The basic tenet of blogging is that it is no different than life itself. And as they say in life we are nothing but a complex maze of choices we make so is the case with blogging.
Right from picking a platform (blogspot or wordpress) to color theme to genre to our friends and ideologies, blogging at the end of the day is a matrix of choices. And therefore no two bloggers will come out to be quite the same finally.
Where CopyBlogger says ‘3 reasons why Great writers always work alone‘, Jeff Goins tells us very passionately that ‘Every writer needs a tribe’.
These choices may look to be simple at the onset but they begin to speak who we are in many ways. We find switching sides, styles and what not only to ensure these choices align themselves to our thoughts in the end.
After close to seven years now (whoosh!) it has now taken me a lot of courage to begin speaking openly about my beliefs in blogging. Earlier due to paucity of time or space or maybe motivation I couldn’t quite elaborate on them much earlier. But yes given now I consider myself well past the seven year itch, my ideas flow more freely.
Getting back to Jeff and Copyblogger, the choice to go solo or as part of tribe comes about very early in a blogger. Many may not agree with what I am saying here. But just simply being a part of group is not enough to say we are tribe. It is the spirit, the intent that speaks more.
So most of my friends here would quickly raise their hands and say- Hey we blog in groups. But really ask yourselves, do you now? Honestly follow the community rule?
Jury will always remain out on that 🙂
That’s my tribe 😀
Coming back to subject. Even without Jeff and Copyblogger I was very clear on my idea of blogging. Because I write a lot in silos already and most of my writing goes into microsoft word and not here. So when it comes to blogging I am looking for a tribe. Looking for community and support. These things come most naturally to me.
Tonight I will employ the technique of authentic stories to elucidate my point. Yes it has taken me a couple of years to finally narrate this incident out here.
A few years ago I was blogging daily as part of various international blogging challenges. Now under this challenge I was supposed to drop my link as part of a comment thread and read two blogs above me (some of the standard blogging rules in many groups). One of the blogs on this random day I read was of an Indian blogger. The blogger in question had attempted a 100 word short story and one that had clearly a poor grammar. I politely left a comment saying ‘Its magical’ (indicating the theme of her story) and left the blog.
But this was not to be. To my much surprise I found an update on Facebook. A decently senior blogger had ranted on Facebook in a lot of words that the way we promote mediocrity in blogging is getting out of hand. And how pathetic writing and grammar is being commented on as magical.
This was not it. She went on to ‘copy-paste’ the entire post of this blogger in question in her Facebook status. What followed was beyond my own imagination.
The post was mocked at, crucified in many ways. Much to the fun and entertainment of few.
I checked that the status was thankfully not public. Because honestly I gave a damn about her wanting to mock my comment. My heart went out to that blogger and God forbid she comes to know of this incident.
A lot happened post that but I didn’t speak a word. Because I hardly cared. What I did care about was the idea that this blogger could tomorrow know about this incident and poor woman would perhaps give up the idea of blogging. Yes I did cry. Not for myself but for that blogger alone.
Now I ask this question today, as a blogger what would you have done in this case? What does this story today evoke in you?
A very new blogger has evoked this piece out of me. Seeya in her attempt to read a lot of us has been digging some archives of our writings and ensuring we all force ourselves down the memory lane. She recently also reminded me of my guest-post on Vidya’s blog as part of her theme Inspiring stories. In this I have written about my difficulties with English as a language given I grew up in a Hindi-speaking family.
This post more so reminded me of this one odd ‘magical’ blogger and made me send out a silent prayer that the negativity of it all never quite got to her.
Also connecting this with Write Tribe’s #MondayMusings a community which clearly made me what I am today.
Wow! I would definitely not want to be in the shoes of the blogger who wrote that blog post, especially if I ever found out who wrote that FB post. How utterly mean and cruel!
I do agree that there is a lot of mediocrity in blogging these days but I would never publicly denounce someone or pull someone down, especially when blogging is such a community-driven activity. At most, I’d not say anything or appreciate something else, like the theme (like you did).I prefer to privately message the person if I found a flaw or a typo.
May the negativity never get to us or at least give us all the strength to stay away from it.
