Sunday is a good day to think about things in life, don't you think?!
Today I was thinking about blogging and how it has changed since the arrival of Pinterest.
In some ways the changes are great, and in other ways, not so much!!
One
of the ways I think it has changed, and not for the better, is the lack
of communication between bloggers, and their readers.
I
know I have found myself not reading as many blogs, and commenting
less, and less. On my own blog I see fewer comments than ever before.
Comments
are a bloggers life-blood, it is one of the things that keep us
writing. We need to know that our audience is out there, and that they
are enjoying our efforts.
This all came to mind today when I was visiting Joni at Cote de Texas. She always does such a thorough job on her research, and always gives us such insight on the subjects she is writing about.
I
realized I had not visited her wonderful blog for awhile. I also had
not left a comment for a long time. I truly felt a bit guilty so today I
left a comment telling her how much I appreciated the time and effort
she put into the post she wrote.
I
looked back at some of my old blog post, and I found a post about
non-bloggers commenting. I would like to share that with you all today,
if you don't mind.....
.........Sometimes
we just need to talk about blogging. You know the ins and outs of this
mysterious and wondrous place we call blogland.
While
visiting with a couple of my friends a few weeks ago a discussion
about blogging came up. One of my friends has a blog, and the other
loves to read blogs.
Little
did we know there would be many questions that would come up from time
to time that there just would not be any answers that made any sense.
We all agreed.
There was one question that came up that did have an answer……
“Is it alright for a non-blog author to make a comment on a blog?”
Let’s
face it, we were all readers before we were writers of blogs. I think
we all became captivated about what we were seeing and reading in
blogland, and that prompted our own desires to become blog authors.
My answer was, “Of course!”
After all, comments are like food to blog authors. Without comments it
is hard to have enough energy to come up with what it takes to write a
blog.
At first I was a bit surprised at the question, but then I had to think back when I first discovered blogs.
I remember thinking that I did not have the right to have an opinion since I was not part of this new found group of people called, “BLOGGERS!”
It all seemed so special and wondrous to me.
I
honestly felt that I should just keep my opinion to myself, after all
they were the one’s that were putting all the work into writing the
blog, I was just sort of a voyeur looking in on their world, unbeknownst
to them.
I
could quietly enjoy looking on, and I could have an opinion, and no
one would ever know. It just seemed to be the right thing to do at the
time.
As
time passed, and I read more, and more blogs I realized that maybe,
just maybe my comment, or opinion would be valued by the author. Still
unsure I was hesitant to comment.
Once
I finally felt as if it was alright, and the only reason I felt it was
alright is because I discovered that other non-blog authors were
leaving comments.
I finally started leaving comments, and making my presence known to the blog author, and fellow readers.
A
wonderful thing happened!! I actually developed some amazing
friendships with like-minded people. Now this is something that is
missing when commenting does not occur.
Eventually,
as you all know I started writing this blog. I am now on the other
side hoping that my readers will feel comfortable here, comfortable
enough with me and what I am writing about to leave a comment to let me
know they were HERE!!
Whether you are a reader, or you are a blog author, “WE!” need, and want your opinions, and comments.
You, the readers are what keeps me writing! Without you, and your feed back this journey would pretty much be meaningless.
I for one have had so many wonderful experiences here, in blogland because of you wonderful readers.
So, I am here to tell you. Yes!! by all means, please leave a comment whether you have a blog or not!!
Readers are what gives me the energy, the want-to, the desire to keep writing.
If you feel you need permission, please feel as if you have been given permission………
I
so appreciate all of you that take the time to not only read, but to
let me know how you feel about what I am presenting here on my blog.
I actually find it a bit hard to express how much it means to me.
Just know this……. As long as you are reading and commenting I will be writing.
I can only hope that you are still……..
“Enjoying the Process” Of:
Following along with me in blogland,
