Where have all the good blogs gone?
Nov, 29, 2009 -- By: Mrs. Flinger
Nov, 29, 2009
Remember back when Writing Well Was The Best Revenge? It seems that in the wake of the millions of bloggers coming online in the past five years or so, everyone forgot what we were here for: Writing. Community. Challenge.
I look through my own archives and see when I used to write. People would spur me on, challenge me to be a better communicator, to relate a story in a more dynamic way, to share a piece of our lives in a way that touched you. Then it became about money, stats, popularity. The rise of “monetizing” seemed to crush the spirit of the well-written blog. Bloggers no longer needed to write well because the goal is traffic, which comes via selfish motives seeking deals, a quick feel-good popcorn laugh at an “LOL Cat” or train-wrecks addicted to drama. It’s not as much about writing as it is about selling your site, and yourself.
Recently, I reached out to some close blog friends* who have also maintained their stance and continued to write over the years. I asked a simple question, “Will you help me to write again?” Their reply was overwhelming. The community is there, in private, aching to spur and be spurred on. The fire is beginning to flare and we’re reaching out to each other begging to be accountable for our content.
We know that our websites are often passed over by those looking for the 10 second hit. We understand, and are simultaneously conflicted, that the community values 140 characters over well-written posts. And in some ways, I not only take notice, but am also proud of the fact, that it does not take a well-written blog to reach tens of thousands of people.
Anissa has written well, standing up to the test of blog-time, writing, poring out her heart in amazing essays. Her feed said 200 readers. Her stats were not off the charts. She had, in many people’s eyes, a “small” blog. A fabulous blog, but not a high trafficked one.
She wrote. She did not post deals or LOL cats or drama. She wrote.
But when her body gave in to a stroke, we realize how many people she touched (both figuratively and literally). She is a dynamic lady both capable of writing well and touching lives. Her blog may not have reflected all the thousands of people who adored her, but it did not matter. They do. They come out to support her and her family. Her stats go up, sure, but in my eyes it’s only that people realize what they have here, and what we’re all missing. We’re missing Anissa.
The lesson here? Keep writing. Ignore the stats. Write. Challenge yourself. You are touching lives, you are making a difference and if you truly are here, as so many bloggers claim, to “write for yourself,” take the pledge. Write.
A long while ago I read “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott. I would sit in the coffee shop with a few friends and we would take a piece of her advice. We picked a topic and we wrote. Then we traded our essays, critiqued one-another, and wrote some more. Call it a writer’s support group. Call it batshit crazy. Either way, the accountability to be more than you were before is something you can’t explain until you have it.
Anne Lamott says to write shitty first drafts, to have people read your writing, your shitty first drafts, and give you feedback. She says you take it bird-by-bird. Take the steps, baby steps, to a better written word.
The call to action: Join us. Join our small group of passionate writers. It takes all kinds of writers, journalist, essayist, long-winded and short-spunky authors. Humor, Drama, Literal, Figurative. People who use “AND” too much at the start of the sentences and people who forget to capitalize. Take the challenge and write with us. Take our {w}rite-of-passage.
How it works: We’ll be posting two things a week:
1. A topic to write on.
2. A linky list.
If you’re planning on taking the challenge, take the week’s topic and write. Write your shitty first draft. Publish it. Take the linky list and place it in your post. As people join, the link list will grow on each and every blog who participates. People will find you, help you explore your written communication, and you will have the opportunity to prove that Writing Well Still Is The Best Revenge.
Write with us.
*Special thanks to the ladies that spurred me on to this project:
Amanda
Syd
Megan
Jenny
Jamie
Heather
Loralee
Lotus
Dawn and V
Aimee
Karen
46 Comments Filed in: {w}rite-of-passage • Read the Archives
Comments
I love this. I’ve been having a hard time writing lately, and I’m unsure of the reason. Maybe this will help me get going again.
Thanks for this, it’s a wonderful idea.
