Tools For Blogging

That wacky broad The Shmata Queen is probably one of the few who will read this post and among the least likely to ask me what tools I like to use for blogging.

That is cuz the lovely lady thinks I have a natural talent for writing and she’ll tell you that is the most important, if not only tool you need, at least I think she will.

Truth is as much as I know about her and many other things there is ample reason to believe she’ll fool me and say something else but that is ok, wouldn’t be the first time.

Nor is this the first time I have written about tools for blogging but it might be the first where I spent time thinking about if there is merit in putting together a more substantive post about it.

The kind of post where I lay out specific information about what sort of tools I use and why and maybe a wish list.

That is the kind of post that has value on multiple levels:

• Bloggers love to read about blogging tips so a post about tips and tools is more likely to be read and shared.
• It’s useful for me for evaluating whether I am using the right tools and if I should add or subtract them.

You Never Know It All

After 11.5 years of blogging I can say without hesitation you never know it all. You never know about every tool or have enough expertise in our craft to say you cannot learn more.

That is a big part of why I keep at banging away at the keyboard and keep trying and testing tools and resources.

It is about trying to get better and the kind of improvement I am interested doesn’t come without putting in substantial time and energy.

Some people ask me how I keep going and I tell them I take joy in the journey and that I have fun doing this.

Fun is the key, it is what provides me with the willingness to sit here day after day obsessing over how to become a better writer and storyteller.

Einstein Is Right

I am a big fan of the man for a multitude of reasons, one of them is I love quotes like the one above.

You don’t learn how to change the facts to fit the theory without putting in the time, at least not in a credible and artful way.

Here is another favorite:

A Final Note

I created the first image using a tool called Snappa. It seems like the kind of resource that could be a very smart addition to the my normal repertoire but chances are it won’t become one.

That is because the cost of the package is prohibitive for me. I have other options that are free or cost substantially less so without more information as to how it would help me it is just not going to happen.

We all engage in a cost/benefit analysis of where we spend our time and money, for now it just doesn’t hit the mark.

And that brings me back to the tools I use for blogging. During a time when people suffer from content overload I am determined to provide not just good content but a layout/theme that makes reading easy.

That is part of what intrigues me about Medium, the clean interface makes reading simple.

All I need beyond that is my laptop, headphones and a couple of writing books and I am good.

Did I answer the question or create new ones?

Maybe I ought to start working on that other post, the only question is will it be here or here.