mixed feelings...
for a while i've had mixed feelings about my blog. my heart hasn't really been into it. and i think it shows, and i think it's perhaps why i don't seem to get a lot of response. maybe not; who knows? anyhow, i feel rule number 1 re:blogging is to blog for yourself - not to get readers...still, i haven't found my recent posts very satisfying to write - and although i *do* keep the blog for my own purposes - to be honest, connecting with people is a big reason i keep the blog - kinda makes me feel a little less like a weirdo...
so it's a chicken/egg thing - if i am not very enthused about posting, why should anyone bother to read/comment...
to this end, i am considering a bit of an experiment - a "blogperiment" (sorry, ruth), if you will. i've noticed some blogs have "regular features" (bridget's triple tunage tuesdays or restrict themselves to a topic, or follow a formula - , or david for example does a bit of each - well defined focus, regular features, daily posts...i think the all-over-the-place toipcs, 12 posts one day, no posts for the next week is, in some respects, indicative of my personality - not to mention, my schedule - however, in the past when i've had bloggersblock, meme's have helped me post - after all, when anyone writes about anything, they are more than likely saying as much about themselves as they are - to this end, i'm considering a formula - you know - maybe movies one day, music the next, photos on another, self-pitying posts about what a loser i am when the mood strikes...
i'm not sure about this, but i remember an old writer's handbook advised writing every day - and giving myself assignments like this might help...
we'll see - any suggestions?
posted by Mike @ 11:30 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
Two things:
1. Don't make yourself wrong. That goes for the topics of your posts, the quality of them, and being a weirdo.
2. Go with what is truly in your flow. If one day you want to post pictures, do it, even if it isn't Photo Thursday.
For example: Right now I have a semi-messy apartment, a baby shower to attend, and dishes to wash. But you know what's really in my flow right now? To read, drink tea, and think about things. So rather than do the things I feel I have to do but don't have the energy or interest for right now, I'm going to follow my flow.
i am definitely a "go with the flow" kind of guy - yet still, i think there are times to "force" yourself to do things you don't feel like doing - to achieve an end you want - like when i am depressed - going with the flow might involve me laying around the house (and maybe sometimes that's ok...), but sometimes, i know that what i need to do is the opposite of what i want to do - i.e. get up, go outside and do something...
i am sure that i'll never be too rigidly formatted - but pushing myself a bit mught help...
and i agree with your "don't make yourself wrong" affirmation - i recognize that to a large degree this is merely how i feel - and feeling a certain way doesn't make it so... i mean most normal people probably feel like weirdos once in a while (conversely real weirdos probbly feel perfectly normal...) - ultimately i am probably no weirder than the average person - which ultimately, i suppose, isn't much of a comfort, as there are a lot of real weird folks out there
;-)
yet still, there is nothing wrong with trying to do better at something...trying to live up to my own standards...
Just don't give up blogging. Your two Icelandic readers would miss you.
lol - i won't kristin...
and btw, on a percentage of population basis, i'm bigger in iceland than anywhere!!!!
A lot of people are...
There is this phrase we use of being virtually unknown outside of the country: To be world famous in Iceland.
You know, Mike, I actually went through the same feeling a few months back with my own blog. I really didn't enjoy it that much, I felt like it was stale and I was feeling really bummed out that no one ever seemed to read it. So I stopped doing it for awhile, and I thought about what my "focus" should be for the blog. And you know what? I still haven't come up with anything. But I realized, once I gave myself a break from it, I missed it and really wanted to get back into doing it. And I still don't have anybody reading it, but who cares? I like it.
I also had a creative writing teacher who said to write something every day. So I try to write SOMETHING, although it might not be anything that will shake the world, but I think that's OK. You can still give yourself projects, but don't pressure yourself. A blog is supposed to be fun, not work. So I say, do whatever it is you gotta do, but just keep writing until you figure a formula out for yourself.
Anyway, I know I'm rambling. In short, don't be hard on yourself. As Moxie said, Don't make yourself wrong (that is GREAT advice!). Just have fun with your blog and know that the Icelanders and I really enjoy reading it. :-)
thanks for the encouraging words, rocksteady - i really found your comments as well as the other comments uplifting...
I've lost somewhat of the focus of my blog. I know that sounds like it would be hard to do considering it's a Nintendo blog, but I have.
I'm not sure what I want to do with it as I don't really have the female aspect being represented for the most part so for now I'm just posting to keep my creative juices flowing.
Perhaps the forced posts are just a way we bloggers discipline ourselves to keep focused and going, but often times it ends up burning us out.
I find though when I'm in better moods the sentences just flow by themselves without much thought.
Best advice I can give you is go with your gut. I've never had a gut feeling that I was totally burnt out with my blog. ;)
Hi Mike,
I love reading your blog and seeing your pictures. I just have lazy commenter syndrome. =)
yeah - i'm guilty of this on your blog too, jenny...
i read it frequently - but don't post often...
my excuse is i can never remember my typepad userid and password - i only have it to comment on your site, and if i clear the cache it takes a few shots...
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