Start writing. Continue to read. Live luxuriously.
At first, we mistake the internet for somebody who cares.
We post and we post. We write and we tell it all, never mind that there is little if any feedback.
And then comes the inevitable “Wait! What am I doing?” and only cats, blossoms and doors remain without many whys answered and whats explored.
I exaggerate and generalise, of course, but so often I discover a blogger I enjoy, go over the back pages for a bit, and see how his or her blogging path has evolved: from saying plenty to quieting down or even going almost completely wordless.
Yesterday Gavin at firehorseworld wrote about blogging and written word. He says among other things:
At this point I have to say I am a little disappointed as to how
little feedback I do get at times. It is not the validation I seek,
but rather the confirmation that the words I have so lovingly
crafted have delivered their intended message.
A blogging friend came over after a while and commented under a post of mine that she had started to read it but didn’t finish it and instead just looked at the photos (you know who you are! :D). I found it cute how she confessed what many don’t but do just the same, I’m sure: run through the photos and click like if they like them and move on.
Reading and being read are two luxuries, and the third is writing (and the fourth being written about?). Ain’t nobody got time for that.
I often think of writing a book but frankly, the aftermath is scary. And I don’t mean people complaining left and right that they are not dead yet so I shouldn’t be writing about them. I mean the post-production, the marketing, the promotion. That’s where the real work lies and I commend all who are successful at it with quality content on their hands.
Because we lovingly craft the message and all we wish is to deliver it.
And we do. You are reading this now, aren’t you?
I think the trick is finding that sweet spot between sharing something that’s compelling and at the same time not making it overly long. As someone who is pretty long-winded at times it is not easy, but of course pretty pictures will always help keep people’s attention, so you don’t have too much to worry about 😀
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Thanks for reading, Norm, always. It takes just that much dedication than just watching. Let’s not stop.
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Yes I agree with Norm. I think people generally are trying to cover a lot of ground. Anything over 500 words has to be pretty compelling for people to finish generally. People are not looking for a long read I think, rather just a series of short experiences. It’s hard though to write anything serious in that small amount of words.
Manja, if you want to write a book, do so. I’ll read it! I’m sure you would do a very good job! And thanks for the mention. You don’t know how much that means to me! Better than a hundred likes!!
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Hehe, thanks, Gavin. I’m sure you’ll get your special copy if/when I do. Yeah, sometimes we are good in giving these kind of cyber hugs. And other times it’s just likes. 🙂
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I think if you like someone and respect their point of view, you should always try to read, think and then write something. Which is why I sometime take a while to get to blogs as I want to give them the time!
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Me too. I save the links that I can’t read immediately but then they pile up. I’ve got tons of bookmarks and links saved. Maybe one day… But new posts are born every minute.
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I know, im rapidly working that out!
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I love how you write and I’d read any books you do. What a great treat that would be. As for readership, I figure if only one person reads what I write well that’s one. If I don’t write then it’s none! Plus I think writing is for me an act of hope. I will figure things out if I write it out.
I love your photos too.
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Ahh, Claudia, thank you for the blank trust. 🙂 If we don’t write it’s none, correct. Plus, we must write in any case.
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That last sentence says it all.
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You bet I’m reading.
I think the same about the book. Self-publishing sucks but then it’s so hard to get published today.
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Right, Bojana. Which causes a vicious circle: The ones who do publish or get published are not necessarily the most deserving. And yes, you indeed are reading. And writing.
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You have a way with words, Manja. It’s a pleasure.
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Ooo, thank you! Better than they having a way with me! 😉
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Lol. Which is not rare with writers. Words haunt us day and night, don’t they?
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I am reading now, and I would read in the future. You wouldn’t need to market to me, but I understand – I share those fears.
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Thanks, Dan. It’s great to know this. Those fears are stopping us and it often makes me angry. I don’t like to fear anything.
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I think your post is spot on. But that’s also why I think people should enter blogging for them – their love of writing, their need to share their thoughts – and not to gain a following and become famous. I think blogging for the latter reasons can lead to disappointment. I’m happy if I get likes that aren’t all my family! 😁 as for reading your blog – I love your picture and poetry and other commentary on your pictures. You seem to led such an interesting life!
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Thank you, Irma. I believe that it soon becomes evident, the reason why somebody is blogging, and disappointment follows on both sides. I remember starting my blog because the photos I kept sending to my family and friends didn’t result in much feedback. 😀 So I said to myself: The world will respond if you don’t. Interesting life… It all depends on how you present it. 😉
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Truth! 😁
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A very good friend of mine told me a couple of weeks ago that she’s moving interstate, so I wrote her a long letter explaining why I was sad she was leaving, and then I later wrote a longer letter thanking her for being such a good friend and colleague. Both times, I didn’t expect/want a reply letter, but only wanted to know my sentiments were well-received, understood and appreciated. Reading your post here (and what Gavin wrote) reminded me of that. I suppose no one wants to just send messages into the void.
