The Circle of Friendship...

To blog or not to blog...That is the question I've been contemplating.  Earlier this week I was talking with a friend, who herself in recent months has been writing a blog.  She was a bit discouraged to still have so few readers commenting.  The advice I gave her was that she keeps going, pursues her topic, that she could never know what would happen, what doors would open, and that it was still early days...

This same advice is such that I have said to myself occasionally, and of late I find myself questioning it and why I blog.  I am soon coming up on my one year blogiversary, and so I am a bit reflective.  This blog began as a place for me to share crafts I like to make, and as a possible outlet for selling my handmade crafts.  It was also a way for me to reach out to others, hoping to meet others with similar interests, and to be, in even a very small way, a part of the extraordinary community of crafters who share their works, their passions, and their lives through the medium of blogging.  But very soon a tiny shift happened, organically, in that crafts alone became not my sole focus, and I myself began to share more of myself, my life, experiences, observations, musings, as well as the passion of creating things.

It takes time to build a readership.  At this point, though, I thought I would have more readers, or at least readers who took the time to write, to comment, to share.  My few "regulars" leave comments, and I am ever appreciative!  Feedback is always a boost, especially in reference to my crafts.  I see the comments here as a way to start a conversation, and to continue conversation, a dialogue, through the blog itself and through personal emails, which enhance each post experience.  The talk helps form a relationship.  A deeper connection to others was what I was hoping to share in here.  To consider the quality of a day, to engage in finding the joys in everyday things, to consider all the avenues which crafting often stems from--family, friends, the natural world, inner impulses, visual inspiration, shared ideas...

I read a lot of blogs, at least 20-30 weekly, and I comment/post at very many.  Those I always post at, I have linked here, so that others may visit them, if they've not already been aware of them.  Sometimes I receive a personal response from the blogs I post at, and this is always a thrill!  I love talking to other people, for sharing, even momentarily, a similar interest.  But I notice that no one has  linked to me, to my blog.   No one has done me that kindness. This is not a complaint, or about being nasty or sulky.  Mostly, I am surprised, because I believed it to be a friendly thing to do.  Of course, I realize at some point that if a blog writer is receiving 20, 50, 100 comments/posts a day, it must be a little hard to keep track of everyone who has encountered you, or to always make personal attempts to respond to all readers.  Since my weekly average is usually 3 comments per post, it's hard for me to even imagine receiving 50 to 100 comments--LOL!

While my blog experience has so far often been tremendous, it has also been challenging, and, sometimes, disappointing.  Lack of response is the disappointment.  I am a drop in the ocean.  A wave among many thousands and thousands of waves--the ocean being the vastness of the blogging community.  Those who create a blog know the great effort that goes into keeping one.  The time used to take/gather photos, contemplation and presentation of a topic, the answering of emails and response to comments, etc. 

Much of my readership is family and friends.  Sometimes they leave a comment, and this is another link in keeping in touch with them, as I live so very far away from many of them.  Recently I've had the joy of making a couple of new acquaintances through this blog--an exciting development and I appreciate their comments and getting to know them.  I also see others stop by here, but they do not leave a comment.  Perhaps they do not care to, maybe they are too shy, or maybe just looking, and that's all.  I welcome all visitors--I love visitors!  Most bloggers crave visitors, regular readers to share their experience.  I am one of them.  It is the comments, and continued conversations of you dear readers that keep a blog going!  We need readers to continue to be a drop in the ocean, to have a sense of communion.  One drop connects to another drop, and another...

With comments and feedback dwindling here, I cannot help but ask myself whether or not to continue writing this blog.  The truth is I love blogging, I enjoy every aspect of it.  It is great to come here, to see what has been said, to see where the conversation is going, to meet friends old & new--to connect!  My intention here is to connect with others.  To engage, to dig a little deeper , to share the passions of creating--whether that's handicrafts, food, the written word, books...Also to relish the ordinary extraordinariness of everyday living and the outdoor world.  My aim is to create a space where people can join in, where conversations happen on all things, where memories and experiences can be shared.  To bring joy and delight to others is what I hope to do here. 

But why do I write all this?  This is to encourage those who read this blog, and other blogs, to write a comment, or even a personal mail.  Those who come here often, I thank you with all my heart for being with me here!  If this is your first visit here, please read on, read the archives, and stay tuned for more...Blogs keep going through support.  Not financial support, but through words of encouragement, personal connection.  Please show your blog support when you can and post--make yourself known...You may have just made a new friend by visiting a blog. 

