[Note: This is one of those posts I started writing at least ten times but trashed it every time. I don’t know why I kept trashing it… and I don’t know why I’m posting it now…]
Maybe I am an idiot… but before I started blogging, I did not know it was considered social media. I’m serious. And if you’re laughing at me now, I can totally understand and accept that.
When I began, I didn’t even consider the ‘likes‘ and the ‘comments‘. I thought I’d just have ‘followers‘… and I thought I’d be lucky to ever have more than 20 or 25 of them reading what I posted. I didn’t even think about interactions. I never used to read blogs… unless I landed on one when I wanted that recipe for Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake I saw on Pinterest. (And even then, I’d just scroll down to the recipe… as previously noted.) I didn’t know just reading blogs was a thing. I confess… I came to WP to write not to read. I thought I was just going to post bits of fiction and bitch about life. I never knew I’d make friends. And I never knew anyone would really care about anything I wrote.
It wasn’t until I took a Blogging U class nearly two years ago that I became aware of what blogging really was. I thought I was taking a class to make my blog better. I had no idea about the social aspects. Yep… I’m an idiot.
As a self-professed facebook-hater (I really truly loathe it), I was taken aback by this knowledge. Over-dramatic as this will sound, I felt a little ill. What had I gotten myself into? Other than reading a bit on twitter, I am not a social media person. But then I was. Kind of. It makes me queasy. I could have bailed right then and there. And I considered it. To be honest, I still consider it occasionally.
I do enjoy writing my blog posts. Of course, I could just write them for myself offline. But knowing others will read my words drives me to write more and write better. [Have I gotten better? I don’t know…] And the feedback and support are priceless… as are the friendships. I’ve been entertained and I’ve enjoyed meeting like-minded people. I felt incredibly alone before I met you.
But truly, I thought the only change from pre-blog writing would be that instead of writing just for me, I’d share my words. I honestly thought that was the only difference — strangers could read what came out of my head. And maybe I’d feel better letting out some of the personal crap to someone other than myself… even if I had no idea who (if anyone) was reading. But then I got support… something sorely lacking in my offline life.
Yet sometimes I wonder… what’s the point of blogging? For me, I mean. I didn’t start because I wanted to be part of a social media platform (see above for my cluelessness). If I’m not using my blog as a platform to ‘sell‘ my writing (or head in that direction) or to sell anything else or to make money in some other way, what’s the point? You all know my employment status. I could use the money… even just a little.
What’s happened, though, is that I spend more time writing for the blog than writing for any ‘real‘ goals. It’s all practice… it’s all writing… which is good no matter the reason behind it. But what about ‘real‘ goals? Mine are fuzzy at best. Because, you see, I have too much anxiety and not enough confidence or courage to pursue writing ‘for real‘ in any capacity… to pursue publishing (self or otherwise)… or even to pursue writing articles on the internet for a few dollars. I know it sounds pathetic – my lack of courage and confidence. But I know myself. I don’t think I can do it. I tell myself all the time that I can… that I can at least try. [Insert cliché here: If you don’t try, you’ve already failed.] But I just cannot physically get myself to take the steps. Something stops me. I don’t know what it is.
What the hell is wrong with me? [I know… many things.]
I know I’m never going to earn millions writing or blogging. [And from what I’ve seen and learned, people who do earn loads from blogging employ a lot of tactics that make my skin crawl. I just don’t think I have it in me.] And I’m not going to get miraculously discovered by an agent or a publisher by posting here. [I know… stop laughing…] So… some days I wonder why I’m here at all.
It’s not that I don’t enjoy it… and I’m not looking to stop or even take a break or anything like that. My friends are the best. But I think I need a goal… one that I don’t immediately give up on. Not sure if such a goal exists for me.
And I think I need to absolve myself from the guilt I feel when I can’t keep up with everyone else’s blogs… I never can. And I need to stop feeling terrible because I can’t follow back every single person who follows me (seriously… over 1500… how??). And I need to calm the fuck down and stop stressing myself out thinking that I must post daily or everyone will jump ship.
Out of sight, out of mind?
or…
Absence makes the heart grow fonder?
Which is it?
Anyway… don’t panic (or celebrate)… I’m not going anywhere. I don’t even know what brought on this post. I guess sometimes I just wonder why. [About tons of things… not just this.]
For some reason [see ‘Note’ at the beginning of this post], I go back and forth about publishing this post. Why? Who the hell knows?! Hopefully I won’t regret it. Again, why? No idea.
/end crazy rambling thoughts…
©2017 what sandra thinks
All Calvin & Hobbes images ©Bill Watterson, obviously
what sandra thinks 
[ Smiles ] Now, it is good to know that you did not permanently trash this blog post.
