Why do we blog?
Do we write to entertain our readers, chronicle our lives, inform the masses, connect with a community, make money, or get published? I believe there are many reasons we blog, but there is one defining commonality among us all:
We blog because we love it.
Good writing is essential, but just one aspect of successful blogging. There is SEO work, social media networking, web design, HTML code, photography, editing and more.
After we have kept to our writing schedule and managed all the other aspects of blogging, we then have the pleasure of instant feedback on our writing. Comments can be positive and feel uplifting at times when we are struggling the most. Some comments are just fun rants where readers are adding to a humorous post.
Receiving hostile comments and hateful emails are also part of being a blogger. Sometimes they are fun because they are so over-the-top crazy that it is of no importance.
Here’s one example of a crazy comment:
Last summer I received a long-winded rant about me from a man who was convinced I hated men because I wrote Free to Be You and Me. His response was well thought out and had references to research studies “showing” the downfall of school sports teams with the requirement for women to have programs. I chose not to allow that comment to publish to my blog because I felt it would take the conversation in the comment section in a negative direction. Instead I chose to read it to a friend. We laughed and then I hit “delete.”
With some of the angry and hateful comments, I do have to stop and wonder why some people behave the way they do. I have decided, as I move forward with blogging, that I will respond to these people by referring them to a piece I wrote about Audrey Hepburn’s beauty secrets. Maybe it won’t make a difference, but it is the best response I can offer up to someone so unhappy with his or her own life.
Here’s one example of a hateful email:
“It is not too often that I read something that I can say has been written brilliantly. Attached please find such a piece. Funny, Very Edgy, Willing to take a stand against the commoners, well-written sentences without typos or other errors, and, most importantly, SMART! This man took stabs at technology, the aging, women (who don’t always shut their mouths), who we are, and then, he went on, to enlighten us with a few “wows!” and then he left us looking at ourselves. Ask yourself, does my blog do that? Do I write to leave my readers with questions?? Do I send over a direct hit and let the reader be reminded of a different time or place that may have been better or different? And, most importantly, did I make a point? Now, let’s not forget…the attached piece came out of Smithsonian Magazine and was not written for the 6-grade mentality of blog-followers…oops, I did not mean to say that, but instead, the “masses” or commoners that rarely, if ever, think beyond themselves because they take little to no time to read anything of substance like Smithsonian Magazine (in print, old-school paper form). Oh, and I forgot to mention the author of the attached piece, is professor and chair of the journalism department at a College. Now, his blog, I’d love to follow! Great stuff!
Regards,
*Obnoxious Reader
P.s. The section of your last blog post that reads…2. ‘Last month I mentioned my readership increasing and how I am so appreciative to “meet” my readers online. I enjoy having a conversation with them through comments and Twitter. It adds a lot to the blogging experience for me. I also wrote that I was thankful for my readers except for one crazy. Part of writing for the public is also collecting an interesting group of fans. I am pleased to announce this group of readers has grown from one to three. Fame is bittersweet people. Just remember that.’
seems to mention “one crazy” — might that be me or am I having delusions of grandeur!?!? Also, I urge you to ask yourself “Am I really writting for a particular group…or am I writting great works, like THIS author, that others will clamor over to read? Which is Kelly — one is a typist, the other a writer — I leave it in your able and capable hands for your to figure out!!!!”
My response to this reader was simple:
“You do have delusions a grandeur; I was not referring to you when I wrote that in my post.”
After receiving something like this, I pause and ask myself why I continue to write in this medium.
But then I remember.
I blog because I love it.
*Name changed.
Comments
28 responses to “Why I Blog”
In any form of creative media there will be people who don’t understand your perspective or if they do understand it, the won’t agree or find it valuable. So be it. Keep blogging if you love it, because I love what you put out there!
Thank you Random Girl. It is in a way a compliment that I could inspire such passion in another with what I write–good or bad–I moved him.
Are you sure we’re not related?
I too, blog because I love it (and I borderline on obsessive!)
Thanks Naked Girl!
I think you are the newest blog on my roll!!
Stop by for a visit. I’d love to have you.
KT
Authentic Life,
Thank you for the huge compliment of including me in your blogroll! I will stop by to visit you as well. I can’t wait to see what you write about.
The hater…oh, sorry was that too 6th grade? Let me restate, “the oh so enlightened one” is made up of the same fiber that locked Betty Friedan and millions of women away in their nightmare.
