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| Random picture - Looe, Cornwall - March 2012 |
When I first started this blog, that was the direction I assumed I'd take. I'd have an opinion about something, and then lots of people would have their opinions too - agreeing and disagreeing, and generally having a solid debate.
But I got a bit distracted by blogfests and tags and hops.
These blogfests and tags go in waves, so that there are weeks when that's all I seem to be posting. Although I love taking part in them, it feels as though I'm losing the roots of the blog. They are a great way of keeping in touch with those bloggers I follow, but don't necessarily visit regularly. The more blogs I follow, the less I can keep up with them... which is such a lame excuse when I look at the numbers of people some of you follow!
The A-Z Challenge in April was a great experience, but I found I could barely string two written words together for about a month afterwards. It was my first time, though, so perhaps I just didn't plan it properly.
I don't think too many things will change, but just be prepared for some more opinions!
Has your blog morphed since it began?
Have you embraced the change?
Change = evolution = being alive. Hell yeah, I embrace it. :)
ReplyDeleteEvolution is a great thing, although I think I'm aiming to devolve, so I'm not sure where I fit in at the moment :-)
DeleteYeah, I can totally relate to this. I love the hops and fests but lately I haven't felt like I've been able to commit to them. It can be a little overwhelming trying to keep up at times and I start to feel like I'm just running in circles. I've been totally unfocused with my blog for the past few months so I'm trying to rectify that.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to more of your opinions! :)
I start the lists so focused and determined to get to the end, but by the time I'm half-way people are posting new things. And then someone from the list will visit me a week later and I feel guilty!
DeleteI enjoyed the blog hops and fests earlier on, but feel just as you do -they began to drain my energy away. i think it's the danger with all the social media - the commitment to it becomes so time-consuming that there's not enough left for writing...so I'm not doing any more hops and such... also trying to figure out the role of my blog... I almost would just rather visit other people's blogs now!
ReplyDeleteI'm really loving the photos and tales of your travels at the moment. It's different to any other blog I visit!
DeleteAdapting to change is part of life. Go with it and have fun Annalisa.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I have to be talked in to change - I like the end result, but not the 'changing' bit :-) I will try to have fun though :-)
DeleteI have to admit, I'm a rubbish blogger! I am full of admiration for you as you put a lot into your blog and it's always interesting. It's keeping up with other blogs I find so hard - I LOVE reading them but time is not on my side. I may stop blogging all together for a while - one less thing to try and fit in. A debate on a blog is always a good thing, so I'll be looking forward to some of that!
ReplyDeleteP.S. thanks for the pic of Looe - I have an almost identical one taken on a summer's day!
DeleteThanks Linda, your comments about my blog have really cheered me up. Sometimes I wonder whether I'm wittering on, boring everyone, so it's nice to have some positive feedback :-)
DeleteYou're welcome on the picture.
I have similar thoughts Annalisa, about talking more, conversations, debates, opinions. I think blogs are a real space for us to use and sometimes we just seem to forget that. It's something I'm trying to do, but it's not always easy. A great blogfest is always fun though, it's been a great way to meet new and interesting fellow bloggers.
ReplyDeleteUsing the space - I like that. I realised that my cloud thing with the topics has STUFF ABOUT ME as the second largest topic - I'm not sure that was my intention when I started :-)
DeleteThe A to Z challenge was as fun as it was challenging. It is the reason I have a blog today. My blog has morphed into a writing blog and I'm much happier with it than I was with an all about me blog.
ReplyDeleteI love to read books that are focused - which is why I'm going to focus myself more. I already link to interesting writerly things on Facebook and Twitter, but I overlooked that I could expand on my thought here - there's more room!
DeleteI began mine almost three years ago and it's changed quite a bit. Once I started blogging about stuff I enjoyed, I hit my groove. The first A to Z really propelled it forward. By the second, highlighting others became more important. Now I'm still about the fun movie-music-geek stuff, but with the Ninja News and guest features, I've found my place.
ReplyDeleteYou've definitely found your niche, and no one can do it quite as good as you!
