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I used to think blogging was a waste of time. Why write out your thoughts for everyone to read? Who wants to read them anyway? Well, I was wrong. I didn’t really start blogging until I finished university during the weird limbo between graduation and finding work. And it was then I learned a few things about myself and other people in the blogosphere. Below are some of the things that stand out.

1. Blogging has opened up a whole new word. Yeah, yeah it’s a cliché. But through blogging I have stumbled upon other sites and bloggers who fuel my writing. There are a lot of like-minded people out there and although blogging may seem like a solitary activity, many other people are writing about the same things you are. When they reach out to you, or vice versa, it’s a really nice feeling. And chances are you’ve gained another committed reader.

2. Blogging has forced me to become a better writer. I know there are people out there who don’t like my writing and that’s fine. What I mean is that it has forced me to better consider my words and what I say. Now that might not always appear to be true as I have a tendency to say too much (and therefore make everything more confusing than it needs to be), but this is a work in progress.

3. Emotional release. This is probably the biggest one. I believe venting about something — at least for a short while — is more therapeutic than keeping it bottled up. Blogging is perfect for that. Blogging is like a diary, except public, and if you’re willing to vent to the public then eventually someone will respond. For me, a lot of times it has been helpful. I have had people I never met, as well as my friends, reach out to me and it’s gotten me through a few pretty rough days.

4. And that being said, you will also get criticism. People love to criticise, more than they love to compliment. I’ve learned to not take it so personally, despite all this being more or less personal. Some people suck. Some don’t. I don’t mind criticism, especially tasteful constructive criticism, but some people are just out to attack people for no apparent reason. These are angry people who probably should start a blog of their own and just get it all out. You’ll be able to tell the difference, and it’s those people who you don’t respond to.

5. The sense of validation I get is amazing. And it doesn’t have to be much. When I receive a ‘like’ or a comment or a spike in hits — even if it’s the smallest jump — I get very excited and very happy. Recently, someone agreed with something I had blogged about and felt compelled to reblog it on her own site, as well as give me the WordPress ‘thumbs up’. People are reading what I write and responding. And that’s the whole point.