By the way blogging and anxiety do not go well together!
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You think it wasn’t trashworthy? I really wasn’t sure… As for blogging and anxiety… Maybe except when blogging *about* anxiety? Or maybe not. 🙂
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I can relate to almost everything you’ve expressed in this post! I also loathe Facebook, and didn’t see the connection between blogging and social media until later.
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I’m glad to know it wasn’t just me! When people started referring to it as social media, I was at a loss. At least I’m capable of socializing online (somewhat, anyway)… because god knows I can’t do it offline…!
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Nope, you’re definitely not the only one. I’m also more adept at socializing online than offline, but Facebook … no thanks!
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I agree. It’s terrible. I’m surprised it’s still as popular as it is… I think it needs to get fazed out. 🙂
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Hmm … if FB gets fazed out, some other platform will take its place, I think.
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Well, that’s true. But there’s just something about fb that I can’t stand!
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I can relate to almost everything you’ve expressed in this post! I also loathe Facebook, and didn’t see the connection between blogging and social media until later.
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Nice ❤ ❤ ❤
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I’ve asked myself the same thing. Why am I doing this? I’ve even made a post about it myself. I still don’t know. At least you had a singular topic to stick to. I started mine as a journal of sorts, but it’s morphed from more personal stuff to music stuff to travel stuff to now almost exclusively Photo stuff. But why? Why spend the time, for no money, fame, or extra opportunity? It defies reason, but, here I am, nearly 3 years later. I think if it weren’t for the interaction with the people I’ve met and grown to love, even though I’ve never met any of them, I’d be over it by now. It’s weird.
As for feeling guilty about not following and reading and commenting on all those who follow you? Don’t. I have nearly 1000 followers (still no idea why), and I only hear from roughly 50 of those on a regular basis. The others not only don’t comment or like, but I rarely, if ever, even see 95% of those I follow ever post themselves. Whenever I get a new like or follower, I’ll check out their site. If it’s interesting, I’ll follow. If it’s generally about something I know I have no interest in, I don’t. Rude of me? Maybe. But it is what it is. And if someone specifically asks me to follow them when they comment? That’s a big fat “fuck no”.
No guilt, man. This is a distraction, not a stressor. I’ve said all along, if it becomes a chore, I’m out. You do this for you, so as long as it feeds you in some way, keep doing it. Those of us who enjoy hanging with you want you to stick around and enjoy your company. No stress. No expectations. No out of sight, out of mind. You’re liked. Period.
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I don’t think I have a singular topic! I talk about writing, post fiction, then started posting poetry, once in a while, I post crappy art, I post about my personal struggles, and I bitch about whatever pisses me off, etc. I am all over the place! (That’s about right, considering my brain…)
I don’t even know if 10% of those who follow me even read my blog. If you hear from about 50 on a regular basis, I think that’s good! As far as comments on my blog… I don’t know if more than 10 people regularly comment… I have never counted but it seems like it’s that low. Likes? I get a decent amount sometimes (decent to me anyway)… and I’m always surprised by which posts do well and which don’t.
I do the same as you — I visit the blogs of new followers, likers, commenters… but I only follow if I’m interested. I just can’t do the courtesy follow for every person. And yes!! If someone comments and asks me to check out their blog or just comments with a link… yeah, fuck no.
Sometimes, I just think I’m missing an opportunity… but I can’t get myself to DO anything about it. I’ve not even been here for 2 years and I have over 1550 followers… who the fuck knows why?? Not me! I know I should be pursuing something with my writing… even if it is just trying to get some crap published online… for a small bit of compensation… or even for nothing just to be able to say I’m ‘published’ in some way. But I have a motivation problem. And a huge confidence problem. (I wrote a post about that, too… still haven’t posted that one…)
Here’s the most pathetic thing of all. Get ready. Sit down. Promise you won’t think horrible things of me. One of the ways being here ‘feeds me’, so to speak, is the attention. I know you know me… so you know that’s something I lack offline. Is that sad or what?
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No, not sad at all. I’m glad to be a part of that “attention”. What’s sad is that you don’t get it in your “real” life. We all have different motivations for doing this, though I still have no idea why I’m doing it. There’s no shame in any of those reasons. Oh, and I didn’t mean to dis you in any way by saying you had a singular “theme”. I just meant that your primary focus seems to be writing. You’re right, though, in that you do post a variety of stuff. I really don’t anymore. But who knows where I’ll go next, or for how much longer I’ll do it at all. This is an odd dynamic, the blogosphere, that is. Still haven’t figured it out for myself, but somebody a lot smarter than me should write a thesis about it. 😃
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I didn’t think you were dissing me… 🙂 I’ve just always wondered if I had a my main ‘thing’… because it always felt random and unfocused.
