A Few Thoughts on Blogging

It seems we're seeing an increase in blogs shut down because people aren't willing to put forth the effort and time to maintain them. Sometimes I wonder how I've even kept at it for these past three years.

I guess when your blog is of a very personal nature you eventually get tired of being on display like that. You start feeling like you're just yakking on and on about yourself and no one cares anymore.

Well, if you have a good audience to begin with, usually a group of close friends, there's more reason and motivation to continue blogging. People are usually gregarious, which for the benefit of those who do not spend their free time perusing their dictionary, means that people are sociable and curious to know about others' lives. Why do you think celebrity tabloids are as popular as they are?

This brings me to my next point. It's sad to realize that most people are more interested in the negative aspect of people's lives, the dirty little secrets, the juicy scandals, etc. People are bound to misinterpret and twist your words and actions; which leads them to come to their own conclusions that paint you in a bad light. I've seen this problem lead some good bloggers to either discontinue their blog or open a private one.

I think one of the reasons I've been able to keep blogging for this long is because this blog is multifaceted; it not only serves as a log and diary of sorts, it is also used to showcase my writing, keep in touch with friends, address issues that come up in my social life, and receive needed feedback on any projects I undertake.

I'm not saying that most blogs don't include at least two of the above mentioned aspects. Also, I'm not saying that you can't successfully blog your life and gain a large audience in the process. But for people who don't have that online charisma, there's got to be more to their blog than just posts about their personal life. I think if I tried to just log my life and have a "Hey, what's up!" post every now and then, I'd lose interest and bore the heck out of my readers in the process.

Blogging is a very personal thing. You're putting yourself out for the world to see. It can't be forced or strained, and if you don't feel like it; that's fine, don't blog. The worst posts I've written have been during times I thought "Oh no, I forgot to post and I've got an audience that wants to see an update now!" You have got to enjoy blogging, if not, it's better to invest your time into something else.

Of course, there's always a time when we bloggers encounter a hump and just need to exercise a little determination and work. But if after that you're still dragging your feet, put your blog to sleep and try a new hobby. Maybe pick up tuba playing.