In recent times I’ve been postulating over what it is people are generally looking for in a blog. When you get the urge to read what somebody has posted, are you looking for something in particular or is it more to do with the person who wrote it?
In the case of the latter, I know that I have my supporters who will read whatever I post regardless of the subject matter or whether it’s fiction or non-fiction. These people are what I like to refer to as “bloody epic”. Where the former is concerned, I do wonder about what might put off potential readers. Is it the length of the post? Is it the fact that it’s fiction? Does the subject matter not appeal to them? Is it something else entirely?
I try to think in terms of what I’m looking for in the posts of others. That is a tough one to answer. I won’t lie about the fact that I have my favourite bloggers and will always take the time out to read their posts regardless of the subject matter (though it’s been a struggle to even do that of late). However, when I do find myself wanting to read the posts of others I tend to find it really does depend on the day. A catchy title will often grab me or if the accompanying title image is something good. What’s contained within might be pure gold, but if it isn’t titled well then you’ve already lost me as a reader. Take that as advice if you wish to.
That does make me conscientious of my own work. I wonder if the titles grab the attention enough or if the image is the best one I could have used. I’ve said before that I’m happy with the progress my blog is making, but then I see posts with three or four times as many likes on them as mine and it makes me question whether my work is actually any good at all.
Is the problem networking? Am I not getting my name out there enough to other bloggers by reading their work and commenting on it? The problem with that is I barely have the time to read and comment on the posts of those who are already diligent followers of my work. They have to take precedence when I do have the time to read because they aren’t just people I follow. I consider them friends.
Or is the problem something a little more aesthetic?
My two latest posts combined (Living the Dream Part 10 (Novelist’s Itch) and Find Me a Find – Chapter Seven) have received less cumulative likes than other single posts over recent times and I can’t deny that does concern me. It makes me wonder whether people are tiring of my lack of cursory likes on their posts. That is something I avoid doing because I like to do three things; read, comment and like. The importance of each thing is in descending order for me. How can I like something that I haven’t read? How can I comment on something that I haven’t read? If I’ve read it then how can I like it without commenting on how good the post is? The like is the least important of the three in my opinion. I always prefer it when a person thoroughly comments on my posts as it shows that they’ve read and formed an opinion. I appreciate the cursory likes in a way, but I appreciate my actual readers infinitely more.
So where has my audience disappeared to this week? Has my time in the bloggers limelight reached its conclusion? Am I no longer “flavour of the month”? Or is this really a case of people will only remain a loyal reader if you blow arse bound smoke in their direction? Unfortunately, that will not be happening. I’m starting to grow weary of the “like for like” business. I don’t have time to scroll through my reader and like people’s posts blindly without reading in the hope they’ll do the same with mine. I have writing to do. I have a son to raise. I have a relationship to work on. I also have pride! When I have the time to peruse the work of other people on WordPress then I’m going to do it the way I cited above; read, comment, like. I’m going to do it for those people who do the same with my work. I’m certainly not going to drop a like on a post I didn’t have any desire to read in the first place in the hope they’ll like my stuff in return.
I hark back to a Living the Dream post from a while ago entitled Blogging where I called out people who post just generic memes created by somebody else; quote and all. The fact that these people are still doing the rounds riles me. The fact that these people’s posts are still receiving a tonne of likes makes me want to breathe fire! The fact that the most basic and least thought out of posts receive such grand attention genuinely makes me question what a lot of my fellow alleged bloggers are actually here for; both as writers and readers.
So, what are you looking for? I’ll tell you what I’m looking for. I’m looking for well written posts into which the blogger put some serious time and effort. I’m looking for people with a passion for the craft of writing and aspirations of making the craft a serious part of their life. I’m looking for interesting and varying personalities who want to display their talent and are genuinely interested in the talents of others. I’m not looking for people who’ll drop me a like so that I’ll like their stuff. If a person doesn’t like my work or hasn’t bothered to read it then I’d rather get no like at all! I’m here looking for genuine readers and genuine supporters of my work because writing is literally all I want to do. I’m not here to write a journal, post memes or kill time. I’m here to display what I’m capable of, build a support base and practice my art. I’m here for the right goddamned reasons!
