Simple, no?
You need not be brilliant or witty, accomplished or pretty - you just have to pay your dues.
The dues of blogging are as follows: *ahem*
1. Post about something, anything, that any blogger can mildly relate to. This is not the hard part of the equation but it sure as heck should be.
2. Visit other blogs, read their posts and leave comments.
3. Answer your own comments either by email or by visiting that person’s blog.
Looks like pie, right?
One year ago, I was on fire. I was a blogger that could not be stopped. I was happily climbing the blogging ladder of popularity and taking no prisoners or trolls. I was also very lucky to have made myself a good many friends along the way.
Looking back, I’m not sure how I did it and everything else that life requires of us. Blogging was fulfilling to me in such a way that I was constantly inspired to write, visit and comment. I lived to blog and I was not at all ashamed to admit it.
During my surfing, I’d come across various bloggers that had been around much longer than I. My brow would crinkle (which is cute- you should see it) and I would wonder,
“Why don’t they post every day?”
“Why don’t they visit me back when I leave them a comment?”
“Don’t they know that if they would just post and comment more, they would end up with more traffic?”
“Don’t they care?”
“DON’T THEY KNOW?????”
They knew.
Back then, I felt awful if I thought I had offended another blogger with a comment or a post. I would actually sit and worry about it - like more than my bills or my diet or the countless other things that were piling up on my To-Do List as I sat in front of the computer yet again that day.
It would blow my mind when bloggers that I knew and enjoyed toyed with the idea of giving up their blog. I was devastated when a few actually did. I thought,
“Are they nuts?”
“What are they going to do now?”
“Don’t they care?”
“Don’t they know?”
They knew.
Now I think I know too. I post sporadically, comment when I can, and look at my stats very sparingly. Did I mention that I used to be a sick stataholic? Oh, yes.
I’ll tell you what I know. Life comes first - not the blog post about it. Maybe you already knew that precious tidbit? Probably so. I’ll admit that I’m a hooker someone who gets hooked on things rather quickly and urgently - which is why I’ve never experimented much with drugs. I’ll also admit that there are days, like lately, when the decrease in comments gets me down. It just does. There are days when I think,
“How come I don’t win any blog awards?” (insert pathetic baby whine here)
“Why am I all of a sudden Miss Un-Popular?”
And then I get over it. Real life is more important than blog life - no matter how fufilling my social cyberlife is and has been. They knew that and I (pretty much) know that now as well. Do you?
Oh good. I get to be the first here.
Yes, I get sulky. I feel that way today mostly because I haven’t had the time to put into blogging, but also I’ve got a bad cold and am tired. I miss my good blog friends.
But life is good, isn’t it. And that has to come first. Cause I’ve climbed that blog ladder and it always leaves you empty no matter how many comments you get.
You are gold to me, Juliet. ; ) And what the heck are you talking about. You are like a blog hottie with all the comment love.
I only get envious when I see certain big-time bloggers get lots of comments and I know they’re not visiting any of those commenters, or responding. I know because sometimes, I’m one of the commenters! And I’ve yet to get a visit! :giggle:
I have weeks when I want to just sit on the computer and visit everyone and weeks when I can barely manage to make myself sit down to post, much less visit anyone. That’s working pretty well for me right now. I think it would do every blogger good to have a schedule, so that you’re not on the computer more than a total of two hours a day. Because it is pretty damn addictive.
Oh, Raehan, that’s so true. Every award, every record number of comments, every cool e-mail never feels as amazing as you thought it would. Because there’s always someone who’s doing even better…
I just sulk because I wish I had the time and creativity to write blogs. I truly enjoy your blog and have more enjoyed getting to know you again. Oh, and I realized a long time ago that I was not too popular.
Well said! I admire people who can post everyday and respond to every comment, but frankly I don’t know how they do it!
Between work, kids and my daily mud wraps and seaweed facials, I’m all out of time.
I’m starting my own club, The Slacker Bloggers. My motto: Blogging (Sporadically) Without Guilt!
Popular? I have never felt very popular. I posted a while back on how I am definitely NOT an A-list blogger, and I don’t care. I don’t blog to be popular; I just have a lot to say so I say it. And I am thrilled when someone likes what I’ve said. I am the person at the party who stands quietly in the corner and hopes someone nice will come over to talk. And in the blogosphere, they do. That is enough for me. (You are one of those nice friendly people, by the way.)
I get sulky too. We’re human, we all need validation.
By the way, I was under the impression you were a blog superstar. Your site is so cool!
So, what, now you think you can just go off and have a life and leave your dedicated readers hanging? We click, we wait, we hold our collective breaths and for what, for you to say you have a life, and we’re not it.
