如何維持博客 (Blog) 的生命力?

很久沒有寫博客,這是一個持之以恆的問題。

也是一個方法論的問題。

早前為了到台灣開工作坊,所以找了一些與 Digital storytelling 相關的書,其中一本我現在還在讀的是 Mark Briggs 的 Journalism Next。重讀的原因是其中裡面有一章叫 Advanced Blogging,提到博客的重要性在於這改變了網絡發表的常態方式,也改變了媒體生態。

在開這個博客之前,我前後也嘗試了寫博文,特別是教師。我2007年大四下學期在天水圍一所中學當實習老師。那所學校的英文科主任傳授寫教案的心得時,她說她入職的頭三年,每天寫教案。寫了三年後,就甚麼課堂都能應付自如了。教師,特別是教語文的教師,能持續寫作是相當重要的。可就是時間找不出的原因,我甚至看過葉聖陶先生的〈教師下水〉一文(《怎樣寫作》P.141-143, ISBN 978-7-101-05737-9),都覺得在時間運用上是不可思議的。但無論如何,既然是開了博客,就是對自己的挑戰。應該好好保持。

所以,今天看到這本書後,多年的疑惑剎時間有了答案:

A blog’s mission will determine how often it shold be updated. […] posting daily update is not a reasonable goal for a one-person blog, so here’s a more practical guide, especailly when you’re starting out:

Post approximately once a day: If you can keep your posts short, you can easily add at least five or six a week. Hitting that minimun is important if you plan to build an audience. […] It’s important to find the point in your day when you are most inclined to blog. […] Whenever the words flow most easily, scheduled yourself some time to blog. Then stick to that schedule for 30 days. It’s the best way to make blogging a habit.

I’m too busy! Sure we are. But successfuly bloggetrs have found ways to make their blogs work for them, saving them time, instead of simply becoming an added burden. Here’s how –

Use the blog as a notebook, compiling your notes and story ideas as drafts in a blog system, then making them public one at a time.

Seek public feedback and use it to focus your future writing.

You will discover that you often don’t know enough about a particular topic to feel comfortable writing about it. Don’t let this stop you. Instead, use it as an opportunity to learn enough to write about something new.

P.63, Jornalism Next, by Mark Briggs. ISBN 978-1-60426-560-6

Use the blog as a notebook. 教師每天都有很多準備工作、教學過程、教學反思等在腦海中重複。既然有,就找個方便舒適的時間寫下來。

按照這個建議,我寫下了今天的博文。接下來每一天都有新工作要展開,應該要善於紀錄才對。