Jul 31 2008
Blogging feedback sought
Some of the blogging tips I have been reading lately have increased my hesitation to make a post for fear of not measuring up with those who have done this longer. Here is a sample:
These all contain great advice for making the best blog posts, however if I am less inclined to post, I have defeated my purpose in starting this project in the first place. You see, I have long known about blogging, I just never started doing it because I felt like I had little that was worthy of adding to the conversation. This past spring, I made a decision that even if no one ever reads what I write, it is still valuable to me because I provide myself a written record of my own thinking over time.
I’m finishing up my 4th month as a blogger. Hardly enough time to consider myself anything more than a newbie. And since I’m an educator on summer break, the bulk of this experience has been in the off-season.
What do you think fellow bloggers? Do you ever hit a dry spell? Do you get discouraged and feel as though you have nothing worthwhile to say? Do you just get really busy and not take time to write anything? Do you concern yourself with how many readers you get? Are you doing it for a personal written record? Are there certain times of year you find yourself more active in this pursuit?
I’m curious how others out there stay motivated to keep writing. Not that I plan to quit anytime soon, I’m just looking for a little feedback that might help shape how to proceed from here.
8 responses so far
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I have grown to love blogging but when I first started I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going. At times I do hit dry spells, either as I need a break,lack time,have forgotten to write down my ideas as they come to me or just cannot think of anything worthwhile to write. Initially, I tried to measure up to certain idealistic standards but now just write as it comes to me and as I feel.
Questions on forums or mailing lists often give me ideas for posts but now that my students are blogging there is always something to write. Just wish there were 30 hours in a day!!!
I think the best tip is to write for yourself and not for a specific audience. I use mine as a reflection and a way to organise my thoughts in a written form. I multi task very often and blogging is a great way to focus me on a specific issue. Thats my tip
Nice posting. I speak with many educators that face similar obstacles with respect to blog posting. I always encourage them to use their blog as a reflective and discovery tool so their content will remain personal and/or useful. Most posts also do not have to be novels, just keep the content relevant and concise.
When I run across an idea for tech integration, I blog so that I won’t forget it. I know that most of the teachers in our very large school district are not going to use these ideas, but I want to put them out there for those who will. My approach is to make the ideas / applications as accessible as possible to elementary teachers. Many have told me that they read my blog, but precious few ever comment. So yeah, I often feel that I am talking to myself when I write, but I have learned to be ok with it because of the value it has to me of being a place to store ideas.
Enjoyed your post. We all blog for our own personal reasons. I realize no one really listens to me but I blog as a resource/reference for myself and teachers I work with. I don’t write as much as I should, but that is ok too. We set our priorities on what we need to accomplish and sometimes blogging is a priority and other times it is not. I am not a good writer and that is one reason I started my blog — to try to get me to write more. I am more of a “how to” blogger rather than an “opinion” blogger.
Sometimes I feel like no one reads my blog nor does anyone care about my blog, but it doesn’t stop me. One thing that has helped is my Clustr Map, which I see you also have on your blog.
I just found your blog and have read several posts and I feel you have something interesting to say — in fact, I have subscribed to your blog and am looking forward to your future posts.
Thanks for posting.
I’m really looking forward to the coming school year. I started blogging less than a month before school finished last spring, so it will be interesting to see how this journey continues once classes are in session.
I think that the biggest benefit is being able to go back and review what I was thinking about over time, but of course it is always nice to hear from people who appreciate what you have to say.
Thanks to all who comment here!
I think I am coming up on my one year anniversary (Just checked-Sept 24, 2007 was first post). I struggle mightily when it comes to writing and getting a thought from my head into sentences. I was definitely going to quit way back when and then I decided to do one post per week no matter what. After a couple of months I found myself thinking like a blog post. I would see something, hear something and wonder what it would be like if I put it into a post. I still kept to one a week. If I had a second idea I usually typed it up and posted it during a week in which I did not have an idea. Now, I really don’t care when I post–although I try not to go more than one-two weeks. I realize that unless I somehow find myself with more time and can start commenting on other’s blogs in order to “get my name out,” I am left with people who sort of stumble upon it. Look at you numbers Bill–pretty incredible for only four months. Had fifteen people just yesterday.
So…
Do you ever hit a dry spell?
Yes…so I just don’t blog or I post something from someone else that I found interesting.
Do you get discouraged and feel as though you have nothing worthwhile to say?
Oh yea…with every post.
Do you just get really busy and not take time to write anything?
Think I addressed this above
Do you concern yourself with how many readers you get?
I was ridiculously obsessed. And finally just yesterday I removed the counter from my blog. Still have the map like you that you can click on for numbers.
Are you doing it for a personal written record?
No way–still hoping Spike Lee stumbles upon a post and makes it into a movie.
Are there certain times of year you find yourself more active in this pursuit?
Most active when my wife’s schedule leads me to bringing my daughters to all the after school activities. I started to bring my laptop along so instead of just sitting and waiting I write.
Yah! for Bill