There are some things about this whole blogging culture that I’m not crazy about… but here I am. Still not sure why…
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Me too, my dear. Me too. But hey, if I were t doing this, I wouldn’t have met you, or Doc, or several others whom I’ve grown to really adore. I don’t really ask myself why anymore. I just do what I feel like doing. It’s that simple. It’s yours. Do what YOU want to do with it. Random is good, by the way. Never boring. 😃
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Funny you say that because when I can’t think of anything to write, I always feel like I must be incredibly boring!
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I feel like I’ve maybe gotten stale to readers too. It’s all photos. Nothing really new. But, I love Photo hunting and editing and cropping and looking at them. But nobody is ever gonna like them as much as I do. They’re my babies. Just like your writing is yours, ya know. So, do it for yourself, not others. You’ll never please everybody. 😃
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Yeah… I know. Oh… and I love looking at your pictures. 🙂 Although it makes me never want to post any because mine suck compared to yours…! 😀
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Child, please! I’m the oddfellow who actually enjoys looking at everybody’s vacation pics. Post away. And, thank you, but you’re way too kind. 😃
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Well… my situation being what it is… we haven’t taken a vacation in quite a while. Kind of depressing. But I do take pictures… once in a while they’re decent… 🙂
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There’s plenty of beauty in the so-called mundane. I say, snap away. You’ll have at least one person enjoying them. 😃
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🙂
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This has been me the past few months. I feel terrible when I can’t keep up and try my best to play the catch up game. I also put way to much pressure on myself to write that I was producing posts that I was not happy with. Your fear of writing for goal is my fear of teaching classes. I hate that I have to do it. My anxiety is ridiculous. I have a class tomorrow I am suppose to do
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I admire anyone who is able to teach at all! I don’t think I could do it. But I bet you’ll be great. I think we can do more than we think we can. Putting that to the test is hard, though. I can certainly understand the anxiety. ♥
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Sandra, please get out of my head. 😊 I drafted a similar post today about all this, my need for external validation, etc. I agree that’s its been a great place to make friends. And I’ve given up feeling guilty about not keeping up. There are only so many hours in a day! And don’t worry about out of sight out of mind. You’d still pop up in our Readers.😚
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I’m not sure how I keep ending up in your head. 🙂 Yes — the external validation… I’m glad I’m not the only one who has that need… or I’m glad you understand. I just wrote a whole post about confidence (and how I wish I had some)… it’s yet another that I pushed aside because I wasn’t sure about publishing it. Maybe I will…
I know I need to stop worrying about keeping up. I have to prioritize… I have kids and I have obligations and just… life. And I want writing time… even though I can’t get myself to do anything with my work. I do need some sort of goal, I’m so jealous of people who are able to take the steps toward something. I may never understand why I can’t… It’s so frustrating! But you’ve been so supportive and I can’t explain how much I appreciate that. ♥
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I ask myself the same things. I may have to do a similar post as I feel many of the same things. As long as you want to write, I’ll be reading!
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It’s amazing to me how many people feel some of the same things I wrote. I was so hesitant to post this (I still don’t know why…) but clearly, it’s something people relate to! And thank you for always being so supportive! ♥
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I always say to people – don’t worry about keeping up with other people’s blogs. Social media has encouraged this weird sense of binging – be it TV shows or people’s updates. And the way I see it, we’re either going to be able to keep up o not. My WordPress use is weird in the sense that for the first four years I was on it, I never interacted past my own blog, so now if I comment and read, it’s because I have time. If I disappear, it’s because I’m busy. I have found that it’s become a bit like looking on Facebook or Twitter, though…Anyway… Don’t pressure yourself is the short version of my waffle. 😝
Facebook is the worst.
I’m in the same boat with the writing! I think setting a goal is a good start. I’m attempting to write my first 100% original novella and I’ve challenged myself to finish the second chapter by the end of the month….😂😂 I’ll be done with it in ten years.
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Hahaha! 😀 I need some sort of goal. I think I should start by rewriting / reworking something I’ve already written. But I can’t seem to take myself seriously with it. I have, like, 8 to choose from. It should be ‘easy’ to get started… but I have very serious motivation and confidence issues. Anyone know the fix for that? Yeah… me neither!
And yeah… I need to stop with the guilt and the pressure I put on myself. It’s super unhealthy!
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You are a perfectionist, and you hold your self to high standards, this trait can be a blessing and a curse, sometimes simultaneously. But have no fear, you are still writing, you are till here. Personally I think your work has matured, though I have never felt it to be amateurish in the first place. I pray you continue to write, and strive for that excellence that has attracted so many people to your world.
