How Do You Keep Blogging?

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A fellow over on a forum I was visiting posed the question, “How Do You Keep At It?” He was referring to steadily blogging. Here was my response:

I’ve had some lapses, like recently work has been really rough. I think that 4 things have kept me pretty regular for a while now:

1) Paying for my site. Now that I’ve invested some dough into the thing, it helps me prioritize it a bit. Plus, it’s a lot cooler to say, “Go to https://www.brainofshawn.com” than it is to give out a blogspot address. (Not that there’s anything wrong with blogspot — I’m just saying.)

2) ANY sort of readership. I only have like 15 people that regularly read my blog, but the fact that they do regularly visit my blog, and give a rip what I have to say, makes it more exciting. Looking at stats can be depressing and exciting both. 🙂

3) Personally, I let myself write ANYTHING I please. I know that limits the traffic I generate, but it helps me in that I’m not worried about being “on topic”, etc. Again, this is a tactic I use to keep blogging, not to generate traffic.

4) As small as it is now, I plan to use my blog as a marketing tool when I begin to publish some books. I figure everyone starts somewhere, so I might as well do it now. John Scalzi’s Whatever started small, and it’s helping him sell books now. I like that thought. 🙂

6 thoughts on “How Do You Keep Blogging?”

  1. 1. Yup.
    2. Ditto, what-a-minute? 15 whole readers?!? You lucky slob! :p
    3. Yup.
    4. *shrug* I finally broke down this year and added some ads to help the blog thing pay for itself. Beyond that I don’t have anything I want to be selling, so I don’t know how it would work for me.

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  2. I’ve become an infrequent visitor and an infrequent blogger. I have lots to say and love to read what others have to say, but work, daily life and stuff get in the way and it limits my computer time. I sometimes pop over for a read, but don’t have time to comment.
    To comment on your last post…I too watch American Idol and am amazed at the number of people who can’t sing, but think they can, and think they sound good. (Plus the family members that encourage them to come on the show!!) I couldn’t carry a tune if it had handles & I know it, so I would NEVER try out for a singing contest. One of my favorite instruments (aside from voice) is the violin. I don’t care how old I am, I want to learn how to play it.

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  3. I started strong, but recently have let the blog drift a bit. Lately I have been back on it. It’s amazing how cathartic and motivating blogging can be. Thanks for the tips!

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  5. “As small as it is now, I plan to use my blog as a marketing tool when I begin to publish some books”
    Thats the best news I’ve heard all day!! I can’t wait for the day you publish a book. You have the talent for it. About blogging, I don’t have the time.

    Reply

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