Seven things I learned about blogging
Jan 5th, 2009 by spaceagesage
When I started my blog last February, I enjoyed an endless passion to write about personal development. I also suffered from a naive cluelessness. I had no idea the Blogging World, Blogopolis, the Blogosphere — or whatever you call it — held so many fascinating people, ideas, and writing styles.
As I ventured out from my own blog to explore, a whole new world opened up. Like this Vulturine Guinea-fowl, bloggers and blogging can be weird, wild, and wacky.
But blogging is also home to some sane and wonderful folks who make the blog world and the real world a better place. I like hanging out with those people.
Here are seven things I learned from the whole experience:
- Blogging offers satisfying self expression
Whether I write to vent, expound, or question, I still find pushing the Publish button has its rewards for me. I may feel a range of emotions from simple satisfaction to an adrenaline rush. My post may not be perfect grammatically, it may not be aimed at anyone specifically, it may be written for my own amusement, it won’t always be pithy, and it won’t win a Pulitzer, but in the moment where thoughts take a short flight to the keyboard and then to the world beyond, I take pleasure in knowing that at least one person will find something of value here.
- The main rule of blogging is authenticity
Be an ass; be a moron; be brilliant; be a mover and shaker; but whatever you do online, be genuine, human, real, transparent, and true to your words. People of my generation grew up blindly following the lead of mainstream business, media, and education, so it has taken me all of my 49 years of living on this planet to read a person with intuitive insight. This is not true of those online now. Authenticity is the new cool, the new connective tissue in a community, the new Holy Grail.
- There is a learning curve
Whether I aim to be a small-time blogger with plain text posts or a blogger in search of a six-figure income, there is something new to learn. When I started, I found WordPress.com easy as pie. When I wanted to move to my own hosted site, I had to bring in the big guns — my techie husband who moved SpaceAgeSage to a .com site (instead of spaceagesage.wordpress.com/). I’ve read how to monetize my site, but it seems to fall into a quicksand bog in my brain. To help me in this, I’m looking forward to the blog Blogopolis Blueprint, which is a collaboration between Sean Platt of Writer Dad and Eric Hamm of “Motivate Thyself.”
- The community is amazing
When I first read other blogs — mainly at WordPress.com — I found voices crying, sighing, singing, and laughing. What a wild ride it can be reading about the inner lives of others. I read words and saw images from:
ranters and rebels and revolutionaries
reasoned and seasoned souls
religious types
revelers in the written word
teachers, tutors, trainers
photographers and videographers
moms and dads and grandparents
In other words, tons of people who want to put pen to paper … er, I mean, put words on the screen to connect with family, friends, or strangers waiting to introduce themselves.
- Kindness is worldwide
When someone first commented on my blog, I felt a warm glow of appreciation for the person and for blogging. As a newspaper reporter and journalist, I’d rarely received feedback. Now I give and receive it regularly. I like to listen to the words of my favorite bloggers and hear the sound of kindness. (Although I know they exists, I choose not to listen to other bloggers who value negativity and tearing down people out of insecurity.)
- Big or little fish need a clear, sharp voice
It’s taking me awhile to find my blogging voice. Experimenting helps me find a tone and resonance that fires up my posts and readers, but I’m still searching for the powerhouse voice that erupts out of me now and again. I want to grab it and pin it down so I have consistency.
- Bloggers don’t fail. They re-direct.
Blogging allows me to be as free or as rule-bound as I want. If I just want to write, I can express anything that comes to mind. If I don’t like how that is going, I can choose another way, style, or type of content. I can even choose to stop posting for awhile. Now if I want to earn a living at this, I have to follow the rules of the road and learn about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and the like, but the great thing about blogging is the rules aren’t set in stone yet, so it’s ripe for exploration and innovation.
Of course I’ve learned more, much more than this about blogging and also about people, writing, and myself, but this post grows long! Like anything, you get out of it what you put into it. How about you? What has blogging taught you about yourself, your writing, or anything else?
