A Blogging Tip.

Ronovan Blogging, , ,

It’s time to take a step back. I notice a lot of people looking at wanting to know how to increase the number of people that follow them on a blog or on Twitter or some other social media outlet. Is that why you first created a blog? Or first chose THAT name for your Twitter Handle? Did you choose @psychochix666 hoping it would attract people to you? Your blog is called myrandomthoughtsaboutstuff. Very enthralling and makes me want to head right on over.

Ronovan Writes is not exactly a “come and meet me” blog title. It’s just what I do. But we all get caught up for a time in the numbers for a moment as people start following us and we see our numbers get close to a certain cool looking number. Then we go nuts.

For a time we begin writing anything we think will draw people in. There is a problem in that. Once you do that you have to keep doing it. Do you really want to write about different ways of using pickles in a dish every Thursday? “Here’s the Dill.” You could call it that. But then you are stuck with it.

At some point this place you created to be you, to share you ends up being a job. You have to do things on certain days. If you don’t do things just right you get people complaining. The place for fun and pouring yourself out has turned into another box/cage to keep you held down and away from the freedom you first felt as you published those first couple of weeks.

It’s not all your fault. You blogging support encourages it with goals and awards. They make out like creating a following is what blogging is about. They make you think blogging is a game of who can get the most followers. To win you must have big numbers.

When you forget why you came here is when you lose. You have fallen in to the trap.

Do you have fun with your blog? Is each post something you want to do? I have a Haiku Challenge I hold each week and I wonder at times if the people really want to do it or if they do it because they have been. That’s a dangerous thing to say because if they are reading this and then decided it is just a habit and not a joy, they will stop.

But I want people to enjoy blogging, even if that means they don’t read my posts or participate in my challenges. Happiness is the purpose of writing. Even if we are writing the most miserable things imaginable we are doing it to get it out of our souls to make room for positive things.

I am well aware there is no time for negativity, misery, or anything like that in life. We are here for a limited time, and there are moments when you come close to that time being up and you realize you should not let anything pull your joy from you.

Sharing you and your honest self will bring people to you—if that’s what you want. I blog with the philosophy of writing what I want to write. My choice of theme for the recent A to Z Blogging Challenge for April is proof of that. I’ve been enjoying it so much even though there are moments of frustration and I will be happy when it is done. I have ideas for it.

I haven’t caved to the numbers game. I’ve written what I like and moved on to the next thing I want to write that I like.

Like what you write. That’s all that truly matters in blogging. Anything else you do is fake.

With all of that being said, for this, my personal blog, with these personal posts, I’m doing away with my traditional “Let’s connect”, ending with my twitter, facebook, and google+ addresses. Those things are elsewhere to find on the blog. I’m here to enjoy.

Much Respect

Ronovan

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015

47 thoughts on “A Blogging Tip.”

  3. Reblogged this on Pearls Before Swine and commented:
    Great tip. I was actually just thinking about this exact thing. Keeping our primary purpose for blogging in mind is important. I’m always reminding myself to stay focused. It’s the reason my blog name is what it is. Pearls Before Swine may sound weird, but I’m not changing it because it reminds me why I’m here. In all that I do, I must not be redirected.

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  4. We’ll done! I can so relate to blogging becoming a chore, another box as you said we put ourselves in. It should be about fun, creativity, sharing, whatever your personal goals are, that’s all that matters. Hard not to get overwhelmed though at times.

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  5. I enjoy writing the Haiku’s or I would not be writing them. Haiku has helped me a lot in my poetry too. It has helped me explore new words. There is a new form of poetry I’m trying, which requires the counting of syllables. If I had not been able to write Haiku then I would certainly not have graduated to other more complex things although, I’ve not yet succeeded with this new poetry form (cause of the complex meter ). I like challenging myself and learning new things.

    As for writing I get annoyed if I go a day without it. I really do love it lots like Jelly Tots. The blogging tips I’ve been putting up this year, this is also something I’ve enjoyed doing. Although I did not guess that they would be such huge success.

    So yea, I think when the joy goes out from the blogging, people will start to notice and stop coming. There is just a thing about writing and enjoying it, that pulls people. It is all part of Keeping it Real.

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  6. I agree with you. We should never forget what this is about: enjoying writing, having fun and the exchange with other, like minded bloggers. I do sometimes catch myself looking at my stats to long and wondering what I could change or should change. But then, after a moment, I realize that it would be bad to run after those numbers as I would lose myself in doing so…

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  9. I prefer quality over quantity when it comes to the blog.. No point in having 30,000 followers if 99% do not interact or enjoy what you write. Like you, if people want to connect with me on other platforms they can find those in about me. I would say however that some of my followers who have found me via Twitter, FB or LinkedIn have proven to be keepers.. mainly because instead of just reading the tweet etc and clicking like they took the time to click the link to the blog and read the post. I write my blog because I love it. Whilst working on a book it provides me with an instant fix.. job done and if lucky some comments to keep me motivated. Thanks Ronovan

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  12. Love this post! I sometimes worry about my numbers but then look at the connections I have been forging and realize that I still enjoy what I’m blogging about, so I take a deep breath and continue to focus on what I enjoy writing about. 🙂 Have a great week!