This is not my usual  kind of post--LOL!  And I certainly hope I've not frightened what little readership I have away!  But I felt the need to write this today, as it's been on my mind this week.  About blogs, why we blog, why we read blogs, etc.  I've been thinking about why I started blogging, what my intentions are for this space, what it might become.  Just as there are all kinds of people, all blogs have a life of their own, their own personalities, which reflect their writers/creators.  My blog is a reflection of who I am, in some ways an extension of myself.   My topics might not interest everyone, nor my crafts.  But I hope I have touched people deeply, even just one person.  I want to reach out to people.  This is a place where I hope all will feel welcome.  Tell me who you are, where you come from, how you found my blog, share a memory, a thought, a feeling...Only connect.  Tell your friends about this space.  Let's expand the circle of friendship...

For today I actually had another post in mind.  With all this thinking this week, behind the scenes much is in the works, including some more goodies to share here...Though due to some stress this week, I've not been able to finish everything by today, but I'm working on the finishing touches...so join me here next time.

"Friendship is a union of spirits..."  --William Penn

Happy Days! :o)

Comments

[Felicia]

I think it’s pretty terrific that you shared your thoughts and feelings about this subject. I thoroughly enjoy reading blogs because I can learn new things or see beautiful things. I love having a glimpse at something wonderful someone else has experienced. If it’s something I really enjoy (i.e. crafting) then I feel like I have something in common with the blog author. I can’t remember how I found your blog but if you commented on another person’s blog that I like and read then I may have found you that way. I tend to visit the blogs of commenters on the blogs that I love to read because I figure we’ve already got that much in common.

I have had two other blogs before this one both fairly anonymous and with narrow scopes. It always did seem like a challenge to keep up and with very little readership. With trepidation this time around I decided to be more open about myself and my life so my blog is all about me and what I’m creating and what makes me happy. I also took the plunge and started an etsy shop to sell my creatures so I’m really taking a lot of online steps this year! I post sometimes on the etsy forums and have met other shop owners who have started reading my blog. So now it feels like I’ve met more people and got more readers than with my two former blogs combined.

Ok, I feel like I’m just rambling here so I’ll leave off my saying that I’m glad I discovered your blog. I’ve enjoyed reading it!

[Tiffany]

HUGS!

I stopped in quickly before heading to work. Later today I will post more of a reply because I feel your post deserves it.

PS. Since I know have your permission to add your link, I sure will asap. Trying to decide to add it under a different 'group' of links or what?!?!

I appriciate your friendship immensely.

[Toni]

Tracy, thank you for sharing your sweet heart. I'm glad you're around!

[Britt-Arnhild]

You have not frightened me :-)
I share many of your thoughts and have been wondering if I shall keep on spending so much time on blogging......I am still here though.

[Mette]

I also think it's great that you share your thoughts about the blog and why you started out. I think it turned out so great and it is such a joy to check it out regularly. New crafts and your poetic writing about everyday bliss! It makes me very happy to read the blog and it is a great way to keep up with what's going on in your life for those of us who live far from you. I can understand that it demands a great deal of work to maintain the blog and therefor it is a shame that blogs tend to be a drop in the ocean. I hope with all my heart that you will gain more readers and keep doing the blog! Love you!

[Stardancer]

Ditto what the others say!

((((Hugs!!!)))

I always love reading your blog and enjoy the pictures you post. You share your upbeat outlook with us all that I don't always have, which in turn does help to lift my spirits when I visit your blog.

And if you understood all that, you're brilliant, too!

[autum]

This is a lovely, heartfelt post. I have questioned why I blog and what does it mean to me many times. I'm still not sure I've reached a comfortable place with mine yet but I keep plugging along. I am guilty of not commenting as often as I should. I tend to be a quiet listener in real life and I think that carries over in blog life.
Sorry to ramble on so, what I meant to say was you have a very nice blog. Let it be a source of joy for you.

[Susan]

Hi Tracy,
I really enjoyed reading this post and I can certainly relate to it. Even though I've only been blogging for 1-1/2 months, I find myself feeling frustrated that some of my already loyal readers never leave a comment. I assume they enjoy the visit because they seem to come back. But wouldn't it be nice to hear from them every now and then? So—I thank you for your recent comment on "The T-Cozy" and hope to hear from you again. Rest assured...you will hear from me!
Susan

[charlotte]

Hello, Tracy....that was quite a heartfelt post- beautifully written. I appreciate what you are thinking and want to add my support for your efforts. I think so many people have jumped into the blog pool recently that it has thinned the comments for everyone...well, except for a few touchstone blogs. Thanks for your comment on my blog, it widened the circle just that much more....xoC

[Simmy]

Hi Tracy,

I just came over after you left a lovely comment on my blog and I found such a beautiful, heartfelt post. I think you're expressing what many bloggers feel. I often question why I blog and like you it's to connect with others and I find it frustrating when I've shared something or done a how-to and I don't get many comments.
I've seemingly had up to 600 hits in a day but my comments average about 12 -15 a post I'd say. However, when I had my blogiversary and offered up some gifts I had 98 comments. Maybe I have a lot of shy readers.

