I am interested in the differences, if any, between blogging and writing. Obviously, in a purely mechanical sense it's an arbitrary distinction, from a blogger's point of view, because people who blog have to write. But, and here's what interests me, people who call themselves writers do not have to blog. Yet some do. Why?
I have my own views on this, but would prefer not to reveal them just yet. Rather, I invite you to take part in a survey which will take just a short while to complete. I'm hoping to be able to refer to the results in an article I'm writing for The Author, which is the journal of the UK's Society of Authors. I've belonged to the Society since 1992, and have only just recently had the time and the confidence to suggest an article to them -- and even that was by accident.
Confidence? Well, I feel about writing for The Author, which is read by authors, the same way I used to feel about addressing my colleagues in a school. It's much easier writing or performing for people who are not likely to tear you to pieces -- professionally, of course.
But I digress. Even if The Author does not accept the article (and even if it does), I shall write about this topic in Computers in Classrooms and the ICT in Education website.
In these articles I should like to be able to quote individuals. That always brings an article to life, I feel, but the pressures of time and the nature of blogging often one from fully exploring this technique. There's an example of it here.
So, if you do contribute to the survey, what's in it for you? I think the following:
- If I quote you, you'll get a bit more exposure. Let's face it, one can never have too much of that! Think of those Technorati rankings! Think of those Amazon rankings!
- More seriously, I think it's an interesting issue -- or set of issues -- and doing the survey will get you thinking about them, possibly for the first time. It is difficult to talk about any of this without giving away my own thoughts which may, in turn, influence you. But look at the questions in the survey and you'll see what I'm talking about.
I'll leave the survey up for a while. Obviously, I can't guarantee that I'll quote you though!
One last thing: if you have kids who like writing and/or blogging, get them to complete the survey too: the lower age limit is 5! They can always put your email address rather than their own, if they -- and you -- would feel more comfortable with that arrangement.
Once again, here's the URL of that survey: Survey of blogging and writing. Thanks for your time 
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