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Thank you… you always say wonderful things to me. So sweet. I think it’s true… I’m a perfectionist and I tend to be too hard on myself if I don’t meet my own expectations. But I won’t stop writing…
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I really don’t consider WP to be social media, and I’m sure that not many Facebook users would think so either. Generally speaking no-one calls you a ****, or says that you need your ####### head looking at! If we encounter such a person then we simply don’t follow them
We are a very supportive lot, and encourage each other. Some blogs are brilliant, like yours and mine! Others are less so, but there will always be someone willing to give advice, give honest feedback, and give genuine praise when things get better.
Yes, there are friends made, a little bit of flirting on occasion, the odd slightly ribald exchange, some actual meetings, although I haven’t yet heard of any long term loving relationships having developed.
Professional bloggers aside, where money is a factor, I think we all really blog for ourselves. Yes, it is lovely to get a lot of likes, and oodles of comments, and it can be disillusioning to spend ages writing something and then having no-one read it, but what the hell, we carry on regardless.
I don’t beat myself up if I haven’t posted anything for a while. I do try to enter a couple of challenges each week and I try to read a sample of as many blogs as I can and comment if I have time. Some blogs I read every single post because they are really worthwhile, and I have a regular list that I go back to all the time.
This comment is getting to the stage of being a post in itself so I will cease.
I think I blog primarily for ME. If anyone wants to tag along then that is a bonus.
And, by the way, if this were social media I would comment something inane such as I am literally LMAO.
Oh dear, what’s that on the floor?
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😀 WP is certainly very different from facebook. I don’t think I could be here if it weren’t! I never thought of WP as social media until I heard that from others. Maybe I should choose to disagree!
I am amazed by the support I’ve gotten here. Maybe people are just being nice… but I like to think they really mean it! Some days when the likes and comments are few, I admit to being discouraged, but you’re right… I go on anyway.
It’s good for me to have friends here, I think, because I have such a hard time making friends offline. That’s kind of sad, isn’t it? Maybe that makes me appreciate those here that much more. And a little flirting always makes a girl feel good. This girl, anyway.
I need to learn to lose the guilt when I can’t read everything… and when I can’t write as much. I always put too much pressure on myself. It’s not the healthiest way to live.
I don’t mind lengthy comments… I love them!
Now clean up the floor!
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Too late the dog ate it!!!!!! Now there’s a good title for my autobiography, “Oh shit, the dog ate my arse!”
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Oh yes! Write that down before you forget! 🙂
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I know exactly what you mean with this: “But I just cannot physically get myself to take the steps. Something stops me. I don’t know what it is.” 😦
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It’s messed up! I really don’t understand what the roadblock is in my head! I’m sorry you have it, too. 😦
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I have just started out on this blogging journey and your words really echo how I am feeling. So far I’ve written two blogs and I’ve managed to gather a handful of followers – beyond any expectations I had. I really didn’t know what this blogging thing was about, and I’ve gone into it blind and terrified, but the social aspect, sharing your writing with like-minded people, is exciting and inspirational.
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Best of luck to you with your blog! There are certainly some amazing people out there. 🙂
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Being heard is the key for me, and bloggers are a pretty nice bunch on the whole 😊 I currently have no idea what I’m doing, so posts like this help. Thanks!
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I’m glad you found the post helpful! I agree — there are some truly great people here who are incredibly supportive! 🙂
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I really enjoyed reading your blogging story. It was an encouragement to new bloggers like me. 🙂
-Megan
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Thanks… I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
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“What’s happened, though, is that I spend more time writing for the blog than writing for any ‘real‘ goals.”
I think that’s almost all bloggers. 🙂
Blogging is a weird thing. It’s just a platform for writing, but it’s often seen as the writing itself, and equated with other forms of creative work with very clearly defined goals attached to them. If you’re an author, you make books, which you try and sell. If you’re a painter, or an artist, you make paintings or Art, which you sell. If you’re a blogger, you….er….share your blog posts and reply to comments and…um…erm.
Blogging for fun is never a bad thing. My first five years of blogging (writing horrible stuff that makes me want to claw my eyes out when I look at it) were happy and mostly enthusiastic. But then I realised I wanted to write more seriously – and started to resent my blog, because I didn’t know what it was for.
Blogging without a direction and an ultimate purpose is a recipe for burnout – especially when social media gets factored in, because of all the pressure to self-promote and be on every platform in a space that is literally limitless, meaning your precious goal-chasing energy is sucked away doing things that don’t add up to a hill of beans, or even a bean, singular.
From this post, I’d say your blog has a role in the lives of other writers. It’s for getting into their heads and asking them to think and talk about things they never think and talk about. You have 1640 people who would agree with that.
But what about for you? What’s your blog for?
Or, putting it another way – instead of trying to work out what it’s for, how about working out something you could do with it that would help you get paid from your writing at some point?
