As part of the "Blogging 101 for Pastors" series [click here to see all the posts], I've been asking several proflic blogging pastors or believers to answer five basic questions about blogging.

Ariel Vanderhorst, who blogs at BitterSweetLife, is our next responder for the 5 Blogging Questions series. Ariel is a friend of mine from seminary -- Midwestern. He's a great writer with tons of insights and a neat perspective. Here's his answers:

1. Why (or how) did you start blogging?

Well, I love to write. Loving to write was the status quo. Then a friend of mine sent me a link to this new thing, a “blog.” My initial rationale was, “No way, I can combine writing and coolness—for free?” Later I started thinking more deliberately about what I wanted to communicate and how blogging helped me to process stuff I was thinking about. That was about three years ago.

2. What subject do you post most about?

I usually write from what I call the “bittersweet” perspective—an attempt to infuse human craziness with Christ’s revelation and grace. If I had to name my genre, I’d call it “creative theology.” The subject matter is pretty eclectic, though, ranging from books and theology to basketball and coffee. I throw in stories, culture and photography too. This isn’t exactly a recipe for mainstream success, which is why I call BitterSweetLife an “Indie blog.”

3. What are your favorite blog tools?

Blogger is the proud sponsor of my blog. In the RSS Feeds department, I love Feedburner and Bloglines. A few of my personal favorite accessories are Firefox, LibraryThing, coComment, and del.icio.us. You can get details on my Blogging Tools list.

4. How often do you post?

I try to post 1-3 times a day, but I’m a compulsive writer, and I’ve gradually made a habit of it. For someone just starting, 3-5 posts a week is a good goal.

5. What one piece of advice would you give for prospective blogging pastors?

Well, to pull Zechariah out of context, “Don’t despise the day of small beginnings.” Conquering the world with your blog takes time. I’d recommend that you start small, and maybe just aim for a couple of your favorite continents. More seriously, blogging is a legitimate mode of communication and persuasion, so try to write meaningful, interesting content. Avoid rambling or lite-weight pieces that only your mother would (possibly) read. I also have a longer list of blogging advice you can look at. Good luck!

[[ THANKS, ARIEL, GOD BLESS YOUR STUDIES AT MIDWESTERN! ]]


***

If you enjoyed this post, sign up for the FREE Church Communications Pro Email Newsletter.

Technorati Tags:
blogging for pastors, blogging church, blogging pastors, i help pastors blog, series, church marketing, church communications

Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl