Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Blog Envy - And Other Bits of Soul-Searching

Blogging has been an interesting leg of the 'journey.' Being fairly new to the blogging world, I remember trying to nail down my philosophy as far as what I was going to write - and to who. Was I writing for me? For you? How much energy and effort should I put into getting readers and followers? My first and second posts on my initial blog 'One Girl's Journey' kind of explored that a little.

It's been interesting to look back and see why I started blogging in the first place. And in the short time I have been doing it...it has caused me to do a little soul-searching.

A few other really good blogs I have come across sort of tackled some of the issues in blog-world. After the Altar had a really good post about blog-world being like high school - trying to get in with the 'popular crowd' so we get noticed (or read, in this case). Out of the Extraordinary put up a post about our tendency to be ruled by the amount of comments we get and if we get 'back-commented' (I mean, who hasn't been there?). And I came across a rebel blogger who just didn't care anymore if anyone read her blog - she was writing for herself. And I totally respect that.

But like I said, it has caused me to look again at my original purpose for blogging. I think it is fair to say a certain amount of 'evolution' might take place as we are all kind of putting ourselves out there and figuring out what kind of blogger we want to be (well, me at least).

But it has made me question even my own sincerity sometimes. Am I just writing what I think people will read - or what I feel inspired to write about? Am I commenting so someone will comment back? Do I become a follower of someone hoping they will become a follower of my blog? Am I just writing a certain way to get in with the popular 'blog crowd'? Am I trying to fit in and be like everyone else?

If that is the case, then that's pretty crappy. I think we all can smell insincerity a mile away.

So, it has caused me to re-think my blog and purposes for blogging. I feel like I am still kind of 'defining' what kind of blogger I am. For instance, take the title - 'One Girl's Journey to the Altar.' My original blog was just called 'One Girl's Journey.' My sister encouraged me to make a branch that focused on my wedding.

I have been doing this wedding blog thing steadily since the fall, and I have to say, I find myself wishing this leg of my 'blogging journey' hurries up and gets done because I am feeling a little confined by it. I mean, I love talking about my wedding, but it is not my entire life. Nor do I want it to be. And I have a hard time believing everyone out there is as interested in my wedding plans as I am.

I have nothing against girls whose blogs focus entirely on that - and I am all about idea-sharing - [I actually enjoy reading those kinds of blogs], but I don't know if that is for me. I have ideas and thoughts about lots of other things, and it feels restricting to me to only write about my wedding. And if you notice some of my posts, I haven't been able to stick with it. I try to put a 'wedding slant' on it to be true to the title, but it's like trying to make a shopping cart with a broken wheel go straight. Feels like a bit of a strain.

So, all of that to say... I have some ideas of where I think this is going. I actually have alot of ideas in my head, and I'm kinda excited. Not that it is going to be totally different - in fact, it might be kind of similar to what it is now - just tweaked a bit. And not to say that it might not have some of a 'catch' to it, but I will know in my heart it is what I want to do and I'm not doing it for the wrong reasons.

But I'm making a promise, at least to myself, that it is going to be true - to who I am and the kind of writer I want to be. Not imitating the blogs who have lots of followers and get lots of comments. Not gimmicky just to get my followers and comments up. It is going to be sincere -in what I write and in all my dealings with other bloggers. None of this 'give to get' kinda thing.

So, I'm not fully sure where it's all heading, but we'll see where the journey takes me. Being true to my commitment to be "honest and sincere", I will say that I would love to have you along for some of the ride. But if this is where you feel you need to part ways - all the best and Godspeed! Sincerely! And if you choose to come along for the ride...thank you, and I hope we can learn a little from each other.

So stay tuned!

12 comments:

  1. This whole blogging world is a little crazy...love the high school comparison. Ultimately, it is your blog, do hat you want...have you seen the book Blogging for Bliss...you should check it out...she is all about do it for what she loves. I do not even think she takes comments.
    Holly

    PS-You could just add "and Beyond" after altar and then blog about whatever. I follow a couple of other bride-to-be's and they mix in other stuff with their wedding planning.

