Interested in a Chain Blog? Let’s pick a topic.
A few years ago, I put together a way of interacting through blogs called a “chain blog.” (This may have been done by others, but I have never heard of it.) A chain blog is similar to a synchroblog, with a little twist. In a synchroblog, everyone posts about the same topic at the same time. In a chain blog, people post about the same topic, but they publish their posts one after the other (in a chain) and sometimes in response to other posts.
The way it works is that someone starts the chain blog by writing a post about a particular topic. The next person in the chain writes a post on the same topic and publishes it on his/her blog. That post can be in response to the previous post(s), or it can simply continue the conversation or even take the conversation in a different direction concerning the same topic. This continues until no one is interested in writing another post.
These are the rules that I’ve used before for chain blogs:
Chain blog rules:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Besides those rules, there is something very important that has to happen before starting a chain blog. It’s necessary to pick a topic that several bloggers are interested in writing about.
So, I have 2 questions:
1) Are you interested in taking part in a chain blog?
2) What topics would you like to write about? (I’d prefer the topic was somehow related to the church, since that’s the primary topic of my blog.)
Also, if you have any questions about doing a chain blog, feel free to ask in the comments.
(Previously, I’ve been part of a few chain blogs, two of which were very good: “Dealing with Divisive Issues” and “City Church.”)
I don’t have a specific topic in mind at the moment, but I’m up for it. 🙂
A possible topic could be “one another”, and I echo Chuck’s comment.
I would like to join in the festivities.
As for topics.. no clue.
I’d love to participate if the start time is a few weeks out. Church related topics are great, even better if house church. I like the “one anothers” idea too. A couple of them are in a series I was currently working on anyway.
I like the idea of a chain blog on the topic of “one another.” It’s a broad enough topic that different people could find something to write about.
-Alan
Count me in, Alan!
As for topic, how about the eschatological church? Some folks think we’re in the end times now…some think it’s still up the road. Why not a chain blog discussing how “end times” views influence the church community?
I like the one another topic. What if we took the tack as if we had all just met each other having come from various churches, or nowhere, and brought as many ideas we have heard, read or tried to develop a one another culture among us and ours?
Not so much theology, or reasons we left our past or where we came from as much as how to be Christlike and upbuilding in various situations that we
have all run up against in house churches, missions, emergence etc.
Im finding that my previously exclusive experience in a house church, that ultimately ended for us in hurt and loneliness, has limited my imaginations in some ways. I know a lot of other folks with the same experience, but who came from denominations or other backgrounds. When we get together, as 60 of us will on Sunday, there is a carefulness among most that no one offends the other.
I understand their reticence to tackle issues that have come back to hurt them, but not getting past our hurts or fears is damaging too.
Ive encouraged a few that seemed open to risk to try getting together with a few that they feel afraid of etc and its worked out more often than not, but not often.
Anyway, Id be interested in hearing lots of others perspectives.
cheers
Greg
I’ll do it! I’ll “one another” the crap out of a chain blog!
So who is the first link in the chain?
Here are the suggested topics (here and on twitter) so far:
1) One another
2) Eschatological church
3) What you’ve learned from your mistakes
4) What do you hate about house church
Like I said earlier, I like the topic of “one another” for this next chain blog, and I’ll be glad to kick it off next week. However, if alot of people prefer one of the other topics, there are some interesting things there as well.
By the way, if someone feels strongly about a topic we don’t pick, there’s no problem with someone starting another chain blog.
-Alan
Sounds like a plan man … let’s gitterdun! 8)
So, I didn’t see in the original post the timeframe for each post. After the first chain post is live, do we need to wait a day or two before the next post? I don’t imagine having multiple posts 30 minutes apart would give some folks time to keep up. So, what’s the plan? I’m looking forward to participating in this!
Stan,
Usually, when someone agrees to publish the next post in the chain, that person will publish the post within the next few days. There’s not a particular time frame.
-Alan
Well, since no one has chimed in on the topics, let’s pick “one another” for this chain blog. (Again, if someone wants to start another chain blog on one of the other topics, then please do. Or, you could even work the other topics into this one.)
I’ll plan to start the chain blog with an introductory post next week.
-Alan
I’d like to participate as well. Do we wait for you to start Alan?
I’m up for it. Sounds fun!
I’d like to join in as well. Even the “one anothering” of this chain blog will be a good example of what we’re talking about, won’t it? Thanks Alan for getting this rolling,and Jim for the sweet topic suggestion.:-) I’m looking forward to it.
Thanks again, everyone. I will publish the first post in the chain blog next week. It will simply be an introduction to the topic, so there will still be plenty to write about.
Also, remember, the first person that says she/he wants to write the next post (the second link in the chain) in the comments on my post will then control the chain. Once that person writes her/his post, then someone else can request to write the third link in the chain.
I’ll explain it all again in my introductory post.
-Alan
I’ll be in the “on deck” circle Alan, so fire away bro.
Jim,
Watch for the first post early next week, and you can be “on deck” if you’re the first person to comment that you want to write the next post. Otherwise, follow along those posts until you can grab the next post.
-Ala
wow, his is a blast from the past… I think this is where we got connected years ago.
J.R.,
Was that the “City Church” chain blog?
-Alan