Blogging for me isn’t about IQ it’s about connection, right here, right now, around the virtual coffee table and the difference is that I, unlike Betty, can leave my house, explore, work, and bring life back to the table. Or maybe I can’t, but at least I have my vodka, better yet I can go buy my own.
I think I’ll go read my Smithsonian now and see how easy it is to “connect” with those so far above my commoner status!
But before I do that I am going to give thanks for all the bloggers out there. I know they will forgive any extra commas or lack of.
I wrote a piece in Studio30 Plus about where writing is heading and how traditional publications are scrambling because of the existence of popular blogs and blogazines.
I am not sure comparing me to Smithsonian even makes sense as we are two completely different genres.
It’s good to hear you enjoy the experience so much. It really is a great community and wonderful to reach out to your readers and have a dialog around what you have written. I love it!
I am actually working on a project right now to address this issue. It is specifically about Mommy bloggers and the nasty comments they get. But look for info to come soon. You might want to participate in the campaign!
Btw, I have not received hateful comments yet. I guess that means I haven’t really “arrived” as a blogger. ;)
Sometimes flying under the radar is a GOOD thing! I have received some crazy comments in the last 10 months, but rarely draw attention to them.
I look forward to learning more about your campaign. If you are involved, I am sure it will be great.
I was just looking for your email address here. I want to add you to the distribution list for my announcement. Can you send via Twitter or email it to me? Thanks!
I will!
I thought “how true of him to sign off as “Obnoxious Reader”. My bubble of faith in believing we all know who we truly are when you told me the name was changed.
*sigh* (ok, this sigh is followed by) *giggle*
Self-awareness comes from reflection. I am not sure how far he has evolved to that in touch with himself.
Thanks for the visit Nikki!
OOPSY See how us bloggers really do have a 6th grade mentality? I MEANT to say that my bubble has been burst!
Oopsy, silly nincompoop blogger that I am!
I love that you blog. Thank you for sharing your writing!
I blog because my family and friends get tired of (and possibly worried about me by) my weird rants and stories. Therefore I share them with the Internet.
It is nice to come together as a community of bloggers, yet all have very different reasons for being here.
Thanks for reading!
I think all of us have written a “why I blog” post at some point or another. Annndd there’s always a hater out there somewhere.
It feels nice to have community. Plain and simple. There’s so much support out in blogland and it’s difficult to explain to a “non-blogger”.
Blogging has changed my life. Seriously.
I agree with you. I just noticed a new URL for you T! What are you up to? Am headed to check it out…
Knock on cyberwood – my experience with blogging over the last 5 years has been 99 percent positive. I am sorry you had to deal with someone so unhappy with themselves, they took it out on you.
Keep writing. Your blog is very good. Glad I found it last week.
Lance,
Thank you for the compliment! I am glad you found me too.
Smart post, I agree with what you say all the way!
As with any art, and I do believe that writing is art — even my navel-gazing whiny writing — some will love, some will hate. You write for you, and I believe any kind of passionate response, good or bad, is a win.
My best posts, and the ones that get the best feedback, have been those that I almost want to take back once I hit the “Publish” button because I think I went too far or was too personal.
Brahm,
I have the same feeling on the posts that create a bit of stress when I hit publish; they seem to resonate the most for people.
Thanks for visiting!
Some people aren’t happy in life and they have to place their hate somewhere or on someone. Keep writing if you love it. I know I will.
I try to keep that perspective when something so hateful comes through my blog.
I will trade your commenter for the guy who said to me: ‘I read your little blog … you sound like an idiot.’
Jonah,
Maybe it was the same commenter!
Swinging in from S30+… I was a 6th grade teacher and those kids are sweet, funny, and think farts are the bee’s knees AAAAAAND so do I. I’d rather have them read me than that hater.
I saw this video on YouTube, about a dad who had made this ginormous slide out of snow with a huge snowman tunnel for his kids. Took him something like 80 hours. AND YET, someone had to complain about how the tunnel he had built could collapse on his kids. Really. Some people are just born to be negative and suck the fun out of everyone and everything. As for you, you are my snowman tunnel :-)
Angie,
Thanks for calling me your “snowman tunnel!” It made me laugh. Glad I could be of service to you. Keep coming back and I will continue to deliver. I promise!