Okay; there are no rules as such regarding WordPress and you can use it for whatever purpose you like in reality. Nobody can tell you otherwise. However, if so called bloggers are exercising their right to free will in such a way then there’s surely no problem in me exercising my right to free speech. I think there are people abusing blogs and making a mockery of blogging in the process. I think there are people who turn up here not looking to connect with other writers at all and only drop a like on posts that they don’t have to spend time reading or commenting on; posts like said blog abusers are composing. Lazy, meaningless crap! It’s a vicious circle. I shouldn’t care that poor posts are getting tonnes more attention than mine are, but I do because I’m giving this blog my all unlike those people. It often leaves me wondering what the point is in me even bothering.
Then I remember the old saying; “quality over quantity”. The door swings both ways in that regard. I don’t drop random likes on posts in my reader because I want to read. I only tend to read posts from quality bloggers; those bloggers who have proven themselves to have true talent in my eyes. If I have read, liked and commented on at least one of your posts in the past then you are in an esteemed group of people who truly impressed me with your writing. The saying works the other way too. I’m receiving reads, likes and comments from these quality bloggers. Their one like amounts to a hundred cursory likes from somebody who couldn’t be bothered to actually read my post.
I don’t find cursory likes flattering. I honestly find them quite offending. Sure, they make my stats look more impressive and perhaps help me get noticed more (though I’m yet really to see evidence of that), but the fact that they only like the post in the hope that I’ll return the gesture and with no real intention of seeing if I’m actually a good writer is not even remotely flattering.
So I ask again, what are you looking for? If you’re looking for a person who’ll hit the like tab on your posts just because you do it on theirs then I’m not your guy. If you’re looking for somebody who’ll post short and thoughtless stuff with no substance or meaning just so it doesn’t take you long to read then I’m not your guy. If you’re looking for a way of wasting some time then I’m not your guy.
What am I looking for? I’m looking for people like me. I’m looking for individuals who love to write and love to read the writings of others. I’m looking for those who’ll work hard to grab my attention and show some passion for what they do. I’m looking for kindred spirits who’ll inspire me, give me new ideas, support me, and allow me to support them.
If you aren’t looking for something similar then I fear you’ve come to the wrong place…
The Adventures of an Average, White Man...© 
There’s a particular blog I’ve seen that does nothing more than write a title and post, no words or in the body of it and yet they garner well over a hundred likes per post with over 3K followers!!!
I’m far from envious but I do question it legitimacy, from what I gather blogs like these a “follow for follow” once followed you’ll then have all your posts liked, regardless of topic, structure, or otherwise, truly disgusting really
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It’s a surefire way of rigging stats and is totally dishonest. It totally discredits the hard work of genuine bloggers too. More fool those people who are here to abuse WordPress and use it simply to make themselves seem more popular. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I crossover to their way of thinking. They’ll have to crossover to mine.
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Regarding the statement that giving a hollow like (without reading) solely in the hopes of getting action in return is tantamount to disrespect: I agree! (And I recognize that the way I worded that sentence was quite grammatically convoluted, haha.) It’s disrespectful given that the slighted blogger has spent God knows how much time constructing their post, only to have it cheapened with a like that wasn’t even meant.
I definitely took a lot of comfort when I realized that many of my blogging friends were seeing a slight downturn in traffic lately! It lets me know that there’s something with our collective audience’s schedule that’s going on.
And cheers to blogging friends!