I just picked up Bird by Bird again this morning. I love this idea, I love that we can all push each other to be better. I’m in!
I am SO IN!
{w}rite on!
This is so great to see. I was so inspired to write better and funnier after I went to BlogHer and now I feel like that will is slipping. I need a kick in the ass to reach the next level.
Love this! As a fairly unknown blogger, I just received and passed on my first review/giveaway offer. I write to share my thoughts and views, not to tout the wonders of room freshener. Please count me in (if someone can explain this linky stuff to my non-techie brain.)
This sounds interesting! I can’t wait to see the topics to write about. We all need a little creative kick in the butt every now and then.
Long time blogger here and I follow you on Twitter. I love, love, love this idea! Love “Bird by Bird” too—need to pull that back out and read it. I’m currently trying to get back to the writing myself, trying to branch out and write in new venues and re-energize my own blog. I’d love to participate in this challenge, so keep me posted with the next step to join!
Love this like a fat kid loves cake. So, kind of love it like I love cake.
I’ll be there.
Also? Embarrassed to admit I have not read Bird by Bird. Definitely picking that up.
Oh, I am SO IN.
I was just going through my archives last night and realizing how watered-down my posts have become lately.
Thanks for doing this! I hope I can keep up with this phenomenal group of writers.
This is a great idea & challenge. As someone who has blogged for over 8 years, I have been intimidated by all of these incredibly designed blogs. Mine is rather simple & not catchy at all, this is why I hardly ever put my URL link attached to anything. I thought I’m not in the same league & who would want to read what I have to say or think. Also, because I had been writing & putting it out there for me, not for others. It was my escape. I guess I’m ready to step out, because I know I can write just as well as any blogger. So bring it on. I need a good challenge to see if I am up to par with everyone else!
I am in! ox
I have gotten out of the habit and have needed motivation. Thank you for providing that and I hope I still have it in me to write more than 140 character at a time.
this is awesome. After a lengthy post of my own, simply bitching about a shitty weekend, I started to think about why I started my blog. I started it to work on my writing. Because along time ago I felt like I had funny stories to tell. Not just funny stories, stories of my life. And I wanted to tell them. But in the meantime I’ve let my blog turn into my personal journal and it has become depressing, to me. So I am totally excited about this. Thanks.
this is so right on.
count me in.
You people make me shiny.
I’m so glad you’re in! If you haven’t yet, go to the ning site: http://write-of-passage.ning.com and sign up. I have four events pre-posted for our assignments. This way your brain has time to chew on them in the back.
Our first one is a week from tomorrow. I hate being pushed in to anything. heh.
So if you want to draft up something while you’re inspired, go ahead. Just post it on the date of teh “Event” and grab the linky. We’ll all have the same linky (I can totally help you with that. NOT HARD. Promise.) so that when someone on ONE site links, it’ll update on all sites. That way we, as a community, know who’s participating even if they didn’t necessarily come to our site. See? It’s about love, baby. Not about traffic. That’s just a bonus.
I am not a writer by any stretch, but I am a reader. And I was just thinking tonight that I wanted something good to read. Something real. Something to make me think.
I feel like every draft I post is a shitty draft, so this will be easy for me. And also maybe I’ll no longer post shitty drafts. Or something like that.
Love this idea.
I write mostly for me and what I’m feeling. But I’m also writing for others (all in various stages of completion). Feel like I’m in a rut; definitely need to pick up “Bird by Bird” (can’t wait to go shopping again!).
I’m in.
Timing couldn’t be better. IN.
I’m in, though I may not be able to play along every week.
Of course I’m in.
This is a fabulous idea! I’d love to take part, but cannot commit to doing it each and every week due to some upcoming family and work commitments.
Sounds like just what I need. Sign me up!
It’s a low pressure gig. I have the next five challenges up with dates. That way you can write when you have a chance and just come grab the linky when it’s time.
