Ninjameys is on hiatus for a few weeks while I decide how best to proceed with my blogging efforts. When I started re-focussed this blog, my main goal was to ease myself into writing about science and conservation issues. Indeed, my most popular posts were based on then-current issues, the Endangered Species 2010 series or those which covered biological concepts. Over the past few months I’ve pondered whether or not to shift focus slightly once again and head towards ‘proper’ science-writing and research-blogging. However, due to the limitations imposed on my ‘free’ time by my MRes studies and considerable indecision regarding subject matter, I’ve been unable to commit to producing detailed posts. Further, the quality of writing produced by the existing science bloggers such as Brian Switek, Ed Yong, Jason Goldman, Darren Naish and Carl Zimmer is such that I am not convinced that I could currently aspire to their level. Of course, three of the noted writers make a living from writing. Jason Goldman is currently a graduate student who is probably far busier than I. There are in fact many amateur bloggers who write in addition to their regular work. Perhaps I simply lack the commitment to the format which would enable me to produce regular pieces of consistently high quality.
Thus I find myself somewhat stuck when it comes to choosing blog topics. The endangered species posts are popular enough that they – species rather than lists – will undoubtedly be a recurring theme. Aside from that, I am unsure how to progress. Regardless, I’m not closing the blog; simply taking a break to conduct my research and decide exactly what it is I want to write about.
I haven’t visited your blog (or anyone’s blog) for a while, as life events took over – but I just want to say that I really love the format your blog has taken so far. It’s the zoological factoids that I enjoy. Regardless of whether a species is endangered or not, you introduce the reader to interesting facets of behaviour, evolution, or ecology. You write in a way that’s accessible to the layperson, whilst maintaining a scientific edge and providing really helpful links.
I must admit that Darren Naish is a particularly exciting blogger and already one of my favourites – but I can only read his blog in small doses, because I am ignorant of most of the things he talks about, and he doesn’t exactly elucidate. He is a scientist who writes for other scientists. Your blog is similar to Jason Goldman’s in its style and its lack of whistles, bells, and incomprehensible jargon.
By the way, I’ve just completed a pre-university Access course, and will be starting a Zoology degree in September. One of my assignments was to write an essay and literature review on biodiversity. Thanks to your blog, I got a real toehold on the subject. I was able to include details about umbrella species versus keystone species, and find further literature to improve my work. I got full marks! I won a prize for doing so well on the course. Because of YOUR BLOG.
I do hope you’ll consider continuing in the same vein of writing about random aspects of nature that interest or inspire you – things which may be common knowledge in the field, but which are news to the rest of us. And, if you must have a particular readership in mind, how about making it Zoology undergrads?
Congratulations on the success of your Access course and I wish you the very best of luck in your degree. I’m glad that my blog could be of assistance; disseminating information has always (for a given value of ‘always’) been it’s primary raison d’etre.
As you may have inferred from the lack of posts, I’ve been considering whether to return to this blog at all. Of course there are a great many things I’d like to write about but I keep coming back to the issue of quality. Your comment has, however, made me reconsider and I am once again beginning to think of this blog positively. If my writing can be educational and readily digested then I’m achieving one of my fundamental goals. I currently intend on returning to the blog soon, once I have completed an assignment and have a couple of posts roughed out.
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