“I love playing. The keyboard is my journal” – Pharrell Williams
“I think the word ‘blog’ is an ugly word. I just don’t know why people can’t use the word ‘journal.’” — Moby
Should I write about the butterflies I saw at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix for my blog or my journal? Does it matter. Does anyone care? — Photo by Pat Bean
What Do You Think?
I’m reading Dinty Moore’s book, “Crafting the Personal Essay.” It’s good. Really good! I’ve been reading a chapter every morning with my coffee – and taking lots of notes.
Mother Nature’s wonders, I believe, are meant to be shared with the world. So I guess that means they belong in a blog and not a private journal. — Photo by Pat Bean
This morning’s session, however, cost me.
Dinty thinks it is important to write things readers might care about and be interested in reading; and I realized that what I had written didn’t sound interesting – even to me. Well, except for the quotes, which I do find thought-provoking.
My first draft of this blog, however, was taking too many words to say simply that. Thankfully, I have learned that the delete key is often the best editor.
As for the difference between blogging and journaling, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s the audience. My journal is for my eyes only, and my blog is for the entire world to read. And I hope they do.
Blog pick of the day.
Bean Pat Are Blogs the New Journal? http://tinyurl.com/mu6lelo This was my inspiration for today’s blog, but the subject matter is one I have pondered now for over a year.
Pat Bean's blog 
And often what you blog about strikes a chord in someone and that is what makes them wish to read some more.
Thanks Colline. That’s a great compliment.
i love Dinty W. Moore and that book you’re reading. It’s the one I use in my essay classes for SCN. Enjoy, my dear. Yes, something that is interesting for your audience – a challenge I know well. Though I find your blog (not journal) ever interesting.
If I remember right, you’re the one who inspired me to get Dinty’s book. I should have read it a long time ago. Thanks.
I’m with you on this Pat, my notebook is a journal of all sorts of things, but for my eyes only, A blog is public, and I use it as such. Things I am happy for people/the world to see.
Jim
I’ve started back writing more in longhand in a journal. I realized I was missing it. It seems, at least for me, that the computer is the best tool for blogging, because of the delete button for editing, and the pen is the best tool for the journal and when you’re trying to make sense of your thoughts. Does anyone else feel this way
I don’t think there are such things as ugly words. I mean, I don’t think there are ‘good’ words and ‘bad’ words. We shouldn’t be afraid of them.
One of the most intelligent, and also sexiest, man I’ve known in my life, who used the F-word a lot, said that meanings are in people, not in words. I believe he was right. Great point, Alex, that we shouldn’t be afraid of words.