[Discussion] Why do we blog?

One scene in Fangirl (by Rainbow Rowell), which has stuck with me for multiple reasons, features Professor Piper asking the students in her Fiction Writing seminar why they write. Although the ensuing conversation is arguably somewhat cliched, it does provide great early insight into the characters — and, to get to the point of this post, I think the question bears thinking about, even in the real world.

“To explore new worlds,” someone said.

“To explore old ones,” someone else said. Professor Piper was nodding.

To be somewhere else, Cath thought.

“So…,” Professor Piper purred. “Maybe to make sense of ourselves?”

“To set ourselves free,” a girl said.

To get free of ourselves.

“To show people what it’s like inside our heads,” said a boy in tight red jeans.

“Assuming they want to know,” Professor Piper added. Everyone laughed.

“To make people laugh.”

“To get attention.”

“Because it’s all we know how to do.”

“Speak for yourself,” the professor said. “I play the piano. But keep going — I love this. I love it.”
— Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

So why do I blog?

To share my experiences and accomplishments and random musings
To get thoughts, weird and/or wonderful, out of my head and into the world
To help boost media and creators that I genuinely believe in
To give vent to the need to shout about This Amazing Book Everyone Needs To Read
To remind myself that “perfect” is the enemy of “good (enough)”
To reach out to others, who have their own worldviews and inner worlds
To leave a digital signpost saying I WAS HERE

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And why do I write, in general?

To get thoughts, weird and/or wonderful, out of my head and into the world
To explore and create brave new worlds
To reflect, reimagine, rediscover things I didn’t know that I didn’t really know
To reach out to others, who have their own worldviews and inner worlds
To create work that someone else might love as much as I do
To experiment with not being myself, or a different version of myself
To leave a signpost, a mark on the universe, saying I WAS HERE