What sort of things do you post to your blog here? More specifically, are they the things you enjoy posting?
As I gradually close in on my 1000th original post here, I've been thinking about the whole idea of creating content and what it means to me and — by extension — to people, in general.
Rainbow over the bay, this morning...
Are We Having FUN, Yet?
One of the things this blog has taught me is to let go of my prior "training" or tendency to "write for publication."
I don't just mean that in the sense of writing articles (which I have done extensively, for magazines and various online publications), but also in the sense of sharing personal content with some pre-conceived idea about whether something I write will be "popular."
"Popularity" is really a crapshoot. Picking "popular" topics means nothing, because you end up competing in an ocean of thousands of other voices. Picking something "not so popular" is likely to mean limited appeal and audience.
Of course, we all have different objectives; mine — with this particular venue — was to stay with "free form" writing, since I write "for publication" elsewhere, and actually felt a little tired of it, 3-4 years ago, and started casting about for alternatives.
"Making money" was never my primary objective here... the rewards are simply a nice fringe benefit. I suppose it was an advantage to have 20+ years experience in the "get paid for content" field to teach me that the gap between what people think they can make and what you actually make tends to be HUGE.
Close-up of purple heather
This is SERIOUS Business!
The fact that I write here "for fun," doesn't mean that I don't enjoy throwing an occasional "informing/teaching" type post into the mix.
I suppose one of the realizations here is that just because you are not trying to create "professional" posts doesn't mean you're shitposting. My fellow Steemian @whatsup is a great example of that... "quality" content is vastly overrated, but adding value is a good thing.
So what DO I like writing about?
- I enjoy writing about psychology/self-development.
- I enjoy writing about art and the creative process.
- I enjoy writing "commentary" on the foibles of the human condition.
- I enjoy writing about Steem because I happen to be part of this community, and actually give a shit about its future and general well-being.
- I enjoy writing about gardening, even though I haven't really written much on that topic, as of yet.
- I enjoy writing about the process of writing and generating ideas.
- I enjoy photography, and sharing images.
- I enjoy simply "logging" the passage of time and life's events as they happen... which is probably the most selfish content I create.
- And yes, I enjoy the prosaic cat photos infesting the web... but those stay over on @curatorcat's blog.
Action shot with cat. Yes, I just posted a cat photo....
WHO Do You Write For...?
The original idea of blogging was to keep a "Web Log." A "log" of something; your work, your life.
Although the early forms of "social blogging" were — obviously — social, most early bloggers cut their teeth on basically keeping an online journal for their own benefit, not for anyone else's.
Twenty years later, I still write as much for my own amusement as for anyone else's.
I suppose you could argue that blogging is ultimately a very self-indulgent and almost narcissistic activity... and I'm really OK with that, as I spend the vast majority of my life in some form of "service business" that depends on the happiness of others.
So I'll just say what I often have said in the past: "Write for yourself, and stop worrying so damn much about the income stream!" And just for the record? I don't say that as someone sitting in a cushy executive office with no grip on what real life is like, I say that as someone who's on food stamps and several kinds of public assistance to keep from ending up in a box under a bridge.
And now, I must turn my attention to other things...
Thanks for reading!
How about YOU? Why do write? And who do you write for? Are you having FUN? Are you creating the sort of content you enjoy creating? Or are you trying to find a "magic formula" for popularity? Are you being your authentic self? Leave a comment-- share your experiences-- be part of the conversation!
(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Created at 190406 18:58 PST
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