In this section
My Finest Work Why Blog? Part I - Obstacles to Blogging | Why Blog? Part I - Obstacles to Blogging | | Print | |
| Written by Joeprah | |
Self DoubtSelf doubt, like in any line of work, is destructive. This doubt can work its way into the psyche of even the most narcissistic of writers—trust me. Many people may not know this, but I took about 5 months off from blogging because I couldn’t see where I was going with it all. Doubt is like a virus; it creeps up even when you feel like you are at your strongest, and it can completely wipe you out. If you blog now or have in the past, you will be able to recognize that this is probably one of the toughest obstacles to overcome. No ReadersSometimes I think, “Man! It freakin’ sucks...I got no comments today.” Then I think back to when I first started out blogging and how I would die to have just one comment. I have become spoiled that way to a degree, but this feeling is systemic of the blogging community as a whole. I think I find more joy in leaving comments on blogs where they author awesome content and don’t get the following of other bloggers. I don’t have a ton of readers, but I am grateful for every last one of them (Mom, thanks for subscribing through all your emails), and their loyalty keeps my head in the game, so-to-speak. Nasty CommentsHave you ever gotten a nasty comment? A comment that just shook you to your core? They suck. They make you feel a gamut of emotions from angry to hurt to hesitant—doubtful. People who have never met you feel they can play judge and jury and in an instant, they can tell you who you are and what you stand for, without blinking. Writing an article puts you and your ideals in the limelight for others to pass judgment on, and judge they will. I have been called a lot of things in my short time blogging and I can only imagine what other people experience who have been at it much longer than me. Nasty comments, more than anything else I have experienced, make me feel like throwing in the towel. I am probably too sensitive for this gig, but I think that my sensitivity is also something that makes me different and special. Technology BetrayalsI don’t claim to be the most tech savvy guy out there, but what I have learned has come through making mistakes. I have made so many mistakes when it comes to blogging, it is ridiculous. I have deleted my entire blog at least 5 times. Thankfully, I have only done so twice this calendar year. There is much to learn, and it is easy to keep looking for that missing piece that will make your blog stand out and run better. If you add up all the times I have shot myself in the foot with technology and all the times people have said something nasty to me either through comments or direct emails, you would scratch your head and say, “Joeprah, are you a glutton for punishment, or what?” Maybe I am, and just maybe I think what I am doing is bigger than all that comes in my way. Basically, be ready to be let down by technology and yourself if you are a blogger, because there may come a time when you will scratch your head, too. Speaking FranklyThis blogging thing isn’t for everyone. It is time consuming. It is never ending. We are not bulletproof. Where are you going with this rant, Joeprah? Well, this article is part of my scheduled Wednesday “Joeprah on Blogging” post, but also a response to a recent conversation I had through email with a fellow blogger. I was recently called out as being nothing more than a guy trying to make money by making witty comments about life and told that I do not blog from the heart. In my normal, friendly-guy tone, I replied to the email apologetically. Thinking all day about the comment, which I tend to do, I realized I was let down. I let myself down. Simply put, I will no longer make excuses for what readers project onto my blog. If you feel Joeprah is bringing you down—stay away. If, however, you enjoy my stuff—stick around—because there is more on its way, and the sun has just begun to rise on our time together. **If you are a blogger and haven’t done so yet, I think it’s a good idea to make a disclaimer statement and have it somewhere where people can find it easily. It’s like having a ‘no smoking’ sign at a restaurant where you are with your family and some dude starts to light up. Just tap on the sign to remind them that they need to take their toxic fumes elsewhere.**
Next Wednesday I will continue this series with Why Blog? Part II Focusing on the Positives  All You Gots to Do is Click            
|
No comment posted
mXcomment 1.0.6 © 2007-2008 - visualclinic.fr
License Creative Commons - Some rights reserved
| Next > |
|---|