You're absolutely right when you say blogs need readers and their comments. It's a form of interaction. There was a de-lurking week back in January if I remember so obviously a lot of bloggers are feeling the same.

I keep being interrupted by children so I'm rambling and losing the thread but I think you know that I'm agreeing with everything you've said and I think you said it so well.

[Ali]

Hello Tracy, I came over after Simmy mentioned your post on her blog. I haven't visited before, but I thought you raised a lot of interesting points in your post.

For me, blogging is primarily for myself. Yes, I love the fact that I have made new friends and I am obsessive as the next person about checking my hits, comments, links and so on. But if I start to feel unloved (usually when I have PMT!) I remember that I blog to remind myself to notice the little things - the small joys or beauty in everyday life. Comments are great, but they don't drive me to post.

And me as a commenter? Well, I have over 200 blogs on my bloglines feed. I can't leave a comment on every single one every time!! I have a small (20 odd) core of bloggers that I am close to and tend to leave a comment on most of their posts. I try to comment on the blog of any new visitor to my blog and also on the blogs of brand new bloggers.

I seldom comment on knitting blogs (no experience!) or posts which already have 20+ comments (unless I have something really relevant to share). I figure it's all been said already.

Don't be disheartened - have fun blogging!

[Tami]

Hello .. I'm here visiting via Simmy's blog. I have to say that I've been blogging for only a little over a year now. I still don't have a huge readership but it's definitely grown since my first days online.

Basically I blog so that I can share my crafts and to make myself accountable for finishing projects. I'm not very good at posting every day because I think that it's more important to have something interesting to say than to post purely for posting's sake. I'm also not the world's greatest photographer. But that's not to say that I don't appreciate someone's quick post of a beautiful sunset. :-)

I also read about 150 - 200 blogs a day and I only comment on about 10 posts per day if I have the spare time. Maybe more if I'm really compelled to add a little something. Or if I want to ask a question about the post. But if 40+ people before me have already said that something is cute, I don't usually feel that my voice saying the same thing adds that much to the writer. On the other hand, if I see something that really inspires me I have to add a quick note.

I guess what I'm saying is that it takes time to get linked from other people's blogs and to get tons of comments every post. I noticed that my first link happened when I did Back-Tack III. In fact I still get the occasional hit from their site even though that swap took place over a year ago.

So if links and tons of comments are important to you, then I would suggest joining the next Back-Tack or doing the next whipup.net project. You'll probably get linked from participating in that.

Good luck! :-)

[Jennifer]

I'm visiting you via Simmy's blog too. I'd say I'm more like the last two commenters -- blogging mostly for my own creative outlet, and to remember or take note of things I want to imprint on my experience...

I started 14 months ago, and a few times I've wondered if I'll continue, but it feels satisfying to have a little creative outlet that is pretty simple to manage. I've got the tech stuff all set up, so I just need to write, click to add some pictures, and the post uploads almost on its own. When I feel like learning something new, there are always tech things I could add when I'm ready.

I too LOVE the connections that blogging has formed, but they are a pleasurable (& unexpected) by-product of the creative act of blogging. I am unable to blog simply because I want comments or responses. My inspiration for blogging comes in fits and starts; I let it flow when it's ready; and isn't PRIMARILY about the connection. (Thank goodness, because I only get a couple comments per post, on average.)

Also I find that I can barely keep up with the 35 blogs on my bloglines! (See my post about information overload on April 19.) Some people blog every single day, and I'm finding I cannot make that sort of commitment no matter how much I love reading their posts when I get the chance! Some may think that is bad, how can I expect readers when I don't read very regularly... But again, I don't have many expectations about readership -- and I think it's more a matter of priorities. Lately I'm trying to cultivate my "live" relationships, my personal growth, and a potential new career instead.

Thanks for the thoughtful post which definitely inspired many to consider why they blog. I'd love to stop by from time to time when I can again. ;)

[Evelyn Lum]

I just completed my 30 days free trial on Typepad. Your blog and many others inspired me to continue. You just don't know how many lives you touch with each of your blogs. Keep up your good work! This has also become my little creative outlet and I hope to annouce my one year anniversary soon enough. Time flies when you are having fun!

[Evelyn Lum]

I just completed my 30 days free trial on Typepad. Your blog and many others inspired me to continue. You just don't know how many lives you touch with each of your blogs. Keep up your good work! This has also become my little creative outlet and I hope to annouce my one year anniversary soon enough. Time flies when you are having fun!

[Caroline]

Wow! You got more than three comments on this post:) The entire blogging thing is kind of funny, isn't it? I don't call family members and friends that I care about too often because I'm so "busy," but I manage to write on my blog at once a week, and I have these "friends" who I don't exactly know, but with whom I sometimes share kind of personal things. I don't quite understand myself why I do it. I don't want 100 comments but I am always disappointed when I don't have any comments.