Brain Fertilizer: ...guess I Don't Have Much To Say (UPDATED)

August 19, 2004

...guess I Don't Have Much To Say (UPDATED) « Blogging »

I think this blog is going to go through a metamorphasis.

In trying for volume of blogging, I have done everything 'first draft' and done lots of 'link + reaction" blogging. I'm growing displeased with the results.

Okay, I'll admit it: one of the reasons I'm displeased is that the kerfuffle I unfortunately dumped on Michelle Malkin gave me more than 1000 hits one day and over 600 the next, the first two steps of a long, slow decline back to equilibrium. ...and now I often don't crack 200. While I understand that is the normal course of events, and while I recognize that my hit total equilibrium is still significantly higher now, I still feel a touch of chagrin that I'm still currently incapable of sustaining that level of traffic.

Sure, I have some nice puns, but I can't produce them consistently. I have some original opinions, and some original and unique viewpoints, but the brutally honest self-introspection says that I don't offer the same quality as Stephen Green at Vodkapundit, or Zombyboy at Resurrectionsong, Juliette at Baldilocks, or Ace at Ace of Spades HQ...just to name a few of the better bloggers out there. Yeah, each one of them has a schtick that helps them stand out...but having stood out, they attract and retain traffic through top-notch writing and content.

Don't get me wrong, I think I can do the exact same thing. I think I am capable of being a top-notch writer and producing top-notch content. But I don't think I've actually demonstrated it, at least, not consistently.

And so, I think it is time for a change, of sorts. I'm going to spend some more time researching things I want to discuss, instead of depending on my native intelligence and vague understandings. I'm going to try to focus on some areas in which I have fairly unique knowledge. Like: China, for instance. I love history, and study it, and have some very controversial viewpoints on certain aspects...but I've depended on other people to bring up the topic before I responded and reacted, so how many people really know that I'm a history buff? Probably few. I did some good stuff for Zombyboy's Africablog, but what have I done lately? Zilch. It's time to change that.

But the time's gotta come from somewhere. So it is possible that my volume of output might be reduced somewhat. Or I might end up falling into the same routines and things will be the same as always. Dunno.

It should be interesting to watch, though.

Some related thoughts.

Posted by Nathan at 10:48 AM | Comments (4)

Comments

Hey, there, don't compare your work, yourself, with others. Just write what you know, even what you don't -- continue to raise the issues that you find curious and interesting, pose the problems, air the considerations -- but don't fall victim to the thinking that because others are successful (and they are, true) that you aren't by comparison (not so).

The people who write well do so because they write often. But, we're all individuals and one person's achievement at any point in time isn't that by anyone else...also, we all have different processes, different approaches, different minds and experiences and questions, even, about the same issues from different perspectives.

I like your site and enjoy reading it. I like other sites and read those with enjoyment but the appeal is based on uniqueness of authors, not on similarities.

Posted by: -S- at August 19, 2004 03:10 PM

Well, yes. That's exactly what I mean. In trying to "maintain" my traffic, I was going for volume, and while it was 'me', it wasn't really 'me' at the same time.
So I am going to focus more on what I like instead of what I think the blogosphere is paying attention to.
The change may be drastic or unnoticeable, I have no idea. But I can feel that it is time for a change.

Posted by: Nathan at August 19, 2004 03:22 PM

Damn. -S- beat me to it! :(

Yeah, Nate, go with what's true. That's what I do on my blog, but my problem is actually posting regularly. I can always think of something to write about, but I get depressed about some chronic personal issues (including employment), that I sometimes don't post for several days in a row...

This is Not Good. {wry grin}

Besides, WTF are you bitching about barely cracking 200/day! I get 20/day on a good week. Shmuck. Heh...

BTW, I came by here from the Queen's place, so thank Rose for the hit. :) Actually, the MuNuvians I've "met" are all pretty cool, like Rocket Jones, and Publis.

Posted by: Casey Tompkins at August 19, 2004 08:35 PM

I've done my time at that level, Casey, believe me!

Honestly, blogging is a little like multi-level marketing. If Glenn Reynolds hadn't started until today, he wouldn't get more than a handful of hits a day. But he was one of the first to blog, period, and he was one of the first to range far and wide to gather interesting bits together. He filled a niche/need. Scrappleface might have a hard time getting so big if he started tomorrow...but he was one of the first to do sarcastic takes on news items...of course, he still might have hit it big quickly, because he consistently does several funny things every day, so who knows?

Find your own idiom, develop it well, and people will come.

I'm going through some personal crap as well, that's probably affecting my mood, but I'm actually in 100% agreement with you both. It's just that I've suddenly realized that in my desire to get and maintain good hittage (and believe, me, I recognize how fortunate I am!) that I've gotten away from the stuff I really want to do. I'm so eclectic, no one may even notice, but I will...and that's kind of the important part. I wasn't being true to myself, but now I will make a renewed effort.

Posted by: Nathan at August 19, 2004 09:45 PM

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