I agree with you on the point that a writer writes to be read. But allow me to reframe my explanation :).
I think that when you specifically write for your audience, as a writer you may one day find yourself scrambling for material for the sole reason of keeping their attention. If you indeed possess a wealth of material, that's one thing. But when people start going down the path of writing for the sake of attention (whether by gross exaggerations in non-fiction or blogs) or something contrived and controversial for the sake of getting a rise out of people, you then give yourself a shelf-life...and readers will flock elsewhere as soon as your novelty wears off (crap, is Paris Hilton on the news again?).
Hence the reason why I believe that writers should write for themselves, and staying true to the craft of story-telling as they deliver it under their own terms, own original style and content - as opposed to selling out to the masses. But then again, everyone's goals are different, and I don't think there's any one correct way to approach this. I personally think that when you do what you love, as an artist (writer, singer, painter, etc), you do want an audience, but it's equally important that you remain sincere in your love of the craft, and not simply doing it for the attention or money it could possibly provide you.
For the record, I do find your story-telling interesting, both before and after you entered a steady relationship :). And I do agree with you that we write for an audience. But where I think we deviate is how large of an audience would satiate either of our incorrigible egos :). For me, any number will do, as long as I don't one day discover that I've been talking to myself this entire time.
Personally, I think your numbers may have fallen simply because the readership/experience on LJ has changed. It's no reflection on you. However I would have to say that in my reader, 80% of the blogs are single-topic blogs (photography, cooking, parenting, tech, humor, etc), whereas the remainder are simply personal musings and observations (such as yours)...say, compared to 5 years ago when 100% were personal musings and observations.
Speaking of traffic-boosting, are we still on for the 26th? The fun we'll have on the day we'll certainly give you a traffic spike for at least a week :). I'll even link your blog on mine...afterall, I am in the Top 75 out of almost 1400 baby blogs, lol.
Ha - noted. I think that the goal for me, and potentially you, is to write for public consumption. That is to say, for people to be a sounding board for our voices and viewpoints.
I think that my writing has improved greatly both by the regular exercise as well as the feedback.
Re: traffic-boosting, I think we'd love to have you come in for our banquet since it looks like we might go the simple ceremony but large party route. Not that much pressure for you since it's a lot less formal.
On a different point, we should meet up regardless for a drink and September is looking pretty good for me. How does that sound?
I think that when you specifically write for your audience, as a writer you may one day find yourself scrambling for material for the sole reason of keeping their attention. If you indeed possess a wealth of material, that's one thing. But when people start going down the path of writing for the sake of attention (whether by gross exaggerations in non-fiction or blogs) or something contrived and controversial for the sake of getting a rise out of people, you then give yourself a shelf-life...and readers will flock elsewhere as soon as your novelty wears off (crap, is Paris Hilton on the news again?).
Hence the reason why I believe that writers should write for themselves, and staying true to the craft of story-telling as they deliver it under their own terms, own original style and content - as opposed to selling out to the masses. But then again, everyone's goals are different, and I don't think there's any one correct way to approach this. I personally think that when you do what you love, as an artist (writer, singer, painter, etc), you do want an audience, but it's equally important that you remain sincere in your love of the craft, and not simply doing it for the attention or money it could possibly provide you.
For the record, I do find your story-telling interesting, both before and after you entered a steady relationship :). And I do agree with you that we write for an audience. But where I think we deviate is how large of an audience would satiate either of our incorrigible egos :). For me, any number will do, as long as I don't one day discover that I've been talking to myself this entire time.
Personally, I think your numbers may have fallen simply because the readership/experience on LJ has changed. It's no reflection on you. However I would have to say that in my reader, 80% of the blogs are single-topic blogs (photography, cooking, parenting, tech, humor, etc), whereas the remainder are simply personal musings and observations (such as yours)...say, compared to 5 years ago when 100% were personal musings and observations.
Speaking of traffic-boosting, are we still on for the 26th? The fun we'll have on the day we'll certainly give you a traffic spike for at least a week :). I'll even link your blog on mine...afterall, I am in the Top 75 out of almost 1400 baby blogs, lol.
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I think that my writing has improved greatly both by the regular exercise as well as the feedback.
Re: traffic-boosting, I think we'd love to have you come in for our banquet since it looks like we might go the simple ceremony but large party route. Not that much pressure for you since it's a lot less formal.
On a different point, we should meet up regardless for a drink and September is looking pretty good for me. How does that sound?
Reply
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