I’ll be cracking open the beer (and biltong) to celebrate a small milestone tomorrow – one year since my first blog post.

It’s been an invigorating ride. My missus originally suggested I take the plunge and although I ummed and aahed for months, she persisted. She was right: there wasn’t a downside. Apart from knuckling down and getting it done, of course.

But once I hit my stride it became very enjoyable. Sometimes Twitter is too fleeting and condensed for my musings. A blog has thus been ideal. Given our sports environment, rich with its contradictions, controversy and chicanery, there’s always plenty to blog about.

The 10 things I’ve learned about blogging in the past year:

It’s easier than you think.

Angst can often get in the way of writers, but once you get started, it becomes easier. It soon becomes a habit.

Postings needn’t be long.

I have my long-time pal Mandy Collins to thank for this lesson. Mandy, an entertaining, thoughtful writer, told me not to get caught up in the need to be substantial. Clever writing is often succinct and to the point. Getting a thought off my chest sometimes requires just five minutes.

(Thanks, Mandy).

It helps to draw people in via social media.

You can write into a void on the false assumption that everyone is falling over themselves to read your blog.

Chances are few are, which is why it helps to leverage blog links off social media. I do so and it helps. I think.

Don’t be too serious.

It’s great to sometimes just have a bit of fun, or to be intentionally provocative. If it helps puncture odious self-importance, count me in.

Forget the cash.

My blog has cost me money, to host and support. I haven’t actually made any. Had that been part of the plan, I’d have shut it down months ago. The upside – getting my teeth into something, or simply sharing my ideas – far outweighs the downside.

The unlikeliest people read it.

I’ve had feedback and often the most encouraging has been from people I wouldn’t expect to enjoy the blog. But they do, and that pleases me.

Blogging sharpens your discipline.

In newspapers, sub-editors are reporters’ saviours, invariably fixing up clumsy copy or catching the dreaded grammatical error. When you blog, you’re on your own. You learn to be more thoughtful and diligent about publishing.

You need to be a self-starter.

Unless you’re very fortunate, blogging is a lone crusade. I’ve never had someone cracking the whip or pestering me to write. Happily, I do that on my own.

Pace is important.

I’ve had weeks where I’ve posted daily. Other weeks, perhaps just once or twice. But I feel strongly that barren spells are death for bloggers. I try my damnest to blog fairly regularly, at least every three days.

Niched writing is best.

I don’t pretend to be an expert on all things. My passion is unashamedly sport; this is the area I concentrate on. I’ve been lucky enough to be in a sports environment since my teens, so I’ve learned plenty along the way. Bringing this knowledge to my writing adds weight, I believe, giving ballast to my efforts at making “Mumble in the Jungle” a worthwhile read.

Thanks for your support.