Why do I want to blog?

Initially (back in 2009) it seemed like a good idea. Then I lost my way. Thinking about restarting the My 100 Goals blog requires I ask this question.

Fact is, I miss blogging. I find writing to be therapeutic. I feel better when I write my thoughts down. If I’m not writing, I get cranky.

But I can write in private. Why write in public?

Well, my life goal has always been to become a writer. I’ve been a writer my entire adult life, but blogging has helped focus my attention on the underlying desire – to have people read my stories, to make money from my writing.

I made no money from my initial blog, but am wondering about including advertising on this new platform.

But I don’t want my entire focus to be on making money…

I want to blog for Jesus. For this blog to be part of living for Jesus. Back in 2009 I wrote down my thirty first goal as: “To be and do all that God wants of me”

A web blog is an opportunity to hold myself publically accountable to that standard. Am I being and doing all that God wants of me?

Also, I want to encourage you to complete your goals. I’ve never been entirely comfortable with the “My” 100 Goals… I tried this tag line for a while: My 100 Goals, Your 100 Goals – Together we can make a difference.

I want this blog to be more outward looking, while still having 100 goals as a focus, use that to encourage you to go on to achieve your goals. To discover your purpose in life.

So, what will this blog be about?

1. I will use it to be and do all that God wants of me.
2. I will use this blog to encourage others to achieve their goals.
3. This blog will be used to help others find their purpose and calling in life.
4. I will use this blog to sell my books and to make money.
5. I will also use this blog to help others through book reviews and sharing what others are doing.

If you think I’ve missed out something important or am on completely the wrong track – let me know!

A few months ago I finally took some advice and started following Seth Godin’s blog. Almost every day he shares something short and pithy. Some insight or challenge. Usually his posts are short. Very short. Like this one: Empathy is the hard part

40 words. Plus the title.

I tend to waffle.

I have a tendency to want to maintain consistency. If I write longer posts, I want to keep writing longer posts – even when I’m not able to. Even when a shorter post would be more effective.

I need to learn to write less. Write to target…

How about you?

Yesterday I started exploring using the 100 words, 100 days challenge as a method for completing a short book – no more than 10,000 words.

It raised the question, should I limit myself to only writing 100 words a day during the challenge?

While it makes the challenge much tighter in terms of constraints, 100 words is not a lot when trying to explore a complex theme.

Yet, brevity is a skill. Being able to condense what is important into as few words as possible is valuable.

Tweets, Haiku, headlines – they are all short and must be short and powerful to work.

What do you think?