Bloggination

So, I’ve decided to try and revive my blog. My blogging tendencies seem to be cyclic. I’ll really want to write for a few months, then I’ll get bored and it’ll turn me off.

I think one of the reasons is that whether I write things or not, nobody really seems to pay attention. I have delusions of grandeur; I want everyone to read my blog when I have something important to say, but most of the things that I think are important don’t matter much to anyone else.

I have some readers; well, I believe about two or three, who check when something new pops into their feed-reader, and I appreciate their audience. However, I can’t write as well as I’d like to, and due to the aforementioned lack of interest in my general postings, I don’t see the need to put any further effort into improving the quality of my prose. I suppose that’s a kind of catch-22; but even if I do improve my writing quality and bump up the interest level a bit, it’s not guaranteed to increase my audience.

I suppose now with my new job I’ll be able to post up interesting snippets concerning many random things; hopefully guides and useful information for people who are in a similar position to myself. I’ve just decided that’s going to be my plan. How about it, eh? The blog’s already served a useful purpose: now I can remember why I used to write here; as I sit pondering the next few keystrokes, I’m reeling through any number of information streams that could potentially contain interesting posting material, and as I happen upon something unique or appealing, I’ll type it down. In addition to that, it helps me to focus my thoughts. I’m procrastinating by writing here, and I know I’ve got some things to do, so after this post I’m going to go do them.

So, to my readers: although you are few, I will continue to write for you. Perhaps you will be joined by others, perhaps not.

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Published:: 03.26.08 / 10am

Category:: Blog

Tate 03.26.08 / 11am

Wow, you changed your theme again? Admittedly, this is a nicer theme than the previous one. Interestingly enough, if you’re seeking new WordPress themes you really ought to take a loo at Smashing Magazine –> http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/03/25/15-more-free-first-class-wordpress-themes/.

On a serious note, your reason for loosing interest in blogging are more or less the same reasons why I stopped in 2006.

Darren Rowse from ProBlogger.net raises some interesting points about taking and receiving in reference to blogging.

Essentially, regardless of what you blog about… you really need an audience to give you some satisfaction back.

Either lots of your friends need to read your blog, or you need to start blogging for a niche (Or something just extraordinary).

I assume you’re still on Facebook, take a look at http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=4899008003

Ash 03.27.08 / 2am

Hey, Owen, I guess if you want to blog you do need to just sit down and hammer something out, regardless of whether anyone reads it, it’s any good, or what. It’s an entire learning experience, and at the end of it, even if you end up hitting “private post”, you’ve still given yourself something.

For me it’s about expressing whatever’s on my mind, and coming up with something that I know I’ll be interested in reading in a few years time if I re-visit it. If other people like reading it too, that’s a sweet incentive. ^_^

As I’ve said, practise will make you a better writer, but so will studying other peoples’ work whom you admire. If you’re not feeling confident, try reading new things (such as blogs, articles, books, forum posts…) especially in genres and styles you’re interested in. After a while you’ll get a sense of what sounds good and what doesn’t.

Which brings me to my final point: edit. Sometimes you’ll sit down, words will belch forth through your fingers, and you’ll end up with an awesome post; but re-reading it makes it a pile of crap. Cut, paste, delete until it reads smoothly in your head. I know people who find it helps to read out aloud. I also know I’m guilty of not doing this a fair percentage of the time, though I’ll come back later and fix things up.

Ummmmmmm, that said, don’t get all down on your audience point. I find getting lots of comments helps make you feel all special, so if you’re looking for readers, why not try engaging your audience somehow. This is a very good post example of that: It’s subtle enough that it doesn’t sound cheap, and you’ve got two insigntful replies already. Good effort. :-D

Note: Take all this with an arbitrary amount of salt. Tatey’s video looks like a really good resource from the minute or so I’ve watched so far.

Ash 03.27.08 / 3am

I’ve no idea what the hell I was thinking, but just now I typed my old email address, your name in the “name” field.

You’re welcome to fix that up if you want. Ta.

Tate 03.27.08 / 9am

I’d be inclined to think it’s because you generally fail at the internet.