Recently, I was engaged in a conversation about blogging. The friend I was chatting with used to have a small blog, but it is now inactive as she feels her life is too busy to keep up with it. She’s too busy doing real life things, she said.
“I just feel like if you blog any longer than a year or two you have nothing left to say. Everything after that is recycled.”
This came after I shared my good news of going to my first ever blogging conference (BBC Chicago) and that I am moving over to WordPress (yes, it’s true!). She didn’t mean it as an insult or slur in any form, but as a blogger, it kinda jarred me.
I thought to myself, “Am I recycling? Am I boring everyone with the same shtick I rocked two years ago?”
I don’t know. I certainly hope not, but maybe that’s true…?
It’s a well-known fact that many blogs just fizzle and die after a year or two. To be quite honest, I almost pulled the plug on mine back in January. It was the end of a very difficult year, and the beginning of an unknown one. I felt that my readers only wanted the funny from me (sorry guys, I know that’s ridiculous!) and I just didn’t have any funny to give.
But then, just like the flu, my dry spell went away. I found new energy and passion when I realized I could share both sides of myself. Because my readers are awesome. I don’t always have to be funny, I CAN write about the yucky stuff and maybe help some people along the way. “Niche” be damned. The prayers and encouragement I’ve received through this blog bless my bloomin’ socks off.
I can think of multiple bloggers I’ve followed over the course of two years that I am still not tired of. On the contrary, I think I’m more interested in their opinions. The two years spent reading their thoughts and ideas just qualify them all the more for me. I feel as if I know them. I look forward to reading what they have to say each week.
Yes, they are still the same people, the same voice, but as their lives move forward they bring new content to their blogs.
So back to my conversation.
After being deflated by her statement, I wondered if my RA (rheumatoid arthritis) is now part of my shtick. Is this the topic that will be regurgitated every couple of months and look the same from year to year? Or what about my parenting gig? With every baby I have will my readers listen to the same ironic frustrations and rambled thoughts of a breastfeeding mother? Aren’t there enough posts in the blogosphere about pregnancy, birth, and motherhood?
There is nothing new under the sun. The wisest man in the world once said that.
No one is ever going to find a purely original thing to say. And if you think about it, we’re all made up of recycled material. Math is pretty much taught the same way year to year, science moves forward but keeps the basics, history is added to (the basic events remain), fashion pulls from old fashion, literature pulls from old literature, food adapts from previous recipes, film adapts from old literature/film, and bloggers bounce off of other bloggers.
Did we just have a circle of life kind of moment or what?
Blogging is not for everyone. Writing is not for everyone. That’s fine and dandy, but I think for bloggers/writers this IS real life. If it looks recycled it’s because life is recycled, and that is not necessarily a bad thing.
So. My plea for you today is to encourage those creative people in your life to keep going. Tell them you’re interested in what they have to say/do/show. We’re all recycling something, right? But that doesn’t make it any less valuable.
And to the readers that have stuck with me through funny and sad–I love you all. Dearly.
That is all.
| Linked up over here today! |
Hi Leslie! Nice to meet you ???? I think sometimes less IS more, and quality over quantity every time!
Just clicked over from SITS Blogtoberfest, and what a first entry to read! That said, I just passed the two year mark and can see both sides. I find it very difficult to keep up with blogging, but I love it so I do what I can. In the end that means having to live with a smaller, but more dedicated audience.
There is nothing new to say, but it’s our voices that make those messages unique. Not to mention, there are many many stories that we need to hear again and again – because they are that important.
Amen and amen ????
Awesome! I
Agreed. We all have something unique to say, to offer to others, to help lift, empower, encourage, to mentor. Just keep writing!
Amen! Otherwise, what in the world are we all doing here, right?
Do keep going! And yes, yes we did have a circle of life moment. Ellen
Thanks. I am. I keep getting to the point where I want to stop, but I just can’t. Not with all the awesome perks of friendship ????
I’ve been going through some of this myself. I’ve been blogging now for two and a half years, and I wonder if I’m repeating myself. I know that I’ve written at *least* two posts about each of the things that meant most to me (as a blogger, not as a mom necessarily)… but I think that they’re still new. That it’s a different perspective, different information, different stories.
Thanks Mom. I love your encouragement–keep it coming ????
Love, love, love this. As you know, I pulled the plug for a while last year. It was therapeutic, and I’m so glad I did. That said, I think that we should keep writing as long as we have something to say…to share with the world…without worrying about recycling or niche-filling. I actually started to second-guess a post that I just finished up because it’s not my usual fun & games…now I’m publishing it for sure tomorrow. Thanks for the timely reminder.
I think if you still have the passion for writing, it will come out no matter what the story. And yes, changing perspectives is probably one of the best things we can do to keep it fresh!
Thanks, Sue! I know, when you were away I totally missed you! I’m looking forward to reading this post.
Oops. Awesome post. I agree that we all have something to say in every stage of life. Whether people read it or not, well that’s another question. But, for the record, you’re still rockin’ it, b/c I’m farely new to your blog and I love it! I have also been following some blogs for over two years and they are on my favorite list.
That is so true. We DO ned to hear them again and again!
I just started my blog but had a difficult time getting started. I was so worried that no one would read it. I’m still a little fearful (hence my reason for anonymous blogging), but not so much so that I will stop blogging “recycled, reused, and reduced” content that is worth repeating! Thank you for this post! http://www.be-quoted.com “Say something worth repeating…or say nothing at all!” – ASM
The best stories in the world are the classics – timeless, able to be read over and over, and easily identified with. Your blogging is classic – and this one is especially wise. Life is very daily… but we all need to be encouraged in it and your writing is an encouragement to me and others who love to read your latest. Keep on writing!! Love you:)
There are no new stories. With that, I agree wholeheartedly. Yet, many stories are so good that they deserve to be retold, reinterpreted and reviewed.