Friday, October 10, 2008
To Blog Or Not To Blog
This was a great post-- my friend Micca and I were just talking about this whole issue when we were together last weekend. Go here to read a literary agent's thoughts on whether blogging is really necessary or not. For me it is still fun-- and when it's not fun, I take a break til it starts being fun again! But if it's not fun, I like that she urges you to let yourself off the hook. She has some great points that are definitely worth reading.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Her title was the very question I've been asking myself lately. I enjoy having a blog as a place to dump some of those thoughts circulating in my head and it helps keep family and friends who are faraway informed about our lives. I'm not sure I've quite grasped the marketing end of it yet, though.
The problem that I've seen is that in order to get people to consistently read my blog I have to spend a lot of time out there reading other blogs. While I enjoy doing that I simply can't put much time that direction because I'm too busy writing things that will be published and tending to the real flesh and blood people in my life. I feel like I have to babysit my blog and Lord knows I don't have time to do that!
I've considered shutting it down and forgetting it, narrowing the focus, shortening the posts and adding a picture with each one like I've seen on other popular blogs, but honestly right now I've just put it on the altar of sacrifice and said, "Tell me what you want me to do, Lord."
One problem that I have is that I want comments. Honestly, who doesn't want to know that a real audience is reading what you write? When I don't get them I feel like the wallflower I always was in school. I'm never going to be one of those cutesy bloggers who can make all sorts of frivolous things sound so funny and I'm never going to be one that's up on the times and in touch with what's cool at the moment. Frankly, I could care less and if that's what it takes to get readership, count me out. Too often I catch myself comparing my blog readership to someone else's and thinking, "I don't measure up." Sad, but true. It's that whole rejection thing.
I feel much better about my weekly email for writers. The subscribers list consistently grows. I get feedback. Even if people are just deleting it everytime it comes to their box, at least I don't know it and they haven't cancelled! LOL!
Thanks for the link. That was a very helpful post. Ironically, I almost posted something with the exact same title recently, but my version would have been a whiny post and I've banned whiny posts from my blog. She handled it so much better!
I've always said that when my blog starts to feel like a burden, I'm done. But the great thing about it really, is that it is in my control. I do feel pretty guilty that I can't show my appreciation by commenting more and get involved in the blogging community by reading all the other fabulous blogs, but my blog is a creative outlet for me and I don't want to give it up because I fall short in an area pleasing other people. I have found it usually works out in the end! But this is something on my mind a lot!
Steph
This is a question I have been pondering a lot lately and the link gave me some new insight. My blog is just another creative outlet for me to share ideas and words and I am not so sure it has a real focus. I enjoy it and have had some incredible opportunities because of it. My hope is that in some way a heart or life will be touched with a bit of encouragement. I often wonder if I should have a more clear focus since I am usually all over the map with my posts but for now it works for me. I like your attitude of keeping it fun.
Post a Comment