DeleteI've just decided to choose carefully the blogfests I take part in, because they are fun - I do love doing them!
ReplyDeleteMy blog is in a constant evolution. I know what you mean about getting off track. I felt mine has gotten away from me some, too. I guess we sometimes have to get better at combining things. Like keep promos & hops short, then go into what the day's blog should be about. Shrug. At any rate, it seems to me, my content is in constant flux.
ReplyDeleteI love the way your blog combines the astronomy and the science fiction parts - I see your blog as one that succeeds with staying on track. It's funny how perceptions can be different.
DeleteI'm not sure how my blog has changed--I think I'm still trying to get the hang of picking topics people are actually interested in.
ReplyDeleteAllison (Geek Banter)
Sometimes you write about something, and no one seems to comment; other times everyone visits and comments, and it's really great. It can't happen all the time though.
DeleteMy blog has changed because I usually join fests and hops, but I mix it up with other subjects. I also blog three times a week when I used to only post once a week.
ReplyDeleteBlogfests are a great way of creating content and finding new people to follow. I just find they all happen in quick succession.
DeleteI wanted to comment so that you would get an email! hahahah How wicked am I?
ReplyDeleteMy blog has changed a lot, it was created for the A to Z(also my first) and then like you I was left afterward with a blogging hangover. I would like to think it has improved but I can't be sure, lol!
Lol - that was sooooo cruel! I love reading your blog, so whatever you're doing is great with me.
DeleteI might do the A-Z again next year, but I'll definitely have to prepare a project for straight after, because May was a bit of a creative washout.
I was afraid to blog, and only did it because I thought I had to. For me, it has morphed into a huge support system and I love it. My only negative? It really steals my writing time.
ReplyDeleteI think you blog very well - and yes, it's great when you meet like-minded people who really understand what WIP means! I agree it steals writing time though - more so the reading of everyone else's blogs, because once you start it's hard to stop!
DeleteI started blogging because I hoped I'd have a record of my journey to the top of the best-seller lists... my blog is a very long-term project :-D
My blog definitely changed. It started out being about me, my life, writing and my writing experience. Later on I split off the first two to another blog so that I could focus MFB more.
ReplyDeleteI think it worked out for the better. :-)
I love reading both your blogs - although I have to read them through Google Reader because they crash for me, so I don't comment often (maybe this week's bright idea will be Twitter?)
DeleteI have only participated in one blog hop. Personally, sometimes I find a lot of the contests and hops and fests, etc, a little distracting and, although they might generate followers and excitement, they can detract from the content of information and thought-provoking entries.
ReplyDeleteI'm still evolving and new enough that I don't know how mine will change. I'm sure it will. I hate to think that me, my writing or my blog might become stagnant. But being mindful and thoughtful about my content and time is something I hope I always keep a high priority.
I like your blog. I keep it on my blog roll so I don't miss an entry!
I started doing blogfests to meet new bloggers, and yes, to attract some myself - although the numbers don't matter too much to me, there's nothing worse than writing a post that you know no one is reading (and until recently, there were about 5 posts that had never been read!)
DeleteThank you for your kind comments about my blog :-)
I think there will always be tons of memes out there, and while it's nice to be part of that community it's only worth it if you enjoy it. I think blogging just to blog leads to burnout, because what's the fun in that?
ReplyDeleteAs for your question, I used to do memes, but then I never had time to write about the stuff I wanted to write, so I rarely do them now. Others do them so well, though, and they're lots of fun to read, so I can see the advantage.
Yes, when they start to get in the way of your writing, you have to do something drastic. My problem is, I'll decide to step back for a while, then a really great one comes along - like the Chocolate blogfest recently - usually followed by something equally great. I've got a tag waiting in the wings already, but I'm resisting the urge :-)
DeleteI couldn't agree more -- losing roots of my blog because of all this involvement in the blogosphere. I sometimes have to rethink why I'm doing all this stuff in the blogosphere. What I'm really happy that I did is joining IWSG :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
But on the flip side, if we weren't involved in the hops and fests we'd have less followers, and we'd also lose the support. Writing is so lonely, it's nice to have contact with people who are having/have had the same problems as us. IWSG is a great phenomenon!
