Kris Larson from Carthage wrote an excellent article for BloggingTips.com about revisionist blogging.
It’s ironic that I read this article this afternoon because earlier today, I just happened to be thinking about how I view my blogs more like documentation than a journal. Documentation is usually described as something that should be a living document. Documentation is a form of writing that usually does not need to be changed. However, when it is inaccurate, it should be updated. A journal, however, is more like a snapshot or a permanent record of one person’s writing at a specific moment in time.
My view is that the content of this blog is like a living document. I will update it when necessary. If I do make updates to a post, I plan on telling you, the readers, of what was changed and when. This is important because you, as the reader participating by making comments, should get credit and respect for taking the time to make a comment. An important part of blogs is the dialogue in the comments.
My perspective on revising blog posts is supported by Kris Larson when explaining,
If your blog is subject-oriented or professional, there’s really no reason not to bring the whole thing up to your current high standards. I would say the only exception is predictions.
In this blog, I am writing on specific subjects that are professional in nature. I agree that the content should be updated when it is shown to be inaccurate or even when the solutions I present are less than ideal.
The opinion in favor of revising further resonates with me when Kris adds,
Do always feel free to revise things like spelling and grammar mistakes, small factual errors, broken links, etc. That won’t affect the tone or message of the post, and it will make it easier for your public to read.
I completely agree with revising spelling, grammar, fact checking, etc., for almost all types of blogs. Yes, revising takes time. So does writing and editing. But so does reading - and the reader should be shown the respect to make the writing as good as possible.