I had an extremely long blog post written that I really hope you didn’t read. It detailed my history of blogging and where I saw my blog going in the future. It was long. It was kind of melancholy. And I didn’t like how I wrote it.
Instead, I wanted to write more about my views on blogging and the type of blogger I want to be.
You see, I’m fairly new to this blogging thing. I began this blog in August 2009 and it’s been my most successful blog by far. According to Google Reader, I have 132 followers (91 on Friend Connect). I receive double-digit comments on most of my posts. And I have met some of my closest friends through blogging. I have received so much advice from readers, so much inspiration from other blogs, and so much goodness from this entire community. Starting this blog was, by far, the best thing I have ever done.
Maybe my name isn’t out there as much as some other bloggers. I don’t have any book deals pending, there are no mean websites started because of my blog, and my following is quite small in comparison to others. But I can’t compare my blogs to others. I can only do as best as I can for myself. I’m not sure I want to deal with the backlash bloggers such as Caitlin and MckMama have had to deal with because I am the epitome of a sensitive person. I’m happy with the following I’ve developed, although I think there’s nothing wrong with saying I would love more followers.
I’ve begun to realize that I need to get back to blogging for me, which is probably the worst thing you can do if you want to grow your blog. I want to stop needing to stick to a rigid five-day-a-week blogging schedule and spend hours a day commenting on other blogs. I want to write when I feel the need and have the time to do so. I want to be just fine with going days without checking my Reader.
My three-week break was good for this. It made me realize that there is more to life than my blog. After all, if I don’t experience life, what will I have to blog about? It also made me realize that I love and need blogging. I love my blog friends. I love reading about their lives and gaining insight. I love writing blog posts and receiving feedback. I want to grow my blog and eventually move it to its own domain name.
So where is this blog going? Good question. I don’t have a firm answer. I want it to grow as I grow. I’m entering a very uncertain time of my life as I graduate college in May and have no idea what I want to do. My postings may be erratic, or they may be structured. I may post one day a week or go an entire month of blogging every single day. I keep telling myself I need to figure out what I want to do with my blog because my readers are getting confused. But, honestly, are you all that concerned about how much I’m posting? I don’t think so. (Unless, of course, I go three weeks without blogging!) You all have your own lives and blogs to be concerned about.
So there you have it. Not a very clear answer. I want this blog to grow, for sure. But I also want to grow myself. And I’m beginning to see that I just need to blog for me and worry less about what everyone is thinking about me. Because frankly, you guys have stuck around for a lot of my whiny posts, non-posts, and blog hiatuses. I think you’re here to stay.
Ah Stephany – thank you for sharing. Indeed, live life, enjoy the last bit of your school, stare aimlessly towards the stars – the blog will become what it is meant to be. Cheers!
I agree, blogging has created a new world for me. I hope the future of your blog includes writing great things for all of us to read. I heart ya girl!
When looking at it from the perspective of a blogger, it seems like posting on a schedule and always entertaining your audience is the most crucial thing. However, when I look at it as someone who reads other blogs, I realize I've never been concerned – or sometimes never even noticed – if someone goes off their schedule. I think people are paying less attention than we all assume, not in the sense that they don't care, but that they're not worried if a post isn't perfectly written and thought-provoking.
Whenever I catch myself worrying too much about the logistics of blogging, I realize I'm taking it too seriously. My blog is going to be 3 years old in January, and I've rarely gotten more than 5 or 6 comments on any given post. In terms of content, I feel like I've had to force it more recently only because I don't have a lot going on right now. When I look back to my posts that went up when I was still in college, they had a good flow and were easy because I had things to talk about.
Basically, the point of this very long comment is that blogging should be about what you want to communicate to the world, not what you think your readers want to see.
Pretty new design!
I'm starting to think along the same lines. It's a new year soon and I'm not sure what direction I want to take the blog in. Less finance? More health and food? Less anon? I don't know, but we'll figure it out along the way.
I love the new design!! I think you should just blog about whatever you want! That way, it won't matter if you lose followers or gain them even…YOU will like what you're doing and that is the most important part I think. It's better to have followers around who get and respect you for what you're doing! Just have fun with it 🙂
I completely agree with you when you asked, "If I don't experience life, what will I have to blog about?" Sometimes I worry about losing readers or not pleasing them if life gets too busy for me to post every week. But sometimes you just have to do what's best for you, and if experiencing life or taking a break is best, you have to do it! Your true friends and readers will understand.
