Notice this post doesn’t read, ‘The Trouble With Mum Blogs’? I will readily admit that all the discussion taking place about mum blogging has spurred this post. I’ve read a lot of criticism about ‘mum blogs’ in the past week or so. A lot of it is very fair and makes a lot of valid points. Points which aren’t always received too well by the community. I personally believe that most of the points made could and should be addressed to bloggers of all niches.
The great thing about blogging is that you can do it your way and the hell with your detractors. You choose the content and no one can change that fact. That’s pretty powerful. So, as you read this, know that I’m not trying to tell anyone how to run their blog. I would, however, like bloggers to think about how they do things, question what they’re doing and spark a conversation.
Bad Design
It’s one thing to be ‘all about the writing, man!’ and not care too much about your design. I get that. Your writing should be the most important focus. Or if you have a photography blog, your photos, and so on. But what if your blog is so difficult to navigate that readers can’t move easily through your content? What if your blog is so ugly or busy-looking that it distracts the reader from your brilliant pieces?
Honestly, if the content is good, many a reader will put up with a bad blog design, but it has to be good for that to happen. Hell, I will grit my teeth and put up with it if I want to read what you have to say. I just find the blog experience tedious when it happens. The other problem with a bad blog design is that new readers are far less likely to stay on a blog like this for very long at all. Like it or not, readers don’t have a lot of time, and won’t waste time on a new blog with a shitty layout. Many will assume a blog is rubbish and won’t be any good, based on a poor design. It’s nice to have our own turf on the internet and do whatever we feel like, and if this is you, knock yourself out. Just decide if it’s worth being stubborn over.
Bad Writing
Maybe I shouldn’t be the one to talk about this. I mean, I don’t have the qualifications to tell you my opinions on what constitutes ‘good’ writing, and I’ve yet to publish my own book, despite it being a goal. I can state with confidence though, what I think of blog writing.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar matter to the reader. Every blogger/writer makes mistakes sometimes, be it due to typos or a simple brain fart. What really eats at me with some bloggers though, is that they plainly don’t know the first thing about these aspects of writing, or worse, they just don’t care. If I can see someone who writes well has made a typo and not spotted it in their editing process, I couldn’t care less. What is incredibly irritating to me as a blog reader though, is bloggers who can’t write well, and make no efforts nor attempts to try to improve or grow as a writer. The reader can tell when you are at least trying.
Being Boring
This is a tough one. What is boring/interesting to one person is the opposite for another person. I have posts that I’ve believed were my most dull efforts ever, but published anyway. Sometimes these end up being popular and the reader gets something out of it. Sometimes I’ll write what I think is an interesting blog post, and no one could give a fat rat’s clacker. In fact, sometimes I will write a post I suspect may not interest many, simply because I need to write and touch base with my readers. I think most bloggers have their less than interesting blog posts, definitely!
I think the tough thing about blogging is that if you’ve been doing it for a few years and your blog is known by others and you’re getting very little interest or feedback, it’s time to ask the tough question of whether or not your blog is boring? In fact, I did just that with my old blog, Hear Mum Roar. I realised in the end, I was bored with it! Try to interest yourself, and sometimes that will flow into your writing. Failing that, try to look at your blog posts from the point of view of the reader. Would you read your blog if you were a stranger?
Hero Worship Taken Too Far
I think it’s natural for bloggers to look up to other bloggers, to love their writing. I can’t think of many bloggers who haven’t read someone else’s brilliant blog and wished they could write that well, take photos that well, and so on. Don’t ever try to write like your favourite blogger! You have something new to say, with your own perspective. Would you want to read two different blogs in the same writing style?
It saddens me when I see some remarkable writers do this. Bloggers who don’t realise they are good enough writing as themselves. That they would have so much more to offer if they did that. When you try to emulate someone else’s style, all you’re really doing is holding back your own growth, not letting your own writing talent develop. If you think this is you, I challenge you to stop reading that blog for a while, and allow your own voice to bubble to the surface. Also, if you find yourself measuring yourself against a large number of blogs all at once, stop reading blogs for a while! Pick up a book outside of your usual rut, start drawing, just do anything to shake up the mediocrity.
Community or Mob?
Bloggers should definitely get out there in the community. Get to know other bloggers, talk to them, support them. I’d like to see more bloggers function in the community in a healthier way, though. You’re not getting the right thing out of your blogging community if you’re writing all the same crap as every other blogger in your niche. Ditto if you’re all writing in exactly the same way. Imagine how a reader must feel, reading blog after blog in the same niche, with the same subject matter being regurgitated repetitively?
Every niche community has someone in it who wants to dictate how everyone else should play. I’d like to see more bloggers remember that this is just ego at play and ignore it. Do it your way. You don’t have to obey the orders of the loudest, pushiest person who believes their word is gospel. In short, get into the blogging community, but don’t get lost in it.
