I recently sent an email to a blogging peer. Nothing unusual really. However the interaction left me pondering. Firstly, blogging isn't really a social media platform is it? My blogging peer had left a comment on my post. I wanted to acknowledge that and respond, which i did through the comments section on my blog. But I dont have any sight over whether she sees my responsive comment. So I decided to email her to ensure we 'connected' on the subject.
In the era of other social media platforms being instant response, one click comments etc... blogging isn't really about instant communications and connection, its more didactic, and slower, perhaps more considered.
So, the topic of our chat was actually about blogging challenges. Blogging challenges are essentially community engaging. Its about like minded people sharing the experience during the defined time frame. My blogging peer and I essentially agreed that a good blogging challenge will be managed by a community minded host, and thus the host will set up means and processes to encourage participation, sharing and linking (this can be difficult because blogging isnt set up for this well). Some do this very well, others seems distracted or not even present.
My blogging peer noted that its different for different communities ie, boookies, foodies, crafties etc... she may be right.. maybe some topics endear themselves to interactive idea and opinion sharing, or is it about the participant and host?
What do you think? Has the blogging community changed? Have you experienced changes in events ? What makes a good one? What do you like in a good challenge, and what supports your participation?
Food for thought as July is coming sooner than we know.
8 comments:
I like challenges that motivate me to expand beyond my Reading comfort zone. I like see see participants interacting. I alresdy have some Short stories set in Paris by Yiddish writers lined up. Last year i had fun posting on Yiddish painters who transformed French visual arts.
I have thought about this a lot because I know a lot of people are going to instagram and other platforms and I just don't want to. I have my FB account and I visit it, partly because I can see some updates from people who don't blog but over all, FB doesn't provide satisfactory "relationships" or depth. It's all well and good to "like" or to have a one or two sentence comment but what you really learn about that person is maybe their preferences, political views, a bit about their family or interests. You don't really get the "sense" of them.
I rarely return to a blog for comments. I just don't have time. That's why -- when I have an email address for someone -- I will reply directly. Sometimes that goes into a more lengthy conversation, sometimes it's just thanks. But time is valuable and I am so grateful for each and every person who comes to my blog, even if they just scanned through the photos and didn't read every word. Otherwise, I try to get to their blog and thank them in their comments, which isn't my pref but at least it's connection.
I began blogging to have a log and share with people who enjoyed making art. I found out quickly that this was too narrow. There were loads of people out there who loved the same things that I did -- books and travel and art and cooking and much more. There were also loads of people who loved things of which I knew little -- and learned lots. In these ten years, I've "met" loads of people who have become more than cyber-pals but people about whom I care, even if we've never met. I care that they are ill or overjoyed when they share something happy, admiring of their beautiful work (from which I learn), sad when they are facing grief and loss. And we often communicate off the blog.
I never knew, never imagined, that would happen.
For me, the "events" like Paris in July are fun ways to meet up with new people who love something I do, see Paris through their eyes, whether it is with books or films or travel or pretty pictures. Some I'll follow after and they me. Others -- we reunite in July. My only sadness with this event is that it is in July which is often a time when I'm not online very much! Sometimes I can pre-post but it makes it hard to visit everyone and I find myself doing that sometimes as late as September!
I sign up for a few link parties regularly. Most of them are very general -- things that make you happy (Share Your Cup) or Let's Keep in Touch. I've "met" fun people that way. As for challenges, with me it all depends on the timing. I suspect a bad time for me is good for someone else; it's hard to plan. I like the broadness of a topic (Paris in July is a good example) because it let's us be flexible and learn new things. I'll probably never sign up for the Japanese literature one because I have trouble reading my book club books on schedule, even though I read a LOT! But for some, that's good bonding.
I've gone on too long. Blogger will probably time me out!
This conversation makes me think about the difference between "challenges" and other, less rigid blogging events -- such as Paris in July. Different types of bloggers seem to gravitate to the two types of events. I visit some blogs where almost every post is a response to a challenge, often a rather narrow one (such as reading one specific book or cooking one specific recipe), and in some cases I feel that the bloggers are limiting their own creativity and capacity to imagine what topics might interest them. Other bloggers do their own thing but link relevant posts to a weekly or monthly event -- sometimes the posts are written specifically for the event, sometimes the events are broad enough to invite links from posts that came naturally to the writer. All have potential, but I think they attract different groups.
no time to continue this!
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
It is an interesting question. Personally, I try to reply to all the comments I get, even if it takes a little bit of time sometimes. I really enjoy exchanging comments. Since I have a book blog I enjoy exchanging views via comments, which is more freer and informal than when you write a post. I also find that the bloggers I usually interact with are good at replying to comments. I enjoy this kind of communication.
I participate in some challenges that I enjoy. They make me read what I would not read otherwise, and I enjoy finding books to go with the challenge. Although, to be honest, a lot of them are for lowering the number of books I have on my shelves. I also enjoy memes like Paris in July (one of my favourites), 6 Degrees of Separation, Book Beginnings on Fridays, The Friday 56, Bookmarks Monday and the Classic Spin. They are regular events, although I do not participate every time.
I think that maybe book bloggers are more intent to share views than other bloggers. That is somehow the whole idea with the blogging. I love sitting in my office and connect to people all over the world, and to see what you are up to for the moment.
Keep going!
Interesting question.
I’ve steered away from challenges in recent years, but LOVE a readalong or special event like Paris in July or Austen in August.
This year’s year-long Les Mis readalong has been absolutely brilliant. A lot of the contact is on twitter as we share quotes, ask questions or relate impressions, feelings or knowledge. We’ve shared bday’s, book covers & inspired me to finally meet up in real time, face to face with another blogger.
Life is getting in the way of much more than this right now. I struggle to keep up with my fav bloggers & what they’re up to. And I barely email anyone. That arena has been overtaken by bills, accounts & spam. At least in blogger land the comments are about a topic I’m interested in, even if they are mostly brief or dare I say, formulaic check-ins. I try to respond when I can & if the comment requires an answer.
I hope this adds to the discussion ��
I feel like the blogging community has changed quite a bit. Everyone seems to be on IG or twitter, which is fun, but I think its making the blogging community lose its community feel. I feel like challenges are a great way to bring the blogging community together. Especially ones that are special like Paris in July (which I look forward to all year long). I may not post as much I would like, but I do enjoy reading everyone's posts and learning about books, places that I don't know about.
Thankyou all for your insights and comments on blogging, events, challennges and time... I'm slowly processing this information and considering what I have learnt and what it means to me and blogging events. Im pretty sure there will be a Paris in July 2018... what it looks like is yet to be defined. Thank you so much for your encouragement.
I am late to this topic, but I'd still like to share a few of my thoughts.
I am celebrating my tenth year as a blogger this summer. Oddly, I never set out to be a blogger; blogging seemed like something that was a little too "Here-I-Am-Look-at-Me" when I first heard about it. But from the very beginning, one of the best parts of blogging was the blogging community.
Over the years, I've had to try a little harder to connect with others by linking up to others and allowing my blog posts to simultaneously appear at Twitter and FB and making an effort to visit blogs I love and leave more comments.
Nevertheless, it is still blogging I love best.
And one of my favorite events is Paris in July. Let me know what I can do to help. Email me, if you like, at debnance at gmail dot com.
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