One year in blogging

Today marks a year from when I first started this blog. (This is a blog? I thought it was a website? What’s a blog? Reading the first paragraph there should suffice.)

If you see any positive difference with my posts now and the beginning, I’d love to hear them. If you could take a few minutes to write something, it’d help me reaffirm part of the reason why I have a blog. (Err, “weblog” – for Josh.) I’ll take constructive criticism, too. Otherwise, don’t bother. 🙂

Now then, inspired by Keith, I’m going to list a few things I’ve learned from blogging as well.

• Initial blogging is tough because you know only a handful of people are reading: the ones you told about it
• A few bloggers that are actually local seem pretty nice. Meeting them is tough, because…
• …there aren’t enough hours in a day!
• I’ve got awesome friends that are willing to do lots for me – and I haven’t even met them!
• Do a self-interview with yourself on a topic. It makes it easier to be funny, or at least interesting.
• Write profound things that you think nobody else could understand – somebody will, whether they comment about it or not.
• Readers lurk. I know, because I do.
• The more I blog, the more I realize that I should write more and be a linkblog less. If you’re going to link to something, write about it (not just a quote, either).
• Lists are awesome.
• It stinks when you ask a question and nobody answers. It’s like Christmas when somebody does, though!
• If a question goes unanswered, just imagine people scratching their heads because they can’t answer.
• A bit of comment spam protection, and backups will go a long way.
• I read blogs more than anything else.
• I trust bloggers a lot more than semi-anonymous comments on a huge website.
• I wouldn’t have gotten into Flickr if it weren’t for blogs.
• I wouldn’t have gotten into GTD if it weren’t for blogs.