DeleteI agree you must get involved in the blogosphere to have followers. You can't sit on a log doing nothing in this type of social media...you gotta become a "socialite" in the blogosphere. I mean by "socialite" is commenting on so many blogs that you can't keep up and yes, it's overwhelming but I'm realizing I enjoy stopping by blogs and finding more writer blogs to comment and follow. Oh yes, I love the blogfests...they're fun but you always gotta go back to your roots after the blogfest.
DeleteI agree IWSG is a great phenomenon! Alex is a genius because he unites writers together and we have a ball every Wednesday each month! :)
Hi Annalisa - I struggle with blogfests - especially as I'm not an author (as such) .. but I've been happy with the A-Z (twice now), I did the chocolate blogfest recently - that was fun (but I didn't manage to get around to everyone), I'm doing Alex' book promotion one on 17th Oct ... and I've had one guest poster at my blog (Stephen Tremp)and guest posted a couple of times ..
ReplyDeleteBut I don't really want to change my blog style or mix it around too much - I guess now I'll have more time to think ... I can adjust somewhat.
At some stage we must get to the point where if we're part of this crowd then we can only do so much commenting - so keep in touch with more bloggers, but cut back somewhat and somehow on commenting so often.
How Alex copes I have no idea - and his comments are super short and salient! Wish my writing was as 'neat' .....
As you say you had a great response ...
Cheers Hilary
Alex is a whirlwind, and I always get a buzz when I see he's commented on my blog - a bloggy superstar? Your posts always amaze me with the sheer amount of research that you pack into them - and so varied too. I always learn something from you!
DeleteBlogging can take over your life, can't it? It is difficult to keep up sometimes so I think it makes sense for me to limit the things I join in with... But I know what you mean about being over committed when everything starts catching up... I agree about keeping true to your own blog style and what you originally set out to do but I try to join in when I can...
ReplyDeleteThese blogfests are so much fun - people keep coming up with new and great ideas... My new word (sometimes) is no, politely of course!
DeleteI've tried to follow advice of keeping it short, putting in images, but I don't blog regularly. I know that some bloggers have set days they blog, i.e. Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I just try to blog at least once a week. I don't like the idea of set days, because sometimes I like my posts to be spontaneous, like the other week I blogged about my Ashdown House visit.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't planned - the visit was, but the post wasn't. And I like that.
I'm trying to keep it about me and my writing journey, but sometimes I like to share life on there too. I try not to rant on there though. And although my life is a bit stressful at the moment, I try to keep it positive. Not sure if I am always lol!
Sorry, I do mean to visit you but fail miserably at times. I have left a little tag thingy for you on my blog, as I've always found you've left comments on my blog and been very encouraging with my journey. Thank you for that. x
I experimented earlier this year with regular days, but I gave up quite quickly - I much prefer the spontaneity too. Thanks for the tag :-)
DeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteI went back thirteen months to research comments (for an upcoming guest post) and OMgosh has my blog changed and morphed... but (yippee!) so have I.
I'm definetely a better writer and I trust myself more when it comes to WIP, and all because I put samples of me (and my writing) out there, asked for critiques and responded to the suggestions offered.
I've also pulled back and only blog once or twice (randomly) per week, which is far more fun that blogging on a set schedule.
I also feel more responsible now and try to offer advice to newbies, because while I am no Alex, I do want to be able to pay it forward, as it was paid forward to me.
Random posts are much easier to cope with, and you know you're writing about something to want to. I try to offer advice in my comments on other people's blogs, but I still don't feel like I have enough experience to have full-on advice posts yet. I really appreciate everyone who does offer such great advice though!
DeleteI agree with you about the hops, linky parties, and whatnot. Sometimes they can take over so quickly. My blog has morphed and changed as well. I feel like it's much more personal than when I started out. I actually really enjoy the change.
ReplyDelete