Seen on Twitter: “Dance like the photo’s not being tagged, Love like you’ve never been unfriended, Tweet like nobody’s following.” @postsecret from @bythebrooks (via @neilhimself).
Don’t you wonder what people have to say if they think no one will read it? Maybe that’s why some people quit blogging. If no one out there is responding, they’re not about to keep putting themselves out there. Blogs have great tracking features to tell you how many people read your post. Plus you can add feeds for subscribers to increase your readability.
But it doesn’t really bring in readers. What you write does. So is what you’re saying interesting enough to hold an audience? Only of people who personally know you? Not even then? Even if you have something interesting, humorous, or noteworthy, you might not capture the audience. Perhaps someone will repost one of your thoughts, but never come back again. [I am recently guilty of this.]
I just don’t read that many blogs. I haven’t yet found the time. It doesn’t mean I won’t find the time, especially if someone shares it directly with me, but my focus is toward writing: blogs slanted that way, books on the topic, books in genres I write, plus the writing and revision of my own work. It’s time consuming. I let it be that way.
Not that I don’t pay attention to my family. That’s where the rest of my time goes.
I’m not really under delusions about how many people read my blog. If I were WordPress would definitely burst my bubble. It’s not about what I’m trying to tell someone else, but it’s an expression of something I want to say. I think a blog ought to be something you want to do. I originally started one because it seemed like the thing writers do – they blog. Some do and some don’t. Some are successful and some aren’t. There is no one way to label a writer or a blog. The expert opinion is to do it if you like it, but that there are plenty of ways to reach an audience other than blogging if that’s the author’s preference.
It’s a long way to say: if you’re reading, thanks. It’s nice to know someone wants to read it. I’d probably still be blogging anyway – but it makes me happy.
Ransom Noble 
In Remembrance
11 November 2010 at 05:39 (philosophy, Writing)
Tags: blogging, comments, Jamie Eyberg, Veteran's Day, Writing
Be prepared. The following post probably isn’t about what you think, since it’s Veteran’s Day. So, first, a thank you to the veterans who served our country and keep us free. Second, happy anniversary to my parents. Third, a random blog post that caught my eye on my way to blog this morning about being free.
When I started this blog, I was at home full time trying to be a writer. I succeeded at the writing bit, at least, and I have at least rough drafts of a couple novels to prove it. I enjoyed posting here and I tried to do it once a day.
One of the writers who strongly encouraged me was Jamie Eyberg, may he rest in peace. We’d attended the same small school in southwestern Iowa and he found me on Facebook when I joined. It was nice to have someone to talk to about that writing stuff, especially since my husband just doesn’t get it. Jamie commented frequently, either directly here or sending me a message.
I think I’ve just been avoiding posting here since he died. Yes, a ton of other things get in the way, but they always do. Motherhood and part-time jobs keep me running in circles all day. One of them – teaching at a college – has usurped far too much time. I hear the first time teaching any class is like that.
Other people do read this blog, and maybe someone else won’t be afraid to make comments and keep up the dialogue. I appreciate all of you who have commented and watch for my updates.
I’m not doing NaNo this year, due to my other commitments. However, I’m starting to get myself writing by bits and pieces again. I don’t know how I let myself get so derailed from the process. I haven’t been to a writer’s group of any kind in over two months.
All of that is changeable. Saturday’s another meeting in West Des Moines. I can keep scribbling out pieces when I get breaks, or rather make breaks to keep up my scribbling (or even random typing).
Admitting the part that’s holding me back is just one step to getting back to where I need to be. So, I’m accepting that I’ve been shirking my blog. I promise to post more often, at least once a week. At least until I can get that daily vibe back.
Happy NaNo to everyone attempting it this year. A novel in a month is always a happy thing, even if it needs severe rewriting. Don’t forget to keep going until it’s finished and don’t just stop at the 50,000 words!
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