I commend you. I really, truly do.
I’ve been browsing blogs under various tags on WordPress and have come across some in which bloggers are seemingly posting every. single. day. and it’s some really good content (in my opinion anyways.) and these bloggers seem to have a crapton of followers (sometimes not even that many. Don’t ask me exactly what constitutes as a “crapton,” just know that it’s a lot. π) but hardly any likes or comments on post after post. I can sympathize.
I have quite a few followers on my blog and get about six likes daily on my posts (which I really love! You “Likers”freaking rock my socks off! π And no, Auto Correct, I don’t want to change “Likers” to “Lickers”. If they are “Lickers”, that’s their business, not mine. π) but not very many comments. As an aspiring writer, I won’t deny that I dream of having a large group of followers, followers whom my words invoke emotion in, followers whom my words make them want to comment with things like “Oh sweet Angelica! I couldn’t have said it better!” followed by a short story of their own experiences in what I have written about, but it took me a good bit of time to get even as many followers as I have. I don’t really think I’m in any position to give solid, life-changing advice (is life changing hyphenated? Hey, I’m an aspiring writer, I never claimed to be a professional writer! π) but if I were to give any bit of advice, it would be this:
Keep on keeping on!
Now, just in case you aren’t “hip” like the rest of us “cool kids” (Geezus, I think I’m turning into my beloved Father… Heaven help me…) I’ll break it down for you into “not-so-hip” terms (no offense to any bloggers who may use the words in the structure that I’m about to post. I’m sure you’re “hip” in your own way. Okay Dad, give me back control of my “cool kid” language please…) I’ll put it into plain English for you-
Don’t give up!
Yep. That’s it. That’s my advice. Keep posting!
I will admit that I don’t put very much thought into my posts, not even my stories. I don’t write the words, the words write themselves and just simply use me as a tool. Yeah, crazy stuff. I know. But it’s true.
I usually have an idea of what I want to write when I sit down, but I don’t stress myself over making outlines and character sketches and plot outlines, nope. I just write. And this works for me. I know this isn’t the way it works for everyone and that’s okay.
I read somewhere (a bunch of places actually) lately that the most important part of writing is showing up. And I agree! It’s easy to pump out a couple dozen or so posts and then abandon your blog when you become discouraged because of the lack of followers or views. It’s sticking with your writing that’s the hard part. Sticking with it when your number of followers seems to be stuck at five, when your number of likes is even less, when you pour your freaking heart out (!) into your blog and get seemingly no response. (What the frack do you want from me? I’ve given you everything I have inside of me, all of the beauty and ugliness and it’s not enough?! Would giving you my firstborn as well change your mind?? Over dramatic? Perhaps. What do you expect? I’m an aspiring writer. π)
On those blogs that I’ve mentioned, the ones with a good number of followers but not many comments or the ones with not that many followers and even less comments and likes, I really, really (I can’t stress really enough here) appreciate the fact that these bloggers are consistent with their posting. They keep posting even when it doesn’t seem like they are getting anywhere. And I can’t be the only person who also feels this way. I just know that there are others out there who seek out these blogs and read what they’ve written and also, like me, go back and read the blogger’s older posts as well. (I love doing that!)
Am I making any sense here?
Alright. I’m spent.
Hey. You. Blogger with either an ocean of followers but little to no liking and/or commenting happening, as well as the blogger with few followers and no commenting/liking action taking place-
You’re awesome.
Your words are awesome.
Your stories are awesome.
Don’t give up.
πA. Kidd
Positive post and yes keep being awesome! .I recommend engaging with other bloggers, joining some fun activities and making friends within the community, as you engage others see you inside and outside of the community and it helps grow your blog and increase engagement π
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Just what I needed to hear today! I’m happily working hard to finish my first book so there’s so little time to blog and engage! X
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I love the reference to “turning into your father!”
I understand what you mean. It was months and months before I had any followers…or likes or comments…but I kept posting. And…if you have only a few faithful followers who always read your posts, always comment (or try to) and always like them….that is special.
