I'm Answering the Blog Questions Challenge — Dev.to Edition

I'm doing the Blog Questions challenge.

It started on the Bear Blog platform. But since I don't have a blog on that platform, I'm doing it here instead.

If you want to follow along, post your own answers to the next questions—I'm slightly changing the original questions for dev.to:

1. Why did you start blogging in the first place?
2. Why did you choose dev.to?
3. Have you blogged on other platforms before?
4. Do you write your posts directly in the editor or in another software?
5. When do you feel most inspired to write?
6. Do you publish immediately after writing or do you let it simmer a bit as a draft?
7. Your favorite post on your dev.to account?
8. Any future plans for your writing here?

Feel free to copy them and post your own! Maybe tag someone you would like to answer those questions too.

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Here I go:

1. Why did you start blogging in the first place?

I started blogging as an excuse to become a better coder.

Probably in the early 2010s, back in my first job, I googled "how to be a better developer." And among the many options, I found "start a blog."

Then, years later, at my second job, I didn't want to throw away a couple of hours of Googling while looking for options to finish a task. And that's how I started writing and blogging.

2. Why did you choose dev.to?

It's a beginner-friendly and welcoming platform for coders. It has the good part of other writing platforms but without haters and trolls.

3. Have you blogged on other platforms before?

Yes. I wrote my first online piece on my personal blog.

I started here a couple of years after writing my first post. Well, it was more a word vomit. I had to learn a lot about writing.

I've also guest blogged on Exception Not Found (It's defunct now. RIP) and collaborated with software companies to write on their Medium publications and official sites.

4. Do you write your posts directly in the editor or in another software?

I'm a plain text fan.

I keep all my drafts, posts, and ideas on Notable. Sorry, Notion lovers.

Inside Notable, I use a system of tags. I have one tag for post ideas. And once I turn an idea into a post, I use another tag. And based on the platform I'm publishing it, I add another tag.

5. When do you feel most inspired to write?

Short answer: Anytime. But mostly, in the mornings.

I tend to write in the mornings. That's when I feel the most productive and my energy is at its peak. I'm kind of a morning person.

But, I always have something to write on with me. Inspiration can hit at any time.

It has happened that right after I put my head on my pillow, an idea comes and I have to rush to write it somewhere. Also, while taking a walk. That's my trick to avoid writer's block.

6. Do you publish immediately after writing, or do you let it simmer a bit as a draft?

No. I have a queue of posts. Right now, I have around 10 posts that are ready to publish and 3 or 4 scheduled for the next weeks.

7. Your favorite post on your dev.to account?

I've written around ~80 posts since I created my account in 2019. I don't have a favorite. Well, that's what every mom and dad answer when they're asked about their favorite child.

But if I had to choose only one, it'd be this one:

I Applied at a FAANG and Failed — Three Interviewing Lessons

Cesar Aguirre ・ Aug 19 '24

#career #interview #careerdevelopment #beginners

I wrote it as a form of therapy after failing the first round of interviews at a FAANG. After reading the rejection email, I wanted to write a rant, but I wrote some lessons for my past self instead.

8. Any future plans for your writing here?

Last year, I got my account roasted here:

Cesar Aguirre • Dec 30 '24

Well, here we go...

Not that far from being true. I was expecting something more harsh 😅...You know what devto-roast? Challenge accepted 💪. I'm adding more stories and anecdotes than simply tutorials in 2025 😂

As part of that roast, I was told to "for the love of code, write something that doesn't put me to sleep!" Sure, I only wrote about unit testing for months. And instead of tutorials, "share some personal stories, some laughs, some realizations."

I accepted the challenge and I'm sharing more career-related posts instead of only tutorials. At the end of the day, coding is the easy part of software engineering. The hard part is "people and interactions."

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Now, who's next? Who accepts the challenge? Answer the same questions on a post of your own. Maybe tag someone you want to answer those questions too.