I like to have it planned out WAAAYYY ahead of time because some of us work and some of us are busy with kids and life and frankly, I don’t know who the other people not in that category are. So my goal is to make sure you can snag a topic that fits you, push yourself out of your comfy zone if you choose and above all, by god, let’s have fun. It *is* me, remember?
SIgn up, yo! http://write-of-passage.ning.com
Shiny Happy Flinger,
Les
Oh, this sounds so like me. I want to join because I’m a joining-in kind of gal.
However…
I completely caved on #nanowrimo this year. I’m afraid of doing the same thing again!
Bird By Bird is my motto for life. It has translated to photography for me since I tell all my stories in pictures. A dog eared copy of that book is always by my bed in the stack “never put away” books.
Maybe I will join your challenge…in my own way.
I never look at the stats…but, with only about 10 or 12 RSS Subscribers, I doubt I’d get much traffic anyway! :D
My site has no Ads, I don’t blog for traffic and I never will. I’ve also wound-down on blogging though, my last post was awhile ago (March ferfu**sake!) and I might start again soon. This depends if I get my site redesign/realign sorted out though, haha! :D
Also, +1 for using ‘batshit crazy’ (one of my favourite phrases in recent months!)
Yes, yes, I over-use emoticons, everyone has their failings.
I love this and I am completely in!
Rachel, I’d LOVE it if you would put your photos matching the topic. It’s your own style, and your writing is smashing anyway. But I’d love to see your own take since I simply adore your photos. Fabulous idea.
Matt, get your blog back up! Humph. How can I stalk if there’s no blog?
Sherry, COME ON IN, BABY!
Thanks amillion for bringing this idea to life. xo
It’s so freaking true, babe. My writing has sucked up a storm (My own fault. Hai Twitter ye olde crack whore!)
I am very excited about this. xo
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…
Seriously in a funk about bailing on both NaNoWriMo and NaBloPoMo this month so yes, I am in. I will give it my best shot.
ooh. But the thing is, what if actually I’m, you know, a bit crap?
I love this idea! Plus, having me write with ya’ll will make everyone else look So Much Better by comparison. Not that you all need that. I live to feed the self esteem of others.
(But seriously, it is a great idea.)
I found your challenge and I am going to join your next prompt! Thanks!!
I like it. I’ve been wildly unfocused lately.
Hooray for this!
I keep thinking about this and am really excited to get going! One thing that struck me is that I am often inspired by the words of others. I think giving a topic to write on is a great idea, but I’d love to see maybe more than that in some cases. Perhaps a thought or a premise to start from/react to.
For example, rather than having “Christmas” as a topic to write about, have a statement like “Christmas is the most important holiday of the year” and have people react to that statement in their writing. (that is a bad example, but just wanted to demonstrate the idea with a simple example)
One of my favourite posts on my own blog stemmed from a great tweet by Elisa Camahort:
http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/07/28/right-wrong-and-the-evolution-of-culture/
Just thought I’d throw that in the idea box!
Love this idea, because I need all the help I can get. I totally want to play!
This is an AWESOME idea. I’ve forgotten how to write - I look back at all I’ve written in the last 5 years and there was quality. It’d be nice to find it again
.
Came by via JustMiss…and will do my darnedest!
I’d like to join. What do I need to do?
Love it…you rock. Love your passion for writing.
I’m burned out on different levels with blogging but yet I CAN’T QUIT.
Crack ho am I!
Hi! Thanks for this. Sometimes writing is lonely. Sometimes the online popularity contests are crushing (it’s like being in Junior High all over again). It’s a great idea. A great challenge and I look forward to seeing what will come out of it. Some of you are such amazing, talented people…
I found you through “Mom, Reinvented” and am SO glad I did! I started blogging as a way to get back into writing. Often, I give myself writing challenges such as “connect The Alamo to life balance strategy.” My friends think I’m crazy. Looking forward to reading more here and future challenges.