Ok, I’m not really breaking ALL the rules of blogging. I’m totally fine with rules like “don’t plagiarize” and use good grammar (most days) and practice the Golden Rule…these are the kinds of rules that come from, and generate, a healthy self-respect and a respect for others.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me…Is it just me? It is just hard to say the word, without hearing the song in my head (but thank you, Aretha Franklin, for helping me with spellcheck today).
Anyhoo, I’ve been blogging since 2011, and believe it or not, that makes me kind of a blog grandma in some circles. They say a new blog is being created every HALF second! Amazing. More and more creators and writers, all clamoring for readers.
I’m kind of a Blog Grandma
All this time has passed and my blog is still flying well under the radar. Pretty sure, it always will. That means I have a small subscriber list, and a smaller number of readers (like tiny). Over the years, I have taken quite a few, QUITE A FEW, classes on how to grow your blog, how to find your voice, how to find your tribe, how to build a cartel, how to build a platform, how to be social media savvy…but none of that has moved me.
And y’all. Sometimes it makes me feel like a rule breaker.
- I don’t figure out what people want to read and write about that. I write about what God puts on my heart or what makes me go, huh? I write about what I am struggling with and what I am learning. Sometimes I write about fun stuff.
- I don’t write about controversies. I like to enjoy conversations, not provoke them.
- I don’t throw family and friends under the bus. I have painful stories. I have emotional scars. I get stuck sometimes because of what other people have done to me…but I know God is at work in all that and, if we look, we can find His best in the mess. I don’t share ALL the details.
- My hubby and I knock heads sometimes and he says it’s ok to talk about that, so now and again, I do. But mostly, when I share about hurts, I don’t name names. Not “transparent” enough? Probably.
- I don’t post regularly and strategically on social media…I know that I am not #worthfollowing. I am not the one who shares the fun stories, latest pics, helpful tips, and great links. I’m more of a wall flower on social media, having been burned before. I am social-media awkward and I just can’t seem to fake it till I make it. I appreciate others who are better organized and more disciplined and more natural. Some people are gifted in social media. Really. Well, bless them. But I’m not.
If you’re going to do something, you ought to do it “right,” right? Or not?
We are in a big time of transition and change around here. So I’ve been asking, What’s important? What needs to stay? Why write? Why publish? Why bother? And some days I really don’t know the answer.
But more and more, I’m feeling fine about blogging without trying to build a “tribe” or a “platform.” In a sense, I have made my own rules, ones I can live with:
- I blog because I get to interact with neat people who really get me. I have “met” some of my very favorite people online.
- I blog because my hubby wants me to write about our spiritual journey, so that our kiddos will know how we learned and grew.
- And I blog because I know that God is at work in my heart when I write and it is good the share that. I always want to honor Him in all that I do. And that’s the most important thing.
Technically, it’s no way to “be successful” online. But that’s alright.
Image Copyright: gpointstudio / 123RF Stock Photo
You rebel you! Thank you for breaking “rules” – I too know the “rules” and don’t follow. Thanks for sharing and making all of us “rule breakers” feel like we belong!
Sara! You made me giggle!! 🙂 There are more other rule breakers out there than I knew! Welcome—rule breakers unite! 😉
Ditto, friend. I am finally back to writing and A) I don’t have the energy or strength to do it the way it’s “supposed” to be done and B) I’m not sure that’s God’s plan for my blog. I will stay true to how He leads and see where it goes. I will probably always be small too. And not just in stature. 😉
Haha! Great things come in small packages, right dearie? You know, I am starting to think that God wants to bless us THROUGH being small. Smaller sphere means closer contact. Smaller sphere means more humility…so much more humility! Humility reminds us that it is all in His Hands and is all about Him. Sometimes He is my only reader…but what a privilege to write for Him. And good to remember that above all, He is faithful. 🙂 Glad you are back!! Can’t wait to see what God has you writing about…whatever it is, He has been preparing you for this. That is pretty cool to think about!
I’ve been blogging a long time too. I’ve discovered that I can’t write for followers. I can only write because I feel I must. It took me awhile to get to feel that way because you read blogs and it sounds like its easy to accumulate followers and friends online but that has not been my experience.
Yes….connecting online can be hard. People used to comment on blogs. A lot. But it isn’t like that usually, nowadays. This post is the first one to get more than one comment in a long time. And usually I have zero! It can be very discouraging.
That is when we have to take stock of why we are doing this, which we both have done. It’s been coming for a long time…just SO many blogs. But never in the history of the world have people had the opportunity to communicate their ideas like this! It is amazing. 🙂 So we have to be satisfied with the sphere of influence God has given us. And who knows, if we are faithful with little, He may give us more. Or at the very least He will say, “Well done good and faithful servant.” May the Lord bless you and encourage you!
Ummm….I think that you and I are the same person! It’s totally that way with my blog and I’m a blogging grandma too! Haha!
I’ve had to decide to be okay with the way I roll. Some days I enjoy the freedom and other days I wish I had more structure.
Haha! Me too. I question and doubt myself, but I end up doing things the same way anyway. I can’t plan my posts based on what might “work” best. God has put other things on my heart. Sometimes I wish I was like that, but I’m not. I don’t think it is wrong to do that because reaching more people with a good message is great…but I guess God calls us all to blogging for different reasons. 🙂 THANK YOU for stopping by! So nice to see you here 🙂