Choosing One Emotion as a Crutch
Have you ever read a blog where the writer’s life just seems perfectly happy all the time? Or their writing just depresses you because all they ever do is whine? Or maybe they just seem constantly angry at the world, or thinking they’re being revolutionary by trying to find meaning in writing about a cup of tea? Some blogs are full of, ‘woot, woot!’ and others are heavy all the time.
I find the best blogs are the ones where a blogger has the courage to explore a whole scope of emotion. Life isn’t all, ‘fuck yeah, man!’ or ‘squeee!’ or anything else, all the time. In life, there is joy, sadness, pain, grief, anger, loneliness, frustration, confusion, and then some. My point is that you can enrich the quality of your writing when you explore the spectrum. You also enrich your readers’ experience too. The best blogs are peppered with darkness and light, and many, many greys. If you’re not blissfully joyful everytime you write, then the times you are, will read as genuine happiness. If every blog post is a rant, the reader thinks, ‘bloody hell, they’re at it again!’, whereas a rant amidst other emotions has more impact.
I’ve heard it said that anger is the only acceptable ‘strong’ emotion for men. God, how I hope that is changing. It is, I think. But with that in mind, consider that many bloggers have their own comfortable, ‘acceptable’ emotions. Try to find which emotion you lean too heavily on, and see if your writing can grow from exploring a new one.
The Pressure to Write ‘Raw’
There is a bit of a trend for bloggers to write deeply personal posts these days. And why not? Readers love the honesty, and it guarantees hits everytime. Raw posts are heartfelt, and it is important to share something of yourself with your readers. My advice to anyone who is unsure about the ‘raw’ phenomenon though, is to know the price you’re willing to pay. What’s the price to you? What’s the price to the other people in this story? You might weigh all the potential consequences of a raw post and believe it’s all worth it. In that case, knock yourself out and enjoy the hits.
But please, please, don’t feel pressured to write something that you would really rather keep private, just because all the cool kids are doing it. They don’t have to pay the price for your honesty, you do. Do it because you want to and can handle any consequences that come with it. I don’t write every aspect of my life here. There are family problems I would’ve loved to write for you guys to read. It would be therapeutic for me. It might help some of you who are going through the same thing. It probably even would’ve helped me to cope better having that extra support.
The price for me in doing that, I’ve decided, is too high to pay. My family members would’ve also had to pay that price, and it’s not fair to take that choice away from them. Don’t sweat that if you’re not sharing every little detail of your life, you’re not ‘honest’. What you do share will still be honest. Everyone has to have their own filter. Don’t let someone else set yours. We’re all grownups, and if there’s backlash as a result of our posts, surely we could’ve (most of the time) seen the potential for it? It’s no good to whine when someone calls you on it, or act as though the world is out to get you. Own your choice in what you publish.
There be Sycophants
Yes, I’m referring to the comments section of the blog. No matter how much you vehemently disagree with what a commentor says, it takes more than a differing opinion to define a troll. I know readers only read blogs they like (don’t they?) but I’d love to see blogging evolve in the comment threads as well. If you’re going to comment, read the post first!
Don’t feel obligated to always tell the blogger how fucking marvellous they are. Bloggers’ egos are huge enough. If you have a fresh point of view, share it! I also think this ‘blogger ego’ problem makes it hard for many bloggers to take criticism constructively sometimes and especially to delve further into the conversation. Let’s bring real conversation back!
Now, all things being fair, I have to admit that there are plenty of badly-designed, poorly written blogs that I’m hooked on. If the story or insight is great, it can still make for very compelling reading. There are plenty of bloggers out there doing the things I’ve griped about, and still doing really well for themselves. Which is proof in the end, that the most important thing, bar none, is the story that is being told.
I want to hear from you, too. What are your gripes about reading blogs? What do you think would improve blogging as a whole?
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I’m right with you on all these points. If I come across a blogger that constantly makes the same spelling errors or writes terribly but thinks they are capable of winning an award for writing, it really frustrates me and I have to unfollow. Great post hun
Cassandra recently posted..Thrifted – Anyone for Tea?
LOL! You are so right, and I feel exactly the same way
Sharon recently posted..The Trouble With Blogs
I like so many of your points here Sharon. I think another good point is that it’s okay if you’ve done some (or all) of these blogging no no’s, own them, learn from them and move forward. I know I’ve done them and I’ll probably do them in the future too.
Christie recently posted..My Winter Ways
Oh, absolutely, Christie! It’s definitely not about perfection:)
Sharon recently posted..The Trouble With Blogs
Sharon, you are a wise woman. I was nodding through each point. So great to see it fleshed out and listed like this. I am guilty of a couple. I am aware of it and work on it all the time. Thanks for the reminder! One that I want to highlight in your list is the first one – Bad Design. Argh! I see SO many blogs suffer at the hands of bad design. I’m not design guru myself, but I hope my blog is at least easy to navigate and not too busy.
