It’s February! Which means…that some of our bloggeriffic good intentions have flown out the windows [8]. How about revisiting those goals and renewing our zeal?
No more lurking. It’s creepy on a playground and, while slightly less so on a blog, if you constantly read someone’s words let them know! Comment, retweet, pin, post, smoke signal…Here’s something that took me way too long to figure out: if you don’t tell someone you’re reading their stuff, they have no idea you’re reading their stuff!
Keep it up. Agreeing to be a better blogger is not entirely unlike joining a gym on January 1st. We’ve all got the best of intentions, but suddenly there we are on January 10th, barely moving our legs on the lowest elliptical setting. And by the 21st we’re home watching Netflix’d episodes of Family Ties. Don’t let your social media habits be eclipsed by Michael J. Fox’s sweater vest.
Do things! It’s super easy to fall into this trap, especially in the February-In-Chicago-Frigid-Doldrums (for example), but you actually need to see and do and live the stuff you hope to blog about. The kind of stuff people want to read. Because just collecting ideas on a Pinterest board doesn’t count. (Although it is ridiculously pretty.)
Make friends. The internet is huge. And everyone and their rheumatic uncle have a blog these days. It can sometimes feel like you’re screaming into a windstorm to even be acknowledged in the crowd. So go find a blogger you adore (more if you’re feeling ambitious/popular) and make a bestie. Because no one wants to sit alone at the bloggy lunch table, yeah?
And on that note…
Be nice. There is so much competition in the blogosphere. SO. MUCH. And every single person in the world has a bigger blog than you/a book deal/sponsorships/a husband who unloads the dishwasher. (Which means that someone’s also thinking that about you and your blog.) So let’s all agree to be kind. And supportive. And champions of each other. Because there’s room for everyone in the blogging world and that should be celebrated.
Perhaps even retweeted.
Keely is a playwright, Mom, and Chicagoan with nary a through-line and more hyperbole than anyone in the whole world. She can be found at Lollygag Blog, Families In The Loop, The Little Style File, our awesome Project: Underblog, and at the tamale stand on her block.
Brilliant as always! I love that you mentioned that there is room for all of us! It is one of the best kept secrets of blogging!
Thanks! And right? People are so competitive that sometimes I hafta remind myself we aren’t all vying for the same three spots.
Project Underblog lurker coming out of the shadows to comment. Great article. I have to remind myself to post comments especially when I’m reading in google reader.
Heather- yay! And totally…that’s a big one for myself, especially when I get blogs in my inbox.
Love it!
Thanks Amy!
Your usual charm is showing! LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!! There is food for thought,
And informative with a touch of humor. Awesome.
Aw, thanks Janet! I like to think there’s a little something there for everyone. (And by “something” I mean a LOT of pictures of my kids being kinda crazy…)
Yesyesyesyesyes! A few years ago there was a de-lurk day or some thing. Maybe we all should bring that back. A day of no lurking. Or a week. How many comments can you leave. Etc. With mobile this and mobile that it’s hard to comment, I realize. But it’s so NICE to do and such a great way to connect in this big wide Internet world.
I LOVE De-Lurk Day. You set it up, and I will Not Lurk. It’ll be awesome.
I blame my lurking on parenting.
I think that the competition in the blog-o-sphere is crazy. I’ve often advocated for love and understanding between fellow bloggers, so thank you for mentioning that.
Oh, I blame a ton of stuff on parenting. And FOR REAL- bloggers need more niceitude. (You’re welcome!)
I love this– especially the idea that we aren’t all competing for a few coveted spots, but rather we just want to be heard. To know that somewhere, our words matter.
Truth! And- shameless plug- ain’t that the point of this here website?
I’ve been **toying** with the idea of starting back on my blog. Posts like this one help tremendously. Thanks for the uplift.
I think that would be great, Dena! You’ve always been such a good storyteller!