I accepted the Blog Question Challenge
MattoF has tagged me for the Blog Question Challenge which asks bloggers questions about their background and motivations, tools, and workflows. It is a variation by Kev Quirk of a challenge originally created by Ava at Bear Blog.
I have accepted this fun challenge and this is my entry.
Why did you start blogging in the first place?
I started in 2004 in the golden era of blogging. I enjoyed blogs and their community, wanted to experiment with the new medium and tools, and thought I had something to say. So I set up a blog to tap into and amplify this energy.
What platform are you using to manage your blog, and why do you use it?
For my blog Paolo Amoroso's Journal I use Write.as because it's a lightweight blogging platform with a clean design and excellent support for technical writing, which is what I mostly do. As a byproduct these features reduce friction in writing and publishing.
I settled on Write.as after a long journey across blogging platforms.
Have you blogged on other platforms before?
Yes, and I used static site generators well before it was cool.
My first platform was BlogMax, an Emacs package we would now describe as a static site generator. Back then I was a heavy Emacs user and it seemed natural to blog with Emacs. My first blog has been online since I started it in August of 2004, now an abandoned time capsule of what its name unambiguously hints has always been my obsessionpassion: Lisp Propulsion Laboratory log.
For my blogs I later used Blogger, Micro.blog, and eventually Write.as. I also used the elephant in the room, WordPress, for contributing to other blogs.
How do you write your posts?
I just use the online Markdown editor of Write.as as I don't need anything fancier.
When do you feel most inspired to write?
I mostly do technical writing and my blog is a sort of lab log. It's usually clear what to write about and inspiration is rarely involved. In general I write when I complete a project, am stuck with a technical issue, or I just want to record the progress and experience with a project or something I do.
Do you normally publish immediately after writing, or do you let it simmer a bit?
I never publish immediately. I'm a slow writer and do lots of editing rounds, especially as a non native English speaker. Letting it simmer improves the final result.
What’s your favorite post on your blog?
My favorite is My encounter with Medley Interlisp, which captured my exhilaration at approaching and exploring Medley Interlisp. I was beginning to dive deep into this 1980s Lisp workstation environment I had always dreamed of, and blogging the experience seemd a natural way of sharing my excitement and explaining what's unique about Medley.
This is apparently also the favorite post of my readers. It's the most visited of the blog and received over 38K views, most of which when it was shared on Hacker News.
Any future plans for the blog?
No, which is a feature. Everything is going so smoothly I just want to continue blogging without worrying about tools and platforms.
Who's next?
I nominate Fabrizio Ferri Benedetti, Kevin Tofel, and Rob Roland. I hope they will accept as they have interesting blogs and diverse stories.
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