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The purpose behind their dropping a cursory like may not be anything like as sinister as I’m making out. At least not consciously. But there has to be an element of “if I like then they’ll maybe like mine too” going on in their minds somewhere if they aren’t actually reading the post. To vainly claim there’s nothing they could really comment is utter bunkum. If a person has read a post then they have an opinion in some way. Even if the only opinion is that you think it’s a good bit of writing, bloody say so! It doesn’t take more than a couple of seconds. If the poster is a normal person then they’ll appreciate that short comment.
I’ve definitely got more time for my blogging friends than those on other social media platforms of late. Call me crazy, but I prefer to read something that had some thought put into it rather than a badly spelt and grammatically incorrect meme (which most all are).
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Sinister is certainly too strong a word, I think. I doubt there are many people out there consciously telling themselves they’re using people. However, that being said, I do think that this sort of thing is sadly quite common. I think for the true offenders, if we want to call them that, they view hollow likes as a means to an end for their own gain. I think their thinking is, “If I search my WordPress reader for the tag ‘fashion,’ and I go through and click like on every single post from today, but without reading them, I’ll gain at least one new follower from that.” I don’t think they even consider the human element, that they’re essentially using others. This is extremely common in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle blogs. I’ve gotten burned by it before, where a blogger would religiously like all my posts, which made me feel quite good, because I thought that meant she was reading them. I returned the favor by following her and reading her work. Slowly, over a matter of months, I began to realize that I wasn’t seeing her name pop up in my likes any more. Come to find out, she had gotten what she wanted out of me and countless others, and had unfollowed us all and stopped liking our work. I felt like a stepping stone, like I had been used. Needless to say, as soon as I became wise to her scheme, I unfollowed her.
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What a contemptuous snake! I’ve come across exactly the same kind of people on Instagram. Apparently there are programmes that’ll do it on your behalf using key words and algorithms. They’ll automatically follow a person and like some of their stuff. Then when said person follows back they unfollow. I always check how many people they follow against the number that follows them and only follow back if the numbers tally. You can do that on Instagram, but it isn’t quite so easy here. I’ve noticed a few people stop following me in recent months and I have no idea who they are, if they’re doing it intentionally or if their account is closed. They should make it easier to track because we have a right to defend ourselves against these poisonous pretenders.
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Hear, hear! I think you will quite appreciate my post that came out yesterday, then, as I ranted against such programs that will log into Twitter/Instagram/etc on your behalf and use algorithms to like and follow, then promptly unfollow once they’ve followed back! To be frank, not only is it annoying as a real human trying to interact with other real humans, but I simply don’t understand the end goal!
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A-men. Amen amen amen. Can I get an amen? I of course enjoy all of your posts (especially your fiction writing), but posts like this remind me of one of the many reasons I love your blog. I really appreciate your methodology as far as interacting with others’ blogs: first read, then comment, then like. My personal method is to read (always read first!), then like (assuming I actually liked it and want to show my support for the content), then comment (I try to find something to say, but there are times when there’s nothing to say, in which case i probably wouldn’t have liked it). There are occasionally times when I will only have time to read, then I’ll need to come back and comment later, though.
As far as a decrease in traffic over the past week or so, I hope I can offer a comforting point. I’ve actually had some private conversations with fellow blogging friends lately, and we have ALL been seeing a downturn in traffic over the past week or so. None of us has any clue why, but I do think you should know that it is not just your blog. I am wondering if there is something about this time of year, as many here in the States are on spring break throughout March. Who knows. All I know is, at first I worried it was something I had done wrong on my blog to cause me to lose traffic, then I started talking with others about it, and we’re all seeing it right now for a bit.
Finally, I could not agree more about the relative weight that a hundred hollow likes hold versus a single like from a valued reader and blogging friend. This is exactly what I mean when I say that, even though my wildest dream is to be able to blog for a living, I will be every bit as content if all I have in the end is my small circle of blogging friends and supporters.
Keep up the good work, Paul! 🙂
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Thank you, as ever, for your input which is always anything other than throwaway. It’s always abundantly clear that you fully read the post and soak up every bit of information you can. Your brain must have all the qualities of a sponge! I wish mine was as capable.