Here’s a crazy idea.
Let’s say you got really, really good at giving creative writing advice that really gets into the heads of other bloggers and actually gets folk off their butts and gets them writing in a way that takes away all that hopelessness and burnout we all feel when we don’t know where we’re going and why….
What would happen if you took your 1,640 followers on WP and asked them all to give you a dollar a month through Patreon for access to your posts?
https://gaps.com/patreon-earners/
A dollar is nothing. You could totally write something the average aspiring blogger would pay a dollar a month for. And what would happen next?
Answer: you’d be making $1640 a month. Just like that. Bang.
Congrats! You are now a writer making $20,000 a year.
Worth a shot?
(Re. social media – I love this from Buffer: https://medium.com/social-media-tips/engagement-not-traffic-1cdedf80e309 Turns out social media is just about talking to people and being a human being. Who knew?)
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I like your idea. I’m don’t think I’ve got content people would pay for… at least not right now. I’m also not sure I’d be able to come up with anything. A lot of what I post is personal… or poetry. I don’t think anyone would pay for that. I’m not that fascinating. 🙂 I’m amazed I have the number of followers I have. But I’d bet that many of them don’t actually read. Of course, I’d love to earn something from this blog… it’s certainly worth thinking about. Thanks for your input… and great suggestions!
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>>”I’m also not sure I’d be able to come up with anything. A lot of what I post is personal… or poetry. I don’t think anyone would pay for that. I’m not that fascinating.”
Have you read The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield? (https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Steven-Pressfield-ebook/dp/B007A4SDCG/) It’s pretty much the book that turned me into a fulltime writer. I think you’d get a kick out of it too. His main point is about Resistance, capital R. It’s the thing inside your head that tries to prevent you from doing anything creative, a thing that just wants to destroy and break apart and leave nothing but ashes – and it lies. It lies all the time. It is true fake news.
“I’m not sure I’d be able to come up with anything” is literally every writer ever, from 50-year pro to first-day amateur. I guarantee it. We’re all leaping into the dark. And that’s exciting, because when you don’t know if you can come up with anything good that people will want, you also don’t know that you *can’t*. So it’s all one big question mark. Your success or your failure are not assured – which is a sign something is worth doing, I reckon.
But “I’m not sure I’d be able to come up with anything” is not the same as “I couldn’t come up with anything” – which is what the rest of your comment is suggesting. That’s one of the very worst lies Resistance tells us. It equates “I don’t know” with “you’re 100% doomed from the start” – and we run away screaming. But creative business folk, entrepreneurs, professional writers etc. learn to see “I don’t know” as “well, if I actually want to do this, why don’t I find out?” It’s a reason to do it, not a reason to not do it.
I have no idea if this idea will work either. Similar stuff is making other people lots of money and giving them lots of creative freedom, but I don’t know. And it kinds depends on if you actually would enjoy it. That’s the real decider. If you wouldn’t enjoy it, making a living from your blog that way (or a similar way) then it’s not worth doing, because at some point you’ll want to do something that’s actually fun.
But if you want to give it a try, and you find a way to do something like it that feels like The Real You – I reckon that’s a green light.
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I haven’t read the book but it sounds interesting. Resistance is huge in my head… no doubt about that. I have a major lack of positivity and confidence. I think that takes away my motivation. That’s not just with writing — it’s with anything. I’ve been unemployed for a long time (well, long to me… probably long to anyone). Some time off was planned; the rest was the result of fear, lack of confidence, and lack of motivation. I’ve been stuck since.
Money is a problem, and soon, I will be in a place where I have to take a job I may very well hate (hated my old job, too) just for the money. I wish I’d done more research and found some motivation when I was initially laid off from my last job. I’d have had more time to play with… more time to look into something like you’ve mentioned. Time is going to be harder to come by as the days pass. But that’s irrelevant if I can’t get myself to do *anything*…
Being able to make a living from something I actually enjoy has felt like a foreign concept to me for as long as I can remember. Most of that is because I’m not sure what I want. I never did figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. The growing up part happened… figuring things out never did. Still working on that.
I think I feel like I’d need a plan… material prepared and planned in advance… before I’d feel comfortable asking for anything ($) from anyone. That seems like something I could (should) move toward. I never really did set any real goals for myself here or with writing in general…
Thanks again for all of your thoughts and input. It is *much* appreciated! 🙂
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I can relate to this post so much! Thanks for posting this and not trashing this 🙂 have a great day ahead! x
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Thank you for reading! Hope you have a great day, too!
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“I do enjoy writing my blog posts. Of course, I could just write them for myself offline. But knowing others will read my words drives me to write more and write better.”
