(This is meta-blogging – you don’t have to read it if you’re here for the conflict-y stuff.)
I didn’t realise how many rules I had internalised about blogging (from all those social media bloggers) until I got stuck again in writing here.
Er.. how long’s it been? Six weeks or something?
And it’s not even like I’m a newbie blogger – I did an Expert Blog for 18 months before.
But… this Blogging-As-Me thing is tough.
I have come up with a blogging dammit list (valid for the next, oh, I don’t know, 2 hours)
My Blogging Rules
(yeah, take that, big rough bully-boys – my blog? my rules!)
- I will not schedule posts so that they publish when I’m busy. It feels fake and like I’m witholding. I will not do it, dammit!
- Whilst I may separate topics into granular posts for the sake of being understandable <embarrassed smile> , I will not make granular posts for the Googlejuice, dammit.
- If I have several things to say, I may write several separate posts and post them on the same day. Maybe even within minutes of each other. Dammit.
- I will write about my experience and not turn it into glib how-to instructions. At least not yet. Dammit.
- I will not end my posts with requests for comments, but allow people to comment if they feel the genuine desire. Dammit.
- I reserve the right to go against these ‘rules’ at any time in the future. Dammit.
So, Blogging Police?
Suck it.
Dammit.
<grins>
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: PattyK_
Thank you for sharing this…it is exactly what I needed to read right now. I can especially relate to 1 and 3. I haven’t posted anything in a few days and I feel like I *should* – and at the same time I just feel like I have nothing to say. I also have about 10 not quite finished posts that I started at an earlier date. I figured I’d save them up for a time like this. But since then, I’ve lost interest…they are no longer “alive” for me. I should (hate that word, *shouldn’t* use it) have finished them and posted them at the time.
Hey Patty
I know what you mean about posts no longer being ‘alive’.
Might be worth looking at them though – us perfectionists are often harder on ourselves than, er, the rest of the world, so there might still be *some* merit in them…
Thanks for the support – glad to have you!
Although I agree that there comes a moment when posts are no longer alive, I have no problem banking/scheduling posts on my own blog. YMMV, obvs, but I don’t see this as any less authentic–they were all written by me, after all.
It also gets me around the whole “I can only really play internet after hours” thing, so my posts can go out when other people are available to read them.
It is hard, though, not to post everything I write as soon as I write it. I want feedbacks and recognition for my fantastic insights NOW, damnit!
Yeah, I kind of consciously get that it’s ok to bank posts, but somehow it doesn’t sit right with me. At the moment…
You insights are particularly fantastic, though…
Hey Andrew,
New to your blog, but I’ve been ongoingly impressed by your comments on Havi’s blog, so thought I’d come check it out. And this made me laugh. It’s just awesome. New blogger myself (but mine is intentionally “personal,” least so far, which so far seems to give me freedom to do/say most whatever), so maybe fiercer resonance with me. And, my mom’s cat’s fur seems to be all over my keyboard. Thought you’d appreciate because I swear I read you had a cat somewhere … I mean, read SOMEWHERE you had a cat … I’m sure your cat is right there with you, provided you do have one. Aaaand, that’s gotta be a stopping point right there….
Shana
Hey Shana
I’m 8,000 miles away from my cat, but back to the cat hair this week.
Glad it was a resonant rant.
See you ’round!
“this Blogging-As-Me thing is tough”
YES YES YES! Thats it exactly.
My day job blog is easy- I get to hide behind big words and official links. “Blogging as me” is a lot scarier. The rules in my head include:
1. Be real without saying anything personal
2. post 3 times a week
Great post. Thank you!