Your method is right too in switching the like and comment as I do it too half the time. The main reason being that the like button is above the comment box. Either way, you do what I feel everybody should. Have the damned respect to read what the person has put so much effort into. Liking a post in the hope that the blogger will return the favour is bordering on blatant disrespect in my opinion.
Yes, I have since become aware of spring break and the majority of people who like my posts seem to be Stateside while the views themselves come mainly from the UK. Views have remained largely the same, although the recent average of 100 hits a day has dropped off somewhat (coincidentally as I close in on 10,000 hits overall – grrrrrr). The fact that traffic has slowed recently for a number of bloggers does help me feel a little less bad though, I must admit 🙂
The fact that I have people on here that I do consider friends is something special that can’t be ignored. It’s something that wouldn’t have happened unless I’d started this venture regardless of its success or lack thereof. No matter what becomes of this blog in the future, I will be grateful for all it has given me; especially the people I’ve encountered. I speak to my WP friends more than my Facebook friends nowadays. A lot more.
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Oh dear. It seems that instead of replying to this comment, I submitted a new comment altogether. Oops!
Feel free to delete my other comment, as I’ve copied and pasted the contents below:
Regarding the statement that giving a hollow like (without reading) solely in the hopes of getting action in return is tantamount to disrespect: I agree! (And I recognize that the way I worded that sentence was quite grammatically convoluted, haha.) It’s disrespectful given that the slighted blogger has spent God knows how much time constructing their post, only to have it cheapened with a like that wasn’t even meant.
I definitely took a lot of comfort when I realized that many of my blogging friends were seeing a slight downturn in traffic lately! It lets me know that there’s something with our collective audience’s schedule that’s going on.
And cheers to blogging friends!
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This is why I love your blog (and your stories) you tell it like it is, and you voice the concerns and frustrations many of us here on WordPress are afraid to. I’ve noticed a sudden drop in likes, then they shot back up, so I’m not sure what’s going on there, but, as a side note, even though I follow your blog, you don’t come up in my feed. I have to put your name in the search bar to find you. Please, don’t get discouraged, because I would be quite sad if you stopped writing. Though I don’t always comment, I am always reading, and I would miss your stories.
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I think it would take something more dramatic than a temporary drop in numbers for me to throw my toys completely out of the pram and stop blogging. I was just having a self-pity moment at that point. Though as I’ve warned in a previous post, my rate of posting may drop off soon as I work on a third edit of my novel and may also be back in work (finally).
It is frustrating when things can’t be consistent, or grow consistently anyway. When there’s a sudden drop in the stats it can cause you to second guess the reason why.
Time is something we’re all going to struggle with at one point or another. I’m having to bulk read people’s blogs on certain days because I don’t want to get left behind, but then that stresses me out as it’s time I could be using to write as opposed to read. I’d love to have a set daily schedule, but it’s impossible when there’s a little person to consider.
Thank you for the ego boost 🙂 You know how I highly I rate your writing so hearing (or reading if you will) that you feel the same about mine never gets old 🙂
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I totally understand. And you are very welcome!
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That’s what I like about your blog and your writing. You’re honest, and don’t beat around the bush. When someone likes one of my posts, but don’t comment, I wonder whether they’ve even read the post at all. Comments on the other hand have substance. Being a mental health blog, and a form of therapy for me, I use it as such and write mainly for me. When people comment however, and I see that a post has helped someone feel less alone in their own struggles, or that they can relate, it warms my heart. And having a bunch of people just “follow” my blog and like one post, without having read any of it (in my opinion), I wonder why the hell they bothered in the first place. It’s just a way to get you to pay attention to their blog and rack up their follower and like count. It’s superficial. I prefer having a small group of followers who actually bother to read my posts, than have random people who just want some form of accolade. There are times when I’ll just post a specific song, but I do it intentionally, because that particular song means something to me, and communicates what I can’t write or find words for in that moment. I never just post for the sake of posting and in order to get likes. That’s a waste of time in my opinion.
