Reflections on 15 Years of Writing a Niche History Blog: The Res Obscura Journey
By
benbreen
Fresh out the oven, still warm. Top of the tray.
Summary
The article is a personal reflection by a historian who has been writing a niche history blog called Res Obscura for 15 years. The author shares their journey from starting the blog as a 25-year-old PhD student in 2010, when they aimed to write daily posts, to continuing it through life changes including having children and career transitions. The piece reflects on the evolution of blogging, the value of niche historical content, and includes a special appeal for support on the blog's 15th anniversary (Crystal Anniversary).
Key quotes
· 5 pulledI was 25 years old when I started writing the blog version of Res Obscura, which ran from 2010 to 2023 (and still exists here).
This was the early summer of 2010. I was a second-year PhD student in history, living with two roommates in a 1920s bungalow on the east side of Austin.
And I was very dedicated to the idea that you should aim to write a new blog post every day.
This is a concept that the 40-year-old version of me, with two young kids and zero free time, cannot even begin to fathom.
A special appeal to support Res Obscura on its Crystal Anniversary
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