Blogger
development and me
I would love to work on
blogger development. I’ve been pretty much doing the same thing – over and over
again – since I began. Reading. Writing. Posting.
I even know some of what I
need to do:
Add photos. Add graphics. Write shorter. Write
snappier. (Many of the blogs I like best do this.)
Find someone who knows
something about blog design and get some help. Explore blog design on my own.
But blog improvement is a
little like changing habits. I know what I need to do but I don’t do it. I just keep doing the old, the familiar and
the most comfortable.
I am a little selfish in
this. I write in order to have a small conversation with the book. Writing, I tell myself, is the place I go to
think, kind of like going for a long walk with a friend – and the book is the
friend. I post so others can listen in on that conversation.
That’s different than
writing for an audience of other bloggers. When I ask who my audience is, I
come up blank. So I just keep writing the way I’ve been writing for years.
Conflicted.
On genres
I don’t think it’s true that
genres don’t get the attention they deserve. Over the past 30 or so years,
genres have gone beserk -- growing, changing, subdividing and subsubdividing. Mysteries.
Thrillers. Police Procedurals. Detective stories. Armchair detectives. Noir. Etc.
And I like that.
They’ve also been
crossbreeding and you see wonderful examples of that in truly great fiction
like Cloud Atlas. Wow what a book!
While I favor literary
fiction and mysteries – old habits die hard -- I’ll read anything that’s
multilayered and really good.
This year I’ve read historical fiction, YA and
biographies – but I’m reading off the top of the genres I’m least familiar with
– already established greats like Hilary Mantel, John Green and David
McCullough.
I know it sounds weird to suggest, but there are tons of books on blogging out there. That is how i overcame my fear of all this. Books are what i feel comfortable with, so that where i turn when i need help and it has worked.
ReplyDeletetanya
I've thought of this. I might have even made it to the library only to find that the books were out. Should try again. Do you have any recommendations?
DeleteI definitely understand how hard it is to change habits. But maybe try introducing one new change at a time until that becomes comfortable?
ReplyDeleteYes. I know and setting goals -- giving myself a direction
ReplyDeleteOh goodness, the things I have thought about doing, changing, adding, or taking away from my blog - particularly in the area of design - are so many and contradictory to each other that I'm better off leaving a lot of it alone. That said, when I'm done with school I might invest some time and effort in that area. But I also like the way it is, and think that my biggest development is in my writing, my voice, and the way in which I look at books. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling about changing it up on the blog. I've been dabbling in designs looking for graphic help and asking for feed back. Its daunting, making changes!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I split mine into two posts today. I think I ramble in my posts.
Ashley @ My Two Cents
I love how you talk about writing as a walk with a friend and the book is the friend! Terrific way of looking at it!
ReplyDeleteI love all kinds of genres, but I'm mainly drawn to good stories and characters. I need to read Cloud Atlas!
I love your post :) And I love John Green right now, but then again I am still under the influence of The Fault in Our Stars.
ReplyDeleteMy recipe to blogging happiness is doing what feels right. So I say just do that :)
Your blog looks pretty great to me! And it's working for you! Keep doing what you're doing, it's awesome!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your thoughts on Blog Development and Genre. Blogging is so personal. I think your blog is a reflection of you and it works beautifully. Sometimes I feel there's too much going on with some designs, sometimes I feel that my blog is a bit much, but what it really comes down to is what you have to say, not what the blog looks like.
ReplyDeleteThank you Suzanne. It's reassuring to have feedback. I would love to get just a little help to make reveiws a bit easier to access.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete