When I was first starting out with this, I asked on the WordPress forum on how to improve my blog. Got a lot of mixed responses. Most said I needed to be a professional writer to gain a good following, plus have immaculate grammar skills. Well, excuse me if I don’t have a PhD in literary studies. Others said my topics were miserable and depressing. So, what am I supposed to do? Write about mindless, saccharine drivel to make them happy? Write about things I have no experience with? Give me a break and get off your high horses, people.
I have to say I wanted honest opinions, and I should’ve expected those kinds of answers, but it still hurts a bit to read them. Certainly I have a lot of interests, as you can see by my categories, but I’m not an expert on any of them. Maybe the jewelry bit. I’m not perfect, and I know I’ve made my share of spelling mistakes here and there. I write about what I know, what I enjoy, and maybe my hobbies are shared by others in the WordPress universe.
I always try to do the best I can here, but I wonder if my efforts are enough. Not many comment on what I’ve written. I sometimes think they don’t because maybe what I say makes them uncomfortable. I’m painfully blunt at times. I don’t see the point in sugar-coating my life, or making up my life experiences. What I’ve written about, especially in regards to my life, are real. I really don’t know many who could pull off such elaborate lies about their lives, except for maybe James Frey, who fooled Oprah with his fake autobiography. I could never do that to people, because it’s unethical and devious.
I expect most people to ignore this post and pretty much everything else I write here, because it’s not salacious enough, or filled with vulgarities and trivialities. I’m not a literary genius with dozens of accolades to my name. I’m just me. I can even say all this because I know people will not pay attention to my writings, because it’s just not good enough for their literary palates. Oh, it’d be lovely to have more than say, five people who subscribe to my blog, but I shouldn’t expect miracles. It’s about who you know, pimping your resume to the right sources, being part of the in crowd, having lots of money. I have none of that. I have my mind and my computer.
I know I sound very bitter here, but really, can you blame me? Is it even possible to sympathize with me just a teeny-tiny bit? My mom has bugged me for years to submit my short stories to places for their publication. I never have, because I know without a doubt the editors there would reject them outright. I’m just not good enough. Even this blog site would never pass muster in their eyes because the topics are not of their caliber. A lot of this is mostly cathartic, to just vent and get certain things out of my system. I’ve come to accept that 95% of people who visit WordPress will NEVER bother to read anything I’ve written, and if they do, never offer any words on it. Their choice, of course. I’ll be amazed if anyone even reads this offering, much less comments on it. I have gotten all the criticism I can handle at the moment, on what’s wrong with my blog. It would be rather enlightening to hear from others about what I’ve done RIGHT with it.
Weaselgal's Haven 
not sure how I was directed to your facebook page but I saw your web blog address and here I am… I have taken several hours reading your different blogs, yes, I skimmed a few… I have a few insights… yes, you are very unique and have suffered so many things, it is a shame and I hope that your tormenters look back and regret their actions and hopefully, just maybe in their life they can make a difference with someone else… your method of putting your thoughts and feelings into words for others is wonderful… i have been able to feel just the tiniest fraction of the pain you have suffered and it has given me a better appreciation of who I am. I am wishing you only the best in your journey of life…
Wow……well, I do have my blog’s addy on my Facebook page. I’m glad you enjoyed my verbal ramblings. I don’t want to classify myself into one particular niche, because I have so many interests. This blog gives me a great outlet to share my thoughts, grouse about something that annoys me, or rave ecstatically over something I love. Please, feel free to rummage through my posts. The early ones are not the greatest, but I improve with age.
I know what you mean though, but is blogging about getting more traffic to your blog ? Or is it a platform you use to express yourself ?
For me it is a platform to express myself and how I view the world and the beings that live on it. I write stuff to get it out of my mind. I recently switched to blogger.com because I like it more, don’t know why though. Things I noticed on blogger.com is that you get more traffic though, so if you’re looking for traffic then you might consider going there.
My blog on blogger.com: ambitionxii.blogspot.com
It’s a bit more technical then wordpress though !
And to add to this post: I read your blog regularly, I know I don’t comment on every single post by you, but i read it often 😛 Keep it up !
Greetings,
Wesley
Honestly a big reason why I hesitate to comment is because I am too worried that what I have to say is stupid or irrelevant.
Blog to your own standards, to make yourself happy, if that is what blogging does… contributes to your happiness in some way. If people don’t comment or you don’t get a lot of subscribers, that might just mean that your blog isn’t that well-known yet. Maybe the people that will get a lot out of what you have to say haven’t discovered your blog yet.
I only have one subscriber, but that is way better than 0, for sure. I want to write, though, because of a personal need, not because I want loads of people to read. I write to sort myself out, to get better at writing.
This is not ‘why your blog sucks’ but exactly why I find myself coming back to it. Yes you are blunt but also you let some people influence the way you think of your writing. But a blog is a place for YOU to be able to express yourself. The freedom the internet allows is that anyone can be a writer now, and get their thoughts and feelings out there. Misguided individuals who say you have to write a certain way or on a certain subject are missing the point of blogging. Granted some subjects will appeal to a wider audience than others, but is popularity something you’re after or just credibility? Sadly you can’t have both it seems.
Okay, maybe a teeny part of me has the selfish desire for popularity, but when I think about it, what would I be popular for? Simply for attention, a la Lindsay Lohan? No. I think what I would really strive for is credibility. I appreciate what you have to say, Craig, because maybe I need an outside opinion of things to evaluate my perceptions of the world.
PS In the words of my syntax professor (he is primarily a grammar professor, and he authored our class textbook), “Yes there are certain forms that should be followed and some more than others, but most people would say their language is just fine without some prissy person standing over them telling them how to talk.”
“Most said I needed to be a professional writer to gain a good following, plus have immaculate grammar skills.”
I totally disagree. It’s much more real if you write as yourself and in your own “voice”. I think that is preferable in a personal blog that discusses your feelings, etc. It’s about being effective, not perfect.