What does your blog say about you is a question that I have been asking myself quite a bit lately. It is of interest to me because blogging is one of the ways that I express my thoughts, feelings and ideas about life. When I am confused or unsure it helps to provide clarification and makes it easier for me to determine what I want and the best course to obtain that.
This blog served as the tool that I used to remember who it is I really am and what I want. This is where I remembered that I am a writer and story teller. This blog is invaluable to me. This blog says many things about me some of which are good and some not so good.
I am ok with that because my goal is be authentic and to be real. If you read my posts you know a lot about me. You will find insight into me that my closest friends often don’t have- but you won’t know all or everything. You’ll know bits and pieces and that is ok with me too. This blog represents me on a personal and a professional level. It has led to work that pays real money and it has also been the reason that I didn’t get work. I am ok with both of those things.
During my trip to Seattle I thought a little bit about how to introduce myself and my blog. I thought about what posts I want people to read. If they don’t know me and wanted to get a sense of the blog- what would I show them was the question. I don’t have a specific, one-size-fits-all answer. Ideally I’d customize my answer to whomever was asking.
I am still not happy with how my “most popular” posts are displayed. I think that I can do a better job of it and I am working that out. This blog is evolving. It is not what it once was and that is ok too. I am changing as well. I am in a transitional stage and I expect that there will be some substantial changes made in the next year or two. Many of those will be chronicled here.
So I ask myself again about what the blog says about me and do I like it. More importantly I make a promise to myself to change that which I don’t like. Â And I follow it up with a question that I’ll pose to whomever wishes to answer. If you were going to introduce someone to my blog and you had to recommend some specific posts to read what would they be?
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30ish Mama April 5, 2011 at 2:12 pm
This is a very thought provoking post as it makes me reflect on my own blog… However, one of the reasons I like your blog is that it is undefinable. There is always something different, but it is always interesting. Sometimes your posts are very broad but other times you are very specific. One thing that I do love is that even your most personal posts are relatable. I’ve been reminded that I felt what you described myself as well.
And my favorite post? When Mean Girls Grow Up. You nailed that one.
Jack April 5, 2011 at 11:04 pm
Thank you. The feedback means a lot- especially your identifying a favorite post.
subWOW April 4, 2011 at 10:17 pm
Perhaps your blog is different for each person. Because you are such a prolific poster (you know you are, Jack. LOL) I cannot read every single post so after stalking you for some time, I have figured out (kind of) which posts of yours will really excite me and i spend time reading those. My favorite “category” is your fictions. This is NOT to say I don’t appreciate your other kinds of writings (please do NOT be offended) Because of my preference, to me, your blog is where I come to read essays and short stories. Does that make sense?
Jack April 4, 2011 at 11:08 pm
I am not offended at all. You are correct about my penchant for posting more than once throughout the day. I figure that those who like my writing and those who don’t will find other places to hang out. While it would be nice if everyone loved it that is not real nor likely.
Backpacking Dad April 7, 2011 at 11:34 am
Once you are organized beyond all reason, you can actually have separate feeds for each style, posting from the same blog. So your readers might choose to subscribe to your main feed, and see everything, or just to some of your sub feeds.
I’m not that organized.
Jack April 7, 2011 at 11:53 am
Hah, if only I was that organized.
Frume Sarah April 4, 2011 at 9:43 pm
I agree that you might want to categorize your favourites. You have a broad ability — with several different styles. All good…but very different. That will help direct folks.
Jack April 4, 2011 at 10:57 pm
Frume Sarah, glad to see that you made it back safely from London. Categorizing would make a difference. I think that is a good idea.
Stan Faryna April 4, 2011 at 2:11 pm
I think my comment got lost. [grin]
Stan Faryna April 4, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Here’s a post that I liked:
What Is The Difference Between A Fool & A Dreamer
http://www.thejackb.com/2009/09/23/what-is-the-difference-between-a-fool-a-dreamer/
Jack April 4, 2011 at 10:56 pm
Thanks Stan. I always liked that one too.
Clark Kent's Lunchbox April 4, 2011 at 7:21 am
I’d have to think a bit on which specific posts-there have been more than a fair share of good ones (not to blow smoke), but the best advice I got on this was to break your “Best of” into categories so you can highlight your range of writing to anyone who is looking for something in particular. I.e. take your top 2 or 3 post that were creative fiction, personal essay, subject commentary, humor, subject expertise, etc. Right now, there is a big push by brands looking for content providers who can produce stuff that’s more on the creative bent rather than old SEO, copywritten kind of stuff. – My two cents anyway, not that it’s worth anything in this economy.
Oh, and my blog just says I’m lazy.
Jack April 4, 2011 at 10:55 pm
CK, your words are worth more than two cents…always. Don’t sell yourself short, you are somewhere around the value of a Buffalo nickel. 😉
Backpacking Dad April 7, 2011 at 11:32 am
Seconding Ron’s suggestion. As I work backward and actually apply wordpress categories to my posts (I’ve never been great at tagging or categorizing as I write), I keep looking for those posts in each category that I’d choose to represent myself in that vein.
Jack April 7, 2011 at 11:52 am
The hardest part for me is trying to determine which posts I want to use. They are a little bit like my children- I don’t like to play favorites. Although unlike the kids, I will pick and choose among these.