I’m definitely guilty of quite a few myself, Deb! It’s so great to be aware though and grow through it though, isn’t it?
As for design, I’d rather see an under-designed blog than one done so enthusiastically that it’s just too much!
I’m no design expert either, but it doesn’t take a lot, and that’s a wonderful thing. Gotta say though, I LOVE your design, I actually felt quite calm and at peace when I visit, and I adore how the pictures and words get the chance to take centre stage.
Sharon recently posted..The Trouble With Blogs
Absolutely. Blogs – like people – aren’t perfect! Funny about that. And thank you – I kind of like my design too. Simple but calming.
I’d love to discuss blogging/writing with you one day Sharon. If only we lived closer!
Deb @ Bright and Precious recently posted..Flourish
I would adore that, Deb:)
Sharon recently posted..The Trouble With Blogs
My blog is a blogger blog and is so easy for me to get around. I prefer to concerntrate on the words rather than the appearance of it. xx
Definitely:) I think the worst designs have had TOO much thought and effort, to the point where the blogger doesn’t seem to know when to stop! lol
Sharon recently posted..The Trouble With Blogs
I have to agree with all of the points that you’ve made here, Sharon. There’s one blog in particular that came to mind when reading through your post—specifically the part about constantly using one emotion. There’s one blog that constantly talks about how much they hate their life and the world. I honestly do not think they like anything and that’s all they talk about: their hatred. It’s extremely frustrating and annoying. The only reason I even look at the blog is to see what they’re complaining about today. To top it all off, they also have horrible writing and constantly make the same mistakes. It drives me batty and it’s like a train wreck so I can’t just walk away and forget about it no matter how much I wish I could.
Felicia recently posted..Kissing Your Kids
It sounds like a real downer, Felicia:( But a good illustration of what I’m talking about:)
Sharon recently posted..The Trouble With Blogs
Writing great content all the time is probably the hardest thing that I have done. In order to keep great content, and bring your potential reader to your site, you have to have a great title and follow up with great writing. But its hard to do every day!
Wade recently posted..You Think You Can Make Money Blogging?
I’m too lazy to do it everyday, Wade:)
Sharon recently posted..The Trouble With Blogs
Trying not to cringe or be too self critical… but someone is always going to dislike my writing/design/ideals.
x
I just keep believing they are the ones who aren’t commenting though.
carmen recently posted..Hooray for holidays!
That’s so true Carmen, no one’s ever going to please every single reader.
Sharon recently posted..The Trouble With Blogs
Pretty sure I’m guilty of all those things sometimes!
I censor myself in my disagreement for fear of being labeled a troll. I don’t like the way we’re heading where anyone with a differing opinion, even though they have voiced it respectfully, is seen as a ‘hater’. I would much rather someone disagree with me and have a conversation about it than pretend they agree and roll their eyes at me behind my back.
I have a few pet hates with blogs so I just click away those posts – no one is forcing me to read something I don’t like!
Glowless recently posted..Yellow Pages Capture The Cover Competition
Oh me too, Glowless! I think everyone’s learning as they go, huh?
I think there is definitely that censorship going on with most of us, where we don’t want to be seen as a hater, even though we might have a really good point to make that could enrich the convo.
Sharon recently posted..The Trouble With Blogs
I love this post. So glad I read it today. Two months into my blogging adventure I’m a little disheartened by the mobbing and promotion of the various “one-true-way”s of blogging.
I admit I’ve been getting caught up and losing sight of my own vision/imaginations of my blog. I have considered try to disengage and hear my own voice again, but that does seem an overreaction. Perhaps I should step out and come back in when I’ve laid my own foundations?
Anyways, your post. I love that yours is gentle advice about where not to stray, demarcating a lot of fertile blogging ground on which to play. A “getting-hotter, getting-colder” approach to blog criticism.
Cam @ notunimportant.com recently posted..Stop jumping at shadows. Please. Thank you.
Cam, I’m so glad you enjoyed it:) There’s nothing wrong at all with finding your own way, I think, it’s just plucking up the courage to know what you stand for and believe, and going for it!
Even if you don’t want to disengage, you can always pick something else up that is new at the same time for a fresh perspective. Even the simple act of picking up a notepad to write in rather than a keyboard can shake things up for some people!
I really love what you’ve added to this conversation, so thank you so much for sharing
Sharon recently posted..The Trouble With Blogs
Oh, i really liked this! It was so well thought out and logical and just seemed to make so much sense! It can be so hard to navigate a lot of things in the blog world – and honestly everyone is an adult (i hope!) and has the chance to click away if they dont like something – for me personally its the follower shout outs on FB… ohhh im 2 away from 5 million follow me! that sometimes feels really cheap and nasty, but thats my opinion. I think everyone is absolutely learning as they go, and finding their own village in amongst all of it.
