My posting rate here at Dangerously Irrelevant waned considerably over the past two months. I could make the excuse that I’ve been super busy but, of course, we all are super busy with whatever we’re doing. The bottom line is that I haven’t given blogging the dedicated time and attention that I used to.
The interesting thing to me is that I’ve missed it, that I actually have felt sad that I haven’t been posting more. I think that speaks to the power of blogging for many of us – that we have the very human needs to express ourselves, to get feedback on our ideas, and to be connected with others. Of course blogs can be an excellent way to do that, particularly those of us who don’t have anyone around us locally who understand or care about our interests and our passions.
So I’m reclaiming my blog and, through that, also reclaiming myself. Before I began blogging – way back in August 2006 – I wouldn’t have understand this need that I now have to post stuff on the Web for others to read. But now I’m hooked. This is something I have to do. So I’m back in the game.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my last few posts. There will be many, many more to come. They won’t all be great (or even good), but hopefully I’ll be adding value again to the blogosphere and you’ll stay for the conversation. Thanks to everyone who’s stuck around during my doldrums. I look forward to our continued interactions (and, hopefully, to meeting as many of you as possible at NECC).
Scott, I went through this as well. I think it was at a time when I was internally rebelling at what I thought people wanted me to be. I just want to be myself and when I hear people talk about me in a certain way it is intimidating.
Do I want to blog? Do I want to share so much? Is there anything left for me? Is there anything left for my family? These are things I’ve thought about and gone through.
But I feel like that the people that read me… and read you… read because of the person. That is why I’ve really stayed away from the guest blogging thing.
If you read about personal brands, that is really what a blogger has… a personal brand. You ARE “Dangerously Irrelevant.” And if we’re in this for the long haul, sometimes we’ll blog and sometimes we won’t… but as long as YOU are there, many of us will be reading because we’re here for you.
The popularity thing is a losing ballgame — for some time now the technorati thing has become more and more, well, irrelevant, as mass market blogs move into the blogosphere, the daily, hourly blogs are just going to edge out the individual blogger. At some point, I’ll probably drop out of the top 10,000 — I’ve not changed and have more links than ever… what has changed is that more people are blogging. (Will Richarson is at 3,000 something — for some reason, I thought he WAS in the 2,000’s but I could be wrong.)
For that reason, it is so important just to do as you’re doing… sit back, examine motives and if this whole blogging thing is really adding something to our lives. Then, just relax and live with it.
I for one, cannot live with the stress of feeling I’m in a perpetual horse race, I’m just going to live and let blog.
Scott: Blogging can become overwhelming or you can go thru a dry spot. I’ve experienced them both. (I switched from a blog in the top 4500 to my own domain in January with a zero ranking…)
I, for one, enjoy reading you blog and am glad you’re back! You always tend to help me think about things in a new way.
If you drop out of the 10,000, NO BIGGIE. It’s your voice that is important. Please keep sharing, regardless of a trivial ranking. Many others prop their rankings up to increase adsense more than to increase their reach and circulation for editorial reasons.
Just my opinion…
thanks for listening.
Chris
Scott,
I began my blog at the end of last school year and posted quite often. Lately, professional obligations have slowed that productivity quite a bit.
Some people warn that Twitter might “drain off” some of our urge to blog, but that’s not true in my case. Twitter helps me to make personal connections and provides a lot of ideas to follow up on. It’s a complement to my blog, not a replacement.
It takes me longer to construct a posting now, but my content is becoming less derivative and more original. I have a long way to go, but the Journey itself is what matters.
diane
Scott, while the ebb and flow of the desire to blog is ever-present, I like to think the blogger continues on, not moving through the waves but with them. When you’re up, you’re up and you write. When you’re down, so be it, you write then, too.
I’m in a down trough right now with my writing, but I found myself starting a new blog about writing in the education world (http://eduwrite.blogspot.com) and I found my enthusiasm coming back, my interest piqued by the possible new blog posts, the wonderful uncertainty of finding my voice in a new setting…WONDERFUL experiences to have.
So, I don’t recommend you “hang in there” but rather that you wring the experience of being in the doldrums or not and blog it.
Having fun with his new blog,
Miguel
P.S. Did you notice Larry Anderson’s kind remarks about LeaderTalk.org ? He was particularly complimentary about the idea. He might be a potential author for LeaderTalk.
We all can relate.
Keep it up.