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  2. I use my blog as a diary of sorts, I guess. I'm more faithful to my blogging than I've ever been to writing in a diary, and I find it VERY therapeutic, even if I don't hit 'publish', which I don't always do. And don't worry about the title. If you're going to change it, you'll figure it out when the time is right.

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  3. This is a great post. I too, am fairly new to blogging, but have thought about these same questions several times. I think it's important for those of us who aren't blogging as a profession especially, to allow our blogs to evolve as we evolve.

    Stopping by from SITS. I think I'll have to spend a bit of time looking around your blog. You seem like a sincere person with great ideas and morals. Have a great day!

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  4. I love this post! There really is an evolution to ones blog I think. And its easy to get caught up in one "trend" and then take a step back and reevaluate. The wedding was the excuse for me to start my blog, but I left the title generic as I want to continue to blog after the wedding, and I also want to write about other things that interest me now. I throw in some cooking and baking posts, and other "ramblings" too. There isn't always a lot to say about the wedding process and other times it just bores me.
    As someone who has been following you for a while, and who became a follower because of our common goal (the wedding), I would love to hear more about you, your life, your interests, your relationship with your guy and so on. So I eagerly await whatever changes you want to bring! Good luck with it all! :)

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  5. What a great post. It really is easy to get caught up in all that other junk instead of sticking to the root of why you are blogging. My blog has evolved in so many ways since I first started and it is still changing all the time. Basically, it is just a menagerie of my ramblings that I feel like posting. LOL

    Stopping in from SITS.

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  6. Stopping by from SITS, and I happen to love what I've seen of your blog today. I know my own blog has undergone quite a few makeovers - both in theme and appearance - and I'm positive that it's going to happen again. It's a process, and I think the main thing is to make your blog something you enjoy doing. If it ever begins to feel like a chore, something's wrong.

    Congrats on the wedding, and I'll be stopping back in to see how YOU are.....not just the wedding. I know from experience that it can sort of swallow up the rest of your life. =)

    Blessings!

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  7. I think blogs grow and change. Mine has. Thanks for stopping by.

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  8. Yes, you need to stay true to yourself...and not try to write for others. I am also new to blogging and started last May for a friends website. When I joined SITS it just sort of took off. I believe in what I call 'blogging etiquette' if someone leaves me a comment, then I visit their site...that doesn't mean I absolutely have to leave a comment on theirs but if I like what they have to say then I will.

    I too have had a hard time coming up with a title for my blog because there is so much I want to write about, I don't want to HAVE to focus on one thing.

    My advise is to write for yourself, us it as therapy, and put it all out there for people to find! Good Luck and thanks for stopping by!

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  9. Good luck in finding your voice! It is definitely something I stuggle with. I can't wait to see what your new goals bring to us! :)

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  10. Very insightful...and true! It happens to me quite often! Specially with the "Bread and Tortilla" blog that I have.... even hubby said the other day... only 6 followers? Are we that boring? LOL!!! And I told him... we do not need followers, I just want to write about our love story and our differences and how we use those differences to make our relationship better! :) ... I am happy if people read my blog... WE all secretly want to be known, to be listened to (or read) and if that happens it is great... and if it doesn't it's ok! :) I think your blog is really wonderful and that is why I love stopping by! :)

    Paloma.

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  11. Hey there, thanks for the link to my post! I think it is absolutely smashing that you have decided to make your own way in the blogosphere. Because we all started blogging to get our thoughts out there, didn't we? I don't personally know anyone who started a blog with the sole purpose of getting followers or comments or setting up ad space. If you're persistent and you focus on them, those three may all come, but the most important thing is that you write, for you. So this is your journey; I'm glad to be along for the ride.

    Have an Extraordinary Day!

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  12. I totally agree with what everyone else says. I struggled briefly with what I wanted my blog to BE. Then I realized, I'm not doing this for anyone but me. If some people jump on the train along the way & join me in my journey, so be it. Being a girl, having gone to junior high, high school, and being an Air Force wife in online communities, I KNOW it is all too easy to become something nasty. That is where we go wrong. This world, this life, it's not about what others. It's about US. It's about glory to our God.

    Galatians 1:10

    Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

    Blessings my dear. Let it evolve WITH you, not against you....

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