What’s the Difference Between Journal Writing and Blogging?
This is a question I’ve seen many people ask in different online communities. So, what is the difference?
Today while reading blogs and researching I came across this description on I Feel Pithy, which I felt came pretty close to capturing the different aspects of both journal writing and blogging.
Blogging is definitely for publication, but the contents of your journal may never be seen by another pair of eyes, ever. That’s not to say the words you’ve spent so much time on won’t eventually be published, but in the general run of life, it’s not likely.
Even published journals go through an editing process prior to being published. I think this can be a little intimidating to those wanting to start keeping a journal. Remember, those lovely presented pages were once scribbled notes just like yours.
For me the difference between journal writing and blogging is the fact that I can instantly publish my thoughts in a blog. Readers can comment or just breeze by and not respond, if they choose. The journal writing is as private as I want it to be. I may choose later to share an entry with someone or take an entry further by making it into a short story or poem, but what I write is essentially for me alone.
What are your thoughts on the difference between journal writing and blogging?
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POSTED IN: General: Journal Writing
2 opinions for What’s the Difference Between Journal Writing and Blogging?
TammyP
Nov 20, 2005 at 3:06 pm
Interesting you should bring this up because I’m working on a project now where I’m researching this very thing. I actually feel that blogs are journals, public yes, but blogs, at least the kind that are used like a journal in that they discuss a person’s day, personal thoughts, etc., and aren’t necessarily just URL farms, to me are electronic journals.
Heather
Nov 20, 2005 at 8:22 pm
Hi Tammy,
Yes, a lot of personal online journals don’t seem much different, but once the writer is aware of readers they will alter their content, whereas I really personal journal, kept on computer or otherwise, doesn’t go through this process. Would love to know more about what you’re researching. ;-)
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