Sigh.
You know I only blog for you, so when you stop over and don’t say something I’m crushed. If you can’t make it over once or twice a week, you know how I call you every ten minutes just to hear your voicemail.
Honestly, you’re way more popular than I am, and for good reason. Your fun, funny, witty, caring and all that jazz. All I do is take pics and paint. Yip-dee-freakin-dip. So you got it going on, once a week, once a month, twice annually, you’re still a great blogger. And you look pretty, too.
So here’s not only a comment, but here’s a really long-ass long-winded comment from someone who comments sporadically and never really honestly wonders if you hate me because I know deep down you just think I’m a big dork, and I’m okay with that.
xo
Wow. We’re all thinking along the same lines these days. I posted a couple of days ago about “being on the fringe” of things. I was feeling sort of the same way.
I consider you the “cat’s meow,” MommaK and it surprises me that you don’t consider yourself a blogging superstar. ‘Cause you are to alot of your commentors!
I completely understand the obsessive thing. But the older I get, the shorter my obsessions last, so I think this one will pass in a month or two.
But I’ll definitely keep reading.
As a nonblogger I have no first hand knowledge of the difficulty of writing, but know I could not do it. When I was away from my computer for almost a month it pained me to wonder what I was missing. This is a round about way of me telling you how much a part of my life you and other bloggers have become, and thank you. I may not comment, but I am peeking in and reading. :wave:
I never did set out to be a blogger. I keep a journal. I admit it is easy to get caught up in the stats of it all and being one of the popular or cool kids. I post when I can and comment when I have time. I have always been a reader more than a commenter any way. I try to answer comments with a visit. I suck at email replies.
Pssttt -You know what is the worst? Posting something and getting less than 10 comments. That tells you like nothing else that what you wrote sucks hairy balls to those who read you.
I’m new to the blogging world. :wave: I’ve heard the rules about reading and commenting. And I follow them. I’ve got my list of blogs that I read.
But the truth is, I get jealous when I go to those sites and see their double-digit comments. I think the most I’ve ever had is eight, and half of them were from my sisters.
But, then I remind myself why I’m doing this. I’m doing it because I love to write, and I enjoy expressing myself in this way. And I’m doing it so that I can keep in touch with my sisters who are far away. So they can see what’s going on over here.
So, I forget about the number of comments I have, and I just write.
oh, i can definitely get sulky on a low-comment, low-interaction day. but i keep trying to tell myself the same thing you are talking about. but GAH, the internet is a whole new world of depression-production, isn’t it?
Oh good. It isn’t just me. I wondered if there was medication that I could take for this addiction. Then I found it. I sleep the computer and go OUTSIDE.
Wow. There’s stuff out there!
Very wise post. Reminds me of one someone put together about the various stages of Life in Blogland. I’ll try to find it and shoot it to you later.
My life has been crazy. I log in to get a sense of sanity, break from reality. But DON’T have time to live on the blog, you know?????
I enjoy blogging. I wish I knew who reads. I don’t care if people comment (ok, so really I kinda do), I just want to know who is reading… or, maybe I don’t. Maybe nobody really reads… Well, at least I know my mom and sister read… I guess that should be good enough. I’ve been so busy during the last couple of weeks that I haven’t had time to be a really good blogger. I try… That’s the best I can do. Can anyone really ask any more?
LBC
I am coming to many of the same conclusions of late. This Mother’s Day will be the 2 year anniversary of my blog.I used to feel guilty if I didn’t post at least several times a week., Now it is sometimes (like now) weeks between posts. But life does get in the way, as it should, or else what would we post about? I enjoy your blog and will come by whenever you have something to say.
I am still a beginner and love to blog because it gives me a chance to reach people. My worst moment is when I publish something, come back to it and there is still a big fat zero comments
At that point I wouldn’t mind a spam or a nasty one! because I have an irrelevant blog and I haven’t dealt with any of those! I started a blog because I felt I could leave comments only if I had a blog people could refer to. Love reading yours, thanks for sharing your wise experience! now I am off to see if someone cared to stop by my blog :giggle:
I get sulky. But, I’m the spoiled third child only daughter with two much older brothers so… I’m used to sulking. It’s a way of life!
I think that’s a normal thing in blogland. I certainly don’t feel ‘popular’, but I’ve gotten over worrying about it. My latest thing is not feeling guilty if I don’t get to a blog for a week because other things have gotten in the way. I know it will affect my readership, and that’s ok. I’d rather have 3 comments that are meaningful, than 23 that were left because people felt obligated. And I suck at answering comments anymore.
