Monday, November 01, 2010

Blogging Advice

Saturday's post was not received as I meant it to be.  Not that I ever really think about how what I write will be received, other than harboring vague thoughts about hoping it gets at least a few hits.  Anyway, I figured I would post this morning and do my damndest to not come off disgruntled, pissed or sporting any sizable hairs across my butt.

Of course it would seem that with each new year tacked on to the 58 plus ones I am dragging along now,  my emotional index seems to ebb and flow with the political tides.  And this won't do.  I find it to be totally unacceptable  that I am allowing flounders in a town 600 miles away to have such control over whether I am smiling on any given day.

So today I swear off politics.  And Religion.  Include education.  And while I am at it, any sports commentary beyond "Go Pats".   And even though tomorrow I might swear them back in, at least for the rest of this post, you can imagine me with a smile on my wrinkled mug and a big cup of coffee standing by to lubricate said grin.

I made the mistake a few days ago of checking through some old bookmarked links I had not visited in several years.  I had in mind cleaning out the riff and the raff, seperating chiff from the chaff.  Of course I did neither, but I did open up some links that creaked from the rust buildup on thier hinges.

I found a dusty folder in the dark depths of my browser's favorites list named Blogging Hints.  Started back in the day when this whole blogosphere was a strange and mystifying place for me.  I wanted to make the right impressions, so I looked for help and then bookmarked what I thought might be good advice.

As it turns out, I may as well deleted them before I even read them.  According to most, I am doing exactly the wrong thing with my blog if I ever expect to have what would be considered a "successful blog".

My blog has no focal point.  Whatever whim snags me, that is what I write about that day.  Definitely not a good thing according to the blogging elite.  Politics, religion, the neighbors, fiction, shit, I think I have mentioned just about every boring detail I can think of or make up.

I write about me fairly often.  Okay, okay, I write about me more than fairly often.  Again a huge blogging no-no.

Many of my posts are longer than 500 words.  Again, a "good blog post" should be brief and to the point.  A good example of a bad example would be this post by the time I am done.  Lots of words that easily could have been left unwritten, unsaid, unheard from and this planet would be in no worse shape because I chose to keep my dribble to a minimum.

But that is not my style.  Apparently and according to the "experts", I have no style.  Which I assume could be drawn out to include no class, low rent, erratic, and with a slight tinge of personality disorder just to round out the over all character of the blog.

So Saturday when I wrote before I was really awake, I guess I sent vibes I might be leaving the wide world of blogging behind me.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  I am really just getting warmed up.  Besides, someone has to be the bad example, set the bar low enough so others may find success easier to attain, be there at the bottom to cushion other's falls.  I have an important role in the communtiy.  I'm the snotty wino on the corner sipping MD 20/20 and leering at the women as they get on and off the bus. 

Metaphorically speaking of course.......................................Of course.
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Image - Acrylic on canvas - Michael Arnold

14 comments:

Laura said...

Well by your list, it would seem that the only thing I get right in Blogging would be the "keep it short and to the point" part. (well, if I have a point but, my posts are usually short!)

Meh, I think that people just find what they like. They Follow that blog and the rest is history!
Glad to hear that you aren't leaving. :)

((Hugs))
Laura

David Barber said...

Hi Mike. I can't believe there are people out there who claim to be "blogging experts"????

A blog is a blog. It's a persons own thing and what they put up on there own blog is fine. I agree with posts being too long, but if you've got something to get off your chest then so be it.

I like your blog, Mike. If I didn't I wouldn't be following it. I wish I could comment on all your posts but politics aint my thing but I do read them.

Keep blogging, mate, and especially keep writing the fiction.

Best wishes, David.

Kulkuri said...

Sounds like to have a successful blog you have to really WORK at it and that would take all the fun out of blogging.
As for the "point thing", most people I know would tell me, "You have a point, wear a hat and nobody will notice!!"

The Blog Fodder said...

I like your blog as it is. It is you, which is what it is supposed to be. And keep writing fiction. Dana from Life is Good is now working on her second novel, though her first one hasn't found a publisher yet. Your short short stories are awesome enough to publish somewhere for money.

My blogs also break all the rules. They are either letters to my kids, letters to the editor or nothing relevant to anything except what ever came across my mind when I felt obligated to post something.

Demeur said...

Your short stories are great. You are who you are and nobody can take that away from you.

Blogging as I see it is the new drug of the 21st century. Try stopping for more than a week.

And Fodder your glimpses into life in the Ukraine are worth the visit.

Jenny Jenny Flannery said...

You're my kind of people, MRMacrum. To hell with the experts!

Chef Cthulhu said...

Dude, your blog is fine.

There are a gazillion mil-blogs, policy blogs, food blogs, book blogs, maximize your fiber intake blogs, blah blah blah.

When the ANSI puts out blogging standards, then I'd start giving a fuck. Otherwise, do what makes you happy.

susan said...

Damn, I never read any blogging hints and I'm very glad not to have done so. Adopting that advice would mean you'd never have any fun up here at all and I really think that's what it's supposed to be about. It's nice getting to know a few people well enough to care about them and what they're up to.

Your particular kind of bad example is much fun to read and I'm pleased to emulate it.

BBC said...

"successful blog"

There is no such thing, we blog simply because we are driven to.

But I do keep mine as short as I can. If you want to write something long write a book and put it on the market.

BBC said...

Actually, the need to blog may be a flaw in us. Or a replacement for a more important in our life that is missing.

Think about that and write about it.

BBC said...

I'm just glad there wasn't blogs back when I had a business to attend to.

Randal Graves said...

You know what you need? An internets coach. I'm available for the low, low price of $300/hour.

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