What's the best way to determine whether a particular topic or approach is the subject/theme of a cooking blog? I have a great idea.

I agree, whatever it may be, whether there are similar themed blogs, no one will have your unique voice. I use blogger.com for mine, it is free and very simple to navigate. Once you have your content it does not take long to upload it. Good luck and keep us posted!

AJ, I thought this article might be interesting to you:
http://www.socialmedia.biz/2012/05/03/12-blogging-mistakes-to-avoid-at-all-costs/?utm_medium=twitter

AJ - write. Because you can. And no two voices are the same. Ever.

All the research in the world can show what is but can't predict what will be!

A blog allows you catalogue your recipes, thoughts and stories and creates an easy reference alongside; plus gives you an outlet and allows connection with some truly wonderful people.

Go for it - start a 'free' one and if you don't enjoy it - delete it! But give it a go!!!

It takes time but just because you love it doesn't mean it will be easy.....

Thanks, everyone, for these thoughtful, helpful responses. I hope to have time over the holiday weekend to move this forward. My clients' deals, not to mention the other large and small details of my life, have been so distracting of late! ;o)

Antonia, you have me on the edge of my seat. I'm excited to see what you've come up with.

Just start typing away, with your depth of knowledge of food, there will be an awesome blog in place soon, that everyone will gravitate to. Looking fwd to reading it!

I've thought about your question a lot, AntoniaJames. As with Susan Boyles, I started my blog principally for myself. I love writing about and explaining much of the science about food and baking in ways that make the information accessible to home cooks, and which hopefully raise the chance that when they encounter an ingredient or instruction in a recipe with no explanation as to its importance, they'll actually follow it and have a better outcome. I read lots of blogs the same way that I read many types of books. It is interesting to see how other bloggers see their slice of the world. Because that's what your blog will become: a reflection of how you see your world and your subject in it. And I'm very much looking forward to reading it.

p.s. Forgot to add: you could research it to death. Sometimes, it's better to just do it. For example, who would have forecast that there would be a gazillion cooking blogs, many of them with surprisingly high page views? How many recipes does a person need? (Answer: thousands.)

In my humble opinion, as with all endeavors, if you have passion for it, something not too terrible will eventually follow. Also, have found in my adventures that this old saw is useful: keep an open mind and eyes. Things may not take the path you envisioned but you may get tuned into something different/better. I love reading your recipes (you write with a lovely precision and gracefulness, and obviously from experience) and I’d look forward to reading any blog you might undertake! Bon voyage, Antonia!

I agree with Greenstuff. My favorite blogs are those that are written well, insightful, and consistent. (I can think of one well known food blog many people adored until the posts became more and more sparse.) Anyway, as Amanda has noted with regards to recipes (and I hope I'm doing her thoughts justice), there are really no new recipes, but there are new voices and perspectives on those that exist. I think as long as you commit to your blog and blog well, you'll gain a following.

Hi Antonia, I write a blog that I started out of boredom, really. It's mostly about food, but it's also a place where I laugh at myself (and invite others to, as well). I have relatively few readers, but it's not about that for me. I cook, I ponder, I write, and every once in a while someone reads. I try to keep it interesting, but I am not selling anything (unlike some bloggers) nor looking to make money from it. Since it is for me, I do it my way. It continues to evolve, and I am having fun with it. I hope that whatever you choose to do, you do it because you like to do it and have fun with it! You can't go wrong with that approach. S.

I read a few blogs and find them mostly disappointing. I think that the most important thing (and maybe most difficult over a very long period) is to post regularly. Nothing pushes a blog off my radar faster than realizing that posts are getting less and less frequent. I think that's one reason that FOOD52 works so weill--we all know that there will be something new and interesting every day.

I don't read food blogs either :) But I think they can be a great medium for one's own collection/reflection/creativity - and also provide a framework and discipline for these pursuits. Go into it just to satisfy yourself and don't look at the viewing statistics.

I think the people that go in with the intent of making money, drumming up a following, etc for the most part just end up sounding disingenuous and repetitive. It sounds like you're neither of those things! Best of luck.

I'd love to see what you've come up with. As with any writing, though, the first person it has to interest and inspire and satisfy is you.

AJ, just knowing you from Food Pickle and Hotline my guess is your research skills are outstanding. Also your ideas are unique, thoughtful. And you are a great writer. And I would bet a year's worth of garden fresh tomatoes that you have put a lot of thought into your concept. Love the idea of your blog, just reading about what it is not.

Knowing you are analytical this may sound like heresy. Just go for it. You won't know until you get in action, on the playing field.

Your voice is unique, so start. And clearly your concept is unique.

SR, thank you for your response.

I will continue to engage in the activity that provides the underpinning for the blog's content. I.e., the blog would be an extension of something I'm already doing. The new effort would lie in formatting and presenting in ways most effectively to share my work, and of course to interacting with others who seek to discuss it.

Perhaps I should provide some context. I don't read food blogs, other than this one and, very occasionally, one or two others. I have no idea what's out there. I realize that original ideas are extremely rare, but I'd be a bit embarrassed to create a blog that I consider uniquely helpful and interesting, and then find that someone else is already doing it.

Having read the first part of your response, I agree that even if someone else does have a similar blog, it would not be the same, because my content would in all likelihood be mostly unique and my writing style, I assume, would be different. I suppose it boils down to not wanting to be viewed as a "wannabee."

I suppose, too, that if I knew that there were another blog out there with the same approach, I'd be able to differentiate. ;o)

I would just start it - it may be done before, but you're the only one who can do it your way and in your voice.

Blogs take a lot of time and energy for little to no (financial) reward so it has to be a personal passion/interest. Which begs the question: if you're reluctant to invest energy into something that's been done, why do you want to do it at all?