People blog for different reasons.
Some blog as a way to share with family and friends. They keep an online record of life.
Some blog as a way to connect with others who may be experiencing something similar. Adoption, a chronically ill child, a wandering heart, addiction.
Some blog because they are writers and poets and photographers and lovers of life.
Some blog with a purpose. They want people to get a long, hard look at something they feel passionate about.
But regardless, I admire all of you who make yourselves vulnerable and toss out the hard stuff for all to read.
That’s not an easy thing for me. Not online. Not in real-life.
See, I never viewed blogging as a free ticket into my head. There is that balance of sharing enough to develop relationships and feel connected, but at the same time, leaving space for your life to be yours. It's tricky.
My questions for you:
What kind of blogger are you? How do you decide what to share? What will make you follow a blog? What types of posts turn you off?
39 comments:
I started to blog because I want to be a writer and I need motivation to write regularly. Then, I just fell in love with the whole experience. I am comfortable with exposure and such, but I do try to keep a certain focus on my blog to STORYTELLING. Whether that be telling a story about my son and being a parent or fiction pieces.
Oh, I need to answer my own questions:
I blog because I love to write and I have a mission: find ways to serve as a family.
I like blogs that make me think, make me feel, and teach me new things.
I don't like blogs with really, really long posts...I have zero attention span and I just can't wade through it all.
Hi Amy
I started blogging because I wanted to encourage other women
I enjoy blogs that are not too long, about their walk with Christ, their things they overcome
I write about stuff that has affected me only in as much as i can bring encouragement. My goal is always honour Christ and although I write about my experiences its not about me.
And lastly I enjoy giving and receiving a good giggle.
I'm not really interested in recipes, shopping tips, etc.
Terrible hey?
Anyway, God bless
Tracy
I blog because I love to write and I feel most free and released when writing.
Purpose in my writing: to encourage people to not just endure, but possibly even laugh while pursuing what God calls us to,even when the season feels like a bowl of wedgies.
Arrogant, complaining and belittling posts turn me off.
I hope to see you this weekend!!!
I blog because God is teaching me so much and I can't keep it to myself. It's like He sets my heart on fire with this passion and I am scared that if I don't write it out I'll soon forget. I write because I am being challenged and I pray that through my writing the Lord will ignite this passion in others. I start out thinking with every post that it will be a short one. :/ ha!
Amy,
I love that you have such a defined purpose in your blog. It makes me think that having a sort of 'mission statement' as a blogger might be helpful.
I tend to be all over the board on my blog. My poor readers probably get whiplash. :) One day, I'll write a poem. The next day, I'll share a goofy story about myself. And then the day after that, I'll offer thoughts on prayer or fasting or something. But you know? That's the way my crazy life is, too. A bit wacky and unpredictable and pressing-in ever closer toward Jesus!
Great work here, Amy! You demonstrate well what it means to be a class-act blogger.
Jennifer,
I love your blog. Plus, I just like you. Why? You were the first person I met through blogging that sent me an email. It may sound silly, but I remember it because it was sweet and very encouraging.
I don't think you have to have a mission for a blog. In fact, some of the people I really enjoy reading don't. For me, it just helps me keep my focus, and since I'm working on a book with the same theme, I get all kinds of great insight and quotes from everyone who is reading!
I started blogging for writing's sake, and I wasn't sure how I felt about baring my soul. I did jump into that at first and found I didn't like how it made others feel they had rights to the bits of my soul I bared. I know that's kind of silly. I just hadn't thought it through. Now, I am enjoying blogging to practice my writing in areas I need strength and in areas I enjoy like poetry and fiction. I am loving it now, and I don't have to fear what I'm putting out there anymore. Great questions, A, and thanks for the link :)
That's a really good question... and I have no idea these days! (which is why I haven't been blogging as often...) I used to feel like I could say it all, but now... I don't know! Nothing really happened, just questioning my own motives...
I blog as a way to share what God is teaching me through His Word. I want to encourage other Christians to look at the Bible in a new way and get excited about what they are reading.
I don't like long posts either - short attention span.
Many blessings!
Yes, I blog because I'm a writer. (Thanks for the shout out, Amy!)
I also blog because when I was 12 I had penpals in almost every state (that was my goal) and one in London. This feels like that, and I love it!
I've met so many bloggers I just want to meet for real now -- including Amy!
Oh, it's fun to learn more about all of you...
Hey, next person commenting, will you tell me what kinds of posts you don't like, and what kinds of blogs you follow, and why.
I'd love to know what both bothers and interests you.
Love this post; great questions. Like you, I do not view blogging as a free ticket into my head. I often admire bloggers who share everything, but it is a fine line. "Everything" can be brave and inspirational, or TMI and potentially embarrassing for their family. I definitely get turned off by bloggers who over-expose their kids, or who are dramatic and pessimistic. I actually started A Work in Progress (in part) as a response to so many complaining mommy blogs. I needed to find the joy in mothering, and the happiness in being a stay at home mom. I have found it through a wonderful online community of Christian women, and many more here in my town - who I might not have discovered if I hadn't been open about Christianity and motherhood on my blog. It has been really interesting for me to have people I casually know say, "I read your blog." That means they know a lot more about me, and I still get a bit startled by that, believe it or not. I count it as accountability.
