Tuesday, November 1, 2011

People aren't blogging like they used to, but I still will

I've noticed that some of my blogging buddies aren't posting like they used to.  Hurricane Mikey hasn't posted anything in almost a month and my dear friend over at I Hate to Weight has gone longer than that.  My BFF Julie of 47 and Starting Over fame is another one who's posting only occasionally now.

Believe me, I'm not making any judgments.  Blogging is a ton of work and is extremely time consuming, especially if you're trying to create thoughtful, meaningful posts.  I don't blame anyone for backing away from it.  I've said before that it's more important to live life than to write about it.

Like November leaves in the Adirondacks, blogging seems to be past peak.  Not only do people not have time to blog, but who has time to read this shit?  Everyone is busy as hell these days.  I get that.

I'm still going to blog.  I start my new job next week and I know I'm going to tight as hell time-wise, especially in the beginning as I'm learning the ropes, but I am going to do everything in my power to maintain the Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday posting schedule I've had since I started this blog in July 2008.  

My blog is important to me; it's a 3+ year creation.  It's a documentation of my life.  Back when I taught writing classes, I used to always tell my students "the faintest ink is better than the sharpest memory."  There are so many details about my life I would have forgotten had I not posted in this blog, so I'm not going to stop. 

I blog primarily for myself.  If I had not a single reader, I would still blog.  Writers write, and blogging provides a structure for me to write on a consistent basis.   But of course, my readers are important to me; you provide me with a sense of accountability.  So I want to ask a few questions.


What would you like to see more of in this blog?  Are there any particular topics you'd like me to weigh in on?


Has your blog reading increased or decreased over time?


How many blogs do you follow religiously?  What are some cool blogs I should know about?

Thank you, and as always, I truly appreciate your stopping by here. 

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I backed off writing on my blog. I'm at about one post per 6 days. When I wake up I may write about what is up with me. Infact I was just lying here mentally writing it before I picked up the bb and clicked ur link. I try and read your posts religiously (if i were religious or believed in it)even when I don't comment You keep me balanced and in check and you make me laugh which is so important. We run in pretty much the same blogging circles so no need to give you my recommendations. Besides I'm a year old you're 3, you're suppose to be directing me lol xoxo

TAD said...

Linda: I hope blogging isn't "past its peak" -- I wrote 17 posts last month (my most in quite awhile, I had a lot to tell people), & had my 2nd-best month ever for readership. Still wish I got more feedback, tho....
You're doing a fine job writing about your life & career in Vegas -- don't change a thing!
I check-in with about a dozen blogs each day. I would read MORE blogs if I could find more GOOD ones -- I enjoy reading about other people's lives, hobbies, struggles, triumphs, etc.
My favorite blogs are music-related -- "Gardenhead" at ASLEEP ON THE COMPOST HEAP (www.onavery.blogspot.com/) is an Irish guy living in England, talking mostly about current music & his life, work, etc. He writes brilliantly.
"Crabby" at www.rscrabb.blogspot.com/ can be a little grouchy but it's all in fun. Like me, he thinks music's best time was 40 years ago, & he's always looking for bargains on forgotten music, so we have a lot in common.
"Rastro" at www.lahistoriadelamusicarock.tumblr.com/ posts rock&roll photos & brief comments -- he's always knowledgeable & usually hilarious.
Sorry 2 B so wordy! Cheers!
PS -- Did you write awhile back that your folks live in Boise? I grew up in Boise....

raydenzel1 said...

It is true that many bloggers have stopped or have slowed down. Sometimes personal problems take over, sometimes the desire leaves the writer. Sometimes the problem that caused one to write has been resolved.

People who follow move on. Sometimes the subject matter has changed, not to their liking. Maybe they feel insulted. Worst of all, they no longer care.

Some bloggers thought they would become rich. We know how silly that is, and they stop.

I have been doing this since April 2009. I think I have changed many times since the beginning.

But there are many wonderful people out there who have much to offer and I will find them.

And I hope they find me back!

kkerin said...

I hope you do keep up your schedule. I look so forard to your posts! My blog reading has increased only because I have some free time during the day at work. Keep 'em coming!!

Julie D said...

What would you like to see more of in this blog? Are there any particular topics you'd like me to weigh in on?

You know I love your blog just as it is. It's one of the few I still manage to read regularly.

Has your blog reading increased or decreased over time?

It has decreased dramatically. Where I used to spend lots of time very day, now I check in once or twice a week.

How many blogs do you follow religiously? What are some cool blogs I should know about?

I follow very few religiously, yours of course being one of them. I agree with how you feel about your blog, mine is a documentation of my last three years as well. It's a journey I had to take to get to where I am today. I think all the time that I should post more, and yet I never do. I find myself struggling for something to write all the time. I've lost most of my followers, even when I do post I get maybe 5 comments at best. I think that's part of why I don't knock myself out to do it, because nobody is really reading it anymore....

I'm glad to know you will continue though, it's how I keep up with the goings on in your life! Good luck with the new job!!!! Miss you, love you.

Mike Dennis said...

It's like keeping a diary, Linda. Keep doing it.

Lisa Gioia-Acres said...

As you know, I LOVE your blog. Your writing and humor are my inspiration. I think your approach, sharing your daily life events, sprinkled with insight on topics that peak your interests, is perfect. Keep on doing what you are doing!

My blog gets a new follower once in a blue moon - it has pretty much stayed the same 60+. I wonder how many of them actually stop by and read it, though. I do see people from all over the world end up on my blog; they don't become followers, though.

