February 25, 2011

Blogging

I see a lot of blogs. I love reading them. Whether it's about art, craft, techniques, photography, dogs, cooking, you name it, I love it. Then at times, you start wondering why you visit certain ones more often than others. I am speaking solely for myself when I say 'people'. It's the person behind the blog that captures you, not the knitted mittens, but what they say about those mittens.

If you blog about one particular subject, then you are going to attract the demographic that is interested in that topic. This doesn't make it easier on bloggers, like me, who like so many things and I always go back to why I started to blog in the first place when I wonder why I do it at all.
I live far away from my family and many of my friends. In a way I thought they would enjoy seeing what I was up to. You know, the way you show a visiting friend your latest sketch or mittens, for that matter. Some visit regularly but some have never seen it. I forget that there are people who haven't been pounding away at a computer for years, the way I have. They are perfectly happy that they are able to email and have no further interest, and that is fine.

So, in short, I write the blog for myself, and if I can share with someone, then that is an extra perk. (It's like keeping a photo album, that you only show to visitors).

My brother once said to me, when I indicated that I wasn't interested in computers all too much, that I would be smart if I did a couple of courses, because computers were not going to go away.

They didn't, and they guided me to the BLOG, and to the pleasure of blogging.

These are the things (I think) I have learned along the way:

1. Blogging is a lonely business, therefore comments and reactions are fun and you make new friends by commenting.

2. Be yourself in your blog and post your own work, or link back if it is by someone else.

3. There is a blog etiquette. People appreciate your comments; they often email you, and if you become a follower of their blog, they often follow yours. 

4. Blog frequently but not too frequently. Three blogs a week is what I go for, besides you need time to think and come up with something original.

5. Make it clear in a post what it's about. Don't upload a mixed bag of things. The reader soon moves on if it gets confusing. Rambling doesn't work well either. Don't make your blogs too long (like this one is sure to be).

6. Join a group of like-minded souls. Place a button on your blog, so others can find it. My hits went up from around 50 to around 100 a day in the last months since I joined two groups.

7. Never be afraid to comment. I have received lovely chatty emails from some of my Blog-Idols, making it even more fun to follow their blog.

8. A no-brainer is to always be polite on a blog, not to discuss anyone else, unless it's in glowing colors and do not whine.

9. I get the most hits on my blog from Google Images, 'Paper cuts', so I just head paper cut posts headers as 'Paper Cut'. 30% of my hits come from Paper Cuts Images. I don't know where people find my stories but 'Poppies, Poppies will put them to sleep', has a little reader base all of its own as do some of my other little essays, which lately, I having been keeping as short as I can - less is more, sort of thing.

10. The more active you are as a blogger, blog reader and commenter the more your reader-base will grow. 

....and know when to stop.

The above image was made with a black and white photo I made at a Pow Wow and using 'brushes' in Photoshop. I am on a learning curve.

Listening to: "Belgrave Square" by Anne Perry.  
 
The 12th mystery in the beloved Inspector and Charlotte Pitt Victorian mystery series. When a moneylender named William Weems is murdered, there is discreet rejoicing among those whose meager earnings he devoured. But the plot thickens when Inspector Pitt finds a list of London's distinguished gentlemen in Weems' office.

Not quite into it.








9 comments:

  1. Hello Elza,

    What a marvelous post.
    I was just thinking this morning (while eating hot buttered, hot cross buns with a lovely cup of coffee), why have I started blogging. Quite a few years back now I decided to start a blog about the music I write and record. I did one test page and decided I was spending way too much time writing that blog and working out how to get sound samples up and running that I stopped doing it.
    Last year (18th Dec 2009) I was told I had bowel cancer (just after Christmas I was told I also had secondary lung cancer). After my first op in Jan 2010 I decided to start drawing (graphite) as I am not able to work and needed something to stop me going even more insane than I already was. I really wanted to paint but now with no money coming in, I couldn't afford or justify buying some oils. After my second op for the removal of the tumor in my lung, I managed to get some money together for some oils. With myself doing more graphite drawings and painting on days that I felt well enough, I started looking online for other artists. On days that I don't feel well enough to paint (and there are plenty of them), there is always the net - which made me remember my Blogger account. And sure enough, there it was laying dormant and waiting to be used. It has only since starting to use it again and finding EDM that I have found such wonderful blogs like yours.
    You are so right, it is not only the artwork but the story and the person behind that story.
    Still...why will I be going back to your blog and some other peoples but not others?

    Great blog Elza - I just know my blog will not turn out to be nearly so interesting. I think I am just too random - I have such strange ideas...lol.

    Anyway, I just wanted to say I love your blog and this post was VERY interesting.
    Keep up the good work. The only problem is I've always been a slow reader and I'm becoming addicted to reading good blogs like this one...I could be lost in the World Wide Interweb Ether...h e l p.

    Stew
    ElasticUnicorn

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  2. Interesting thoughts on blogging! Like you I'm far away from my family, and I don't really show my drawings to my friends. Blogging keeps me inspired and motivated. It's great to be able to communicate with people who share the same interests and search for some of the same things as we do. (and this is not always what friends are for ^^).

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  3. Keeping a blog and following other bloggers has encouraged me to make art daily. I like the contact with other people in blogland and I'm always inspired by their work. I agree with all of your tips for blogging, especially about being yourself and yes all comments are appreciated. Interesting post!

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  4. Great post! Blogging is a terrific motivator.

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  5. "I write the blog for myself, and if I can share with someone, then that is an extra perk. (It's like keeping a photo album, that you only show to visitors."

    Yes!!!

    Congratulations!

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  6. Very interesting - like a few others bloggin keeps me motivated art wise, but yes, it's also the people behind the art which keep me visiting other people's blogs. Connection is definitely at the heart of it for me.

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  7. i couldn't agree more!
    having been without my computer for over a week, i'm been bereft...
    i can now thank you for your lovely comment on my cup and saucer drawing :)

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  8. Elza, thanks for stopping by my blog, and so glad to have found yours. I love your insights on this issue. I am not a natural writer and it makes blogging difficult. Maybe that works in my favor because I know myself I don't like to read long-winded, rambling posts. However, that said, I'll definitely read a long article if there is knowledge I can glean from it, such as your post. Glad you discovered the art of blogging.

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  9. Well said. I have that same feeling about not being focused but that's who i am. See now i want to do paper cuts and poppies...i'm VERY suggestible

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