Shailaja sharing a constructive critique is never unacceptable to anyone. And for those that it is unacceptable they are no better in my opinion. But maybe over the last few years communities (outside blogging as well) have given me so much that I have a school of thought that drives me. I know a lot don’t share but then like I respect that idea I am sure they respect mine 🙂
But I am very happy to note that most of the people who do speak to me and hear me through always reach on the other side with a different view which often aligns with what I feel 🙂
Yes may the negativity always go away !
When it comes to blogging, most of the writing is done alone, but I believe it is all about the community. It is strange how easily people put each other down or just spew so much negativity. The basic premise of a community to me is build each other up. Like Shailaja said, may the negativity never get to us, or at the very least give us the strength to stay away from it and not let it affect us.
Exactly, writing is always alone. You cannot make someone write on your behalf but community contributes to the strength that writing often demands from a person. And then there is the added pressure of asking yourself if you are doing it right..
This is a disheartening approach of correcting/ criticising someone’s work, given the fact how fast anything posted on Facebook spreads. I’d be shell shocked, worried and hurt (for the blogger) just like you, if I came across something of this kind happen.
We encounter mediocrity in every field of life, even at work, but as how we approach it or choose to ignore it, speaks volumes about us. I’d doubt if the person who posted it on FB would have dealt with a workplace mediocre work in the same way, then why act so mean n the Internet?
I think your post gives food for thought to everyone, because we all need to revisit our approach to creativity (cause blogging, writing,etc can broadly fall in that one bracket) and how we choose to thrive in the blogging community.
Negativity in any form can never bring about positive results. In fact a private message/ email to the blogger would have done more good than posting on FB.
Sorry for a post length comment, but your post touched a chord in my heart.
So true. We encounter mediocrity everywhere and many times it is that which flourishes into better days and ways. If we are so up and going about shooting down people it does reflect on the kind of person we ourselves are..
I read your post the moment you shared it and I was tempted to comment immediately. Then I thought I will read at ease again n comment.
I started blogging way back in 2007 but stopped since there was no one who read it. I wrote in silos and it was only when I found a writing group that I got more confidence to write more.
Because of the conversation that we had and this post, I was wondering that it would have been around 7-8 years for me too had I not stopped to blog. Of course I posted an article once in a while. But had I been regular, would my ideas have flown like yours, I wonder. Also, would my writing have been same as before is another ques that I ponder.
It isn’t that I didn’t show my blog to anyone. But I showed to people who didn’t like reading. Discouragement came in many forms. Just like you mentioned, I even thought and changed theme of the blog, hopped from blogspot to WordPress and then blogger again. Writing in silos is writing on a piece of paper or word processor, may be a fancy journal or diary at most. But blogging involves thinking on all fronts, including look and feel.
I guess this is a lengthy comment ????. What I will say is that seven years has taught you a lot. You have a lot more to share with us.
I guess this post has inspired me to write a similar one. Credits will be given 😀
Seeya I have this problem, often find myself pitching my posts to people who don’t read and I wonder if at all that should be done. Hence bloggers form a very supportive set for reading. Cause they know not all our posts will be better than the last but they will have an essence of us 🙂
Good to see you finding your own space with blogging 🙂
Oh that was heart wrenching and very mean. I would hate to be in that blogger’s shoes because it hurts to be mocked in that manner. Yes, a lot of writing is mediocre or does not have heart in it. But, who are we to sit on a pedestal to denounce it? I guess I would move on or perhaps send an email though my experience with personal messaging has been bad as well. I guess some people are not open to critique. So unless I know the person reasonably well, I prefer not to give feedback. I completely believe in the power of community in blogging. I believe that we help each other, support and encourage and motivate as far as possible. Do good to one and it becomes a cycle.
Rachna my issue is if there is no intent in writing then it is a lot cause, but if it has intent then we can always try our ways to support them. Maybe I was one of those people who had to work my way into blogging and found avenues of such support. Hence the cause is so close to my heart 🙂
Hmmm…the worst part was how the so-called community backed that mean blogger, Richa. But I still feel the criticism was not aimed at the particular blogger but at you for your comment and at the ‘tribe’, of course.
Thankfully, I’m out of all those circles now.
haha But corinne I have no issue if it was against me. I have a problem if it was against the blogger. In spirit it reveals a side on the larger ways of blogging I do not like. As for me and tribe, we will survive ya!