I cannot keep up with all the blogs I want to read - I try to "check in" on several per week but then life moves by too fast and I realize I haven't visited any in a while!

The only blog I follow religiously is my own (and yours) and I feel awful about that because it is so important to support fellow bloggers. How do I expect people to read mine if I don't take the time to read theirs?

Mellodee said...

Some days it's harder to keep up than other days, but I never really had a "schedule". I write on the days when I have a topic and can actually put more than three words together in a cohesive sentence. I've been blogging since July 2009 (2 yrs and 4 mos) and I can go several days between posts.

I read blogs every day though. As I follow only people that I really like, I enjoy keeping up with them. I just have to be careful not to add new ones unless I eliminate some that are no longer active or whatever. If I don't do that I will spend my entire day at the computer (instead of just 3/4 of the day like now!! lol!)

You are on my list to follow because you make me laugh most days. Keep writing and I'll keep reading!

I have no plans to stop writiing anytime soon. I'm much too opinionated and talkative for that. I sure do wish more people would comment occasionally. As much as I love performing monologues in a stage setting, I think of blogging as a discussion, a dialogue between two (or more) people. A lot of folks are not holding up their end!

Talk about what you wish! Your blog, your thoughts, your words, your rules!!

linda said...

I have been blogging now for almost six years. Not every day because I work full time and am doing other things which take up time.

I follow blogs in my reader but don't post comments much. It is mostly a time thing in regards to that.

I treat my blog like a journal. If people read it that is good, if they don't then that is good too. There are no expectations there.

As for following, well, I don't think my list of people I follow has changed much in that past couple of years.

Over the next few months I will download my posts and print them out just in case Blogger dies or something. I would hate to lose everything.

drewzepmeister said...

Admittedly, I'm posting blogs less and less theses days. Much of that has to do with me juggling time between work, girlfriend and family, leaving me little time to come up with fresh ideas. Yet, I still keep chuggin' along...I still try to write a least two posts a week on Drew's Odds and Sods and my group blog, the JT Irregulars as well as a daily post for DrewTube.

I still follow quite a few religiously...mostly reading more than commenting.

Actually I still spend more time blogging than on Facebook.

diana said...

Linda,
Please keep your blog going. It makes me crazy that I follow blogger's when they want to write and then they just stop. When you get to know the people through their writing it doesn't matter if the content is exciting all the time you just want to know about their life. Afterall, isn't the reason we read blogs is to escape our own life and live through others?

Vegas Linda Lou said...

Wow! Thank you ALL for such thoughtful comments.

TAD, I'm going to check out your suggestions--thanks. And yes, my mother and stepdad live in Boise; they moved there in 2004. It's a great little city!

The Vegas Flea said...

I think the old blogging world has taken a backseat to facebook. With facebook, now everyone is blogger.

Personally, my main excuse is, I ran out of things to say. As my blog isn't the "this is what I did today" type blog. I quickly ran through my gamut of social commentary and ideas that had been brewing in my mind for years. And now I'm having trouble trying to come with things to write about.

As mentioned in our last conversation, I guess I could just bitch about stuff, that might be fun!

What would you like to see more of in this blog? Are there any particular topics you'd like me to weigh in on?

I say just keep doing what you're doing.

Has your blog reading increased or decreased over time?

Decreased. I lose interest in bloggers that don't blog regularly (like me..haha). I eventually just stop going to their website.

How many blogs do you follow religiously? What are some cool blogs I should know about?

Right now, this is the only blog that I follow. Why? I know there will be new content every few days.

Tender Heart Bear said...

I do read the blogs everyday. I just don't comment on all of them all the time.

I try to write on my blog as much as possible. But with my work schedule sometimes it is really hard to do. I work all kinds of different hours during the week.

Plus with my boyfriend, my daughter and work and cleaning the house it sometimes is really hard to do.

Fragrant Liar said...

Still blogging, but of course, not nearly as much as I used to, especially now with holidays coming up. (It's either summer or holidays as a distraction.) Reading, same thing. Every blog I read, I try to comment. That's my rule. Read, comment.

You have a good blog, but I do like your comedic stuff best. I just read mostly to be entertained anyway, so it fits.

Keep blogging, Linda!

Dangerous Linda said...

I read and wrote my first blogs less than a year ago -- isn't that typical that's the fad's almost over when I jump on board! haha!

I just like to read your take on the world and what you're doing from day-to-day. I loved your piece about painting the lion statue. But, I also really appreciated the one about the old couple that died holding hands....

Just keep doing what you're doing -- Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I still read several blogs but I don't check them everyday anymore and some I've stopped reading because they just seem to be repeating themselves, but I've also added new ones. I don't follow or comment every time because some of the blogs won't let me unless I have an account and I don't feel like I need one.
I like yours just the way it is.

Gianetta said...

I have cut back some. I've been working on a book so I have put my energy there. Plus, a new job and looking for a house. And a new cat.

Honestly, I miss it. Nothing, to me, is better than sitting down for an hour and telling a crazy story about mom and me or make up some shit that people actually believe.

debadee said...

I have been a proper lazy blogger. Ihavent posted since September. My excuse was that whilst attempting to watch Real Housewives of New Jersey on a dodgy link my friend had recommended, I caught a virus that infected our PC so incredibly thoroughly that we had to format the whole thing and chaqnge all passwords etc... The laziness took over though.... I will get back into blogging post haste.