There’s something about getting a new computer or device with a clean HD that feels so satisfying. I never import items from previous devices. It may seem counterproductive, but I love a clean slate.
Same goes with platforms. I’m starting over in my writing journey on a new platform, and I’m excited. Starting this blog in Micro.blog has helped me rediscover web development. I’ve also learned about the IndieWeb and have become more invested in the Fediverse.
My blogging journey began in the days before it was referred to as “blogging”. In the late 90s, I had writings and “news” I’d share on websites like Geocities and Tripod. In the early 2000s, I moved to OpenDiary and LiveJournal. In the mid 2000s, I had my very own dotcom for my design portfolio, as well as a section for blogging. I fell out of the blogging habit after a few years, and picked it up again with Tumblr in the early 2010s, in part to support my new-found interest in science fiction writing.
The Tumblr blog is a spotty personal history archive, and not at all ideal for my writing goals moving forward.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Twitter. What attracted me to Twitter in 2008 was the whole “microblog” concept. I understand the nature of social media evolving, especially Twitter, but I was never on-board with what Twitter became, and my use diminished over the last five years. Elon Musk’s involvement cemented my decision to stop using Twitter as my self-expression outlet.
Through the first days of the Elon Twitter takeover, I kept stumbling on posts about starting a blog and owning your own content. Most writers have their own website and blog anyway, so I started looking into starting my own.
Finding the writing community (as well as the Scifi fandom community) on Mastodon was a wake-up call that Twitter, Instagram and Facebook were not the only robust social networks out there. The concept of the Fediverse attracted me to Mastodon even more. I could own my own content, and not rely on the big social network’s ridiculous set of rules, algorithms and subscription models. Mastodon feels like a good way forward, but it wasn’t helping me with blogging.
Then I discovered Micro.blog.
While I’m still trying to figure things out, Micro.blog has ignited a spark in blogging. I had already decided to return to blogging after I left Twitter, but I felt like Tumblr wasn’t cutting it. So far, Micro.blog has what I’ve been looking for. I’m not sure if I’ll continue to use it as I explore other blogging options, but I’m glad I found it. Micro.blog has helped rekindle my interest in web development as well.
In the spirit of not putting all of my eggs in one basket, and owning the content I create, I’m excited about the future of blogging, writing and I can’t wait to see where this all goes.
