Why do we blog?

Why?  The "we" is rhetorical; I'm not assuming everybody blogs, but it does appear that a lot of people do.  But do we actually have something to say?  I do, but I don't think it's essential for people to know what that is, unless I've prepared it specifically for that purpose, or asked them to read it.  I think that's the main problem when it comes to my wanting to be a novelist: why would anybody want to read what I've got to say?  "Here you are; this is a book about my thoughts and philosophy on families and infidelity.  Read it!"  You've got to be pretty damn confident, and I'm slowly getting there.

Anyway, the reason I write this blog is to basically pour out my random thoughts on any given subject in stream-of-consciousness mode.  I write whatever I feel like writing, I don't edit it and I don't write it with an audience in mind.  Strangely, I never really think about anybody reading it, because it all feels so anonymous.  You might say "well, go and write a private diary then", but I do that as well!

Yesterday I wrote a blog post about Kelly Valen's new book, 'The Twisted Sisterhood' which has received widespread attention from the newspapers I read, and from which I have read snippets and reviews.  I wasn't all that complimentary about the book's supposed subject, despite not having read it (though from reading all the articles it felt like I had!) But the post attracted a comment from Kelly Valen herself, rightly suggesting that I read the book before stating an opinion and explaining more about the book, and it was that that made me think: I genuinely hadn't thought about anybody reading my post at all, let alone the author of the book I was besmirching!

The comment meant I'd had at least one reader; it was as though my private little blog world had been infiltrated (mad I know!) and I removed the post immediately.  It was a half-formed 'opinion' based on something I hadn't read; even so I'm aware that I am still entitled to voice it.  But I didn't want anything I'd written (especially something so half-thought and rambling) to become 'real' by causing any offence.  That isn't what my little space here is for.  It's for half-baked rambles and random thoughts, and that is all.