Miss Unpopular?? HUH? I must have missed something. When I clicked on this thingy there were 20-some comments.
Yeah, it’s a bummer when you don’t get many comments on a post, but honestly? I don’t comment on everything I read. Sometimes I read something and it makes me think or stays with me. Or not. The writer never knows that, because I don’t usually go back days later & say… “you know, what you said really stayed with me.” I hope that that’s the case for someone reading my drivel.
I’ve thought of turning comments off for a couple of days, to see what it feels like — and to see if it affects my writing. But really? I like getting whatever feedback I get.
And yeah, priorities and all…
I just post what I feel when I feel it. By the way what are stats? Should I have some?
BRAVO!!!! BRAVO!!!!!
Sorry you are feeling down about all the above mentioned, but you are busy with life and we all know that after about a year (of blogging) LIFE comes first, BLOGGING comes next, with maybe a few things in between.
For me, I recently come to realize that I only have time to post every few days, and then even less time to comment on others. It’s not that I don’t read them. I do, I use Bloglines and read every single post of the blogs that I subscribe to. I try to comment as often as possible, especially to to the bloggers who I really have formed a bond to. However, I know that my stats are going down, and I know that my popularity is dwindling, and that’s okay (on the outside, but on the inside of course it stings). Those who like me, read me, and those who really like me leave a comment if they have the time.
What started as a journal for me to keep in touch with my buddies after I got married and moved has opened up a new door to friendship for me. I love my blog friends and love keeping up with their lives. I hate getting behind in posts or visits, but sometimes life just won’t let you do it everyday.
I so understand the feeling like I’ve offended someone. I worry about that. I may leave something I think is funny or cute and someone take it literally and then I feel bad.
I’ve tried to redo my blogroll of those I really do visit frequently. I could never get too big because it would drive me insane feeling guilty I couldn’t visit someone like I should!
I am new to your blog but I think its bright, cheery and inviting!
lately, blogging is somewhat losing its popularity… maybe just in my circle of blogfriends, but most of them aren’t posting regularly anymore… including myself.
although, i’m not THAT disappointed that comments have gone down on my blog, i’m more concerned that i rarely bloghop anymore. it used to be the first order of the day. now, it’s lucky if i bloghop in a week! you’re definitely right when you say that life takes precedence… and, right now, my life is so overwhelming that it leaves no room for anything else.
When I first started blogging, I was really concerned about getting comments. I always checked Blogrolls to see if I was on them. Now..not so much.
I still love to blog and read others. I comment as much as I can. Some days I get lots of comments and then there are days when I get none. I’ll catch myself once in a while, wondering about whether or not people like my blog, but I get over it really fast.
I still to this day get a little annoyed when I see “big time” bloggers getting tons of comments…knowing that they never respond. I get mildly irritated when I read and comment on a blog often, but never receive any sort of acknowledgment from the writer. It’s kind of like saying “Read my stuff…it’s good…but your stuff stinks…my blog is better than yours.”
I try to post at least 3 times a week. We don’t have a puter at home,so I just use the one at our office. I try to answer all comments in my comment section, hoping they will return to see my reply and catch new reading.
I do get pouty, especially when I write emotional stuff and get little or no comment love. When I pour my heart into a dream analysis or remembrance of the road I have traveled, it stings to get no validation.
I sulk, I’ll admit it. But I also realize that blogging isn’t the only thing in life. If I allow myself I’ll sit here for hours reading blogs and leaving comments. Lately I’m trying to broaden my horizons and try new things like quilting, sewing and messing with polymer clay. Aaahhh I’m not good at any of them yet.
i still haven’t quite figured out what i’m doing with my blog, i enjoy reading others far more than posting anything on mine, but i try and post something every day, even if it’s just a pic. i have never looked at my stats, well, once, but i have no idea how to read the report, but it doesn’t matter, cuz i go and read and comment based more on what i like rather than whether the return the comment favor to me. i read lots that never comment, i don’t feel slightly, i rarely respond to my comments, firstly, i don’t know how to e-mail anyone and secondly, i don’t really know whether anyone actually checks back.
I know I’ll never be Miss Popular. I mean I posting pictures of squirrels for goodness sake! Why do I think people want to see a picture of a quirrel that was in my yard or the dirt that was in my flower beds? Jeez. I try to comment as much as I can. I know I’ll never be on par with comments or witty posts from bloggers such as yourself or Lucinda, but dangit, I was you guys to like me!
