Over the last few months I've stopped reading numerous blogs.
In my defense, many of the blogs changed their focus--which lost my interest. I'm sorry, but as nice as it is for you to pimp your friend's books, it's low on my personal interest level. In other words, IT'S ME, NOT YOU that's causing our break-up.
Some of the blogs have run out of interesting information--repetition is the death of a story and a blog.
While other blogs, though interesting at first, lost their appeal--I guess I'm too mature for the content of nasty language and attitude.
And as much as I like CakeWrecks, just how many nasty looking cakes can one look at? I'll still check out their Sunday Sweets, but the blog isn't on my blogroll any more.
I'm not going to try to figure it out. What's the point? Blogs and blog readers are like marriages. Sometimes you grow old together, while other times you grow apart to the point of divorce.
I've known many of my friends who have joined or expanded, or changed the focus of their group blogs, grogs or glogs--whatever--and I've stopped reading the blog.
Why?
Because I have no idea when the people who I want to read will be posting their blog. If it's every other week, then forget it. Too much time has gone past and I don't care enough to keep checking back. Yes, I think there is such a thing as too big of a grog.
If it's the focus of the blog, then that's another beast. I have many friends who have sold recently, and they have friends who have sold, and so on and so forth. I know publishing houses have dropped the ball on publicity, but I don't want to read about someone's new book or read a review of a book that doesn't interest me.
I WANT TO READ ABOUT MY FRIEND'S OBSERVATIONS ABOUT LIFE AND WRITING. Period.
IMO--the optimal grog would have assigned days for up to five members--more members dilutes the purpose of the blog. Less is okay, but stick with specific days of the week designated for new blog (M-W-F or T-Th-S).
--But I've never been invited to join a grog since I don't play well with others, so it's a mute point as to my opinion on the topic.
Will my observations change the way I do this blog?
Heck, no! Because I started this blog because I wanted to blog. If I have followers--woohoo! I have to admit that it is more fun when people feel compelled to comment and we start a conversation. But if I lose followers, well, it hasn't stopped me from talking to myself before, why would that change?
My blog will have stuff that interests me. Whether it's life's observations, or candy recipes, or a short story, or my opinion of grogs, then that's what I'll post.
Oh, speaking of which, here's a new contest from Writer's Digest. They have a picture posted and you have to write a story based on the picture. Cool, huh? I entered. If it finals--woohoo! If it doesn't--then y'all will get to read my short story.
On Friday, I cover how to FOLLOW a blog so you don't have to keep checking back to a blog to see if something new is posted!
Later, Peeps!
Well put, Margaret!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there are a ton of great blogs, but I don't have the time to devote. I read only a select few.
You brought up some interesting points that will help me with my blogs. Thanks for that!!!
Meg--
ReplyDeleteIt's great to gain new blog readers, but I think many writers tend to lose their focus as to why they blog. They've been told by the house publicist that they HAVE to blog to sell books.
That's BS, BTW.
If you don't want to blog, or you blog exclusively to sell your book or someone else's book, then you become a pimp.
And readers are smarter than the average writer seems to think--they can tell when you're 'faking it'.
And I'm one of those contrary people that if you shove something down my throat, I'll do the exact opposite.
It all comes down to write what interests YOU. A blog should show passion, just like the stories you write.
I know what you mean.
ReplyDeleteI also DON"T want to read LLOONNNGG book excerpts on a blog. Give a link. Fine. I can follow or not, but honestly, I scroll to the bottom of a blog if there is an excerpt.
I drop another blog because it went from 5 bloggers to 9 or 10. For me, it lost it's intimacy. I didn't know these new authors. Didn't want to meet them either! LOL
The advantage (for me) of being part of a group blog is that there should be fresh material every day but I don't have to be responsible for posting it. LOL
I also like blogs with short posts.
I like posts with pictures (that must be a masculine side coming out)
Good luck! I hope you final.
ReplyDeleteI've blogged intermittently on my personal blog, usually to announce something, which is kind of boring. For this month, I'm putting up excerpts every weekday. It's fun and I put them up, tweet about it, and that's pretty much it for me. This way I have something on my blog almost every day and I get to be friends with other writers. Win-win.
That's why I titled my blog "Seinblog". It's a blog about nothing! It changes focus and subject matter every time.
