A big bloggy realisation:
// November 17th, 2009 // Blogs, Inspiration, Links, travelling
I don’t actually think I’m a good blogger.
It just hit me!
Take a look at some of my favourite blogs, the ones I still read even though I’m in foreign countries and have sketchy internet connection…
* Naturally Nina – http://www.naturallynina.com/
This has grown into my favourite blog of the moment… Nina writes honest, heartfelt and inspiring blog posts about life, love and everything else. And her blog is beautifully designed.
* A Cup of Jo – http://www.joannagoddard.blogspot.com/
I hate that I love this blog so much (because so many other thousands do), but what can I say? Joanna is a master blogger – probably one of the best out there. Despite her many followers, the blog feels personal and heartfelt, and she always has hundreds of fabulous links all over the web: seriously, you could save hours just by looking at the treasures she’s unearthed for you.
* Color Me Katie – http://www.colormekatie.blogspot.com/
This New York photographer is zany and playful, and posts beautifully photographed, wildly colourful short blogs about her life and loves. A delightful break to any day.
Now, what do all these blogs have that make them intensely readable? Short, snappy blog posts that are highly visual and that engage the reader.
Now take a glance over at Sweet Life, the blog I’ve been regularly updating as we travel around the world: www.justtheplanet.com/sweet-life
High-quality, well-written blog posts, even if I do say so myself (this was what I was told to write when I first started a blog). Original content and all that jazz, but not a whole lot of images and I just don’t know how to write those snappy blog posts that make people feel they have to comment. And so it hit me: I’m not really a blogger. I’m a writer, yes, and I’ve been loving writing travel pieces and trying to paint word pictures about the places we’ve been visiting. But at heart, this is the kind of writing that comes naturally to me – far too many words, and something you’d read in a book or a magazine. Not ideal for blogging.
Now how am I supposed to fix that? Tell me, please!
PS – I joined NaNoWriMo and took up the challenge of writing a 50 000 word novel in one month. But it’s 17 days in and I’ve only had one day when I’ve been able to get my hands on the computer not for work but for play. Eek.
7 Responses to “A big bloggy realisation:”
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Oh my gosh, this made my day. I am so honored that you love my blog
Amd I love yours too! We’re kindred spirits methinks 
I agree! It’s literally the first blog I click through to as soon as I have a spare minute online… In Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam!
Bridget, I smirked when I read your post – I could relate.
I myself think that I’m a bad blogger and an even worse writer. I admit I stretch grammar rules and the correct use of punctuation to outer space…and frankly I think it’s become my trademark. I write the way I speak, I speak badly due to a racing brain…and all and all that’s a recipe for disaster…
But I have to ask you: How do you really qualify a good blogger?
Is it their ability to write a technically correct post (in terms of grammar), or is it their ability to tell a story, teach a lesson or harness the power of the medium to create awareness? If so does a good blog need to be a high traffic blog or one with a quality following?
There’s really no right and wrong. Certain types of writing and thus blogs appeal to different people. People read what they relate to. e.g. Some people love the wordy in-depth kind of post, others just like snippets.
Did it occur to you that readers like myself like your blog just the way it is and that we consider you a good blogger?
I guess not… Thanks for that, Bev. And actually, many of the blogs I like are rather wordy – because I’m rather wordy!
Maybe the bloggy rules are less set in stone than I thought. Thanks!
Must admit that I’ve never gone into the technical details of good or bad blogs, but I know that I truly enjoy reading yours! You must know the feeling you experience after having enjoyed a meal with your best friend, sitting on the veranda with a cup of coffee, legs stretched out in the sun – totally at peace, happy and satisfied – no conversation needed -absolute bliss. That’s how I feel after reading your writing. I realise now that a little bit of feedback would have made all the difference, and I apologise most sincerely. Yes, you most certainly are on the right track – don’t change, just grow!
Ah, thank you so much Diana! I wasn’t fishing for compliments, I promise! And I do know how you feel… I actually hardly comment on blogs myself, but I was starting to think that meant that people weren’t engaging with the blog. Thank you for this, really.
Hi! I find it wierd that you think you not a good blogger, cause yours is the only one I read and like enough to keep track of. Don’t stop, please!