I have a private blog that serves as my family scrapbook, so I keep family memories mostly (but not totally) separate from my "motherhood, faith and encouragement" themed posts at A Work in Progress. I have found a voice for each blog, and they both represent me, just not every single part of me.
Thanks for making me think about this. You are, of course, one of the Christian moms who inspire!
Hi Amy. I love this post. I blog because I love writing, and I mostly write about things that are closed to my heart.
I love interactive blogs, especially yours. Some bloggers are only rambling to themselves. They do ask for comments, but they hardly reply.
Another thing is I like to make friends, friends from any parts of the world.
Sophyta,
Thank you, and I'm so happy a friend from another part of the world is right here!
Great topic, Amy. I started my blog at first just to have a place to "store" my writing, but it slowly became more than that. I have a desire to offer hope for people who might feel they don't have any. And, inspire people to see God in the everyday. I sometimes get pretty vulnerable. I spent a huge chunk of my life hiding and suppressing my thoughts and I have a hard time keeping it all in now. :)
Thank you, Amy.
You're truly a friend from the other side of the world. At the moment, my clock is showing 9.57am.,and I guess yours must be 9.57pm.
Thank you for the friendship.
I started my blog to share my photos and stories with family and friends. Then a met a whole new set of friends as well, and now I am encouraged and pushed out of my comfort zone by them to share more of my inner stories and challenges. I follow blogs that speak to me in some way, that help me learn a little each day.
I started blogging not really knowing what it was all about. Then it became a place where I write about my childhood and abuse (it was a little bit my free therapy) but it slowly changed to involve more of my present life.....and now it is a mix of all of those things, a place to write and share and talk through the hard things, but also a place to rejoice and share the lite things. It is a lot like my life, and I guess that is what it should be.
I like blogs that make me think, or show me new things, or have beautiful writing. Honestly I'm subscribed to over 200 blogs, and they are so varied, it would be hard to classify them.
I began blogging to make myself write regularly. I am careful about what I share -- don't want to send my children into therapy! That carefulness is sometimes difficult to navigate, particularly when I want to be real.
I am turned off by posts that are overly flowery. not sure what to do with those :)
You know what? A year into this blogging thing I still don't know how to answer that question. I started blogging to post a couple of stories that other family members wanted to read. But my blog has a major identity crisis and I think it's because I don't know why I do this. So I go through silent periods of weeks before I have stories and thoughts that don't seem to "fit" the blog, although I don't know what the blog is about (adoption? parenting? journey with Christ?). I am still trying to figure this one out. Any suggestions?
I blog because I want to be a writer, but I'm still trying to figure out exactly what that means. I don't enjoy blogs that are controversial for the sake of debate and getting lots of comments, nor do I like blogs with little substance. I follow blogs of talented story tellers and people who are authentic, not afraid to share their flaws (but respecting the balance of telling too much, which is tricky).
Have a great day! :)
Hi Amy! I love your post! I saw the word vulnerable and I had to dive in! I am a Christian blogger. Someone who needs encouragement and who love to encourage. Someone who is just trying to figure this mom thing out day by say, step by step, while maintaining a Godly perspective... Love your blog!
love this post!
i blog because i love to write, and it seemed like a good outlet for that. even though i had no idea who would read it :-) sometimes it's serious and sometimes it's silly. but it's always ME.
deciding what to share--that's what's tricky. my hubby is a policeman, which means he's pretty particular about the specifics. that's why there are no pics, and i have to be careful about family stories. and i'm very careful about my kiddos and what might hurt their hearts--especially my two oldest girls who love to read the blog!
i follow blogs that continue to inspire me after several visits. or make me laugh. i also enjoy blogs that offer some variety in the posts.
blogs that turn me off--ones that offer a lot of complaining, posts that are way too long or sound really preachy. i enjoy a strong point & economy of words :-)
steph
Funny you should mention this today, as I am at a blogging crossroads. As the victim of an abusive marriage and divorce, I am deciding how far to go in the disclosure of events. I want God to have the glory, and He has been so good to me. My story is full of His glory. On the other hand, for my eighteen year old son's sake, I wonder how far I should go. How public is my blog really??? Would my stories get back to his father? Please pray that I would have discretion and that God would lead me and direct me so that I can do my utmost for His Highest...
Funny you should mention this today, as I am at a blogging crossroads. As the victim of an abusive marriage and divorce, I am deciding how far to go in the disclosure of events. I want God to have the glory, and He has been so good to me. My story is full of His glory. On the other hand, for my eighteen year old son's sake, I wonder how far I should go. How public is my blog really??? Would my stories get back to his father? Please pray that I would have discretion and that God would lead me and direct me so that I can do my utmost for His Highest...
Hi Amy! I find my way to blogs that I personally connect with -parenting, writing, faith based and funny. I tend to avoid self indulgent dreck (ha), angry rants or overly detailed crafting blogs (my eyes glaze over). I have missed my blog but God opened the door to re-connect me with an old friend (who is now a blogger) and I am guest blogging for her!
