So You’re a Blogger… Can You Be a Writer?

Lately, I’ve noticed several bloggers have published their own books. It brings to mind that old age chicken versus egg question: “So you’re a blogger…but are you a writer?”

Admittedly, I think there’s something about the word blogger that still feels a little second-class, at least in some circles, as if blogging is JV and “real writing” is varsity. Maybe you’ve felt that, too. There’s the subtle dismissal, the internal doubt, the tug-of-war between what you do and who you are. Is it legit?

But here’s what I’ve come to believe: blogging isn’t the opposite of writing. Blogging is writing. It’s writing with a front porch.

Let me explain.

Blogging Is Writing With the Door Open

Traditional writing, like books, essays, academic papers, often feels like writing from inside a study with the door closed. There’s the craft, the structure, the formality. And that’s beautiful. There’s nothing wrong with that.

But blogging? It invites people into the process. It’s more conversational, more immediate, more personal. When I blog, it’s as if I’m sitting on the front porch with a cup of coffee, waving at the neighbors as they pass by. “Come on over!” As a blogger, I’m sharing what God is teaching me today—right now—not what I perfected over a year or more.

That doesn’t make it less writing. It makes it different writing.

Bloggers Carry a Unique Calling

This is especially true when your work leans toward ministry: digital chaplaincy, spiritual care, encouragement. You’re not simply publishing content. You’re tending to souls in real time.

A blogger can write in ways that:

• Meet people where they already are: in their scrolling, searching, and late-night wrestling
• Bring hope into everyday life
• Offer presence without needing a physical room
• Speak into moments of crisis or clarity

That sounds a lot like a writer to me; a writer with a shepherd’s heart.

The Difference Isn’t Skill; It’s Rhythm

If you strip away the platform, what is a writer? Someone who:

• Observes the world
• Reflects deeply
• Shapes words into meaning
• Tells the truth
• Connects with others through story and insight

Friend, that’s exactly what you’re already doing.

Your blog posts are clay on the wheel. Some become finished bowls. Some become mugs. Some stay rough drafts. But every piece is part of your craft.

Maybe the Real Question Is This…

Not “Can a blogger be a writer?”
But “Can a writer give themselves permission to blog?”

Can you show up imperfectly?
Can you hit publish before the polish is perfect?
Can you trust that the words needed most are often the ones written from the middle of the mess?

Blogging frees you from the pressure of masterpiece-making. It keeps you writing. It keeps you engaged with people. It keeps your voice alive. At least that’s been my experience since starting The Devotional Guy™ in 2013.

Blogging Is Where Many Writers Begin and Thankfully Some of the Best Never Leave

Some bloggers go on to write books. Some use their blogs as workshops or proving grounds. Some stay bloggers forever and impact more people than they ever would with a book on a shelf.

Think about it. There are tons and of books lining shelves all around the world.

What matters isn’t the label.
What matters is the calling.

If God has given you something to say, you’re a writer. Whether those words live in a book, a blog, a newsletter, or a scratchy journal doesn’t change the truth.

So yes, if you’re a blogger, you can be a writer.

In fact, you already are.

Keep showing up.
Keep writing.
Keep offering your voice in this noisy world.

Personal experience has shown me that someone out there needs the words that only you can bring.

Until my next post…

Be salty, stay lit.

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™

You can now find my articles in The Christian Grandfather Magazine.

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