Why Blog?

[pschambers]

I know there are many bloggers here and I have a question. Do you find it easier to keep track of your culinary adventures by blogging? I have thought about starting a blog and since DH bought me a new digital camera...

Anyway, I would like to be better organized with my tried recipes and do you find blogging "makes" you better at that?

Does this make any sense?

Patti

[MISSINDI]

OK, I'll bite. I do it for many reasons. Growing up, I always wanted to be a journalist, so this combines two of my big passions, food and writing. It also has been helpful as a resource for my recipes (since my Tried-and-True file is really a HUGE pile that needs organization). Knowing I have a fairly decent-sized audience pushes me to explore new things more, use my cookbooks more, be creative, etc. By doing it every day, I feel it is a good outlet for my writing. Additionally, I love to cook, entertain, research recipes and everything related -- the readers are a group that can benefit from my obsession. Much like CLBB, it's a home where people understand my head sometimes, you know? And lastly, with my anecdotes about Nicholas, it will make a great read/diary for him when he's older. That aspect was completely unplanned though. I used to handwrite in a spiral notebook things about him, but this is great because I can add pictures and such. Anyways, hope this helps!

[pschambers]

Thanks Missindi (love YOUR blog BTW). I would like to sharpen my writing skills as well. My DH who is a newspaper editor says I can write when I set my mind to it. Sharing the love of cooking with others is another incentive.

Does it require very much of your time? It seems lately time is a rare precious thing for me.

Patti

[MISSINDI]

Thanks Missindi (love YOUR blog BTW). I would like to sharpen my writing skills as well. My DH who is a newspaper editor says I can write when I set my mind to it. Sharing the love of cooking with others is another incentive.

Does it require very much of your time? It seems lately time is a rare precious thing for me.

Patti

Sorry I didn't reply right away -- I've been sick all week. Time is DEFINITELY a rare commodity these days, and, I agree, a consideration if you want to start blogging. As far as how much time it takes me, it really depends. If you're a regular reader of my blog (and thanks for visiting), the WDB round-up is usually what takes me the longest, posting everyone's pictures and the links to their sites, responding to their e-mails, etc. I try to be conscious of not letting it interfere with my "family time," since that's my priority, so I put up my posts after Nicholas is in bed. It also goes a lot faster when I've formulated the idea in my head beforehand. Sometimes I can get the post done in 15 minutes, sometimes it's an hour. Depending on the topic, if there are pictures to add, etc. Hope this helps. Happy to help in whatever way I can.

P.S. You also don't have to blog every day. I felt that since I started doing it daily, my readers have come to expect that, but some people blog a couple times a week. You can always start that way and get your feet wet and go from there.

P.P.S. And lastly, if it's going to be a food blog, be sure to check out Food Blog S'cool. It's a great forum set up to specifically help food bloggers with blogging, posting, pictures, etc.