The value of the journal blog

I’m not a big fan of reading in the “war stories” genre, but the books in that category I have read that I really appreciated were not the chronologies of dates and battles, but the detailed accounts of life in the trenches – those written from the personal perspective of those who were there.

Such is the value of the journal blog. Although I’m mostly focused these days on niche blogging, I freely admit to having a soft spot in my heart for the journal blog, my first blogging love. Maybe it’s because this form gave me some of my all-time favorite personal writing. Maybe it’s just that I know I don’t always need to write for an audience to be happy.

Whatever the case, journal blogs are no less meaningful to their authors than the very best of the niche blogs. Here are some of the reasons why:

1. Journal blogs can be a “brain dump” for the author – a place to record reactions to the days’ events, think through  sticky problems, or store links to websites they wish to revisit.

2. Journal blogs can be a training ground for testing blogging strategies and community-building tactics. While this suggests that perhaps the blogger is working toward something like a niche blog, that certainly doesn’t have to be the case.

3. Journal blogs help writers hone their writing style and find their personal voice. We become more proficient at a task if we practice it regularly. Journal blogging can lead to the development of a distinct, personal writing style that defines who you are and sets you apart from other writers.

4. Journal blogs communicate the “human experience” by giving you a place to plant your personal flag and tell the world, “I am here.”

Do you have a journal blog? What keeps you motivated to continue writing? What purpose does it serve in your life?