Your advice is perfect….keep writing and never give up. π
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This was awesome!!! It is so hard to write to what sometimes feels like empty space…..Echo…echo…echo…is anyone out there??? Your positivity is needed!!! π
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πππ I’m glad I’m not the only one who hears that echo! And I’m glad you enjoyed my post! π
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Me too!!! Crazy what gets read and commented on in Internet World!
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I agree! I do enjoy all of the comments that I do get though! π
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Whew!! This post reminded me of the feeling at the end of a 15K race. The idea is great, just keep on keeping on.
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Wow! 15k! That’s awesome! π
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I often wonder the same thing. I’ve seen blogs with hundreds of likes and followers for “okay” to “Eh” content. Then I’ve seen awesome blogs with heartfelt, awesome writing, that have a handful of likes and followers. I myself have a smallish following but I value quality over quantity any day. π
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I don’t too much look at my number of followers but always notice and are thankful for the few readers that are pretty consistent about commenting on my posts. π
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Quality over quantity…. cool. There is another popular comparison I have heard of………
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π
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Ah, the whole issue of how to wangle comments out of readers. The official advice seems to be, Ask questions, so I see bloggers who ask questions. And I almost never leave comments on those blogs because I’m just not a color-between-the-lines kind of person and the questions don’t usually interest me anyway. My best guess is that saying something of substance works. Being real helps. Being provocative (which, no, sadly, is not the same as obnoxious) helps. Being lucky probably also helps.
Failing all that–yeah, just keep writing.
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I agree. To just keep writing is the best advice of all. I don’t too much worry about numbers and comments, after all, I write because it’s what I love to do. Sometimes I just read through posts and think, “Wow, this is a really good post and feel and when I see that said post has little interaction as far as commenting goes. I know it can be frustrating. π Thank you for reading! (And for commenting. π)
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I don’t often leave a comment. A lot of posts just don’t seem to need anything added, sometimes because they’re good and sometimes because they’re not. But this one? It screamed for one.
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I wanna know, who invented the word “crapton.” Is this an Angelica patent? Not a criticism, I think its descriptive, just wondering. (And if Angelica invented it, do I have to pay royalties for reuse?)
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It actually derives from the formal “fuc*ton” (I’m not sure why I’m leaving the “K” out other than I do try to not offend too many bloggers at once. π) and being that I’m an aspiring writer and a hoarder of words, I picked it up along the way. I’m not entirely sure who created this word originally but I do absolutely adore the sound of it. Do feel free to use and possibly even overuse it. Overusing words is one of my favorite things to do. π
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“And no, Auto Correct, I donβt want to change βLikersβ to βLickersβ. If they are βLickersβ, thatβs their business, not mine.” Sometimes you just have to wonder about Auto Correct. Just shake your head and wonder. π
And, just so you know, I really enjoy your writing voice. π
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Awe thank you! My writing voice is not nearly as nasally as my speaking voice, thankfully! π
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π
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Great thoughts and I love the word crapton of followers.
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π Thank you! And thank you for reading and for the follow!
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Great post. π I think why we blog can impact our get-up-and-go-ness too. I write for myself, when processing RL stuff. Words have always been a huge part of my coping mechanism for everyday life. I don’t write for the followers, I have no real desire to get very many because of my particular situation. But I have to admit it is nice when I have a few folks I engage with. Most of those are folks that I read their blogs too. It makes the community a little more intimate.
My goal is to write more consistently, to spread my posts out and schedule them for a few days in the future if I write more than one in one day. But since I’m writing for me, taking the time to sit down and reflect, vent or consider once a week is simply a good way to exercise mindfulness.
Thanks for the add, and looking forward to reading more about your stuff too. π
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I definitely think writing for yourself is the most important part of writing. The main reason I write is because oftentimes I find I have no one to talk to who understands the way my mind works. It’s a lonely existence at times lol
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