GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist and her five parrots are currently relocating to Germany, where she will continue writing her blog while also writing a book and learning German. (Meanwhile, her parrots will continue to nibble on her extensive personal library.) If you appreciate GrrlScientist's writing, you can help pay her living expenses by hiring her to "blog" your conference, speak at your club or write articles for your publication (or by clicking on the Paypal button below). If you read an essay on this blog that you especially enjoyed, please nominate it for inclusion in 
tags: blog writing, navel gazing
Why do people write blogs? I suppose the reasons underlying this activity are as varied as the writers themselves, but according to an article that was published yesterday, writing a blog might actually be good for your health. As a lifelong compulsive writer, it's unexpected good news to me to learn that something I do naturally and derive a tremendouns amount of pleasure from is actually good for my health.
Several scientists are studying blog writing using several different techniques to uncover the beneficial aspects of this activity. But in this article, the main focus was on cancer patients and how it affects their sense of well-being. But like most blog writers, I don't have cancer, nor do most of you, so there has to be other neurological reasons for writing a blog than simply gaining satisfaction from an intellectualized form of "complaining" or a high-tech substitute for a drinking spree.
Speaking only for myself, writing is something I've always done -- ever since I first learned to read I was a writer -- so writing a blog is simply a natural extension of my natural inclinations and lifelong behavior. But I consciously chose to write my blog because I wanted to remain actively involved in science after the door to scientific research and academics was firmly slammed shut in my face nearly four years ago. Additionally, because I am isolated from my colleagues where the vast majority of my social and professional contacts were, I find writing a blog gives me a sense of community with my readers, providing me with new social and professional contacts to replace those who turned their backs on me, and .. dare I say this? .. I even have a few friends now. Blog writing is a way of networking that relies on a method that I excel at; writing (I tend to be very reserved in person, and therefore, I am terrible at real-life networking). I also rely on writing a blog as a form of self-education: I am educating myself about a topic that interests me so I can then turn around and share what I've learned about that topic with you, my readers. If I know enough about a particular topic to present it to you in clear and accessible prose, then my understanding is confirmed. And last, but not least, I have always wanted to write books. Blog writing has allowed me to satisfy that longing at least partially, even though I don't have a finished product (a book) that I can hold in my hands.
So I am curious to know why you write a blog (those of you who do)? What does blog writing do for you?
Brain & Behavior
Education
Comments
"Additionally, because I am isolated from my colleagues where the vast majority of my social and professional contacts were, I find writing a blog gives me a sense of community with my readers..."
Yup - that's why I blog, in a nutshell. Don't get me wrong, I've always enjoyed writing. But even publishing and seeing your name in print doesn't provide community.
I started blogging when I moved from a very liberal Charlottesville, VA, to Atlanta, GA - which turns out to be far more conservative than I'd imagined. My colleagues are very socially conservative, and I was feeling alone. I started my blog as a lark, but keeping it up has really helped me remember that I'm not the only sane person on the planet.
Posted by: habladora | May 23, 2008 4:16 PM
I find writing a blog gives me a sense of community with my readers
That's a big part of the reason why I started. I also felt that I wanted to write more about birding than just dry listserv posts. A blog seemed like the best place to get the writing published quickly and still give me the freedom to be as expansive as I wanted (and go off-topic from time to time).
Posted by: John | May 23, 2008 6:47 PM
It's also good to see some attention given to the positive elements of blogging, instead of just the downsides.
Posted by: John | May 23, 2008 6:49 PM
Keeping in touch with friends...so it's more like maintaining a sense of community. There is also the benefit of making new friends along the way.
Posted by: Cherish | May 23, 2008 8:15 PM
I've been blogging for about 3-1/2 years and over that period a very civil and intelligent community of commenters has coalesced. I have a core group of four or five commenters, only a few of whom I've met in the "real world"; they comment frequently. Another group of perhaps ten check in from time to time, and there always seems to be someone new commenting; some stick around while others are never heard from again.
The comment conversations inspire me to write new posts. I don't get all that many comments, perhaps four or five on each post, but they are almost always good comments.
In a sense my blog is a combination of "my own magazine" combined with accounts of what I've been doing lately. It also serves as sort of a letter to my friends and relatives, but one which is visible to anyone who happens by.
Blogging changed my life, mostly in a positive way.
Posted by: Larry Ayers | May 24, 2008 8:31 AM