Blogging: What Not To Do

That makes sense. I found the promotional aspects much more effective when I started listening to what my audience wanted, though -- and they wanted a bit more personal stuff, and then they liked the news clips I threw in to keep the flow up, and they pestered me for recipes, etc. etc. So that's blogging.

>>Well, he would hate my blog. I rant, and I swear. It's my blog, my zone, and I'm not out to fellatiate his sensibilities.<<

It's a matter of taste. The relevant questions are: 1) What kind of blog do you want to write? and 2) What kind of audience do you want to attract?

People say the same about politics, don't bring it up or you will drive people away. *shrug* If they can't handle my very active activism, gods help them if they get into my poetry or fiction, because some of those things are sharp enough to cut. I make a choice to use minimal vulgarity because some of my friends dislike it, and I want them to be okay reading my blog. Not everyone feels that way, which is fine.

The bottom line is, whatever you write will largely determine who reads it. There will always be people who are bored or offended by what you enjoy. They will go elsewhere. As long as you're honest about what you like and dislike in blogging, you'll probably be happy with the results.

To a large extent, this is true. The different blogging branches have their own rules, but there is some overlap. You always have to offer some kind of appealing content in order to attract and hold an audience, and you have to interact with that audience in a way they like. They just like different things in different branches.

I really appreciate your writing-related posts and link clouds. I tend to pick out my favorites and link them here.

>>Thank you for your reasoned response to Jon's blog post. I must admot that many of the comments there were hurtful and felt elitist to me. <<

I'm glad I could help put this in perspective a bit.

jongibbs is a good writer and I really value his writing posts and link-clouds. Like most bloggers, though, he tends to write for his own audience and people who blog similar to the way he does. I haven't seen many people tackle the concept of multiple blogging branches in a post. Even my ability to do that is limited -- I know there are some different styles, but I don't read all of them, so it's hard to do a comparison-contrast. And if you're reading a how-to post for a style that's wildly different from yours, it's usually going to come off sounding very wrong, because you're not the intended audience. I don't think that means a given style is "better" than the others, just different approaches to meet different needs.

>>Some of us use our blogs / livejournals to network with others and form communities with others who have the same house-bound-ing (not a word, I know) chronic illness as we do and so share a lot and find the blog a great way to make friends.<<

Yeah, I know several folks who do that. Hm, "housebound" is an adjective. Maybe "housebinding" would work as the verb form? Or "confining" would be another option. I don't think the older "shut-in" (adjective or noun) would convert back to verb easily.

>>As is always the case, if those critical and judgemental commenters do not want to read my blog then it is no skin off my back and, if I lose them as a client customer (not that I am selling anything) then I would honestly rather not sell to them (even if I was).<<

A blog author always has to find the right audience. No blog is appealing to everyone, because people have different interests. There's nothing wrong with shooing away people who are not a good match, as long as you're not gratuitously cruel about it. The same applies to readers; if you don't like a blog, don't nag the author, just go find something else to read.

>>Some people cannot imagine what it is like to be in another's shoes, can they. Sadly, I do not have to imagine what being them is like - I have been like them (years ago) and have a mother that is still exactly like them!<<

Good icon! Some people are not taught how to relate to others in that way, and if it doesn't come naturally to them, that means they may not learn it at all. That's a nasty handicap in relationships, and I think it's becoming more common. On the other hoof, chronic illnesses are a great deal more prevalent and visible now than they were a few decades ago, and the 'net helps connect people so awareness is also rising. A reasonably sensible person who has a friend or two with limitations is well equipped to spot someone new with a different issue, and just ask for their coping parameters.

>>I feel an LJ post about this coming on, once I can be coherent and not too ranty/shouty about it.<<

Which aspect? Your style of blogging, or the cross-style issue, or the sensitivity issue, or something else? Any of those could be useful. If it's about blogging, ping me when you write it and I'll come read.