beware of blog
Do you ever have one of those days, when, like, everything just irks you? When the spitting rain and stubborn darkness seem like conclusive evidence of a vast conspiracy and your umbrella collapses when you try to open it? When you're sick and tired of your own blog and your own voice and you sit there watching the words you're typing appear on the screen and the letters start to look for all the world like the secret silken cords wielded by murderous Thuggees?
I realize you're probably thinking, Okay, Niobe, whatevs. No one is actually forcing you to blog. And if you don't feel like it you can always, y'know, not.
Which is a perfectly legitimate point, so let me stop whining for a moment and ask you this: For you, what's the most difficult part of blogging? And do you ever read your own writing and wonder what you're really trying to say?
Bonus fun activity! (because I'm thoughtful like that): if you want to design your own warning label (and, perhaps, post it prominently on your blog) check out this site or perhaps this one.
19 comments:
Probably the hardest part for me is when I write something, particularly dead baby something, and all I get is sympathy, not a discussion of what I'm talking about.
@mrs spit: That's something I often wonder about -- what kind of response people are hoping for to their writing. In many cases, it seems like the first few comments set the tone, so if they're all purely sympathetic, I think later commenters may find it a bit harder to leave a substantive comment for fear of sounding unsympathetic.
Today might be one of those days.
I haven't blogged in ages, feel like I should and that it might even be nice, but I cannot decide what to write about and what's too personal (especially for a non-anonymous blog), and it feels a bit silly to start with something ordinary after months of silence. Maybe I'll do it anyway. One day.
Difficult for me? Coming up with a topic that doesn't bore me. If I'm boring myself, why would anyone else read it?
Where was that label generator 5 years ago? I needed some warning signs to post for our laser at work and had to scan and photoshop (inexpertly, I might add) some to suit my needs.
Lately it's coming up with a topic that I deem worthy enough to spend some time writing about. Tough.
Trying to find the balance between writing for myself and thinking about an audience. When I started out I was just spewing thoughts and words into the void. Now that I know some of my void, I worry about hurting anyone who reads what I write.
The hardest part of blogging for me is trying to not equate the legitimacy and value of what I'm saying to the number of comments my posts get or to the number of followers that my blog has.
In my head, I say I'm just writing this for me, but I know when people do leave me a comment, I feel better about it. I kinda hate that dependabilty . . .
Kat In Dylan's Memory
I'm tired of blogging. Too lazy to quit, though. :)
The struggle between the voices in my head. Who am I writing for? Me or Them? 'Them' being the audience of followers, the random people who stumble across from a link, from old posts on baby websites, from places like Glow, the friends I no longer really speak with but who I know still check in on my blog.
I don't mind being boring often; no one is compelled to read it. It's just maintaining a balance between what I want to say and how I want to appear. There are topics I've completely left off because of knowing there are people in the audience who will not understand what I am saying and take it personally (or make it personal). There are things I've tempered because I don't want to seem too crazy, or too sad, or too rigid or too judgmental.
Lack of comments doesn't much bother me, and I don't generally engage much in conversation via the blog, though I'm considering starting another for that purpose. I'm often surprised by the number of followers and the odd places I've found my blog linked, it's flattering, but it does make it harder to just let some things out.
Yes. This has been me lately. I'm trying to find a topic that doesn't bore ME, make me sound like I'm whining (ALL THE TIME), or catalogues what my brilliant post-IF kid does (BORING also).
It's hard to find the right mix of honesty without it coming out as whining.
Blah blah blah.
Long way of saying yes, I know what you're saying.
xxx
The most difficult part of blogging for me is just that - wanting to write about my feelings or difficult situations and not knowing how to get it out clearly.
The second most difficult part is overcoming my procrastination and actually posting on a regular basis! hehe
It is not permissible to be grumpy on this day. This day is the commemoration of my birth. Rejoice, and be glad in it.
Hardest thing now for me with my blog is that it doesn't feel anonymous anymore. I feel like I know the people who read and comment, and I feel like Furrow and much as I feel like [my real name]. And that means I have a persona to maintain, just like in real life.
The hardest bit about blogging for me is having to leave stuff out because my name is everywhere and lots of real life people read it.
The hardest part for me has come only recently, when the hateful, irrational section of the anti-adoption society turned their baleful eyes upon me, after successfully forcing about a half-dozen adoption bloggers private. If it weren't for the adoption blogs out there when I started my journey, I would have been completely lost. They're an invaluable resource and it makes me angry that these people feel entitled to make other human beings (with pain, loss, feelings and sensitivities of their own) feel like shit because they are going to adopt or have adopted...
*steps away from soapbox - I can go on forever*
Thanks, Niobe.
Allie
There's an anti-adoption niche? WTF? Why?
-Shamela
I just got google-educated on the 'anti-adoption' movement. There are some thoughtful pieces on the subject. Too bad the abusive crazies are the vocal minority. What a bunch of yuckers.
Congratulations Allie.
-Shamela
the most difficult thing is when I feel like I have nothing to say, but feel like I still "should" post. or when I have something to say, and feel like i can't possibly say it well. or when I've got something Ir really want to say, but feel like I can't put it out there to world... it's too risky IRL.
The most difficult part for me is time! I have lots of ideas, it's just a matter of sitting down and writing it. I don't fuss over comments or stats — I'm not trying to put myself on the radar. I just do it for me, get the thoughts out of my head, or get the memories of my kids down.
I barely have time to leave this comment!
ciao,
rpm
I think the hardest part of me is the fact that I don't think I have many readers - and so when I write, I try to find something interesting for those that DO write. My life, however, is not all that interesting. It's full of medical drama and whining about my life. *shrug* Sometimes I don't want to write but it's been so long since I did that I feel like I should so I don't lose the few readers I have because they think I've quit. Other times I want to write, but don't think anyone will find it worthwhile and so I don't.
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