Oh, my! I love this post. What you said (quoted above) is exactly the same way I feel. I write so others will read what I write. Thank you for this post. The right words at the right time.
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I’m glad to know you understand and share my feelings! It seems that people always tell me I should be writing for me… and I do… but I want others to read my words, too. It does make me better, I think. Thanks so much for reading!
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To be honest I still have zero followers.
I’m all new with this blogging stuff and in one way or another I can relate to some of your sentiments.
I started a blog to get this thoughts out my head… And reach out to my fellow working millenials etc….
Hann
@imperfectmess
http://www.noregretplease.wordpress.com
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I had very few followers for what seemed like a long time. I have no idea how it grew. I did the usual thing interacting and getting to know people but you can’t get to know everyone! Best of luck with your blog… 🙂
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Thanks 😄. Great words
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I think everyone feels like an imposter from time to time like they’re not adulting/writing/goal setting/whatever the “right way.”
Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors. I think he says it better than I could. This is an anticdote is share from Neil Gaiman’s Blog:
Some years ago, I was lucky enough invited to a gathering of great and good people: artists and scientists, writers and discoverers of things. And I felt that at any moment they would realise that I didn’t qualify to be there, among these people who had really done things.
On my second or third night there, I was standing at the back of the hall, while a musical entertainment happened, and I started talking to a very nice, polite, elderly gentleman about several things, including our shared first name. And then he pointed to the hall of people, and said words to the effect of, “I just look at all these people, and I think, what the heck am I doing here? They’ve made amazing things. I just went where I was sent.”
And I said, “Yes. But you were the first man on the moon. I think that counts for something.”
And I felt a bit better. Because if Neil Armstrong felt like an imposter, maybe everyone did. Maybe there weren’t any grown-ups, only people who had worked hard and also got lucky and were slightly out of their depth, all of us doing the best job we could, which is all we can really hope for.
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That’s an interesting story. I never would have thought that someone like him (both Neils, actually) would feel like that. Maybe feeling that way doesn’t really mean that I’m not good enough. For me, I’m sure it’s my HUGE lack of confidence…
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Happy I stumbled across this blog while looking for other writers to connect with here. This is exactly how I feel.
I also never really considered WordPress to be a “social media” platform until I started reading blog posts where others referred to it as so. I guess the idea of getting likes, comments and “shares” does make it a social media medium. Even so, I don’t view it in the same way I view FaceBook (which I’m so glad I deleted), twitter and Instagram.
Because unlike these types of social media, blogging doesn’t give people an outlet to simply accept things at face value. We don’t just scroll through posts and like them. It’s a place for people to look deeper into things, attempt to understand and argue them, to discuss what we care about.
In the end, it’s writing. It’s reigniting the conversation- and I’m not trying to glorify this platform or anything, but seriously- this motto is even displayed on a page in the WordPress app. I find that about blogging, and writing overall, to be so wonderful!
We’re sharing ideas, after all. That’s a great thing, isn’t it? 🙂 I remember feeling the same way a couple months ago. I told my college counselor I wanted to explore the field of writing and look into a future of writing. Of course, I was told to shadow people for further experience and submit my work to publishers. But for some reason, I’m hesitant.
I’ve always gotten my writing out there through blogging, and to go outside this boundary scares me somewhat.
Thanks for sharing. I just followed! I’m so excited to read more of your material.
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Thanks so much for visiting and for your thoughts. I love to meet people who understand me… and I think you do!
For me, the term ‘social media’ is kind of a turn-off… that’s why I was sort of chilled when I saw someone refer to WP as such. I often wonder… if I’d known WP could be considered social media, would I ever have started blogging? I’m honestly not sure.
I have had the publishing dream for a very long time but something holds me back from pursuing it. Fear of failure? Sure. But I think I also have a fear of success. I wrote a post about that… It really is scary!
Thanks again for reading. I hope you find more that you enjoy here!
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Same here- totally agree with you.
Again, I hate this term. I hated the idea of social media so much I deleted all the apps on my phone. But in the end, I don’t consider “social media” to be a bad thing. Technically speaking, at its core, it’s a modernized way of us interacting with one another and discussing things, and that IS writing.
However, I feel like it’s been given a bad rep after the introduction of networks like twitter, Facebook and Instagram which cause people to live in their own little bubbles, contradicting the need for discussion social media was initially created for. To me, those platforms aren’t social media. They just allow people to portray the worst side of themselves to the world.
So I don’t think the essence of social media itself is bad. But it definitely bothers me to hear WP referred to as social media (even though that’s what it is) because of the networks coined with that term, you know? Just negative association on that part.
WP to me, however, is real interaction. I think while it’s understandable it’s technically classified by some people as social media, it’s luckily not limited to that. It’s discussion. It’s larger than that term.