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I’m the same as you. When I get a random like I become suspicious, especially when there’s no comment from them and no follow either. I’ve dumped the like for like business on its head. I still follow back when somebody follows me though. That’s one thing I haven’t stopped doing.
I’m glad that you appreciate my honesty. I do worry when it comes to these kinds of posts as I worry I might annoy some people, but then I think that only people who feel defensive about what I’ve said will get annoyed and I’m not going to sugarcoat my feelings so that they get to continue thinking what they do is right. This is NOT a social media platform no matter what people think. It pisses me off when it gets used as one. In your case, random likes are bound to rub you up the wrong way. You’re bearing your soul in an attempt to work things out after your terrible past ordeals and when you get some randomer like your post without actually reading and trying to understand your plight then that’s going to piss you off. It’s not supportive at all. I feel exactly the same, but obviously in a different way as the support I look for is physical while you want it to be more emotional in nature. The measure of how supportive people REALLY are can be seen on Facebook and Twitter. I’ve often posted about my writing ventures and maybe two or three of my closest friends will react to it, all the while “funny” memes will get thousands of likes and shared around like the fucking clap or something. That’s the very reason I give social media decidedly little attention these days. Antisocial media is what it’s become.
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I can’t really say why you’re getting less blog action this week, but honestly… people have lives ya know? Just as you’ve said you’ve had a difficult time of late keeping up with even just your fave bloggers’ blogs. I’ve noticed over the past two years my blog has been running that it goes in waves…. some weeks seem very active and others not… then I’ll notice certain bloggers disappear from liking my stuff for awhile and then they’ll show back up and like every single post for awhile. There’s an ebb and flow effect which unfortunately can’t be predicted because no one knows what may be happening in various reader’s lives.
That being said, as far as what I am looking for – I definitely make a concerted effort to read my friend’s blogs regardless of what they post, and once I find particular blogs (friend or no) that I love, I will again make concerted efforts to read every post of theirs. I can’t necessarily put my finger on exactly what draws me in – though the handful of blogs (yours included) that I have attached my interest to over the past couple of years have been well written – there is usually what I feel a unique style of writing that I find captivating for some reason or another – and are either imaginative in their fiction, but also usually tell their own life stories in an interesting way. I love true to life stories.. People just putting themselves out there for the world to see and actually writing it well. I am so freaking irritated that Ian Mcfarland is gone… 😦 Oh My God, I’d tell you you MUST read him… but he disappeared and made his blog private. I hope he comes back some day… his words could tear me apart on the daily… so powerfully written for such a young guy… gosh! But that is a whole ‘nother tangent…
As far as random blogs in a search or blogs I kinda like/follow but don’t read every post – catchy titles and images certainly help to draw my attention. The titles mainly do it for me, and I in turn try to make my titles relatively catchy or unique to draw people’s attention. There still needs to be interesting content to match the titles of course or I’ll just quit reading and not offer a like or comment… but to get me to that point, wow me with titles people!
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I appreciate that people have lives. Of course I do. But the amount of likes on Find Me a Find especially is lower than anything I’ve received on any post since the beginning. I think it’s on three. I can’t remember the last time I got less than nine-ten likes per post so I’m obviously going to really notice when a post at this stage gets only three. That’s tragically low comparatively speaking. Even seven for the one after was lower than usual so it just got alarm bells ringing.
I personally don’t think you owe any explanations as to what you’re here for. You have respect for the craft of writing and always spin out stuff of great quality even when it’s something you’ve rushed by your own admission. You have a natural flair for writing and your critique of the work of others should be taken seriously for that very fact. You’re not a fly by night who’s here to use WordPress as another social media platform. You’re here because you see blogging as a true means to an end. That gives you the licence to basically do as you please for my money. As I said to Summer, having you in my corner empowers me and I feel lucky to have you on my side. You’re worth a hundred followers plus change 🙂
I see some really naff titles. Honestly, they pop up on my emails or my reader and I think “do you actually want people to read your post?” While there are others I’ve read literally off the strength of how good the title was. It’s so important and yet I don’t think some people quite realise it.