– – – –
Photo credit: speech path girl
– – – –
That’s one weird, wacky bird 🙂 It’s amazing how it feels like you have all of these new friends when you only know them from their blog and the comments that they leave on yours (well, and you also see them around the blogosphere commenting on other blogs and on twitter). I agree with you that there’s a lot of kind people on the blogosphere who are ready to support your blog and help it to grow.
Thanks for the mention, but even more so, the excellent points. I really like how you lay them out with brute honesty.
What I’ve learned from blogging…many things, no doubt. One that comes to mind is the importance of self promotion. You really have to get rid of the idea that self promotion is somehow sleazy or something. In the blogging world, if you’re not doing SOMETHING to get attention, your practically invisible. But, of course, you need to do this in such a way that gains a POSITIVE attention (respect).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! Eric.
First of all, that is one ugly bird, at least from the neck up *grin*
Okay, when I first started blogging, it was just to create an online forum for email stories I was already sending to my family and friends. Then I met very cool fellow writers, and read their interesting posts.
My writing evolved from ‘this is my life’ to ‘this is our world’.
And finally, I discovered a passion for fiction writing.
All this in 10 months! I can’t wait to see where blogging leads me next.
Before, I started blogs in a reporting style fashion for specific niches. Then, last year, I decided to get serious on blogging and sharing about my self growth, personal journey and discoveries in energy healing. Oh my…I finally realize what authentic expression meant.
You are so right about kindness is everywhere. I love the friendships, including yours, that I cultivate on the blogosphere. I am clearly reminded of one of my favorite sayings “there are no strangers in this world, just friends we have not met”.
Thank you, Lori, for your wonderful support and encouragement in the year 2008. I just realized that you sent me a link love in late December (while I was still away on vacation). Thanks so much for it!! I look forward to connecting more with you in 2009.
May your dreams, hopes and visions come true in the new year and beyond!
Hi Lori,
Great points on what you’ve learned – I’ll say that I can agree with all of them! The one that has been the biggest “surprise” for me is the kindness of people from all over the world. I am amazed at how helpful, sincere, and just plain genuine so many people are. And it really has given me an improved outlook on this world we live in.
Here’s to learning all sorts of more stuff about blogging in the upcoming year! It’s great to be here, Lori!
Bloggers don’t fail, they redirect.
My favorite thing I’ve read today, Lori. Thanks.
I’ve learned that I have a thicker skin than I realized… that I am OK with criticism. Part of that is that I learned not to pay attention to anonymous attacks. If they don’t have the courage to say it to my face using their real name, whatever they say is not valid.
Hi Lori,
Excellent points all, but my favorite is about the community being amazing! And kind — OK, OK so those are my two favorite points. This was a bonus to blogging that I never envisioned.
I’ve learned that I am a writer! Never realized before how much I love to write. Here’s to a great 2009 for all of us!
Lori…
I can relate on every point. As a novice blogger, I have learned very quickly that authenticity is key…I went upstream, downstream, everywhere and in the end, it was my authentic voice that I ran back to and embraced. Funny, I even wrote a blog entitled “Blogosphere, I Mean, Blogosfear” because I was fearful of all the unknowns…it’s all in the leaning and meeting such wonderful people:)
This post is fluid and informative so thank you!
Hi Marelisa,
Yes, that bird could give you nightmares!
I know we all “see” just a slice of who and what we all are because online interactions are limited, but I think after awhile we get a feel for the person behind the words. It’s hard to hide being a jerk for long, but kindness always comes shining through, just as it does through your words.
Hi Eric,
Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words!
Self promotion is tough for me, too. I find it much easier to promote others. I think Seth Godin’s concept of tribes and tribe building helps because then it’s about finding people more than shouting at them.
Hi Urban Panther,
I love this, “My writing evolved from ‘this is my life’ to ‘this is our world’.”
