I think I’m in the blog void. That strange and secret place where you have ideas floating around, but none of them seem to be making it onto the paper. I think about posts I want to write, and for some reason that is all I do. Think about them. I go to write and nothing wants to come out. We’ve all been there. It isn’t exactly writer’s block, it’s the blog void.
This has been a strange summer for me. After months of having lots of free time to write and work and network and be productive, having my kids home this summer isn’t giving me any motivation. The last thing my readers probably want to see is pictures of my kids at the pool, at the beach, at the park. Do you really want to know that we spent our weekend going to a movie and out to dinner? How about that we spent a day looking at new houses that we can never afford to move into? I know… not that fascinating.
What I really want to write about are blogging issues… how to be better, faster, stronger. How to leap Google Analytics in a single bound. Okay… yes, I did see Man of Steel this weekend.
I want to write deep, meaningful things that you actually want to read and share.
I’m coming up short.
So, I’m going to ask… exactly what kinds of things do you want to read about?
Oh… and I still want to change the look of my blog. If I’m bored with it, you probably are too. It’s coming. Sometime.
I want to read about SEO and how use it to my advantage. How can I connect even more with readers and followers to grow my blog. I want to learn how to juggle it all, because I am sure you have the secret code to making it work 😉 anything blog related will help tremendously as I want to learn as much as I can.
Carolyn West says
Okay… I’ll work on one about SEO. I should blog about blogging more often, but so many other people do it better than I ever could.
I know the feeling. I was just in a blog void not that long ago, and then BAM! It ended. I wish I could give you some reason why, but I’m not sure there was a definitive moment or action that snapped me out of it.
A post about looking at the houses would be interesting to me. Or maybe just do some posts that aren’t too deep, and then something with depth might follow, you know? Good luck!
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Carolyn West says
Thanks. I think the biggest issue with me is just not having enough time to sit and think about what I want to write about. I got into a great groove with the kids all in school and now that they are home, I feel that there is no time for my work. One month more and they’ll all be back in school.
Vicky says
How about blogging about the hurdles you’ve come up against as a blogger and what you did to overcome them? When you’re not inspired to write, what do you do to get something posted? When you have to juggle life with blogging, how do you manage your time so that you still get something up without going postal?
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Carolyn West says
I’ve done a few posts like that. Right now I’m just frustrated that my kids are home all day and I have no time to be inspired by anything else. I’m not sure I’m juggling anything well right now.
I want to write and read about a “Bloggers Bill of Rights” and email it to all the publicists that think we’re a dime a dozen and should work for free just because we’re supposedly honored by the presence of their clients. End rant. I feel better now.
Carolyn West says
Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone played by the same rules?
I don’t know, I like to read about the “mundane” stuff, too! It’s adding your personal anecdotes in, between the more “professional” blogs, that is key to me. And I like your kids! (That is high praise from a non-kid-lover like me, I assure you.)
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Carolyn West says
Everyone seems to like my kids. I don’t get it.
I’m on a Google+ learning curve; hangout creation & instruction (maybe practice), etc would be helpful. I’m always befuddled by SEO; just when I think I’ve got a grasp on it, something comes along and kicks me back to the curb.
I’ve seen a couple of things about how to appeal to or reach out to brands and create sponsorships-that would be fun too!
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Remember to keep in mind, who is your audience? Who do you want your audience to be? The most endearing thing about your blog are your heartfelt entries about your family and what it’s like to be the mother of three girls. As the mother of two young men I can live vicariously through your experiences.
Personally, the blogs about blogging are boring because I’m not really interested in being a blogger at this time.
I’d rather hear about Carolyn and her family of five in California. This is what makes you unique…your experiences, your opinions.
Honestly, my favorite posts from you Carolyn are the ones where you show a little bit of your design side thrown into it.
I love seeing your do it at home house projects. They’re fun to read. I no longer go to blogs to read about SEO, blogging techniques, etc. (not being negative, honest!) lol
And also, when you throw in the personal side into it. It doesn’t have to be all the time. I know it can feel redundent but updates now and again are always fun.
I’m kind of a discouraged blogging funk right now myself. Just having issues with some recent behaviors I’m seeing happening around the blogosphere. Trying to figure out where I fit in with it all.
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Carolyn West says
Jamie… the longer you blog, the more “reality” you start to see in people, in blog posts, in conferences, in everything. I think every blogger goes through bouts of funkiness (can’t think of a better word for it) every now and then. It usually passes. You open your eyes, see things for what they are, and then you move on.