Well, I just knew I liked you. You're a likable gal, you. I blog to give an honest account of my life...and I find myself wanting to be more honest and transparent, the longer I'm at it. Incidentally, I recently wrote a post about drinking, and I just received a most scathing comment. So, it seems, transparency can have its draw-backs. ;)
Thank you for your encouragement today. I'll see you tomorrow!
you know my issues and the love/hate relationship i have w/my blog. don't know why it's that way, but i suspect it's b/c i still care too much about what other people think. does that go away even more by age 30??? please tell me yes! plus i do struggle w/the whole sharing, but not oversharing thing and i don't know how to properly do it. and the time-commitment thing.....just can eat up more than i want so i just give up, then all of a sudden have a million things to post, but never can find the time.
i think the vulnerable thing is hard. have to say though- my favorite posts of your have been when you are being more vulnerable. same is true for our real-life conversations as well. :) right now i'm trying to navigate the friendship thing more- how to be close and real, but not overshare or get overly sensitive and yadda, yadda, yadda. i could go on for days.....
i'm guessing this comment (like so many of my posts) is too long! gotta work on editing! love you and can NOT wait till you get back and can tell of your conference. so excited for you!!!
Speaking truth with grace, humor, and wit.
That's what keeps me coming back!
I'm the 'writer' type of blogger, whose mission is to 'encourage and build up others'.
I've gained HUGE growth and freedom in Christ because others have shared their struggles and how they worked through them. I hope that by sharing my own journey - fairly open and vulnerable - that others may find freedom too.
RE: posts I like - personal, applicable, brief, well written.
RE: posts I don't like - long, lofty and impersonal.(about 'those people') ... and commercialized posts.
I just realized you linked to me here! (I'm a little slow) Thanks, for including me, friend!
I blog because I find that there is so much to learn from scripture and other writings and people. As I write and reflect I learn more and more and want to share that with others. I blog so I can learn (and maybe help others learn with me).
I will follow a blog that will make me think and inspire me to learn more and grow closer to the Lord.
I don't usually read posts that are mostly pictures without the background information to make the pictures mean anything.
Amy, thanks for your blog.
Amy, I blog as a way to sort out what I'm thinking and what God might be saying to me...through scripture and through life.
I like blogs where people share their hearts without spilling their guts...blogs with lots of pictures...blogs that I can read in less than 3 minutes because that's often all I have...blogs that help me see what God might be saying to others, through scripture and through life.
Great post! I like your blog because you offer valuable information and you make me think!
I'm so glad that I found this question of yours. I have been mulling this question -- why do I blog? How much should I tell or not? I think it does boil down to knowing why I blog.
The simple reason I blog -- because I like to write. And I enjoy writing for a potential audience that gives feedback -- love that! But what I read about blogs -- it needs to have a mission, it needs to provide something for others -- help?!
I will often peruse a blog and read an interesting story. But what keeps me coming back is a well-written blog on a topic that I'm interested in.
The blogs I enjoy most are the eclectic mom blogs that cover many topics that are well- written.
I do like variety. Sometimes I like a blog and then lose interest. Hmmm, it is hard to quantify what I like or not!!!
What kind of blogger are you?
I think I'm still trying to figure it out or maybe trying to get it right. I desire to be the blogger with a purpose.
How do you decide what to share?
I share from my experience - experiences of the past or experience of the day.
What will make you follow a blog?
I will follow a blog if I enjoy the writing style (for the writer in me) and if the content is educational, encouraging and/or inspiring. It has to speak to me.
What types of posts turn you off?
Probably the type I wouldn't be reading anyway. :-)
i've had this post starred in my reader for a while now. wanted to come over and respond to your interesting question... and also to click on some of your links and see who else you read. what kind of a blogger am i? how do i decide what i will write and share? makes me think... and i probably don't always know the answer. my little blog is obviously about motherhood and i keep it pretty focused on that. i have so many other things to say and write about that i've considered starting another blog - more of a faith-journey focused one for a narrower (mostly christian) audience. and yet i've just not had the time to actually go for it. i write about things related to motherhood that interest me, but also that i think might help another mom out there. i've always wanted to be a resource to moms - an encouragement, a teacher, an advocate - but it's only been since actually becoming one myself that i've felt the liberty to start doing that... and putting words to it. i try to write in a way that will open the door for other women to open their own hearts. sometimes my posts are lighter than others, and i think that's ok. but ultimately i want people to leave my blog feeling inspired or equipped. those are my criteria for deciding what i write about - to inspire or equip. pretty loose, huh? anyway, ramble ramble. i think i just did some outward processing here... reminding myself what and why i write. :) and what do i like to read? anything that challenges me, makes me think, or inspires me. again, a little broad. but i love a good writer and a good photographer - those definitely help to keep me coming back! and people who aren't afraid of being known for who they really are (as much as that's possible virtually at least!) love your blog amy. always and sincerely.
just clicked on some of your links and realized i'm one of them. lol. thanks amy. :)
now, i must apologize for the monsterous length of that last comment i left. shocking, i know. but super typical for me.... always in need of a good edit and word count deduction!! sheesh.
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