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Paul your post got me really thinking because I have also noticed that lots of people blog without knowing what they really want or why they are even into it. But the fact is time will always tell. I have more followers now but I wonder if they read my blog at all. I try as much as possible out of crazily busy schedule to read and comment on people’s blog, like and share if need be, as well as those of my new followers and unfortunately I hardly get any response from them which only comes to prove your point that they don’t know what they are looking for or why they are blogging. I sure do have some followers that am always grateful to have and will always treasure their work and support and all I do is to just keep doing what I love to do. Keep up your good work👌💕
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I can say this; those who aren’t reading your blog are the ones missing out! I may not catch every one of your posts, but those I do get around to reading are always of a very high quality and an entertaining read. I intend to catch up with those posts of yours I’ve missed as soon as I can and I’ll read them all in one go. Expect a lot of likes and comments that day 🙂 I suppose we should ignore these charlatans who are here for the wrong reasons, but it’s extremely difficult. Especially as like you said, you’ll give them a shout and try to initiate some form of contact to get them introduced to the world of WordPress and they just ignore it. What newbie would possibly ignore a welcome message from an experienced blogger like you if they aren’t here for the wrong reasons.
Like you, I treasure my true supporters and consider them all friends. They’re all brilliant bloggers/writers in their own right. Each of them are unique and I love that. There’s a lot of diversity out there in amongst the sea of pretenders who are here for all the wrong reasons. Luckily, people like you and I do exist and are doing this for the right reasons. I’d high-five that with you if I could. Haha.
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Thanks so much Paul😍 I really do appreciate your kind words all the time, your support keeps me going. I wish you a lovely week😘😉
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And your appreciation of my support is one reason why I continue to give it. That and your talent of course 🙂
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I don’t know why you’d say it leaves you wondering what the point of bothering is. Your blog is for you; & for others to decide whether they’ll read or not.
I’m grateful for anyone who reads mine – I don’t get anywhere near as many likes (& even less comments) than other people – & I actually I write a bit more than a couple of 4 line poems or haikus.
But it’s my blog & at the mercy of the wordpress population.
Personally, I won’t read a rambling blog – over 700 words loses me, unless I’ve stumbled across something interesting – your series Find me a Find is an example. I quite often read continuing series. & yes, I do insist on reading those who I favourite. Saying that, I’ll still do a cursory glance at others which I know aren’t really my bag – sometimes a tiny diamond shows thru.
When I like a post I will reblog or tweet it; my “liking” has become more discriminatory & if I don’t get what is written, I’ll tell the author or just delete.
All writers are at the mercy of the reading public. Just keep doing what you like doing & stop questioning its validity. Daria.
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I think the reason I said I’m not sure I should bother is because this blog is the side attraction. My aim is to get my novel published and this blog is a supplement. I feel I’m working harder on the supplement than I am the main project. I also feel that the supplement is causing me more stress than it should be, but then that’s just me all over. I think I need a massage or something. Haha.
Your blog is one I intend to catch up on properly as soon as I get the chance, just so you’re aware.
As you say, we are at the mercy of the WordPress community and that’s a cross we must all bear one way or another. They’ll either come to us or they won’t. I shouldn’t let the fact that people are taking the easy option bug me, but it’s difficult (I refer you to the stress point again).