It’s writing.
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As much as I hate facebook and some of the others, for some reason, I don’t have a problem with twitter. I think it’s kind of a genius idea… the character limit. I think it helps teach people how to say what they mean clearly with few words… I think that’s a talent!
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Eh, I like some aspects of Twitter. I think we get more out of it than Snapchat or Facebook, but even so, I feel like it’s still one of those sites where we take things for face value. For example, I could tweet something and simply mess up one or two words- and boom. Hundreds of people see it and that’s the worst part of myself I’ve shown to the world. I can’t take it back. And even if I delete it, someone will be there to screenshot it or mention me.
At least with WP, I’m less likely to make that mistake because the process itself is a lot more long winded and meticulous.
Also, definitely see where you’re going with the character limit- it encourages people to think outside the box. The character limit was actually cool for me at first but then people started making threads, screenshotting their drafts, going on rants with multiple tweets, etc. so it kind of ruined it for me.
Plus I feel like the whole “retweeting” gist allows people to gang up on each other in a way. Just not for me, I guess!
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My use of twitter is minimal so I don’t have experience with the things you mention… I guess my minimal use has stopped it from being ruined for me. So far!
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Well, as they say, things are better in moderation. Perhaps this is an example 🙂 That’s good for you though, I quit Twitter entirely and it was the best decision I’ve made in a while!
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Unless I’m using DM to chat with a friend, I would say I use twitter for about 20 minutes a week. So yeah… not a lot. 🙂
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Well the good thing about Twitter is it still allows us to connect and communicate with others, which is always essential 🙂 (even though I personally don’t care for how this is executed sometimes within the app!)
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I actually began to understand this side of the argument after watching Louis CK rant about Twitter, you should definitely watch it! It’s pretty interesting. Take my stances with a grain of salt because he definitely had a lot of influence over how I viewed Twitter 🙂
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Amazing post Sandra…..I am still in splits…..:);)……very true words depicted in such style and with ruthless honesty……..yep, me too going through this same confusion that what my blog is for actually…..is there any necessity for it…?……but then again, I keep on posting since i love to create content to say what I want to say……even if it means nothing sometimes….:)…….
With your permission, want to share your post, can I ?
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Thanks..
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I started blogging because I knew I could help people due to some of the experiences I had. Then there was the added benefit of bettering my craft and allowing myself to be vulnerable to the world. I never thought of this as social media ever. Mainly because it’s not about you, it’s about using your experiences to help others. Social media (take Instagram) is quite possibly the most self involved, “oh look at me!” platform I have ever seen. I adored your post 🙂
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Thanks so much for your thoughts. I do think most social media is quite self involved. I don’t think of blogging that way, although I guess it is a bit. Especially when I post about myself!
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Second reply…You can write articles and publish your books. You are completely talented enough, I know you can do this I can feel it through your words. We all feel those moments where we cower in doubt, but I don’t believe that those moments are built upon truth. My last thing is, blogging in itself is enough. There doesn’t need to be an anterior motive. Writing because you love to write and sharing because you love to share is enough of a reason. You can spread love and joy here, help the world work through their fears and disasters. It can be quite powerful. Anyways, I have to get ready for work. Loved your post. Really honest.
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Thank you for the lovely compliment! Sometimes, I just get that “what’s the point” feeling. Oh… and those moments of doubt — I know I create those in my head. I definitely have a tendency to do that! Thanks again!
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LOL You’ve certainly come a long way! I think it is great that even though at first you weren’t here to support others and read what others have to say, that you did indeed find yourself becoming more and more involved. I’m starting to try to do the same thing, reach out beyond myself to other bloggers and offer them support.
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Thanks. I really had no idea that blogging was all of that when I started… but it’s definitely been an interesting learning experience…!
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Maybe posting daily is the secret to success. I mean, look at my page. I post significantly less than you and also have significantly less followers
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I do hear that posting regularly is a good thing. I’ve certainly missed days, of course, but I try… and I’ve been doing this for a while. I still don’t understand the people who have well over a thousand in about a month. How is that even possible??
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LOL! Maybe it’s possible if they have some sort of leg up before starting, or if they are really lucky. The other potential alternative is maybe they bought followers. Ive of of that being done on other social media platforms, so I don’t see why not on Word Press
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Well… That seems crazy to me!
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Thanks so much for sharing! This post has been really encouraging. And I love the Calvin and Hobbes quotes!
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I’m glad you found it encouraging! 🙂 Calvin and Hobbes provide some of the best quotes…
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They really do! Especially the philosophical dialogues they have while racing towards a crash on their sled.
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I love those!
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Came across your blog only because of the Calvin and Hobbe quotes I saw, but I agree with you on Facebook. I hate it, too! Love your post. I’ll definitely be coming back here for more in the future!
