A mixed bag blogger.

“Sometimes I don’t know whether to laugh , cry, or howl at the moon.” – is something I impulsively wrote on my facebook page the other day.
It pretty much sums up my (day…hour…) life – and my blog.

Somehow I will tie this in with the post I am about to write, and I am writing it because this morning the first blog of one of my followers I read was this.

http://righttobitch.com/2012/11/21/art-blogging-vs-conversational-blogging/

(Sorry, I cannot for the life of me work out how to add links to a blog – if someone knows and is kindly able to tell me I would be very appreciative.)

I read Adams post with interest, because I like Adam and I always enjoy his posts and he was the one that gave me a diagnosis for my teenage daughters problem “Irritable mouth syndrome” and for that alone I REALLY like Adam.

In his blog today, “Art blogging vs Conversational blogging.”  he speaks of, well, I guess his underlying intention is to help others with their  blogging, because he seems like a pretty nice guy.
And I think too, he was just mulling it all over in his head?
But I have a problem with one or two things he wrote, because it kind of made me feel like there might be “rules” when it comes to writing a blog -particularly your intention is to attract hoards of followers.

I’ve read kind of similar posts before, more like – “how to blog” type posts, which by the way is NOT how Adam wrote his piece. His was much more thoughtful, not preachy at all, and well worth the read because it makes you think, and ponder many things.
The evidence is here – in me feeling inspired to write about it..leading me to self analyze why I’m here, spending all this time – writing. (thank you!)

Adam speaks of Art blogs where people can simply look at a beautiful photo or piece of artwork, be moved by it, LIKE it, and then quickly move on, (Hey and I like those. Life gets busy, people have no clean underwear and socks to wear because I have important things to do, like blog, and read blogs.) and he speaks of conversational blogs that I guess are more the sorts of things designed to elicit comments, and conversation.

I guess I got the feeling (and I could be wrong?) that he was contemplating that you might have to make a choice about what sort of blog you want to write?  You know, perhaps so you don’t confuse your followers? So they know what they’re getting? Which I guess, does kind of make sense?

I started to answer his post by asking… “But what if you are a mixed bag? A multi personality blogger?”
Maybe you are a photographer, a writer, a painter, a pole dancer, a chicken sexer….and you want to write or post about ALL those things.

It reminds me a little of being a songwriter and being told – “You can’t write in ALL genres. It will confuse people. Stick to one style of music.”
Um, sorry, but that’s impossible because one day I feel like laughing, the next crying, and today – howling at the moon – my songs reflect that.  (See, I knew I’d be able to tie it in.)

And it made me feel like, oh shit, once again here comes a box and I can’t quite squeeze my lumpy butt into it.
Adam, I know that wasn’t your intention, but you can’t predict how paranoid, insecure, TOO DEEP THINKING people, with big old lumpy butts like me, who have box aversion disorder, are going to run off and dissect something in their heads.

Another thing he spoke of was engaging followers, readers, by asking a question at the conclusion of, or within, a post.
To tickle their fancy – give them a voice, everyone likes to talk about themselves, it’s just human nature.
(We are all both exhibitionists and voyeurs, and many strange things in-between.)
I think this is very good advice. Don’t we all want to feel united? Bonded in some way by the experience of blogging about something we can all relate to on some level, and having others respond?
I’ve read this before, in more serious “How to be a successful blogger!” posts. “Engage your audience” stuff.
Hey, and I tentatively tried it a few times, but you know what, I felt like a total FAKE.
Almost like …”hey…I want you to like me…be my friend….follow me…pleeeeease.”
I don’t know how to do that, without feeling like an idiot. Especially if no one makes a comment, then it’s kind of like you’re standing in a room and you’ve just said something AMAZING and suddenly everyone needs to go and get a drink.

Awkward!

Pondering over this I’m wondering whether the aim could be, to write posts that don’t ask any questions at all, but simply move or inspire people WITHOUT an obvious question, to want to write something or like something in response.

Reminds me of something a friend once told me when writing songs.
“Sometimes there is a train, but you don’t need it to say “Choo choo!” in order for people to KNOW it’s a train.”

So, as I’m feeling my way through this new and interesting blogging world I am coming to some conclusions here.

I’ll probably never have 102 576 followers, or miles and miles of comments streaming down the page into my lap, and I may lose followers frequently with my schizophrenic rambles, but that is who I am.

A mixed bag blogger.

I’m not here to sell anything, though you may see pictures of my candles, links to my music or video’s. Click or ignore as you wish.
I’m not even here to become a better writer (though that IS something I strive to be.)so I can go on and sell a book and be known as a REAL, and very COOL writer.

I guess why I’m blogging, is simply to get stuff OUT of my washing machine head, and if in the process I strike a nerve with anyone who is nice (or loony) enough to have decided to stalk me, then I am ecstatic!

I’m also here to stalk other people, like Adam, because I am a voyeur at heart and I enjoy finding out what other peoples lives, desires, perceptions and life experiences are all about. And have a good laugh.

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So why are YOU here?

HA! Kidding.

Go get your drink now, you probably need one.

PS. This is my favourite post of Adam’s.

http://righttobitch.com/2012/09/23/5-creative-ways-to-avoid-small-talk/

Sorry, I told you I was link challenged. Technically spastic is my middle name.

You’ll just have to copy and paste.