I get that a lot of people don’t want to read posts that are too long, especially from somebody they’ve never read before; not unless the subject matter is something that appeals to them (hence my “give your posts a good title” advice). I do wonder sometimes if I should keep my posts more succinct, but then I think “well why should I dispense with certain thoughts just for the sake of more readers/likes?” That said, I appreciate some people simply don’t have the time to spare for long-winded posts. Now that you’ve stipulated such I shan’t be offended when you don’t comment on them in future 😉
As you say, I should just keep doing what I’m doing. Or doing what I WANT to do. I WANT to get published. That’s why I’ve started on a third edit of my WIP. If my blog has to suffer for it then so be it, but I’ll endeavour to keep on top of my posts here too.
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I love this post and I fully get what you’re saying here. WordPress isn’t going to change unfortunately. I think people will continue to do what they like. I have learned to quickly differentiate between the bollocks bloggers and the passionate writers and readers. I now have more followers than ever…but it becomes meaningless. I know that sounds daft and ungrateful, but I get sick of people who are just free riders and networkers with nothing to back it up. I have done some lazy posting lately mixed up with proper writing. I think sustaining quality writing can be difficult. But when I know I’m getting lazy I’ll sit down and write a serious post. I don’t know why you have temporarily had less likes or blog traffic. People’s interest peaks and wanes for most bloggers. I don’t think you’re alone there. People’s attention spans are limited these days so maybe people don’t want to read a story divided into five or six posts as they are too dense to keep track of what’s already happened (even though you put links on to your earlier ones) I think some blog readers just can’t be arsed. I by contrast love your blog…and I don’t read anything fictional usually as I find it boring. Your writing isn’t boring. Sometimes I won’t read a post office yours immediately because I want to come back to it when I have a decent amount of time. I admire you a lot…your passion, your unique relatable style and your dedication. I know you are frustrated as you want to get published. I think that is the key for you. If you’re a published writer on wordpress then you can promote your book (s) and do blogging as a side thing. I think publication is everything for you…and you are putting in a lot of effort which should be rewarded 😊 In a way you’re too good to blog. That’s what I think X
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No, it would be shortsighted of me to think that this post or anything else I do could possibly change the way people use this frankly brilliant platform. I love WordPress. It’s a great site and I think extremely user friendly. That’s exactly why I think these charlatans are here in number. It’s TOO user friendly. It’s being used as a form of social media networking by some who are trying to make themselves appear more deep and interesting to others because they have a blog. That’s what I mean when I say they’re devaluing blogging in general.
I think you have earned the right to do some lazy posts given the outstanding effort you put into all of your others. I don’t struggle to maintain my quality of writing, but that’s because I only really have the one standard and if I slip from it then I won’t bother posting at all. Quality over quantity. It’s why I’ve avoided any award acceptance posts lately because I feel they’re kind of trite. I appreciate the sentiment behind being awarded them by my peers, but I feel my time is better spent writing posts of substance and not answering questions about myself or providing everybody with facts. I’m here to improve my writing and showcase my talents, not to accept awards. It also winds me up that my most liked post on here is an award acceptance one! Again, people sticking a cursory like on something I haven’t put any heart and soul into. It disappoints me.
The fact that you enjoy reading my stories despite you not feeling much of an affinity towards fiction flatters me deeply and I’m delighted you feel compelled to read them. I can only hope that I continue to impress you.
You might well be right. I don’t think I’m too good to blog, but blogging is definitely the Sideshow Bob. Writing novels is the Krusty. Writing novels is what I do and it’s what I am. This blogging business is most definitely just foreplay. The likelihood of me resuming it on a regular basis if and when I’m published is slim. Like you say, publication IS everything to me. It’s my Holy Grail. If I don’t achieve it then I might as well have lived for nothing. That’s how I feel.