I think it’s only natural to feel a little down when someone doesn’t visit you back or doesn’t comment. I used to take it personally, but I realized very quickly that we’re all just really busy. I thought this would be easy at first, but it’s turned out the be rather tricky. At least for me. Hubby doesn’t know about my blog so I can’t write when he’s around and it seems like he’s always standing over my shoulder when I’m at the computer. And, my little girl is just about ready to give up her naps so when the hell am I going to find time? Anyway, I went off on a tangent, just wanted to let you know I can totally relate!
I’ve been reading your site for a while now.
I had to follow quite a trail to finally happen upon your site.
I started at Perotheus who took me to Meat of the Matter then to Briosphere who took me to Phoenix’s followed by Old Horsetail Snake which finally ended up at your place. Whew! It’s been a long journey. But worth the trip.
Maybe it’s the peeping tom in me but I prefer journals that are personal. Which is why I really enjoy yours. It’s nice seeing there are still normal people left on the web.
I’m one of those rude people who rarely comment.
Sorry about that.
I thought I should this time so you could match the person with the stat.
:wave: Sure, I was a blog-weenie at some point. “Why isn’t anyone commenting?” I figured it was me. But I know it isn’t.
I still feel that way on T13 day, though. I ENJOY the tons of comments on that one day per week, and if people read without commenting, it’s a little disappointing. Then my kiddo yells for soemthing and I snap out of it.
35 comments…is someone being greedy????
It doesn’t bother me so much, except when the regular names that I get used to stop showing up. THEN my little feelers get a bit hurt.
But on the other hand, there are some of my regular sites (one in particular that I’m having a little bitterness toward right now) that I stop commenting at because I feel like whatever I say will come out sounding rude.
Because what I WANT to say is “Geez, could you squeeze ONE MORE SINGLE PICTURE OF YOURSELF on the page, for crap’s sake?? Huh, Narcissus?”
But I won’t. So I say nothing. But I read.
The only stats I ever really check are the blogrolling stats, and once in awhile I”m removed from a blogroll and I have to wonder why.
I think I said in a post once that for me it’s all about the people BEHIND the comments, rather than the NUMBER of comments. I love you guys. Truly, madly, deeply.
But I won’t ask.
Oh…..MommaK. You are just so honest to goodness wholesome.
Blogging is like most things it life.
When we start a new project we can’t wait to learn, read more, and share it with someone. We all get it and understand. xox
PS This is one of my main reasons I do not have a blog. My sister (who has a blog) said, if she doesn’t blog everyday it is like wearing the same outfit twice or something like that.
This is my first visit here, but I assure you, not my last. When I took up blogging, I had no idea you were supposed to have visitors! I wrote only for myself. Now that a few people read my words, I have kept to the practise of still writing only for myself.
I wish I had time to post more and to comment, but two jobs and school just don’t leave time for that. I always think of things to blog about but don’t have the time to write it all out…so I just don’t. But, when I do post, I check constantly just waiting for comments. Real life is more important…blogging is just away to escape from it or include others in it.
Blogs can be
, they can be :sarcastic:, they can make you
,
. But yours is simply delightful!!! 
(I will try to refrain from all the little faces in the future. But no guarantees! :wink:
sometimes they can leave you out in the
This post made me laugh and made me blush. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only neurotic blogger. It also reminded me to take a pill, because I too am a hooker.
Also, thanks for the tips. I never knew how to respond to comments. I feel such gratitude for any comments. That wasn’t needy or anything.
My blog is boring because my life is! I am not witty and I have nothing to say that would interest anyone.
Lucinda sent me. She told me that it’s not unusual to feel a bit slighted when you comment, and you comment, and you comment some more. I always hold out for those bloggers I love. I comment as much as I can, hoping that maybe, just maybe they’ll finally notice me and come check out my site. I try as hard as I can to not be one of those selfish bloggers. The kind that is brimming with readers, just to turn around and say “Ha! I have the most readers! Muahahahha. Now I’m going to intentionally not give comment reciprocation just so they can feel little.”
I’m enjoying your site…
Boy, can I relate to this one! It used to stress me out when I’d go a day without posting. In fact, I *never* went a day without posting. Then, I’d start apologizing if I did.
Now? I post when I can, and I *try* to respond to everyone (although not always successful!)
Mostly, I lurk at other’s blogs.
Oh man I’m glad to read this and now I don’t have to write it myself b/c I was thinking the exact same thing. I have really been getting bummed lately about lack of comments, like NONE! I was never popular but more so than now. I felt too pathetic to admit it bothers me some days and other days I think “ah, who cares I didn’t start the blog w/any readers.” I just don’t have the time to read and comment like I did so I can’t expect everyone to either. You are right, life comes first, not the post about it. Couldn’t have said it better myself.