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I’m glad you found me… and happy that you liked the post. Facebook is just horrible!!
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Hey Sandra,
I have always wondered about my uniqueness in thoughts till I created a blog and penned them into it. My friends and many others around me could relate to what I wrote and then I understood a little bit , how we are all deeply connected but can barely express through any medium.
I could relate myself with every bit of your post.
I’m glad you shared it here in such an interesting way. Good luck with finding a “Goal”.
Have a wonderful day, you.
🙂
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It’s interesting how alone we can feel in our thoughts only to find that so many relate and understand. Thanks so much for your thoughts. Hope you have a lovely day!
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Hi, Sandra!
I’m incredibly new to blogging, and your post came up when I typed in “writing.” Your comments about not feeling confident in yourself, and how that it prevents you from writing for any purpose outside of blog posts (please correct me if I misinterpreted!), struck a chord with me.
I have been in love with writing my entire life. I have notebooks filled with poetry and I still vividly remember a short story I had made up in elementary school for my much-older aunt who needed one for school. But despite this, I never put any effort into writing unless I was using it as an outlet, purely for myself during periods of intense emotion. But just very recently, out of boredom more than anything else, I thought, why not write a story? And I have been writing that story ever since. Granted- my mom, significant other and a friend or two are my only audience. Not even nearly the audience of followers you have. Regardless of whether anyone else may find it to be a story of value, I still feel motivated to bring up my word document and continue to further it.
Because it’s for me. It opens my mind and I get to not only dive into this world I’ve created, but I get to keep building it. I say it’s for me, but I have to admit that I’m now deeply committed to my characters, so it’s for them, too. But anyway. Advice from a person with zilch social media following, so take it as you will, but I have had plenty of experience in self-doubt. Whatever form of writing you think might further fulfill you, I think you should try it out. Inspire yourself and see what happens. Like blank document, no plan, no thought of how anyone else might perceive it, see what pours out. *insert shrug emoji* *followed by heart emoji*
I’m very, very tired so I may have just typed many, many letters at a stranger that do not come together in any cohesive way. If this is so, my deepest apologies!
In summary ~ if I were a fairy that could sprinkle positive vibes through the internet, I would sprinkle them here. I know I could use some every now and then.
^__^
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Hi! Interesting that your family/friends are your only audience. It’s the opposite for me. My husband and the rest of my family don’t read anything I write. My only audience is here.
I have always written, too. And it’s always been for me first. But lately, I have nothing inside me. I don’t know what to write. When I have something. I can write… but I can’t come up with anything lately. I’m having a bit of a crisis with my boring life. That’s my biggest issue right now. I end up writing how terrible I feel that I can’t write anything worthwhile. I hate that! It’s not interesting nor helpful.
Thank you so much for your thoughts… for your story. I’m glad to know that there are people out there who understand how I feel… at least in part!
♥
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I guess I haven’t been writing anything suitable for other readers (in my point of view) for long enough, or have any friends who write to have a broad perspective on being inspired.
I share with my mom primarily b/c she is actually the only person I know who reads like I do, and she is also very, very nonjudgmental so it’s easy to share with her. I guess I never thought about blogs/online as a medium since written words just feel so…personal. Like you can’t hide your voice, and it makes me feel exposed for people to read things I write, even about characters I don’t relate to. Making this blog I’m writing from (conceived like yesterday) gave me a pretty sizable bout of anxiety – chest tightness/racing thoughts and all that. So you are definitely not alone with those feelings!
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It took me a long time before I could bring myself to share my writing at all. My family/husband/any friends I had were never interested in my work. And I was convinced it was terrible so sharing it was out of the question. I always thought of it as being just for me… because it is so personal. But eventually, I really wanted to know if anyone thought it was good at all… so I decided to share. Still makes me anxious every time, though!
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This is amazing! I literally just wrote a post about how I wanted to use my blog to write what I want to write – I get that it’s hard when you don’t have a goal! But you write so beautifully, so please never stop! 😊
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Thank you for the lovely compliment. After I posted this, I was amazed to find out how many others identified with it. Thank you again. 🙂
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I relate a lot to this post, except I’m still in the beginning stages in my blog and haven’t made any friends yet (any tips on how to do that?).
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Honestly, I didn’t do anything in particular to make friends and I have no idea how I made them! Just chatting in the comments, I guess! 🙂
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I’ll have to start doing that more, for sure!(:
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I think that’s one thing. Also, I’m always myself. Maybe too much! But I’m real… I think people respond to that.
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That’s always a plus! I know I prefer to talk to people who aren’t fake. I’ll have to spend some more time connecting with people! Thank you for the tips.
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