I think an audience's loyalty ultimately comes from the fact that they like the author, not because they agree 100% with the author's views. In fact, I think they are more likely to agree with you because they like you than like you because they agree with you. So if you just put all of yourself out there then you may lose some people that don't dig your style, but the ones that you keep and acquire will be more likely to stick around.
One of the blogs I've added to my regular reads (NSFW! NSFW!) recently posted - I can't find the OP now, or I'd link it, but the gist was that she's been offered the opportunity to affiliate with a major commercial website, and was debating what to do about that. One of the conclusions that she came to was that she was willing to sacrifice wider readership for INTERESTING READERS, and complete writing integrity/freedom. Her regular commenter pool is small, maybe a little larger than yours, but incredibly smart and engaged, and her content is some of the best out there on the subject.
I feel like complete writing integrity/freedom is something I'm still trying to grasp on my own. I think I'm willing to sacrifice wider readership if, in finding my true voice, I end up more controversial than I think I will be. Does that make sense?
My *hope* is what you and I talked about at Rainbow Springs, Beth. My *hope* is that right now I'm just stumbling along, and once I do refine my "voice" a little, the blog will have a clearer direction internally, which will communicate better to the readers. And hopefully attract readers, too.
I decided a while back that part of the reason I've slacked off blogging altogether is that visuals are so important to my expression, and my camera is such a hassle to download, postprod, and re-upload from. (Lovely for big photo shoots, not so much for fast-and-dirty work.) Now that I suddenly have a very lovely 5mp cameraphone, I have to deal with the real, underlying obstacle, which is everything about that conversation.
What aren't you saying on the blog that you would if you were writing in a world free of negative consequence? It might be useful to look at what you have specifically left out out of fear.
More of the philosophical- the intersection of deep ecology and paganism as a gardener, permaculture and pagan ethics and libertarian and where they all overlap. I'd like to write more about the local food culture, maybe restaurant reviews, talk more about people growing their own food and what they're growing and why.
Incidentally, the stuff you write on permaculture is stellar. I did an audit of similar blogs out there on the interwebs, and can safely say that yours (although yet unknown) still ranks up there with the best of them.
I think the fact that you're kind of in a middle place in regards to your voice may actually be a good thing. That is, you may alienate the hardliners, but draw in the middle-of-the-road folks, of which there's a significantly larger number.
I think that your blog has the potential to be a significant voice in the permaculture/locavore/sustainable earth movement, and a little personal edge couldn't hurt.
I really enjoy reading your blog, so I'm happy to give whatever encouragement I can offer to help you keep writing it! Oddly, even though I am totally uninterested in doing gardening myself, reading about your process is totally fascinating.
I remember you writing almost the exact same post a while back. This is really bugging you, and it's YOUR blog, dammit. Do your thing. I follow a few homesteady blogs that are filled with bible verses and that doesn't bother me. I am there for what interests me.If you lose any conservative subscribers, you will certainly gain some paganish ones from the posts you make. I say do it. Maybe start with the first one saying how you are a little nervous to share your personal practice, but that you hope people will find it interesting or notable.
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One of the blogs I've added to my regular reads (NSFW! NSFW!) recently posted - I can't find the OP now, or I'd link it, but the gist was that she's been offered the opportunity to affiliate with a major commercial website, and was debating what to do about that. One of the conclusions that she came to was that she was willing to sacrifice wider readership for INTERESTING READERS, and complete writing integrity/freedom. Her regular commenter pool is small, maybe a little larger than yours, but incredibly smart and engaged, and her content is some of the best out there on the subject.
Food for thought.
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I feel like complete writing integrity/freedom is something I'm still trying to grasp on my own. I think I'm willing to sacrifice wider readership if, in finding my true voice, I end up more controversial than I think I will be. Does that make sense?
My *hope* is what you and I talked about at Rainbow Springs, Beth. My *hope* is that right now I'm just stumbling along, and once I do refine my "voice" a little, the blog will have a clearer direction internally, which will communicate better to the readers. And hopefully attract readers, too.
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I decided a while back that part of the reason I've slacked off blogging altogether is that visuals are so important to my expression, and my camera is such a hassle to download, postprod, and re-upload from. (Lovely for big photo shoots, not so much for fast-and-dirty work.) Now that I suddenly have a very lovely 5mp cameraphone, I have to deal with the real, underlying obstacle, which is everything about that conversation.
*sympathy*
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I need to back-brain this some more.
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I think the fact that you're kind of in a middle place in regards to your voice may actually be a good thing. That is, you may alienate the hardliners, but draw in the middle-of-the-road folks, of which there's a significantly larger number.
I think that your blog has the potential to be a significant voice in the permaculture/locavore/sustainable earth movement, and a little personal edge couldn't hurt.
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I really enjoy reading your blog, so I'm happy to give whatever encouragement I can offer to help you keep writing it! Oddly, even though I am totally uninterested in doing gardening myself, reading about your process is totally fascinating.
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I just went back and re-read that post you're talking about, just to kick myself in the pants a little. Thank you for reminding me of it.
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