To Be a "Blogger"
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This is the 630th post on this blog, going back to July 2005. This isn't even my first blog; I (technically) had one before this, but I don't remember where it was hosted or what my username was… I'm pretty sure I posted on it all of three times before losing interest.
But this time around, I've been blogging a pretty long time. If my blog was a person, she (yes, she's a girl) would be in kindergarten this year! She'd have questioned the existence of Santa this Christmas, and I'd be worrying about the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny conversations next. She'd haltingly be reading me stories about the “duh-ahg dog” that went to the “puh-are-kuh park” for a “ruh-uh-nnnn run” and although I have higher hopes for my offspring, she'd probably have a crush on Justin Beiber or one of the Jonas Brothers. She'd walk through the mall and ooh and aah at everything shiny and bedazzled, while I try to steer her towards Gap Kids “But honey, look how cuuuuute this is!”
Oh, sorry. Where was I? Blogging. Right.
So I've had this blog, which has been around from the early days of my relationship with Jamie, to our engagement, through wedding planning, pregnancy, a premature baby (blog=lifeline), not to mention the camping trips, recipes, scrapbook pages and, of course, the Thursdays.
I have a blog. I have maintained said blog, for a number of years. But am I a blogger?
I don't feel like I am, and I'm not entirely sure why; I came across a site tonight called Studio 30+ a community of over-30 year old bloggers. An old high school friend, Karen, is a member of a group called the SITS Girls. I've looked at both of these sites, in the interest of joining, but don't feel like either one is “me”
I read about these “blogging bootcamp” classes and workshops, and just shrug my shoulders and don't understand. I started my free account at Blogger and now I post. What is there to learn at a several days long workshop? And maybe that's why I don't think of myself as a blogger, just as someone with a blog. I don't have regular commenters (that aren't family, anyway!), I don't have an icon or button for people to “grab” and put on their own site.
So, I ask you… are you “a blogger” or a “person with a blog” and what's the difference? And how does one make the leap from one to the other?
One of my goals (I don't make resolutions; don't believe in them) for the new year is to participate more in the blogging and Twitter communities that are out there, but I'm not sure about the next step I should take. I am, however, taking suggestions!
OK so I guess I look at this similarly to how I look at photography. I think you're a "picture taker" until you've crossed a certain threshold with "it". I feel like I know what that means for my 'photography' but I'm strictly rank-amateur when it comes to the blog and my commitment to it so I'm definitely a guy with a blog – which is further reinforced by my stats. 🙂 I do think that the difference between somebody with a blog and a blogger is a very subjective measure and is more about one's commitment to the blog than anything else.
I'm a girl with a blog. I don't consider myself a blogger because I have a super small readership, I'm pretty sure it's all people I know. I don't make any money from it, don't have advertisers or sponsors. I don't even blog every day, and no one notices. It's not my business and I feel no pressure to write.
I don't mind the make no money part. I don't even mind that no one really reads it except for the fact that it would be nice to feel a part of the "community" that I read about from bloggers. :o)
I would ssay I am a person who has a blog. Like Melissa said, no one is really expecting my posts, I do have a following but it really takes work to promote it and I have a full time job already. Blogging is something I do for myself. I like to write. I would like my posts to be enjoyable to others but I'm not making any money from my blog either so there is no pressure there.
Hi, hon. This post is older but I'm getting caught up with people all out of order. I've just read through all your Christmas postings and came to this one… and this one I had to comment on.
I feel like "blogger" is a term that people use when it's their job. Writing on my site isn't a job or anything near it. I don't even like the word blog, although that's surely what it is. Since my blog-partner and I have a commitment not to use ads on the site, I think we're going to be safely on the other side of this fence, at least for the foreseeable future.
I have a few consistent visitors, but not many. Mostly, the site is just a place where people who happen to like Heather's or my writing can get a chance to read it a couple of times a week. Both of us have been writing online for more than ten years and sometimes it takes that long to know what you really want out of a project, you know?
I miss Reverb10 sometimes, but like you I found myself writing the same answers so often, and the manuscript was calling. Now that I have more time it's so much nicer to be able to read everyone again. I was so glad to see all the happiness and celebration in those holiday shots. Now to read the rest of them…