Thirty years ago many of us would have asked what was a blog. The World Wide Web was making its way into our homes and, frighteningly, even then, taking over our lives. Surprisingly, although we may not have known about blogs, the first one did start around 1993 when the Swarthmore College student, Justin Hall started sharing his life online. He didn’t call it a blog. The term was initiated in the form of a weblog, describing the process of logging into the web. And today, many writers, myself included, are avid contributors to several blogs.

Why blogging? Why write for blogs? Why not? Blogs don’t always pay, but it’s a great way to get your name out there. The publishing world has changed considerably: print magazines still exist, but many are also adding an online component to their publishing. These websites, or blogs if you will, are updated regularly with new material, much like the print versions, only the online format is much more conversational, making it an easy read for those few readers out there who are looking for some information while, at the same time, expect to be somewhat entertained by what they read.

My first experience in blogging was in 2013/14 for a history site focussing on all manner of topics. I chose the arts section to make use of my diverse art history background. I didn’t earn much, but the exposure was worth the effort. I moved on to gardening and writing blogs, writing frequently for garden sites. I was able to write about topics that interested me, get paid, and, best of all, get considerable exposure. I particularly enjoy the feedback I receive from readers: “This article resonates with me deeply.” And, “This post is so nice. I like this post.” And “Such a wonderful article.” All good morale-booster commentary. And the stories/articles often get ‘pinged’ on other sites, which is great because it means more exposure.

So, let’s get blogging and watch your name appear on countless sites. How? Well, here are some tips and some sites to get you started. And there are a lot more than what I’ve listed here!

Make a list of topics you’re interested in writing about. Some blogs focus on cooking/baking, knitting, and other crafts, gardening, technology and so much more.

Study the blogs online that focus on your interests.

Like any other possible site to publish your work, it’s always a good idea to read some of the articles/ stories on these blogs to get a feel as to whether it’s a good fit for your work and how you can weave a story into their expectations.

If it’s a paying blog, there’ll be details on how to submit and what to expect in payment (just like any print publication).

Always read the writer’s guidelines carefully before submitting.

Read and write – the two big words in the writing game that hopefully lead to publication and payment.

Here are a few blogs to consider:

Listverse https://listverse.com/ - If you’re into making lists, this is a great site to get started in the blogging world. It published the top 10 lists on just about any subject and pays $100 on publication.

Insteading: https://insteading.com/ - If you’re an avid gardener, this is another great site to market your blog stories. Payment varies.

Funds for Writers http://fundsforwriters.com/submissions/ - Do you have a writing success story you want to share? Or some great writing tips? Writing about writing can be lucrative and this site does pay.

Knitty https://knitty.com/ - Oh yes! There’s a paying blog for avid knitters. Pays up to $200!

Some print magazines, like Writer’s Digest and Reader’s Digest, also have a blog for which writers can submit and be paid. Blog writing is lucrative and beneficial for writers. Get started and get blogging.