I also think you have very genuine intentions with your blog; as long as you continue to be honest in everything that you write, your audience will not only be here to stay, it will also continue to grow. 🙂
You'll figure it all out 🙂 I had a bit of a blog identity crisis when I WANTED to take my blog in a more healthy living direction but wasn't sure what my readers would think. I decided to do it anyways and the last few months I have loved my blog more than ever! And you know what? The readers stayed on 🙂
Blog about what makes YOU happy, girl! XO
I read your earlier post & was waiting until I was near a comp to comment. And I see it's gone, replaced with this one! I think I said this before, too, but honestly, just try not to worry about it. If posting is making you happy, keep it up. If it's not, stop. If you want to take a break, do it – tell us or don't. Life gets in the way sometimes, & that's totally OK. If blogging ever starts to feel like a chore, it's time to step back & reevaluate & take a break. And if you want to come back post-break, the joy of it is that you CAN. it's all up to you. And our Readers will still work, which means we'll still be here! Figure out what feels right, & don't feel guilty about it. <3
Fantastic post, and can I just say a big AMEN?:) I am so right there with you, and I think you summed it up perfectly when you said "I've begun to realize that I need to get back to blogging for me, which is probably the worst thing you can do if you want to grow your blog." It's perfectly okay – I'll take sincerity and substance over quantity and efforts to expand any day 🙂
Steph it sounds like you're heading down a good path. Your blog is about your life and life is uncertain… so your blog is too. Just let things flow naturally and it'll come together.
It's so easy to get caught up in stats and followings and who reads what and when but what matters at the end of the day is does this blog do what you want it to do? As long as it does, whatever that may, then keep it up 🙂
Can't wait to see what's next for you.
I think self-awareness is really important. When I asked myself why I was blogging (or why I started, rather) and whether my blog as it was met those goals, the unequivocal answer was NO. After almost 5 years, it became clear that in order to get myself back to what I valued about it all, I had to shut down my blog. Now, having drastically cut down my exposure to the whole blogging universe, I'm seeing it all a little differently. As a reader, I just read when someone posts. I don't care about the schedule or the gimmicks or the self-promotion. It's all about content and genuine-ness.
As long as you are happy and stay true to what you want, we'll be here 🙂
Like books, it doesn't matter how often you put your posts out; rather, it's about the quality of the writing. I have always gotten the most comments on my vulnerable posts…the ones where I am pouring out my soul.
I don't like reading blogs that are concerned about readership, as with books. It's all about the content. So stick with that 🙂
I'm here to stay no matter what you decide to do. 🙂 It'll happen when you least expect it to so just go with the flow. <3
So glad you're blogging for you!
Wonderful post! I used to spend hours and hours planning to blog, concerning myself with who I should follow and who I hoped would add me to their Blogroll and how "popular" i wanted to be. And in the end, I NEVER blogged because I was so worried about all the other stuff.
I've come to realize lately that when I DO get back into blogging, it's going to be for me. So glad you are doing the same!
You are so right that we are here to stay. The thing is, once I have someone in my reader, I don't worry about when they post. I just read when they do. Sure, if someone has a pattern, then they stop posting and seem down, I might contact them, but I am not going to stop reading because someone doesn't post as frequently. I don't think it works that way.
And you've gotta blog for yourself. Don't worry about what other people think. I write the silliest stuff, but when I look back on my blog, it makes me happy. And, I love having certain parts of my life documented.
Good luck with school!
I have taken a bit of a step back from blogging lately, too. I miss writing more regularly sometimes, but it was startign to feel like an 'obligation' instead of a hobby so that is when I knew I needed to cut back. And lately, I have tried to focus on 'living life' instead of trying to think, how can i blog about this? You know?
So take all the time you need, dear!
I agree that blogging in a style that makes you happy is the best way to approach things. It's also important to remember that for most of us, its a hobby and shouldn't become our life and stress us out. Great post!
Tina http://www.faithfitnessfun.com
Hello!! I just discovered you and your blog and I can say honestly that I'm very glad I did! I really enjoy the open and honest way that you write, and I really feel I can relate to you after only reading a few of your posts!
Looking forward to following. 🙂