I blog because I write blurbs, and the blog environment fits that style better than the feature-length article market. (Also there is no submission process, and thus no rejection note.)

I can share a single thought and feel good about it. No thesis statement; no conclusion — just an open-ended thought that allows others to fill in their own details. Much like looking at a painting that leads the viewer into its story but gives him room to imagine…

I do tell little stories on myself — but only if I think they’re useful to others’ own Ah-Ha’s. My hope and driving dream is to create a coffee-shop-studio-space type atmosphere, where people connect with a thought and share their own before leaving. I want them to leave uplifted and energized to go about their own lives.

I feature my own — and others — art work, though usually parenthetical to the point made.

I don’t know how to “blow-up” my blog. That’s why I keep studying…

Barb

Barb Hartsook´s last blog post..Why Does an Artist Paint? Or a Writer Write?

@John Hoff: But…I like my comfort zone so much!

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In any case, these days it’s not enough just to write or blog, you also have to be a salesman to really be successful

That’s a great point, Mathew. I wrote an article on that awhile back called, The Unplugged Entrepreneur.

To be successful, we really need to try and get out of our comfort zone.

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I’m comfortable revealing some parts of myself, but others I tend to keep private. Interestingly enough, I’ve noticed that while I don’t talk much about my day to day life, I am extremely open about my emotions and inner workings.

What do I need to do to blow up in the blogging world? My arrogant answer is just be myself, I’m an expert at it! Perhaps I’ll never blow up, but I think I’ll have a pretty spiffy blog that way.

I thought it was funny that you said “Don’t blog about blogging” I had a conversation with another blogger the other day talking about how so much of our efforts seem to be designed to attract other bloggers to our blog, not civilians. Of course, I want other bloggers to read my blog but it’s easy to forget the millions of potential readers who don’t blog/stumble/digg/twitter and only use Facebook to talk to their actual friends! I want them to read my blog, too.

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@Sara: There is certainly an immediacy that comes from comments that novelists don’t usually get – but I do feel that there is always some sort of reaction that said writer has to answer to. In fact, I would say that a writer must sell themselves just as much as a blogger might in order to promote their work. The bells and whistles of a blog certainly have nothing to do with the writing. I appreciate your thoughts!

@Paisely: Interestingly enough, I’ve heard some YouTubers complain of not being able to keep up with their friends because they have to actually sit through their whole vlogs instead of skimming them like you would a blog. For the amount of work that goes into a well written blog entry – there is just as much (and probably more) work put into a well-done video log. They are different mediums – but my point is that they rarely talk about the technical mumbo-jumbo behind the actual making of a video log, but rather, they talk about their lives and other stuff. The one thing that vloggers have over bloggers is that they don’t feel the need to seek out “blogs about blogging”, if you catch my drift. Interesting thoughts…I think we all have to step outside ourselves when trying to promote our work, in the process – we end up focusing on the process of creating our work (hence blogging about blogging). I do sincerely believe that the more time we discuss the art of our craft, the less time we actually produce it.

@Melvin: Short and sweet, I love it! (Oh, and I love your Butters gravatar!)

@Jeannette: Exactly my point! We have to step outside ourselves when we’re promoting our work – especially with blogs – otherwise we end up tainting our work. I find it especially common with artists who spend a long time producing work on their medium (writers who blog) to see them talk about the art of blogging and promoting more and more and more.

@Urban Panther: A good summary of all my points! John Green did a wonderful job with networking as he released Paper Towns – and while it may have not been required (as he was already a prize winning author), it certainly helped raise the hype on the novel.

@Writer Dad: Ah, Sean, always the businessman! I like to keep my entries about blogging to few and far between. I feel that I have a good understanding of what I need to do, but I certainly don’t let it enter into my writing!

@Ribbon: Interesting thought, Ribbon…my point is that there is so much more to be writing about than blogging. It’s like going to a anti-war protest, and then writing the next day on the best ways to protest instead of writing about the your thoughts and feelings on the war.

@Robin: It’s quite a shame that most blogs are just given away. Wonderful words can be found here.

@Cricket: Oh, Tammy! You are a wonderful blogger! I love hearing about your life, and I love that I hardly ever hear of your struggles with blogging. For you, I feel that blogging is just a tool for you to get your emotions across – and certainly not something of interest in itself. (I hope your hope comes true as well.)

@Positively Present: I didn’t mean to play blogging up as a villain! Blogging is a wonderful way to write and reading about people’s lives (or thoughts or ideas) can be brilliant. My concern is when the artist who gets caught up with the technical side of their craft (hence: blogging about blogging).

@Barbara Swafford: 100% true. Nothing spreads faster than word of mouth. Thanks for letting me take over your classroom for a day – even if I was running a but late!

@Chase March: I pick and choose the details of my life that I want to share. If I don’t feel comfortable sharing something, then I either skew the truth, mix it into prose, or just not write anything at all. I find it very comforting that I am able to do all of this with any question. And certainly keep on blogging – ESPECIALLY if you enjoy it.

@Vered: Writing the web is a great restraint to keep you stay on top of your game. My point was not to villianize blogging (as I mention above), but to point out that there is so much more to be writing about other than the art of blogging. To re-use an example: It’s like going to a anti-war protest, and only talking about the best ways to protest something.

@Tess The Bold Life: Absolutely! I can’t wait until your ticking time-bomb of a blog blows up. Just remember us little folks once you go nuclear, got it?

@Bob Foster: I’m not familiar with the publishing word – to be honest, I’m just a kid with a keyboard and a website. Your question would be far better directed to “Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent” (she has a fantastic blog that concerns itself with all things publishing). I think everything you said can be summed up into: “YOU’VE GOT TO BE PASSIONATE!” Savvy?

@Davina: I believe the connection to your readers depends on how much work that you want to put into it – regardless of whether or not your blogging or writing. For me, I take my real life and mix it into my prose…so there is definitely an element of each that I enjoy very, very much.

@Jeannette: What an interesting article, thanks for the link! I’ve bookmarked, and will definitely follow up soon!

@Natural: Oh, Val – you got it just right. There’s so much to be dragged down with blogging – but it’s certainly nothing we need to be WRITING about, if you catch my drift. No matter whether we’re blogging or writing, there is so much more than blogging that we have to write about.

@John Hoff: Hmm, I woke up the next day and had what alcoholics call a moment of clarity. And then I wrote this. I agree that networking is definitely something that needs to happen with blogging and writing…it just happens in different ways. In any case, these days it’s not enough just to write or blog, you also have to be a salesman to really be successful…or get an agent whose good ati t.

@Jim Gaudet: Oh hell yes!

@Jannie Funster: I agree with you…my point is that bloggers/writers should NOT be writing about blogging. Again with the passion! Yes! Holy writing, blogging! Holy is the passion for art!!

@John Hoff: Well, I made it finally! Muahaha!