Let’s Start a New Chain Blog
Three years ago, I wrote a post called “Chain Blog – A Proposal.” The post described a new type of blog series that is written by different authors on different blogs all about the same topic. Like a synchroblog, it is a way to interact with different people on different blogs. But, unlike a synchroblog, the posts are written at different times and each post can respond to and build on the previous blog posts.
I started and participated in (what I think was) a very successful chain blog on the topic of “City Church.”
The way it works is that after a topic is selected, someone kicks off the chain blog with the first post. People can comment on that post as usual. But, the first person to respond in the comments that he/she would like to continue the chain is then responsible to write the next post in the chain. That person then writes a blog post and notifies the people who wrote the previous posts that the new one has been published. (This notification is best done in the comments of the previous posts.)
The follow-up posts can expand on, disagree with, jump off from the previous posts. Each post can be about anything as long as it is on topic.
It’s also important that each chain post includes the rules of the chain blog and links to the previous posts. For example, these are the rules we included in the City Church chain blog:
Chain blog rules:
1) If you would like to write the next blog post (link) in this chain, leave a comment stating that you would like to do so. If someone else has already requested to write the next link, then please wait for that blog post and leave a comment there requesting to write the following link.
2) Feel free to leave comments here and discuss items in this blog post without taking part in the actual “chain”. Your comments and discussion are very important in this chain blog.
3) When you write a link in this chain, please reply in the comments of the previous link to let everyone know that your link is ready. Also, please try to keep an updated list of links in the chain at the bottom of your post, and please include these rules at the bottom of your post.
The last time we did a chain blog, several people took part who I had not met until they wrote their chain blog posts. It’s a way to include the blogging community in several different blogs and connect those communities together.
So, is anyone up for another chain blog? (I’m not asking you to agree to write a post yet.) Are any of the rules unclear?
And… the most important question… what topic(s) are you interested in writing/reading/discussing?
I think it would be fun to participate in something like this. I’m rather opinionated (to a fault sometimes!), so almost any topic would be fun to do. Most of what I read on your site are topics I’m interested in, so if it is something related to them count me in.
Andy
Lets do this
Possible topics: Leadership in the Church; The Limits of Compassion (when and how to help those struggling w/ poverty in your life); What Is Worth Dividing Over?;
Thanks everyone!
Keith,
I like the topic “The Limits of Compassion (when and how to help those struggling w/ poverty)”… Is anyone else interested in this topic?
-Alan
I like Keith’s idea. Also what about a series on dealing practically with traditionally divisive doctrines (i.e. baptism, eschatology, soteriology)
Arthur,
That’s another great idea. Let’s see if people prefer 1) dealing with poverty or 2) dealing with divisive issues.
-Alan
I would like dealing with divisive issues. 🙂 and writing about them too!
Jon,
That makes two ‘divisive’ people. 😉
-Alan
Count me in on the “divisive” side. Like Andy, I’ve been know to be rather opinionated also sometimes (in a good kind of way???). I mean, I once thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken 🙂
Blessings all.
Given all the ‘divisive’ people in this thread, I guess that’s our topic. I’ll start something next week, so keep your eyes open.
-Alan
I’m in too. Limits of Compassion sounds like a great topic!
Jeremy,
I think I will start a chain blog next week based on the topic of dealing with divisiveness. I’m definitely interested in the limits of compassion, so I’ll plan to start that one in a few weeks.
-Alan
Sounds great, thanks for starting this Alan!
Hey Alan! I know we’ve never met, but through God’s grace and our brotherhood in Christ we’ve became Twitter friends. I would love if this idea became a reality and I would be very willing to share thoughts/ideas with you in a blog!