Tuesday, March 16, 2010

what makes good blog fodder?

First of all I have to say that I don't consider my family to be fodder. I was looking for a picture to go with this post and there wasn't an obvious one. I decided to post these pictures of my grandsons and step-daughter in response to a request from Jan to see a picture of Luke (the older) after the cutie-pie picture of Cross posted the other day. So here is Luke with Cross when he was born, and below, a recent picture of the munchkins with their Mama. I think Cross is going to be a character if facial expressions are any indication!

As for blog fodder...

I've been giving a lot of thought lately to what I write here. Speaking for myself, I began this blog to post pictures and share news with friends and family. Along the way other people began to follow. Blog-following seems to me to be somewhat arbitrary. There are some blogs I visit that have, understandably, huge followings. They are funny, or poignant, or consistently thoughtful and inspiring. Others have huge followings for what seem to me to be no apparent reason!

So I wonder about this blog--what appeals to those I don't know IRL--why do readers come here? I don't blog to gain an audience, but it does occur to me to wonder what makes a blog tick, and why mine seems to fall into the category of one that doesn't (going strictly by the numbers). I've been thinking that since blogs are available for public consumption, then there ought to be something here that makes it worth the reader's while to stop by. Maybe my audience is small because I'm a peculiar combination of interests, but honestly I have no idea. I'm curious.

If you feel so inclined, please share in the comments what brings you back here. This inquiring mind would like to know.

8 comments:

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

A couple of thoughts: (1) I come back here because you remind me that God is there when sometimes that isn't obvious to me. (2) I think one has to write one's blog for oneself and not to please an audience. What do you care how much traffic you have? How many people visit? If you're writing to increase your numbers, you're going to lose your center. Write for whatever reason you started to write. The readers and the comments, actually, are not the focus. Are they?

The Bug said...

I come here because I think that I would like you IRL - and I like to hear what you have to say. You're a deeper thinker than I am - it's good for me to be stretched that way! I started coming here because of your deep thoughts - but now I like to hear about your life & your day too!

Anonymous said...

I am new to your blog and found it in a moment of boredom looking for distraction. You didn't distract but you certainly made me sit up and think.

I keep coming back because I like the way you do that to me and I think I would like to know you irl. Fat chance of that given where I live! So this does very nicely instead.

Jan said...

Like Bug, I am sure I'd like you in real life. Thanks for the wonderful pictures!! What a nice family. I'm envious of those grandchildren.

I enjoy your blog, because you have a nice mix of sacred, home-y, and family reflections.

Jayne said...

My but Luke is the spitting image of his daddy! :c)

Well, you know why I come here. Love to you my dear friend. XOXO

Terri said...

Blogging is another way to form friendships and relationships - often with people I would never otherwise have an opportunity to meet in real life. I come back here because it's how I stay in relationship with you...reading whatever is on your mind on any given day...or seeing your photos.

Murr Brewster said...

I came here via Mary's View. I do not care for blogs that are just gimmicks (Daily Poodle Shots), but do visit when I'm either made to laugh or made to think. And I admit I like people who can write in complete sentences. So I'll be back! I do not have a relationship with God but am not at all put off by yours. And I like talking about that kind of thing.

I think you'll find that your audience becomes more important to you as it grows. Many of the blogs with huge followings are presided over by people who are working, working, working to push them, commenting on a hundred blogs a day, using the social networks. I'm like you--I just want to put something out there that interests me, and hope it hooks someone else. The rest is just work.

sunny said...

I come here because I like your writing style, and you make me think. Most of the other blogs that I read are 'theme' blogs, and I get inspiration from them, but not in the thought-provoking way that you sometimes inspire me. Keep writing for yourself, and be true to yourself. Don't ever sell out to satisfy the masses!

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