A great post as always by my #blogbuddy Richa . Liked every bit of it . I am a community blogger hence perhaps I like interacting with you all and blog too. But posts like this will definitely prevent lots of blog dying. keep up the great work
Thanks Anindya, at blogchatter my aim is to help people grow out of their fears of blogging and bloggers 🙂
Oh gosh! That is so bad and something that I would never engage with. Humiliating. We all know that bloggers have their community and most visits come from there and also that a lot of mediocre blogs are put on a pedestal but so what?
That’s a very honest post Richa and I am glad I stopped by!
Exactly! Parul that is one of the key things I learned. Who am I to judge? And mostly I look to enjoy blogs not scrutinize them maybe there in my idea changes 🙂
It’s very humiliation and running down someone is not something one should do. It says a lot on the character. My earlier posts were bad since I am quite weak in the language and I am still confused with my grammar. What matter is the spirit of writing and supporting each other’s work.
Vishal amen to that. I just said the same thing to Parul in fact. For me it is the spirit of writing..
That was so very identifiable Richa! I am so glad you wrote this post! I only wish and pray all bloggers, pros especially read this! You can’t believe how vulnerable one is in the initial stages of any new activity, undertaken with utmost passion, dedication and hard work! When you go public with that kind of work, obviously you don’t expect overnight success, but brickbats at this stage can scar for life! God bless you for being the ever supportive, lovely person you are!
Thanks my love always here to do my bit for community and newbies form the foundation for taking a community to next level… in fact I am working on an idea how new entrants to a group need special attention and incorporation because they are often the future 🙂
WOW! That’s mean! If I come across a poorly constructed post, I will leave an encouraging comment and for any criticisms, I will message personally. In fact, I had done that a few times. It wasn’t a critique, just pointed our=t few mistakes and some pointers on how to improve. Such messages were welcomed thankfully. Some of my fellow bloggers have PMed me when I make such mistakes and I appreciate that. But mocking the content and the comments, that’s not what blogging is about, it is plain bullying!
Vinitha I do that. I ping back people instantly who have a constructive critique to offer… and many have become support system for life 🙂
Terrible, can’t even imagine how the blogger must have felt had she discovered this. Blogging in a group, community, has a lot to do with intent..I completely agree. It is also not just following that platform’s rules…that yes, but more than that how you engage with the fellow bloggers, how you make them feel…and help better your blogging together.
Aditi do I love you? It is not following the rules but how you operate in a community in interactions and ways..
Firstly, when it comes to writing, doing it alone, the process and activity makes sense to me.. Now blogging is so much more than just writing, so for that we undoubtedly need a community…I love being part of a circle of a chosen few who share the same passion as I do but I’m slightly hesitant too, socialising doesn’t come easy to me being a loner..So, sometimes I might fall back and lack when it comes to being part of a community but that’s just my shortcoming.
Next, about that incident, I would have felt repulsed by the ‘senior’ blogger and felt bad for the one who had written the post..I would have also done what you did, I cannot be nasty to someone just because he or she might not have written properly as per grammatical standards..I’m no expert myself so why judge intentionally
Naba you summed it up pretty well. Who are we to judge someone and also writing is a lonely job how can we ever find out what we are doing is right or not without community?
As for that senior blogger well I can only wish her well 🙂
Hmm I have another take on this.
Personally, I feel just ranting and take the bloggers case on FB wasn’t a great idea. But then constructive criticism may not have been a bad idea either. But yeah it all depends on the one giving the criticism and the one taking it. Even constructive criticism may sound offending or demeaning at times. But yes, that constructive criticism shouldn’t just be splashed all over social media for others to read and laugh about.
It’s like when you review books or movies. If you don’t like something, there’s a particular way of saying things. While it may sound that you are trashing stuff, if you don’t review it objectively, why would someone who wants to read that book or see that movie read your review?
Hey Richa,
Thanks for sharing this. I started writing, not much with the expectation to get read but to feel good when I read my own experiences. I wonder- I could point out so many mistakes while reading which were hard to find while writing. Its been more than 6 months and I am thankful to all the people out there to support my puerile writings, ignore my mistakes and acknowledge them. Now when I look back, I can see the positive affects of that support- It did not made me quit. I helped me grow. I welcome Criticism as I am sure, it would help me in long run.
I hope same for other newbies- May each one of us find support to get going.
Thanks again for sharing an inspirational note.