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  13. I really love the Haiku challenge, and eagerly look forward to your two words. The challenge makes Mondays exciting! I don’t get to chat about creative stuff except online (my friends and family, although lovely, see me as a bit WEIRD!!!) – that’s why I love to blog, and the Haiku family you have created is a wonderfully supportive place to spend some happy moments. The weekly challenge is a puzzle for me and I like puzzles. I feel like I am getting the hang of the subtleties slowly and I’m even going on a local Haiku workshop on the 3rd May! So, no, I certainly don’t see it as a chore or a job or a must do – think you for all the time and attention you give it – it’s GREAT!!!!!

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  15. I can relate to this – I enjoy writing and sharing and some days people,come and other days they don’t. I don’t really mind because I’ve enjoyed telling a story! I needed to read this – so thanks a lot for the tips.

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  17. My blog contains all sorts of subjects. I oftn write a poem or two to comment on life, the weather, writing. Anything really that takes my fancy. I am pleased when people read my blog, even more so when I get comnents. I hope that it keeps my name ‘out there’, for when my next ebook is availble, but really, I just love to talk to my followers.
    Evelyn

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  19. Well said! Anytime a hobby/enjoyable thing turns into “work” the fun is (usually) gone and it become a chore. I’ve done this in the past, more than once, and hope to not fall into that again. I want to do what I’m passionate about, even if I’m the only one. 🙂

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  27. Wise words! I must confess I usually get excited about my numbers, but I have no clue what post triggers people, as there seem to be no pattern. But I am excited when 10 plus has read my blog, coz in reality I write for myself, to get out of my head and get a new perspective on my own mess. And I post when I have something to write about, and when there is time 🙂 When people respond it makes me happy, but I never started to blog to get a high follower base. I don’t even understand how people get those high numbers LOL

    But on the other hand, some people blog as a living, and I totally respect them for doing a great job and putting in the effort to stay updated 24/7 🙂

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  29. This post was just what I needed today as I’m going through another round of “bloggers guilt” because I haven’t posted anything original in so long. The experts tell us we have to brand ourselves, and target our readers, and be consistent. Though I understand the logic of this advice, it isn’t always practical and it puts a lot of pressure on bloggers. Sometimes I can’t blog due to other things happening in my life. It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers. If I post something that pulls in a lot of traffic and reader engagement, I feel pressured to post something equally dynamic next time. Not every post is going to be interesting to all readers. That’s just the way it is. I’m going to take your advice and write what I like, when I want to write it. Thanks for this post!

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  30. Hi Ron! To be honest it wasn’t my idea to start a blog in the first place. I was very apprehensive about the idea. I thought it would take too much time away from my writing (which it kind of has), but my publisher insisted that no one would buy or read my books if they didn’t know me as a person. I was told I had to sell myself before I could sell my stories and that all writers were doing it. At first I was terrified and kept thinking, all I want to do is write. I had no idea what I was doing and then it occurred to me––I’ll just be myself and write about the things that are important to me and that I enjoy and those who follow my blog would be people that have similar goals, dreams, likes . . . which would be awesome because it would be like gaining a bunch of new friends with lots in common with me. I’ve met some amazing people in the 1.5 years that I’ve been blogging and I’ve learn so much and continue to learn from them. I love blogging now and I agree with everything you’ve written here. 😀 xx

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  34. People come with different intentions, I suppose. I feel that the blogging community has really changed in the past 10 years. People used to engage more. Now it’s become Facebook-ized, with like buttons instead of comments. People say they want a back and forth, but what they mean is that they want it on their own pages, and don’t bother hitting you back. So it’s a good tip to stay focused on your own goals for your site. Be true to what you want, and enjoy.

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  35. Who makes up these rules anyway? Our books, fiction or non-fiction, are not about us. Our blogs should be our thoughts, not our character’s. And not on any schedule like our books are, either. Light, fun, & interesting … That’s what they should be. Tricia and I are starting a No Pressure movement!

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  37. I started blogging for the numbers and the hope of selling my book. I enjoy blogging and the blogging community. If I make sells fine, if not, I’m still going to blog.

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  39. Hi,
    Is there a way to reply to a person here? I wanted to tell Jay that I do try and visit people back, so it’s networking and not one sided blogging. I try and treat people the way I’d want to be treated. I don’t always have the time since I work outside the home, but I do try.

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  40. Amen to this Ronovan. 😊 awesome post and a wonderful reminder. I cut down my posts a few weeks ago because I’d gotten wrapped up in feeling like I HAD to post this or that. And now I’m much happier again it doesn’t feel like a chore and more importantly I’m getting time to write my novel 😊 lovely post.

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