tl;dr: post about posting more posts
I have forgotten to write blog posts for over a year or have I?
Blogging 101 Link to heading
I started this blog after I was selected as a GSoC 2016 student under SymPy so as to log my progress. Few weeks working into the program, it seemed that I had developed the habit of writing weekly articles. Back then, I intended to continue maintaining my blog. However soon after completing the project, I became lazy and procrastinated. 🙁
Why Did I Stop Posting? Link to heading
Whenever I felt like posting an article, I used to persuade my “conscious self” to defer because of the following reasons primarily:
Non-existent readership: Who am I writing the post for?
Hardly anyone will read my posts(apart from my friends ️🙋♂️, of course) so why bother posting them!Lack of expertise as well as experience: Will my posts be helpful to anyone?
Even if someone mistakenly did read my post, they would pass it by as some novice’s opinions on the topics that he does not even entirely understand; not that I rant too often. Personally, I believe that each article should have a purpose if it is to be deemed useful. And I was unsure about it.
During the GSoC period, I had some readership in the form of my mentors and colleagues as well as some expertise in what I was writing about. After the completion of the project, I had no temptation for updating my blog as I had no justifiable response to the 2 driving questions. Hence, I stopped posting! 😞
Motivation Link to heading
In addition to the psychological and spiritual benefits that blogging about my learnings with the world provides, a blog also provides a professional incentive, especially to a programmer. I always acknowledged these merits of maintaining a decent blog. However, I was unwilling to post until I found an honest answer to the above-mentioned two questions.
After some introspection, I believe I have found them and they are as follows:
Q1. Who am I writing the post for?
A: Myself, in particular; a relentless learner, in general.
From now on, I will be writing all the posts for myself - or those who like to learn new things, make mistakes and correct themselves quickly. 🤓
Q2. Will my posts be helpful to anyone?
A: They will if I make it simple enough and develop competence.
I will write with the sole intention of sharing my current preoccupations and what excites me. They shall help me gain some clarity and reflect upon everything I do or happen to me. Thus, they would be useful for me at the very least. 😌
Q: What will I write about?
A: Everything and anything
I intend to write about everything that currently occupies me, excites me and motivates me. This includes, but not restricted to, sharing:
- a concept I recently studied straight from my moleskine
- a new project I’m working on or contributing to
- book reviews; lots of them
- reflections on everything stupid, important and in-between
The primary motivations for me to publish new articles are:
- challenge myself to review my understanding and presenting them effectively 😀
- open up a channel of discourse with people of more diverse background 🙊
- spread the joy of learning! 🎉
Modus Operandi Link to heading
I pledge myself to publish a new article every Sunday for the rest of 2018.
It will be challenging to post every week but I can assure that I will put my honest and dedicated effort into writing from now on.
So, see you all next Sunday for the beginning. 😁