I\u00a0had occasion in the past week to reflect on how readers\u00a0benefit from\u00a0my blogging.\u00a0 I was\u00a0drafting e-mails\u00a0at the time to potential readers.\u00a0\u00a0Then, last Thursday evening while swimming in Halifax, the somewhat related question popped into my head, “Why do I\u00a0blog?”<\/p>\n
Why do I blog?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n More detail on\u00a0why\u00a0I blog<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Increasing my reader’s understanding of the forensic engineering work I enjoy doing and its contribution to the resolution of disputes – that’s a big reason.\u00a0 Also to help\u00a0you appreciate the reason for\u00a0the associated time and costs.<\/p>\n This\u00a0by\u00a0raising the awareness of counsel and managers\u00a0to what`s involved in the forensic engineering investigation of\u00a0the technical issues in your cases and claims.\u00a0 Some disputes are so very technical in nature.<\/p>\n I also blog to increase my understanding of the civil litigation process.\u00a0 I\u00a0do my work better when I understand the process\u00a0I’m part of and how my work\u00a0fits in.\u00a0 Readers might not know that most\u00a0books on forensic engineering and science have a quite detailed chapter or section on the civil litigation process.<\/p>\n I blog because I like to write.\u00a0 After years of investigating the cause of engineering problems, failures and accidents\u00a0– initially specializing in civil engineering, and soils, foundation, and environmental engineering, and writing reports on these problems –\u00a0often for non-technical\u00a0readers, I feel I can write.<\/p>\n I’ve always written for readers at the interface between my area of expertise and\u00a0those in other specialities, as well as for the general public.<\/p>\n Another interesting reason: A few months after I started blogging in mid-June, 2012,\u00a0I noticed a feeling of satisfaction after posting an item, a mild elation.\u00a0 It was\u00a0subtle but\u00a0there.\u00a0 On reflection, I realized I felt good because I had created something –\u00a0I created a piece of literature that did not exist until I put pen to paper.\u00a0 So, I blog for that satisfied, creative\u00a0feeling.\u00a0 You all know how\u00a0elusive that feeling is in our busy work-life-balance-challenged\u00a0lives.<\/p>\n I do feel obligated to keep\u00a0my blog\u00a0going for the benefit of my readers.\u00a0 It`s out there now and I`m certain some do look for it.\u00a0 I`m certain the chap does, who “…loves that stuff“ and the claims manager who “…reads every one“ (see below).<\/p>\n How long does it take to write a blog?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n How long does it take to write a blog?\u00a0 I`ve been asked that\u00a0several times.\u00a0 From first draft to posting,\u00a0typically about 8 to 10 hours, sometimes a good bit less.\u00a0 But, sometimes longer when I have to research the literature and flesh out my knowledge\u00a0of the subject matter.<\/p>\n An idea for a topic comes to mind.\u00a0 It tumbles around in my head for a little while, but not too long – a few minutes, an hour or two.\u00a0 I then quickly sit down and\u00a0knock out a draft in\u00a0one or two hours.\u00a0 You have to capture these ideas when they’re fertile.\u00a0 Then over the next few days I edit quite ruthlessly during several sittings – I`m doing that now.<\/p>\n What you read sometimes bears little resemblance\u00a0to the original draft.\u00a0 A piece of writing truly\u00a0can take on a life of its own.\u00a0\u00a0Some of you are certain to have\u00a0read this comment by authors about writing.\u00a0 I’ve experienced it – actually, to a degree, this particular blog took on a life of its own; I’m just along for the ride at this point.\u00a0 It’s a good feeling when this happens.<\/p>\n Where do the\u00a0blogs come from?<\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Where do the blog topics come from?\u00a0 The topics come from everywhere.\u00a0 It seems sometimes they`re just out there in the ether.\u00a0 Some, however, are triggered by news items.\u00a0 Also, I see a lot of technical literature in connection with my forensic practice and no end of topics come to mind then.<\/p>\n Like I said at the beginning, this blog, on why I blog, just popped into my head last Thursday evening – out of the ether?, while I was swimming a few lengths of a pool.\u00a0\u00a0The topic\u00a0seemed timely after posting blogs for two years.\u00a0 So, I put aside\u00a0the draft of\u00a0a blog on ‘bias in forensic engineering’.\u00a0 You’ll see this\u00a0one another day.<\/p>\n Readers’ comments<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Feed back suggests you do get something from my descriptions of the nature and methods of forensic engineering, and my comments on related matters.\u00a0 A senior lawyer in Atlantic Canada said, “I love that stuff..!!”.\u00a0 Another senior legal chap here on the east coast commented, “…like reading them.”\u00a0 And an\u00a0insurance\u00a0claims consultant said, “I read every one”.\u00a0 It’s hard to beat testimonials like that.<\/p>\n Two senior counsel helped me\u00a0with\u00a0two of the blogs on the role of professional engineers in the civil litigation process – critiqued them before posting.\u00a0 One of these noted that experts are invaluable to civil litigation.<\/p>\n A\u00a0fellow who blogs on business ethics, and truly has an international reputation in his field – he’s on a list of 100 influential business people that includes Barack Obama, saw fit to advise his twitter followers of my blog.<\/p>\n A monthly periodical on engineering construction – with an international\u00a0distribution of 10,000, sought\u00a0permission to publish one of my\u00a0blogs in an issue of theirs a year and a half ago.\u00a0 The issue\u00a0had\u00a0a forensic engineering theme.\u00a0 Then they came back a couple of\u00a0weeks later requesting permission to publish two additional blogs in the same issue.<\/p>\n In two years, I`ve only had about six readers request being taken off my distribution list.\u00a0 This because they were retired or the subject did not relate to their field of practice.<\/p>\n Overall, quite a good reception – suggesting there was a void, and that\u00a0I`m making a contribution to the civil litigation process\u00a0and to insurance claims management.<\/p>\n Future blogs<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n There will be more blogs in the future; there’s\u00a0a number\u00a0of topics identified in my files, and very rough drafts\u00a0of some of these.\u00a0 And another topic just came to mind as I\u00a0drafted this piece.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u00a0had occasion in the past week to reflect on how readers\u00a0benefit from\u00a0my blogging.\u00a0 I was\u00a0drafting e-mails\u00a0at the time to potential readers.\u00a0\u00a0Then, last Thursday evening while swimming in Halifax, the somewhat related question popped into my head, “Why do I\u00a0blog?” Why … Continue reading \n