For what it’s worth, your photos are excellent, but I also thoroughly enjoy reading your captions and commentary too! You have a good sense of humour 😄 I only lament that I don’t have enough time to read all your posts!
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Thank you so much, Pistachios. Yes, time is the greatest luxury of all. I’m glad you find it worthwhile around here and always welcome.
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First – I love that image with the stick people!! It reflects my feelings perfectly 😆 … ok, now you know I’m not all sweetness and light. bwahahahahaha!
I may be an anomaly, but I don’t like posts that are wordless. A photo that’s been posted may be lovely, but without any context or story behind it, quite frankly why should I care. I like the story – and there is always a story. Or give me a caption that makes me laugh. These are the posts I love the most.
I agree that sometimes bloggers write posts that are too long and should have been edited but I’ve read other VERY long posts that have totally captivated me.
Commenting is tricky. Sometimes I’m at risk of going on and on (you know, like now) but other times I have no words I want to share. That’s why I like the *like* button. I know some people hate it but I prefer to think of it as an acknowledgement. I’d rather have a *like* than a fly-by.
Write your book, Manja. Write it for you because you need/want to. If others come to read it – bonus! At least, that’s what I keep telling myself …. 😉
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Thank you, Joanne. I’m always happy to see you around. You have this kind of uplifting presence even though you’d be knocking down the stick people. 😀 Whenever I finish reading a post, I search for the like button as a confirmation: I’ve read it and didn’t hate it. 😀 😀 As for comments… I prefer not commenting if it doesn’t come naturally. I don’t like to confirm only to confirm that I’ve read it. It must be something in the post that spurs my words. And I don’t mean that final question some bloggers think much be there, which I hate! Your last paragraph of this comment is you (and me) talking to yourself. 🙂 We write because we must. In the past, with no blogging available, people simply wrote books instead. 😉
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You and I share a hate of those closing questions!! While I concede that there is a place for a closing question in some posts, for the most part they are trite.
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I read it all 🙂
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Thanks, Mary. I don’t doubt this one bit.
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What you wrote down is so true, about the blogger’s evolution too… I’ve been thinking the same thing about my posts.
There are a few bloggers on here that do actually read posts and many times leave a meaningful comment, and it’s a kind of respect and acknowledgement you just have to appreciate the most. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised to find them, wordpress community is still better in my opinion than other social media 🙂
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Thanks, Ivona. You are right. So many WordPress bloggers are well-meaning, polite, attentive, regular and excellent at giving cyber hugs just when we need them. Not changing it for anything else. Always welcome.
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Exactly, I’m certainly often grateful for them 😊
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“And I don’t mean people complaining left and right that they are not dead yet so I shouldn’t be writing about them.” LOL ME TOO, Girl, Me too!
Anyway, yeah, I read what I read. Sometimes I don’t read, and then I don’t Like, because how am I gonna Like what I haven’t read? Now, I do follow quite a few people who really only post photos and so there’s nothing TO read, and that’s Like worthy cause I like pretty pictures.
No matter how far back you go in my blog, I am the same. I developed my overly adverbial voice long before blogging. It’s not my fiction voice, but it’s a bloggy voice. I would blog into the void. I don’t write for anyone else, and you shouldn’t either. Just tell the stories, Manja. Weave the words. ❤
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Yeahh, let’s blog in the void! 🙂 I love this. And I think I know the voice: it’s the one you talk to the pets and to yourself, yes? It is over here… Thanks, Joey. You’re always great to have on board.
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Your words are always engaging. But you’re right, the internet doesn’t really care. I’m happy to have found some like-minded bloggers who read my words. As for reading back, now that my life suddenly turned hectic 1 year and 8 months ago, I find I don’t have the attention span (and time and energy) to read long posts. Short, simple, nice photos. Life is too short for bad blog posts. Cruel, I know, but it’s a struggle to maintain balance between real life and virtual creativity. 🙂
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Thanks, SMSW. Well, long doesn’t necessarily equal bad. Sometimes it’s you who are missing out so it is cruel, but for you. 😉 Or for me, or for anybody who doesn’t proceed when facing a long but great post. As for the balance, it’s much harder to achieve it when you have a couple of natural born balance breakers, I’m sure. 😉
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For me, long equals snooze right now. I’ve even stopped watching movies (20 min shows are ok!) and reading books (I uswd to love books). Hopefully this will change and I’ll get my concentration skills back!
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Yup! Read yours and Gavin’s post too. Loved both. To publish else perish… cheers!
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Thanks. Always welcome!
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