In your words and posts and fiction — your kindness and authenticity rock! I bet a book will be in your near future.
Hi Evelyn,
Thanks for your encouragement and words and kindness as well! This is all quite a journey for us bloggers isn’t it? I’ve seen your authenticity take hold, and yes, the words, “oh my,” capture that feeling for me, too.
Hi Lance,
I think we both know the blog world has its share of crazies, but yes, the willingness of other bloggers to reach out and offer themselves, their advice, their stories is mind boggling. 2009 looks to be a transition year to even better and brighter times — at least for us bloggers exploring this new frontier!
Hi Writer Dad Sean,
Thanks! You look to be doing some fine re-directing yourself!
Hi Vered,
Your authenticity about yourself and your outlook on the world is always refreshing. I mean, really, who else could come up with a “butt writing” post?!
Hi Linda,
Discovering that writing is really a part of all of us is a wonderful journey. If you haven’t read Writing Down the Bones or The Artist’s Way, I highly recommend both … in all your spare time of course!
Hi Henie,
Welcome and thanks for your comment!
I was lucky as a novice in that I first came to blogging to write, not to “learn how to blog.” It made the process more of an adventure than a job. What is nice about blogging is that you can start anywhere, anytime, and for ANY reason. Where else can we experience freedom like that?
A great post to encourage me in my blogging adventure. Though very satisfying, blogging takes a lot of time. If I could make a living off it, it would be great.
Excellent post and I agree whole heartedly with the reasons.
I tried to fit myself into one of the categories and failed! The closest perhaps is the first one where I may just manage to squeeze into the ‘ranters’ category! If only you had included husbands and sons in the last category, may be I would have just about made the grade.
You have visited my blog. Where would you fit me in?
Hi Katy,
Thanks for commenting!
Glad I could offer some encouragement. Making a living at it? Yes, that would be nice. I think any material success for me will come from writing books and blogging on the martial arts — both of which are in the works.
Hi Rummuser,
The categories listed were just a sampling, not a whole list. Blogging allows any niche you please, even no-niche blogging! I guess your blogging fits into something like “life notes and musings on the world.”
Great post!! What I love about blogging is the community and the conversations within that community.
I have learned more from reading posts from bloggers than almost any book could teach me (also the comments are helpful). I’ve tried to explain the community of bloggers to people who don’t blog and most don’t get it. I suppose it seems strange that you get close to people you never meet or even talk with over the phone. But that’s what happens in the blogging community! I think it’s great!
Hi Sara,
Welcome and thanks for taking the time to comment.
A good portion of the blog world does indeed take care of its own quite well via informative post and comments. I’m glad you’ve found that part of it. Click on commenter’s name in this post, and you will find more of the same — good people helping to make the world a better place.
Lori,
thank you for the great post! I have been blogging since July last year, and the seven things you learned are among the things I learned as well. The community is amazing – yes, it really is! During the months I have been blogging I met a crowd of wonderful people from all over the world, the States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Scotland and some more places which I won’t mention here because of taking away too much space. I have got the feeling that I am a global citizen, having the possibility to talk to other global citizens.
Hi Ulla,
Makes the world a bit smaller doesn’t it and more like a place where we can jump in and lend a hand, yes?
Hi Lori – Great lessons learned. For me, the community of bloggers amazes me. Like you said, they are a very kind and caring group of people from all over the world, from all walks of life. Even after blogging for 21 months I still marvel at that part of blogging.
Authenticity is very important. If we can sit at our keyboards and type the words that flow from our hearts, our blogs will grow. Although readership for new blogs can be slow coming, writing for that imaginary audience is what kept me going.
Thank you for including me in your “favorite bloggers”. I am humbled and honored by the mention.
Happy New Year and Happy Blogging to you, Lori.
Hi Barbara,
Thanks! I’ve always been amazed by the community you’ve developed online. Many bloggers I frequent have been highlighted in your blog. Thanks for being a trusted source, networker, and blogger!