Comments on: Why Your Writing Blog Sucks

By: Carrie Link

Carrie Link — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 04:38:14 +0000

All of the above!

By: Lori

Lori — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:51:12 +0000

I think you spelled it right, Alicia. :) I don't even mind personal, especially if the person is talented enough to bring you into their lives as they're relating the personal. I follow a few who do it beautifully.

Thanks, Cahty. ;)

Lillie, your blog works for your reason. You ARE focused, and that's what's great about it. I've never read a post on your blog that didn't feel like it fit.

Oh, Anne! Great idea for a post! Our blog in perpetuity - who inherits the madness? LOL

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:29:47 +0000

Well said, as usual, Lori… wonder what will happen to our blogs when we finally die? Will the kids take over? Maybe I'll be able to sell like Deb Ng did… puzzling over life… and blogs.

By: Lillie Ammann

Lillie Ammann — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 03:37:39 +0000

Excellent advice, Lori. Of course, if I identified my blog as a writing blog, it would suck for your third reason. I don't have a focus, so that's why I consider my blog a personal blog and not a writing blog. Blogging is fun for me–not designed to be a marketing tool, though I have actually gotten clients from it. My lack of focus isn't false advertising—I list the topics of my blog on the "about" page, and writing, books, authors, and publishing are only some of the subjects I write about. I agree, though, if a blogger bills her blog as a writing blog, I expect that to be the topic most if not all the time.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:52:17 +0000

Lord knows I've been called worse, Lroi. 🙂

By: Alicia D

Alicia D — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:16:19 +0000

i agree with all you stated… i never have thought of it, but i think you pointed out the 'biggies'. i think relatability (i probably didnt spell that right… yeah, poor spelling probably makes a blog suck too) is very important on a personal blog. if someone is too specific about telling their own day to day story or situation in too much detail, its hard for people who aren't their "friends" to relate. I think topics need to either be helpful to people or if its a personal blog, be widely relatable, even if its in a "niche" area. 🙂

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:05:10 +0000

That would be "Cathy" not "Cahty"…unless you'd like to change your name, Cathy… 😉

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:04:36 +0000

Well hell, Jake - now I'm compelled to respond. ;) Just kidding. I'm a talker, even with a keyboard. :)

Katharine, I swear it wasn't you! LOL But you and Andrew bring up a good point - life gets in the way sometimes. I'm totally cool with that as a reader. What I'm not cool with is when it becomes a habit. The blogger just doesn't have the same love for the blog they once did, they get too busy, or they just get lazy. It happens. I get frustrated when it's been six months and nothing except promises to be back appear. Right now I follow a few blogs in which the writers are elsewhere doing 9-to-5 stuff. But their writing is so compelling that I keep them on my subscription list. When they're able to show up, it's a treat. (Yours is a treat no matter how often you blog, toots.)

Cahty, I've seen a few whiners, too. Usually I read the first few posts. If it's too bad, I don't even follow. I sure as hell don't return.

Paula, I'd listen to what you have to say! You can blog about your life, your projects, whatever. I'd love to read it!

Ashley, don't you hate that? Parroting the same sad, tired advice isn't the same as saying "Here's what I did - here's how it worked/didn't work." Much more interesting.

Now I have to dig up a Billy-Bob, Wendy. LOL

Andrew, it's great seeing you here again! You and Peter Bowerman have a nice pace on your respective blogs. Peter goes a few weeks between posts, but they're always so insightful and interactive that I can't miss reading them. Yours is the same - it's just great advice that touches everyone, too.

By: Jake P

Jake P — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:33:51 +0000

Pretty much everything that needed to be said is here, either in Lori's original post or in the comments; I just wanted to chime in and say that I really appreciate that Lori ALWAYS takes the time to make a reply back when you take the time to write a substantive comment.

I also don't dig blogs that go over the top yelling without taking a break. There was an example that made the twitter rounds yesterday, and it really turned me off. No way am I going to subject myself to that on a daily basis. I described it as "Screaming at the choir." Ick.

By: Katharine Swan

Katharine Swan — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:04:35 +0000

I'd swear you wrote this post for me. ;o) I've had kind of a rough year so far, and as a result I had focus on my work -- which meant my blogs have been somewhat ignored. I'm working on getting them back, I swear.

Cathy has a good point about whining, but don't forget to differentiate between whining and deliberate snark. Some of my favorite blogs are the snarky ones!