you are making between “blogging” (a made-up term) and writing is non-existent.

There is no such thing as “blogging.” It’s just a shotty term for posting something on the live internet, in which you would like to attract responses.

Writing is writing. No matter where you do it - how you do it - it’s always writing.

“Blogging,” as you say - is better than *not writing at all.* Before the internet and email, writing was considered a formal thing - something stuck in the influence of “term papers,” postcards, personal journals.

With the explosion of the web - everyone can write about anything, and that’s a VERY good thing. The web has made people ENJOY writing - and proved that writing is not such a formal thing.

Sure, some writing contains bad grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure - but the more you do it, the better you get.

And, most importantly - the more you READ, the better WRITER you become. Writing doesn’t make you a better writer. Reading makes you a better writer.

Posted on September 15, 2005 05:55 AM | #

8. Keith said:

Matthom – Blogging is a style of writng. To me there is a big difference between the style I use when blogging and the style I use when writing an article. So to me there is a distinction.

Sure, technically, writing is writing, but there is a difference between the writing I do when I blog and other writing.

Also, I would agree that reading does make you a better writer, but saying that writing doesn’t make you a better writer is not exactly accurate. Both reading and writing can make you a better writer.

I think I get what you’re saying though and do agree that blogging (writing a blog if that works better for you) can help you be a better writer.

Posted on September 15, 2005 09:08 AM | #

9. Matthom said:

Keith, thanks for your response.

I guess I don’t understand why you would “change” anything (intentionally or not) - whether you write for a blog, or write for a term paper - or whatever the case of “normal writing” would be.

By making that distinction - “blogging” versus “normal writing” - all you are really saying is that sometimes you write “properly,” and other times, you write “hastily,” “quickly,” or however you want to describe the style of writing that is “blogging.”

And the only reason people write “hastily,” is due to the fast-paced nature of the internet - which promotes lazy writing techniques.

I guess my point is… you should write the same (normal writing), no matter where you write.

But I agree that blogging allows (permits) people to be lazy with their writing techniques - but I’ve always thought of blogs, and email, to be more like “talking,” anyway.

And have you heard the grammar of how people talk!? :) It’s terrible how people talk - myself included. We would never get away with writing the way we talk. Incomplete sentences, shortened words, etc.

People talk sloppily - and the internet merges the line between talking and writing.

So, you’re right - there has to be a better awareness of how we are writing - because it promotes bad habits.

That much I can see clearly.

Posted on September 15, 2005 11:48 AM | #

10. Shirazi said:

May be it is me alone (with English as a second language) but blog writing has made a positive difference.

Posted on September 16, 2005 02:02 AM | #

11. Jennifer Grucza said:

I think both blogging and more formal writing should have good grammar, spelling, and all that. You can be conversational in tone without actually replicating the ums and ahs and incomplete sentences of actual spoken conversation. :)

So I would say that the main difference is in style, which is what I think Keith is saying.

I might argue that you wouldn’t want to totally abandon a more informal style for non-blogging writing, though. Except for scholarly scientific articles, I think a less formal tone makes anything more enjoyable and easier to read.

Though I would abandon the smiley faces that I personally pepper throughout all of my emails, posts, and comments.

Posted on September 16, 2005 09:47 AM | #

12. Tom Oakes said:

Matthom, I think there’s certainly a time and place for writing the way you talk - to some degree, anyway. I think your writing style can and should be modified to suit your target audience; in the case on my blog, the 4 friends of mine that read it. They don’t want formal writing, and I’d rather write informally, to be quite honest.

One of the reasons blogging is so popular is that anyone can do it, and they can write however they like. In my opinion, “blog mode” should be informal and conversational, unless of course it’s the new-fangled corporate blogging, which is basically “blogging for blogging’s sake”. Then you need to be formal, unless you’re Scoble.

Posted on September 16, 2005 07:35 PM | #