Questioning
I’ve been thinking a lot about my blog recently and how I feel about it and whether I want to change it in anyway, move forward, make changes, move backwards, stop. A few months ago someone asked me what I what wanted from my blog, what my goals for it were in the coming year and it started some ideas forming which I may or may not do anything about. But it forced me to consider the idea that my blog isn’t stagnant. That it doesn’t just have to exist as it is and perhaps it shouldn’t just BE but that perhaps I should have goals for moving forward in terms of this corner of my world. What they could be is another question entirely!
Then Ali posted this list of questions and her answers, that she found on Manda’s blog, which in context with my thoughts I found rather interesting so I thought I would share and hopefully some of you reading this will too.
What makes you enjoy a particular blog (not just this one, any one that you read)?
For me it is a number of things. I like a good mixture of stuff. I love to read about peoples lives and see their houses and what they get up to on a day to day basis. I love a good project, a renovation, a process that we get to see building up day by day, week by week.
For me blogging is an extension of people watching in a way. Although instead of having to make up lives for people in my head I have the back story all laid out for me. I want to feel as though the person is blogging because they want to, not because they have to but because the putting finger to keyboard and sharing for the sake of sharing is something they enjoy.
I also like to hear about the hardships, the struggles, the difficulty of living a day to day life. I know that as bloggers we all censor our lives and whilst I don’t want to read doom and gloom constantly I do want to feel that you are a real person and not a stepford wife. I want to be inspired by blogs but I’d like to feel it is an achievable aspiration and for me at least a perfect lifestyle isn’t something I am ever going to manage!
What type of post is your favourite?
I like posts that give me something to take away when I leave the computer. Something to think about as I walk to work in the mornings and thankfully there is always at least one post an evening that gives me that. Be it a thought, a project, a way of living to incorporate into my life.
How important are the photographs?
They are pretty important to me. I don’t expect every blog I visit to have a professional photographer but I do appreciate it if the photos are in focus and have decentish lighting. I know it isn’t easy to get pictures that you are happy with and it is something I struggle with daily. But I like to think that the person taking the picture has taken a bit of time over it.
I know that personally for every half decent picture you see on my blog there are probably 10 or 15 that just didn’t work for whatever reason, blur, focus, lighting, bad composition. If a blog consistently has bad photography then I tend to stop visiting.
Does the design of the blog attract you or even stop you from reading it?
Blog design does attract me, I love a well designed banner and layout, I like seeing what people have in their sidebars. I try and actually visit blogs rather than just read from my google reader especially for that reason. If the design is too busy or especially has music running, a pet hate, then I don’t tend to visit or comment as I find my focus is removed from the post and the person. I would probably still read the blog though as I tend to read through my igoogle feed.
Do you like blogs to be colloquial/regional or fairly generic?
I love the differences in blogs! I don’t want to live in a homogenised society so I certainly don’t want to visit one! Vive le difference! The only time it does make me think drat is if it is a shopping post and it is about something I want and can’t get here in the UK!
An equal amount of craft and family, or does too much of talking about the kids put you off?
Absolutely not! I love the mixture. No one is defined by purely one label so why should their blog be? If you are a working mother who crafts and gardens I want to hear about it all not just one aspect! If you are a knitter with a sideline in woodwork I want to see your latest coffee table! A Mum who hula hoops for money at the weekend? Give me the glitz and glamour along with the sleepless nights and the dirty fingerprints.
This is something I struggle with personally. I don’t have children so it isn’t something I can talk about. I don’t have a lot of time for crafting so my output is limited and therefore so is my blogging about it. I do sometimes wonder what it is that I bring to the blogging table? And if I’m honest this is one of the main problems/questions I’ve been thinking about lately. I find that my life isn’t terribly interesting in terms of blogging material and I start to wonder if in fact during the two years I’ve been blogging whether I have squeezed all I can out of it. The G&G household runs to a cyclical pattern and I find comfort in repetition and routine, I go a little mental without it, however, it does mean that a lot of things are the same from year to year. Hmmmmm, something to think about anyway.
What else? What are the best words of advice you can give a blogger?
Keep a camera with you at all times! A picture tells a thousand words and I find it so much easier to build a post around pictures, I find that without one my writing process doesn’t happen as easily.
So that is that! And after saying I love photos and I write more easily with one this post is picture free. As both Ali and Manda said, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic, so leave a comment or let me know if you are answering on your blog. Hopefully you’ve found it as intriguing as me!
Hi Gemma:
I hope you don’t plan on closing your blog. Yours was one of the first ones I started reading on a regular basis.