Lyndal recently posted..just another meatless monday
That’s another good one Lyndal! I used to do that heavily when I was running Hear Mum Roar, but since starting this new blog have made a point to stop doing it. You’re so right, we make the mistakes, and we live and learn:)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on blogging. I completely agree with poor spelling and grammar being a killer, oh and design that is so busy I get motion sickness! Chevrons on pindots with clashing colours comes to mind lol I’m interested that you didn’t discuss sponsored posts. I feel torn on this issue because I don’t begrudge anyone earning a living from their blog but I also don’t need to enter a instant coffee giveaway or read about how amazingly tasty it is. I think I’m still forming my opinion on that one actually. I guess they wouldn’t bother me if they were well written which is the main reason I read blogs, to relax and enjoy reading someone else’s well written thoughts
which is the reason I enjoy your blog, not that I want to stroke a bloggers ego 
lol
Gemma recently posted..Handmade with care (and lots of experimenting!)
Chevrons and pindots! Ow, LOL! Yep, that sort of thing just sucks.
For me, sponsored posts don’t bother me if others do them. I used to do them, and now I choose not to. For me it was something I did before freelance work came along, really, and once I realised it was an option, it took out the need.
That, and I wasn’t happy with the company I did sponsored posts through. Pretty sure they weren’t happy with me either as I was a little vocal about it;)
I still enjoy doing reviews and giveaways, but I try to exercise a bit of care with that. It can be really hit and miss, and like a lot of bloggers, I’m still learning what works best with that as I go.
Glad you enjoy this blog, I’ll try not to let it go to my head LOL
Sharon recently posted..The Trouble With Blogs
I think it also has a lot to do with knowing, being clear about what you are all about eg craft, social commentary etc. Also, being clear about what YOU like reading, it is not worthwhile going into a blog and giving it a bollocking for bad grammar, being to nice or too God- ish when you are not into such things. There are a few blogs that I after a few visits (and no comments) I have realised appall me so much that I just do not visit them. They simply don’t float my boat.
Not everyone is a genius or clever enough to get graphic designer looking blogs and some folk may not have had access to quality education, maybe they have learning disabilities such as dyslexia – don’t be sicking the grammar police onto them please ; )! If your eyes hurt from the sight of the blog design or grammar, click off! Be kind to your eyes not mean to the blogger, she doesn’t even know you are there!
My point is, that blogging is free and accessible to everyone it appeals to. Shouldn’t we let everyone have a go? Isn’t recognising community safety issues are more important than design and grammar? I have seen some comments that have really endangered emotional safety over the years (on other blogs) all because a reader was “offended”…My real is different from others’ real – I probably put things on my blog that make other go “bluk” but that is ok with me.
Now I might just go before this epic comment grows any larger!
It does help to be clear on what your blog is about, for sure. I’m not clear at all about what I want this blog to be about, and it’s something I struggle with at times. Other times I love the freedom it gives me.
I would never go visit someone’s blog and have a go at their grammar or talking about God, etc. After all, it is their space to do with as they will. It definitely makes sense for me to raise it here over at my space. I actually enjoy some blogs with terrible grammar despite it grating, and read some blogs with occassional god references, etc. If the blog is more than that, and I can get something out of it, I will tolerate a lot lol.
I agree that not everyone is great at designing blogs. I think in those cases, the less you do to a blog, the better. For me personally, it’s off putting when people add too much, do you know what I mean? I usually find that those with learning disabilities mention that’s the case, so there’s usually little confusion there.
There are one or two blogs with a terrible design that I do read because the story they are telling cancels out a shocking design. In fact, I visit a lot BADLY designed websites created by colour blind people to get info about colour blindness for my son. And I mean, some of these sites are SHOCKING! But of course, the info I’m taking from the site is more important to me than being critical of something that can’t really be helped.
I definitely agree everyone should have a go, for sure! This blog post is about what works for me personally as a blog reader and what doesn’t, and I love discussing that. I love hearing others’ opinions on it too. I also felt that other bloggers might be interested to think about this stuff too, you know?
I think we all post stuff on our blogs that others won’t like; can’t please everyone after all, so why try? lol.
I’m sure community safety issues as a whole are more important than blog design and grammar, but this blog post is not about that. When I write blog posts, I’m not really weighing the ‘importance’ of what I’m writing, I’m writing what’s on my heart at any given time, or what’s on my radar.
I definitely don’t visit blogs I don’t like. I don’t see a point in visiting someone’s blog just to vilify them, not at all. I love that you spoke your mind and added so much to the convo!
Sharon recently posted..Vintage at Gundagai