I‘ve been blogging for a number of years. My first blog, now defunct and discarded on a distant digital junk pile, started around 2008. In late 2013, The Devotional Guy™ launched. Since those early days, I’ve wrestled with identifying the purpose of blogging and contemplated if blogging, like painting or writing, is an expression of creativity.
What’s the big deal about identifying the purpose of blogging?
Considering the time and financial investment involved in maintaining a blog, I think it’s valid to ask, “Why am I doing this?”
Blogging demands time and also requires spending a little money. There are hosting fees and other nominal costs associated with blogging (you can’t blog on a legal pad and hope to grow your audience).
In addition to the actual act of sitting down and typing my latest post, I spend time thinking about what I am going to blog about, what the headline for my post will be, and the approach and tone I will employ in communicating what I’ve got to say.
A blog post rarely plops down on the digital page to write itself.
Is blogging a creative expression?
I suppose we should define creativity. One virtual dictionary defines creativity this way:
The use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.
Oxford Languages
The word itself has enjoyed a continuous boom in popularity and usage in America since the 1950s (Google Books Research).
When humans are creative they form something new and valuable. it can be tangible or intangible. One person’s creativity might result in a book or a painting while yet another individual’s creative expression might come in the form of an idea, invention, or even a funny joke.
Creativity is a deep subject worthy of further exploration and study.
So, by our working definition, I am led to believe blogging is an expression of creativity.
What say you?
What are a few of your favorite blogs brimming with creativity? Feel free to share them in the COMMENTS section at the end of this post.
How can blogging be a more creative endeavor for you?
I hope you enjoy thinking about the creativity of your work more fully and deeply after reading this post. No doubt, we will explore the concept of creativity further in future posts.
Until then…
Blessings,
The Devotional Guy™
The Devotional Guy™ 
Hey, Rainer! Thanks for asking.
I enjoy Sally’s blog,Theology of a Newfoundland Housewife. Her writing style is simple and engaging. She also writes about one thing per post, and it’s hard to guess how the stories will end.
For me, blogging is an outlet for my pastoral skills. Since I no longer speak weekly to a congregation, I enjoy sharing something similar on my blog.
I love taking everyday occurrences and tiring them into modern day parables—with scriptural applications.
God’s best to you and T.
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I meant to say “turning “ them into blog post, but maybe it is tiring to read for some folks!
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Thanks for this, David. I appreciate your sharing your thoughts and insights.
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Thanks for posing this fruitful question! For me, writing is a way to explore, to find out what I think. The decision to make my wiring public encourages me to strive for excellence and holds me accountable.
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Thank you so much for reading my post and for sharing your thoughts, Mary. I agree that going public with our words stirs us to be better stewards of our writing.
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Some interesting points here. Sometimes I don’t even know why I blog. Maybe it’d do me good to find my ‘why’. Thanks for this post!
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My pleasure! Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.
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Great question Rainer! Yes agree that blogging is a means of creative expression. I love the variety of ways the bloggers I follow use it to share their artistic work whether in the form of photographs, poetry, recipes, memoir writing, or devotional expression. I’ll be honest I didn’t see blogging that way when I began. For me, blogging was simply a platform for sharing Lessons from a Lab with people Adi and I encountered in our journeys. I now see its creative side as well as a way to connect with and encourage the global body of Christ.
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Blogging certainly affords us the opportunity to connect with people and encourage them in their journey. Over the years, I have grown to see the creative aspects of blogging more and more. I agree, Beth, it is a great medium for encouraging fellow believers. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights.
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When I retired from teaching, I needed to find an outlet for some of the time I now had. Writing and blogging combined to fill this void, and I have welcomed the opportunity to unlock creativity in my writing journey.
I read and follow several blogs. Here are three I frequently read:
Borden’s Blather: Jim posts daily with unique posts built around just about anything. His Monday Music posts are a regular feature.
Janbeek: Jan writes from Montana (my native state) with a strong faith and shares some of the better things about life. Currently, she is writing about different aspects of life to “Embrace.”
A Time to Share: Kathy shares her faith as well as poetry and other topics. She regularly features the paintings of her very artistic husband, Paul.
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Thanks for sharing these great insights and some of your favorite blogs. It’s awesome that you have found writing and blogging to be a fruitful endeavor in your retirement.
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About a year ago I began writing a poem most mornings during my quiet time and with my wife’s encouragement I began sharing them as a blessing to others. I now have over 400 poems posted on the QuietTimeRhymes.com site for others to enjoy. Most have audio and a few have become lyrical videos. I pray others who enjoy lyrical poems with rhyme and rhythm, are blessed and encouraged by the words I share.
John Alexander
Frisco, Texas
QuietTimeRhymes.com
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About a year ago I began writing a poem most mornings during my quiet time and with my wife’s encouragement I began sharing them as a blessing to others. I now have over 400 poems posted on the QuietTimeRhymes.com site for others to enjoy. Most have audio and a few have become lyrical videos. I pray others who enjoy lyrical poems with rhyme and rhythm, are blessed and encouraged by the words I share.
John Alexander
Frisco, Texas
QuietTimeRhymes.com
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John-that’s fantastic! Good job listening to your helpmate, brother. Thank you for reading and sharing your insights. Powerful stuff!
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I have checked out your site and really enjoy it, John.
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