Hello everyone!
April is a busy month for bloggers with the much popular A to Z Challenge keeping everyone busy. It is also the National Poetry Writing Month. The number of collective words churned out in April are no less than a marvel, actually. My earliest memories of blogging are also associated with A to Z and poetry both. I joined the blogosphere in 2018 and participated in my first A to Z Challenge in 2019. I followed no theme, just random thoughts and recollections, some of those were written as poems. In 2020, I wrote a poem based in history for every alphabet.
I participated in NaPoWriMo in 2022. It was so much fun, and a good learning curve as well. Of course, I also got a few poems done. In ’23, I missed both challenges due to life’s interruptions, and this year, I’ll also be busy relocating for the first half of the month. But I’m visiting other bloggers and poets, as and when I can, and definitely checking out the poetry prompts—always too tempting to miss out on.
Today is the IWSG Day, and this brings to the month’s question- How long have you been blogging? (Or on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?) What do you like about it and how has it changed?
I’ve already answered the first part. I’ve been on Twitter (X) and Instagram for just as long. But I will talk about blogging. Since 2021 (when I first participated in NaNoWriMo), I’ve been more invested in sending out my work to magazines and for anthologies and trying my hand at the longer form. It has definitely led me to blog less often. I see fellow writers say that blogging is dead with the rise in the popularity of X and Instagram posts. Despite all of the above, I don’t think I can give up this blog, for many reasons:
- It’s my place where I can write without caring for rejections. The blogging world is kind and not judgy like X or Instagram or even magazines that shell out more rejections than acceptances. I’ve always poured my heart out on this blog and received tremendous love.
- The blogging community is for keeps and I wouldn’t trade that for any other platform.
- I can be unapologetic here—I own ‘A Hundred Quills’.
Of course, blogging has changed like every other form, and change isn’t a bad thing. But I like to move at my own pace and maybe embrace this change when I feel it is the right time.
The awesome co-hosts for the April 3 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, T. Powell Coltrin, Natalie Aguirre, and Pat Garcia! Thank you for co-hosting.
Thank you to the founder of IWSG, Alex, for this wonderful community and for the wonderful writing resources available on the website.
I’d like to give a huge shout out to team member C. Lee McKenzie whose Shattered I finished reading recently. In one word- it is unputdownable! The story is well-paced and so inspiring. While the element of mystery is a tremendous pull, I was more drawn to the emotional and challenging journey of the protagonist, Libby. It is so well written. Huge congratulations to Lee. If you haven’t read ‘Shattered’, please consider it. It is available here.
What do you think, has blogging changed over time? Do you still enjoy writing a blog post?
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I guess blogging is evolving by the day, but for the better only. Enjoyed reading your post, Sonia. Will visit often. 🙂
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I did leave a comment for this post a while ago but don’t see it Sonia.
I love the blogosphere and it is my safe nook to express and be, and I’m blessed to have met a big community of like-minded bloggers especially those who are nature and animal lovers.
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I agree with all the three reasons you have listed, Sonia. I have been blogging since 2016 and the poetry blogs have not changed much except that there are more challenges/prompts for poetry writing and lots of new writers.
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Blogging has changed a lot. Personally what I feel, incorporating digital marketing strategies and SEO things have made blogging much more complicated than before. And that’s why I feel overwhelmed at times. However, when I write my heart out on my blog, it’s a different kind of happiness that can’t be described in words. Owning a blog is like owning a cafe or bakery, must say, bcz you can bake a cake or try some recipes on your own and relish the outcome, whatever it maybe.
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I completely agree with your reasons to keep blogging. And I’m impressed you do the A-Z challenge. I tried once and fell behind very quickly.
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I agree- the blogging community shows so much love, especially within writer’s groups. Thanks for the perspective.
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I really enjoyed reading your post on the topic, Sonia. You put it perfectly the way I feel about blogging too! 🙂
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I feel that blogging definitely has changed over time, what with the new platforms, people, and personal preferences, but I am still passionate about my blog posts. It might be a labor of love, but it is something I enjoy, despite any stress it may cause!
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Hi, Sonia! I enjoy blogging for all the reasons you do. Blogging may not be as popular as it once was, but I’m not ready to call it quits. I get too much enjoyment from it. All the best to you!!
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I don’t think that blogging is dead. It just changed. Not an explosion anymore, as it was in the beginning, but a steady flow, for both bloggers and their readers. And I’m proud to be part of it in my little corner of the huge world-wide blogosphere.
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I love your three reasons for not giving up blogging. They are perfect! I’ll add that if you didn’t blog, readers would miss reading your posts.
Thank you so much for the shout-out about Shattered. I’m truly pleased that you enjoyed the story.
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I’ve been blogging since 2016, and I’ve seen a LOT of blogs come and go. I’m staying because of the community and the creative opportunities offered by developing blog posts. I bailed out of both Twitter and Instagram a couple of years ago, and I don’t miss either of them.
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Is it? I am so glad to hear this, Liz, because all the time I hear authors say why it’s necessary to be on these platforms. My own presence on them is very sporadic.
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Twitter and Instagram were a time-suck, and I saw no appreciable effect on book sales. I stayed on Facebook and LinkedIn because I have seen some sales resulting.
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I’m not giving it up, either. It was my first venture into social media and still my favorite due to all the friends I’ve made.
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Absolutely, Alex. The blogosphere needs you just as much.
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Writing without caring about rejections.. So true…Those emails that started out as slips… Is silence even worse ?
Years ago, early teens, I did write poem. Semi-miraculously, they were published and paid for, in a city newspaper. Then I stopped, and couldn’t write poems. .
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Maybe you’ll get back to them someday 🙂
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All the best with moving. Be sure to label your boxes. Especially the one where you have the wine opener 😂 you’ll need that one.
Happy moving blessing.
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Haha. You said it, Selma. On to it right away 😀
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I agree with you that the bloggng community is for keeps. I’m so grateful for the IWSG. I wouldn’t trade it for other social media platforms either. And you’re not alone in cutting back on blogging. I still blog a fair amount bcause of my blog’s mission of helping writers and authors.
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The last comment was from me. I’m logging in.
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And you’re doing a great job!
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Poetry blogs are pretty much the same since I started 10 years ago – they exist in a different space from instagram poetry, for instance. For now, I think, blogging is perhaps a good option for those who prefer longer, more complex poems …
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You’re right, Rajani. I also prefer to find like-minded visitors when I do poetry. On Instagram it’s not quite the same thing.
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