The selfish truth about writing in public

In her latest newsletter, my friend Gudrun Gempp asked: “Why share? Who cares? Who benefits from that?”
I ask myself the same question. Even now. I wonder why I spend so much time brooding, drafting, polishing — and whether it’s really worth it.
While journaling, I arrived at this:
Blogging is selfish
I write because writing is thinking. It helps me sort things out. Right now, it’s untangling this very question: why share at all? I simply need to write. That’s how I’m wired. That’s how my thinking moves forward.
Polishing is beautiful
I could keep it quick and rough — journal-style, unedited. And often, that’s enough.
Yet…
The “publish” button asks something more of me. Rework it. Rethink it. Distil it to the essence. As Gudrun put it: “Sharing forces me to be serious — both with myself and with my readers.” That’s it exactly. There’s something deeply satisfying about sending a small, well-crafted thought into the world — like placing a painting carefully in an exhibition, ready for others to see.
Sharing is mutually inspiring
Then Gudrun’s newsletter flutters into my inbox — and I remember I’m not writing into a void. Her words cheer me up. Reach me. Move me.
That’s the thing about sharing: it travels further than you think.
So, why do I share?
To send ripples. Small ones. But ripples nonetheless.
Why do you share — or why do you hesitate? Drop me a line, leave a comment, or just hit reply. I’d love to know.
Gudrun Gempp’s Newsletter : https://gudrungempp.de/schoenste-umwege
And more related stories:
The bit at the end
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Creatively,
Nadia
P.S.The paintings featured on the blog are my own.
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