I started this blog originally because someone I worked with was a blogger. She would come to work filled with excitement and enthusiasm, and her digital camera was as much a part of her chef's toolkit as anything else. She's actually the first person to explain to me what blogging actually entailed. I had heard of it, of course, but really had no idea what a blogger actually DOES. I won't lie, it sounded hugely appealing. Food AND words? My two favourite things? Sign me up!
A few weeks later I found myself with a blog, and all this glorious white screen space on which to pontificate about stuff. Originally I had planned on a fairly classic food blog, not dissimilar to Mel's. I was going to be all about close up food porn photos, witty yet occasionally scathing reviews of funky new restaurants I had been to, and in general be that foodie we all aspire to be. The one who puts dried acai berries on top of cupcakes and then takes 18 photos of said cupcake from 18 angles. Except that it didn't take long for me to realise that a) I was pretty shit at taking digital photos, b) I didn't eat out all that often, c) I'd totally forget to blog altogether, and d) I like to eat food, not stop to photograph it. I discovered along the way that what I liked to do was blog about my kids, my life, random ramblings and occasional gripes (okay possibly more than occasional). In short, what I had was - in the bastardised words of Seinfeld - a blog about nothing.
What prompted this train of thought was my completing a survey all about blogging (the technorati 'State of the Blogosphere' survey). As I was clicking all the little bubbles, I kept thinking - damn, I should have cultivated a larger readership. I should have made some money off this blog. I should have, could have, would have parleyed this blogging shtick into some sort of real, in-the-flesh writing work.
Dang. The whole growth of blogging seems to have passed right by me, probably way back when I was forgetting to photograph my Meyer Lemon sorbet with a ironic twist of lime.
Then I thought about all the bloggers I USED to read but don't read any more. The ones who went on to publish books (and spent far too many blog posts promoting said books). The ones who got a modicum (or a flood) of popularity and in the same moment lost all their funny juju. The ones who went from 'occasionally write a review of a product' to 'click here to see my review blog.' The ones who I deleted off my feed reader because I simply didn't find them all that entertaining any more. Fact is, I'm sure a lot of them (okay, all of them) didn't even notice when they lost me as a reader, and if they DID notice, I'm guessing they didn't give a hoot.
That's fine by me, because I'm quite happy sitting here, in the corner of internet land, writing my blog about nothing. If there are some of you out there who are getting some amusement (either by laughing at or with me) from this blog, well, that's good enough for me. I don't need to have loads of readers (although some more comments to spur on discussion wouldn't go astray) to feel like I have some blogging self-worth. As time has gone on, blogging has acquired a financial and social life of its own, and has become a lot more about business and readership numbers and publishing deals and who-knows-who that's going to BlogHer. I just can't get into that.
...and yet, I think it's fabulous that normal, everyday, real people are getting their opinions heard and noticed and read and shared.
Can you be one and not the other? I wonder.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Blogging Me, Blogging You
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9 comments:
Well, I still read your blog, and I'm sorry I don't comment more often. Most of the blogs I read are "craft" related, but your blog is so refreshing, well written, about the nitty gritty of real life, ups and downs, I always find it interesting seeing what you have to say, and it doesn't matter that you don't have lots of pretty pictures in every post. I don't have a ton of readers either, or earn any money from my blog, but I'm perfectly happy about that, it's not about "business" for me, but more about connecting with people.
Rachel
The nice thing about a blog is that it can be whatever you want it to be.
Back in the early days, I blogged because I wanted to capture my experience as apprentice chef (...and we all know how *that* went!). Then it morphed into sharing whatever food I found exciting and interesting.
I then found myself courting all sorts of PR requests, which I initially thought was kind of cool. But then it took me away from what my blog was really about, capturing my experiences with food.
So I don't do that crap any more, and I'd never entertain advertising etc.
But that's the nice thing about blogging. You do it when you want. And you don't do it when you can't be bothered. You're not being paid. You don't have an editor breathing down your throat. It is what you want it to be.
I actually waxed lyrical about blogging a while ago, and found some other reasons why I love it.
My advice is, just enjoy what you do and don't worry about the making money, increasing readership etc. Just do it because you want to.
The nice thing about a blog is that it can be whatever you want it to be.
Back in the early days, I blogged because I wanted to capture my experience as apprentice chef (...and we all know how *that* went!). Then it morphed into sharing whatever food I found exciting and interesting.
I then found myself courting all sorts of PR requests, which I initially thought was kind of cool. But then it took me away from what my blog was really about, capturing my experiences with food.
So I don't do that crap any more, and I'd never entertain advertising etc.
But that's the nice thing about blogging. You do it when you want. And you don't do it when you can't be bothered. You're not being paid. You don't have an editor breathing down your throat. It is what you want it to be.
I actually waxed lyrical about blogging a while ago, and found some other reasons why I love it.
My advice is, just enjoy what you do and don't worry about the making money, increasing readership etc. Just do it because you want to.
I turned 35 yesterday and, among other things, I realized that now on questionnaires where you check the box next to the category that includes your age, like 29-34, I now have to go up an entire category, which includes numbers I don't want to think about.
Thanks for the support, everyone. I suppose some small part of me needed to say out loud what this blog is or isn't about. Of late I've found myself equally annoyed and fascinated by the "big time" bloggers and wondering if I'd either missed an opportunity or was grateful for missed opportunities.
I think your comments remind me to be grateful...so I'll just keep going as I'm going and hope you stick around to keep me company. :)
M
..and TAO I almost forgot to say, when filling out the survey I also noticed that I am a mere 3 months away from a whole different category as well...*sigh*
I'm thinking 35 is the new 15.
M
Love your blog just as it is and very much look forward to your posts.
MC
I really enjoy your blog because it is just that...a blog. A snapshot now and then of your life.
I like it. A lot. :-D
I think a lot of food bloggers get into blogging because of sites like Orangette and Chocolate and Zucchini. I admit to being one of them. (Food photography. It's dangerous stuff.)
Once I started blogging though, I found bloggers who were more like me: people who wanted to eat dinner before it got cold rather than try yet *again* for a decent photo. Blogs where I could ask questions and get a response, instead of just leaving comments like hopeful offerings to the gods. Blogs with authors who were in it more for fun than anything else.
I like my corner of the blogosphere. You seem to be having a good time in yours. I got here from I-can't-remember-what-link, but I like your sense of humor and your baking guide. I'll be back. :)
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