Academic Writing versus Blogging
This post is to compare the big difference between academic writing and blogging.
Well this actually stems from my academic background of writing a PhD thesis and my transition to blogging.
Academic writing is you researching the literature, analyzing it and putting forward your understanding and conclusions.
This is normally guided by supervisors who are there to guide you, assist you and help you polish your piece of research.
Coming to blogging, it is decluttering whatever is in your mind into paper. It is expressing your thoughts and emotions in the way that personally resonates with you.
When we compare academic writing with blogging, academic writing is more structured and guided. However, blogging is more flexible and free-range.
Academic writing has got certain guidelines, rules and expectations. But blogging is free and open to messy writings.
When you write for academic journals, you have got a specific academic goal to achieve. But with blogging, it is a very personal experience. It is for your personal clarity and healing. And it doesn’t have an immediate goal like for the academic writing.
If you ask me what could be my preference between academic writing and blogging, I say blogging. Why? Well, I am so obsessed with personal growth and transformation. I am tired of following the crowd.
At the moment, I still have moments where I feel lost and meaningless because of me quitting the route of academic writing. But when I go back to blogging, I learn so much about myself, the traumas I faced, the inner struggles I went through and the emotional pain I am recovering.
Finally, if you blame yourself for not continuing your academic writing journey, believe me. It is no accident. It was meant to be. It is not the only route there is. And when you see others taking this route, it doesn’t mean you also have to take the same route. You can always deviate, take a different route and change your personal preference. It others get disappointed by your choice, go back to yourself and your inner knowing. Because you and only you know what is the thing you want to be doing now.