I do understand the uncertainty sometimes and there shouldn’t be any kind of obligation with a blog. Just post when you feel you can and stay happy with it.
Lisa xo
Knitty, Vintage and Rosy
Blogging is a strange thing at times. I really enjoy yours and your amazing Micro photo’s, it inspired me to have a try! May be thats what I get from reading blogs, inspiration.
This is my first time here. Found you through Ruth! I go through the same things. All of the time. I sometimes try too hard to be crafty, when I think I should just be me. You know? It’s hard to try and keep up and figure out what everyone else is looking for on your site. Just be you! I enjoy your blog and plan to return!
I answered this today too. From this and other responses I have to say that music playing blogs are not popular at all! Internets – take note!
Oh no! Please don’t think of closing down your blog – it’s one of my favourite places to visit. Like you, I treat blogging as the online version of watching people living their largely ordinary lives. It’s fascinating. And I’ve been given so many ideas along the way- from what to cook, where to visit, what to read, what to watch, what to buy. So please don’t go!
What makes you enjoy a particular blog?
Finding someone who can come up with the idea of a Mum who hula hoops for money at the weekend.
I like the way blogs enable us to connect with people all over the world, on a personal level.
Blog on, Gemma.
I can answer the ‘What is it I bring to the blogging table’ question for you. The answer is, simply, yourself. Whatever it is you are doing, your personality is what shines through and keeps us visiting.
As Jennifer said – blog on!
I enjoy your blog because it gives me a glimpse of life in the UK. I live in the US and I dream of visiting the UK. As others have said, Blog on!
Great questions, and very thoughtful answers. I love this sense of being part of a huge, and yet personal, community, and of checking how the people I feel I get to know a bit are getting on with their lives. I love the (possibly fictional) feeling I have that I could go all over the world and meet someone in real life who I felt I’d already got to know online.
I’m a visual person, so like you I love great photos. I’m a knitter, so I love to be inspired by other people’s crafts. But these are not the only reasons I read.
All of which is a very long way of saying that I think your blog is great, and I’m sure if you changed it that would be great too!
Gemma your blog is beautiful. Would you like me to tell you what you bring to the blogging table? You bring a glorious simplicity and a magic in that simplicity. I find your style unaffected. No artifice. Just beautiful reflection, humour and colour. Don’t stop. I would miss Generally Gemma so much.
Please don’t stop writing your blog. It is one of my favourites and it seems to me(even though I’ve never met you) that it is one of the most honest and down to earth blogs and I love that about it. Reading it sort of feels like having a chat with an old friend. I know how you feel though because I’m always questioning my blog and wondering if it’s good enough and worrying that people will stop visiting. I guess that’s why I had a change of blog location. Just to freshen it up a bit an re-focus. It’s definitely made me feel enthusiastic about my blog again. I’d recommend it.
I stumbled onto your blog this morning and read this post with great interest. You’ve hit the nail on the head, I agree completely about what makes an interesting blog.
I faced a blog conundrum a few months ago, but deciced to carry on and I’m glad I did. The thing I enjoy most from blogging is getting to know other people, in far-away places. It’s a fascinating opportunity.
After posting my blog today I dropped by to visit you and was surprised to see the similarity in our subjects.Life is one big ever changing process. I love blogging it’s like talking to myself and having someone in my head answer back only on my computer.People need to connect to grow forward and for now blogging is helping society keep that connection. You’re
just at an intersection, it doesn’t mean you have to get off the road. Love ya
Hi Gemma
I love your way with words. You’re a clever girl and it shows..please don’t stop…x
Gemma,
I really enjoyed this post. And please don’t stop blogging. You’re a gifted writer!
By the way, I can’t stand background music on blogs either. Way too distracting. Most times I don’t like the selection and can’t hit the mute button fast enough!
Warmest regards,
Susan
I just found your blog via Whatnot and I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on blogging.
I also like to see the bruises and the scrapes along with the perfectly photogenic bits. When I read sites that are just “too too” it bums me out.
Blogging is strange and fun and hits me in waves. Sometimes I feel like maybe I have something half way interesting to say and other times I feel like I am boring myself and I’m just blogging for my mom.
I look forward to hearing more from you!
Cheers,
Tracey
I love reading your blog Gemma, and you bring yourself to the blogging table which is what we enjoy reading about…just keep on being yourself, you don’t have to try and impress anyone or entertain us. What a really interesting post, I’ve read several people’s answers to the same questions and found them thought-provoking.
Gill x