16 Feb 2008 mellow_bunny

Does blogging have to be a perfect art?

As I peruse the blogs around me or even in other topic zones I see one common worry for a lot of bloggers.

They fear their blog isn’t of a good enough quality.

I think this comes down to most bloggers wanting to really make a difference or stand out. Hence we try to extend ourselves and make our posts just as good as articles in magazines or newspapers. The question I ask is: When does a blog become an online magazine?

A blog is often used as a place for one’s own personal thoughts as a diary. Diaries aren’t meant to be places of perfect edited content with well placed images and references to facts. A diary too does not usually compete for viewers and advertisers. Therefore a blog is a place to store our opinions and express ourselves, no matter how crap at grammar we are.

An online magazine however is more suited for those who wish display or push content to the viewer. A place where the public can comment on the articles posted and provide their own views on the matter in a much more collaborative way then a traditional publication.

I think the confusion creeps in when those who are new to the blogging scene decide they want to do something amazing. They look at all the amazing sites out there and straight off they wish to be the same. They don’t realise that there is a difference in the way you go about blogging.

You’ll find that some of the larger “blogs” (in this case online magazines) are actually designed to look and function the way they are now. That sounds dumb and redundant but let’s look at how most blogs are made. Most users will sign up with a blogging site such as Blogger or Wordpress. They then choose a theme and away they go. Over time they might modify the look of their blog to more suit themselves as well as creating personalised content. For those of us more technically inclined we may host our own blogging software and again over time we may add in many features to our blog including forums, image galleries and perhaps some more unique features.

This differs from some of the larger sites in that they are designed to bring in lots of users and quickly. They are designed to hold advertising to make money. They are also perhaps not as liberal or personal as an average blog. They may be under a guide which specifies that they make something look good or better then perhaps what it really is. A lot of these sites can look very appealing and I believe that’s what attracts a lot of bloggers. They want to look as shiny and crisp as the big players.

With all that said, I think it comes down to this. Blogging has this organic kind of feel. Creating a blog and tending to it is something very personal. The blog grows, as you progress, in both size and readership. It looks as you want it to look and that can change over time. Blogging can lose it’s fun element when all you are after is the tens of thousands of subscribers and the ad revenue. So if you feel like your blog is inadequate FIGHT THE FEELING I SAY! Your blog will come into line with the way you want it to be when you just relax and go with the flow. Don’t rush things. Like a good cheesemaker will always tell you, “good things take time”.

Horo has Spoken

Posted by mellow_bunny » Community, Filler

7 Comments on “Does blogging have to be a perfect art?”

  • Ryan A

    Horo is tight. ^__^

    02-16-08 » 2:41 pm »

  • Crisu

    I probably am guilty of the online magazine condition. ^^; Seeing the big blogs out there is inspiring. I don’t aim to be better than them .. just be one among them that people can rely on or just have fun reading because my writing is (hopefully) enjoyable.

    I agree that “as long as you have fun,” that’s all that matters. I’ve become a people-oriented person lately, so a lot of what I write, I try to gear towards reader interest. I don’t assume a false personality to achieve it, but I’ll take a little extra time to format and clarify things in order to make my text more presentable.

    All that aside, though, online magazines can be great. Images and catchy paragaphs and links to other blogs and websites. It’s a great experience if done right.

    02-16-08 » 2:49 pm »

  • mellow_bunny

    I used to aspire to creating something great in both the design and content of my blog. I ended up feeling stink because I wasn’t getting anywhere. I have completely changed the way I think now though. I’m happy to potter away at mellowSPACE and to see what I can eventually create.

    The uniqueness of blogs is what always catches my eye and if we make a blog that is truly ‘us’ then I think that’s what appeals most to the readers. Of course some relevant and popular topics help :P.

    I think what I find really sad is when bloggers (new and old) get discouraged from blogging because they try to measure themselves against others. That’s when we see them start posting “sorry I haven’t posted in ages”. That saddens me because the #1 reason they haven’t posted is because they have set the bar too high to begin with.

    It’s good to have long term goals but expecting to have something incredible in a matter of months is a little unrealistic. I’m not saying it can’t happen but for bunnies sake always set short-term, mid-term and long-term goals. That way you’ll constantly be achieving and you will stay motivated.

    02-16-08 » 4:02 pm »

  • IcyStorm

    This post really hit home because that’s the reason I started my blog; I want it to grow into something much larger instead of simply a place to dump my thoughts and opinions.

    That said, it doesn’t mean blogging doesn’t require editing and quality. Since a blog is public, it’s essential that the its contents are presentable and comprehensible which not only attract readers but create discussion and interaction with the readers.

    I did recently reevaluate my goals for my own blog, and I’m just fine with how it is right now, as long as my readership grows because that creates opportunities for discussion and debate with my readers, which is the best thing (IMO) about a blog. It’s a home for your thoughts, which unlike forums, can be dictated by you in any way you see fit.

    02-16-08 » 11:33 pm »

  • JTFish

    All my posts consists of pure subjective thoughts and opinions. Argumentation is for girls! I don’t even care if people read my posts, I do it for the lulz.

    02-17-08 » 1:38 pm »

  • mellow_bunny

    @JTFish: Your ways a mysterious and strong. May your castles never topple.

    03-16-08 » 3:12 pm »

  • CJ

    In all honesty, I blog because it gives me a chance to play God. (yes, that sounds egotistical and pagan, but bear with me here…) I get to decide what’s on my blog, no one can censor me (except my parents) and I can rant and review and rave about anything I have access to. It also gives me this vague sense of responsibility. A blog is like a baby at first; you have to feed it, love it and (sometimes) make it look pretty to help it grow.

    Of course, please don’t take the baby analogy out of context. ^_^; You could turn it into a parent/mating/lolicon analogy if you were desperate enough… eheheh… ^_^;; Something like that.

    Um, anyway, I don’t WANT to be amazing; I AM amazing, even if my blog doesn’t show that. ‘Cuz I’m awesome. XD jkjkjk

    03-17-08 » 9:33 am »

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