Thank you for your comment as ever, Sumani. Having you in my corner helps make me feel empowered. I hope the same works in reverse 🙂 x
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Hey its sumani here 🙋 I realised I didn’t reply to this comment sorry hun. I love how you just cut through the crap and say what you think. I do think people try “deep”, to be post-modern or whatever the term is, but it can come across a bit ridiculous sometimes. To be honest I love only following a handful of bloggers and actually getting into their blogs fully (that said I think I’m behind on yours!) I’ll catch up at the weekend. PS. I deleted the comment about fucking the NHS (even though i LOVED it!) because I’m networking with them 😂 The communications dept are having a meeting with me so I can’t have any nhs slagging public comments on here anymore. You’ll probably thonk I’m a sellout but i need to get paid work and would also like to improve services. Lots more visibility these days! I have shit loads to be excited about…I’m scared though. 😨 Anyway back to the blogging, you keep being you and writing paulish stuff like only you can. I’ll always be in your corner don’t worry about that 😊💪👍 I so appreciate your support and friendship too. 💕
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I think you put it right. It’s all a facade. just like the whole “geek chic” bullshit. Geekery is a way of life. It isn’t a fucking fashion choice. I’ve been a geek since I even knew what a geek was. Wearing a pair of nerd specs doesn’t suddenly make someone a geek. Nor does blogging. These post-modern cretins are devaluing my essence!
Don’t worry about deleting that comment. We should be careful in these circumstances. If I get the job I’ve applied for with HMRC I’ll likely make my post about politics private to be on the safe side.
It’s easy to support somebody who’s so good at what she does. it’s even easier to be your friend 🙂
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A chic geek would post their socially acceptable geekiness on Instagram-lay their geeky things out across a coffee table with a hilarious/not hilarious hashtag! The real geeks are geeks in private haha 😂 That said though I had am actual conversation with my hubby yesterday asking whether you could get funky glasses that had clear lenses when you didn’t need glasses…just cause I like the look of them and I think it goes without my new image as a serious media star/freelance writer 😂😂 Thanks for being so supportive Mr. You’re lush 😊
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They’d maybe suit you (maybe), but when you’re seeing obvious scrotes whose best grade at GCSE was E in art then the whole effect of the geek specs is sullied regardless of who might wear them. Contrary to common belief, said spectacles do not make a person look more intelligent. Intelligence makes a person look more intelligent and you already are so you’ve nothing to prove. Although, can you work as a media journo or such things without a pair of nerd glasses? Hmmmm. As I’ve said umpteen times, you’re very easy to support. How can’t you support a person with such talent and personality?
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You have really presented a picture that can haunt me for a long time. I feel out of place in this culture of blogging if the rules are so intricate that I can’t bridge the gap created by too mush expectations. I am an older guy who has no conditioning to react to likes. The sun does not rise and set based on other’s approval, but this place seems to run on that currency. For me its about the connection either to the idea presented or the person expressing themselves. Either is valid, I had been shocked by blogs, pleasantly surprised by the depth of feeling or description of that feeling. I can not say that I am here for any one thing, all that matters is the experience. If I make friends, cool, if I see stuff that challenge the boundaries of my imagination, cool. But thanks for walking me through the complexity of managing a blog, but for me, what I read depends on my mood.
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Thank you for commenting 🙂 I think the first rule of reading my rant posts is not to take them so much as advice, but more as a strongly worded opinion. I would certainly never expect people to take it at more than face value.
I think your approach is the correct one in that you don’t feel compelled to react to likes and nor should you. I shouldn’t either. Nobody should. A like shouldn’t be something that obligates us to whoever gave it and nor should the person who gave it feel that they are owed anything in return. That said, that very thing has ultimately opened doors to new friendships here on WordPress and so it CAN have its benefits. I won’t just like a post for that reason though. As I said within, I want to read and comment more than to like a person’s post and that’s what I want on for my posts too (that and enlightened conversation with interesting people).
Given the frankness and thoroughness of your comment I do believe it might be worth my while popping by and reading some of your posts sometime.
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Thanks for the reply. I have been away and like most accounts, end of year brings us back. Your post and your response tells me that wordpress has something worth observing and following and I will get back to it more frequently. Take care and seasons greetings.
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