ReplyDeleteBut life hasn't allowed me to post to it for a long time.
When I'm back at it regularly, I'll let you know. Even then, it'll be once a week maximum. My posts are mini-stories, and they go through the creative/editing process like everything else I write. They're not just pulled out of my butt in 15 minutes. So it's a bit of an effort on my part.
I think most blogs are boring blather posted by people who just enjoy talking about themselves. I like yours, I like a few other people's. But if it's just someone rambling on about their day with no real point, I'd rather spend those two minutes of my life doing something else!
I agree about the short posts, Cyndi!
ReplyDeleteBUT I tend to fail in my abilities to keep from blathering on and on about something!
So I add lots of white space breaks.
Does it work?
It does break up huge blocks of text, doesn't it? :-)
Win-win is always good, Edie.
ReplyDeleteI do think changing it up is the way to go.
Don't forget to link your personal blog onto FB with a comment in the status bar. I think I've gotten more interest on my status blog posts even if they don't actually read the blog!
I already FOLLOW your blog, Jods. I know when you put up something new because I scroll down on it on my blog's dashboard.
ReplyDeleteUhm, BTW, it takes me longer than 15 minutes to pull my blogs out of my butt . . . .
Jus' thought you might want to know.
I still back to my comment that only people who WANT to blog, should blog. If it isn't you, then don't waste your time.
I can tell your blogs take longer than 15 minutes to come out of your butt. :) That's why yours are GOOD.
ReplyDeleteBut a LOT of blogs....seriously....ugh!
And no matter how many times I proof the darn thing, I ALWAYS miss something!
ReplyDeleteThough I do confess, sometimes my blog is a tad disjointed. oh, well. :-P
I'm not much of a blog reader. I keep up with the ones I contribute to, yours, Sandee's, the Hyperbole chick's and a few others. That's pretty much it.
ReplyDeleteI don't want blatant book promotion. That's driving me crazy on Facebook. There are "friends" I get messages from every darn week pimping their books, and it just annoys the heck out of me. Show me a new cover, tell me when the book's coming out (but don't do a daily countdown, please!) and share good reviews, but don't strut it about like you're standing on a street corner with a quota for the night. Ugh.
I love it! Great post and I for one look forward to the candy posts! Grins... I follow a cupcake blog because it makes me happy to look at yummy cupcakes. I don't blog as much as I should. I don't blog about stuff that is all that interesting. And like you, I talked to myself before I started blogging, so, might as well keep it up. If people are listening, great. If they're not, well, I'll talk to myself anyway. But if I start commenting to myself, I might need an intervention...
ReplyDeleteLOL, Marilyn! I can't remember how many people I've 'hidden' on FB because their comments consisted of, "going to work out", "wow, what a great spin class", "time to wash the sweat off", and "Starbucks here I come", or "time to go to work".
ReplyDeleteOne word: BORING.
It's the same thing with the book pimpers--Quit beating a dead horse and write something new!
Great . . . Lissa comes on board my blog for the candy recipes.
ReplyDelete-- We're trying to lose some Christmas weight here, Lissa, and you want candy recipes???
Pfftt! Well, maybe I can give away the secret of polar bear poop--and NO, DO NOT GOOGLE POLAR BEAR POOP! you will need to bleach your eyeballs if you do!
I'll see what I can do for Monday, Lissa! I've already written Friday's blog about 'FOLLOWING'.
Great blog. I read it yesterday on FB but didn't get around to commenting until today.
ReplyDeleteI'm a terrible blogger. I go for weeks or even months some times without posting. I have a lot of stuff in my life and the blog isn't a top priority. I've lost a lot of commenters and while I'm sorry they're gone, I don't do it for them. My blog is a place for me to vent, babble and share the beauty of my opinions with the WHOLE WORLD. ;)
Every once in a while I'll get a stray comment from a post that's months (or years) old and it makes me wonder who was searching for someone or something that I posted in my blog.
Since going back to working five days a week at jobs that keeps me busy I've become a terrible follower. My goal is to be better about it this year and try to visit all my favorites at least once a week.
I love your blog Margaret, you make me giggle. it's me not you *snicker*
I'm so glad you were able to stop by, Erika!
ReplyDeleteWorking and dealing with family is far more important than trolling blogs.
When you do write a blog be sure link it to Facebook.