Cheers to Blogging and Shameless Self-Promotion

Almost five years ago, I began blogging at CUSS. In that time, I also wrote for BlogHer (still do), Just Cause, Political Voices for Women, and The Panelist, plus personal side blogging projects, Theo Is America’s Next Top Model and my yogurt blog which had a good title that I can’t think of at the moment. (As part of my job, I sometimes also write for jspot.) While I could not maintain more than two regular writing sites, I found myself reflecting yesterday on how much I still enjoy writing on a blog. It juices me, and I think it makes me a better writer because these little posts let me play around with my ideas.

Because I like blogging so much, I’m jazzed to be part of a panel on how blogging can improve your writing at the BlogHer conference. Many people in my MFA program pooh-poohed blogging, but that is because they are snobs who believe that only people with their super literary tastes deserve to even read, let alone share their ideas and stories. I like that blogging not only jogs my writing, but also gives me a window into other people’s stories.

The panel is on Saturday, Aug. 7 at 10:45 am (I think). After it, I’ll be signing copies of my book about unusual things to see and do in NYC, Off the Beaten (Subway) Track. I didn’t write or publish my book as a result of blogging, but I did get a small (but very valued) audience as a result. Without blogging I also would not have the conference as a platform to sell my book, either. Blogging is great for writing.