The Inner Life of a Blogger

BlogHer’10 is coming up next week and while MidLifeBloggers will not be there, we thought it important to offer this treatise on the psychodynamics of blogging for all the attendees….

by Ridgely Johnson of Savor The Ride


I do not remember when I was first introduced to blogs. I recall having a somewhat negative feeling about them because, as did many people, I thought a blog was a just a kind of online diary. These days I stop and ask myself , “So who cares if someone has an online diary?”

But that’s not my blog topic for the day.  Today, I’m here to posit a question:  Do readers know what bloggers really do?  For the answer, read on….

First topic: What is a good day and what is a bad day for a blogger?

A Good Day: Everything works

A Bad Day: You wake up to a flashing e-mail/text message/IM from your on-retainer copywriter asking you “What in the hell?”

You wonder what is up with her, until you log onto your blog and see the featured headline:

I Hve the Anwres

Once you’re done taking in the obvious,  you realize what has happened.  A draft you have been working on has published. No way. Yes, way. In your writing stupor the night before, you hit the Publish button instead of the Save Draft button.

But the news gets worse:  the post has been tweeted 101 times.  And commented on.  One of the readers suggests a dictionary might be helpful.  A fellow blogger recommends that  you purchase one of Grammar Girl’s books.  Your mother sends you an e-mail to let you know you have a spelling error on your post.  Your laptop crashes.

This all happens before 9 am.

The Unspeakable Vulnerability of The Blogger

That’s a bad blogging morning but some issues aren’t confined to a time of day.  Technical problems occur with regularity. Vulnerability is a silent partner in a blogger’s business life.  Subtle humor is my strength as I know just below the surface, the gremlins inside my computer could stage a strike, regardless of the bribes I have paid to the union boss ( BackUp Buddy for just that: Back up)

The Pain of the Limited Shelf-Life of a Post

One of the frustrating aspects of the blogging profession is a post inherently has limited street time. Let’s say I hit a home run with this post (well, tell 5 friends about it, & we’ll easily slide into 2nd base). How long will this post feature on my blog? Not long.

Maintaining  Intimacy

If you are witty and urbane, readers want to see you. You cannot just check in every six weeks to let them know you have a book coming out.  A blogger must post regularly. Most recommend at least twice, preferably three times a week. As I am not Hank Aaron, all my posts are not home runs or HAP (Hank Aaron Posts). On single or double hitter posts, I am tempted to include a P.S. directing readers to my Hank Aaron Posts (HAP).

But I do not.

This is not appropriate blogger protocol.

You can look back though – I won’t tell.

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  • http://barbarashallue.typepad.com Barbara

    Whew – I started reading through all of the comments and got dizzy! I know this much… it takes a blogger to understand a blogger. I was hesitant to join the blogging world, but I’m so glad I finally did. I’m lucky if I get a single comment, much less a retweet, so I don’t have to worry quite so much if something isn’t exactly right when I hit ‘publish’ and I do keep a handy list of my ‘homeruns’ (or at least most homerun-ish) PLUS use hyperlinks PLUS use the “you might like this”. They’re as much for my benefit as anyone else’s though.
    I just wish I had more time to read all of your wonderful blogs!
    (And I love the name Ridgely. I had ancestors who lived in that same area!)

    • http://savortheride.com ridgely johnson

      @Barbara, I know exactly what you mean about our comment vine here- I knew you were on here somewhere because the comment count went up… but I got dizzy as well- another blogger trait I’m sure.
      One of the best, if not the best part, of establishing a blog has been meeting other writers. I am so glad you came by- and plowed through our vine :-)
      Yes, HAP would be great on a daily basis- I don’t know about you, but when I have one, I sit down and write it- that’s it- done. Of course I then labor and scrutinize the damn thing to death- but the writing part just flows ;-)

      You have ancestors in Arundale County, Maryland? how neat is that-
      You would enjoy seeing the Ridgely coat of arms-drop me a note through the comment section on savor the ride whenever life slows down and I will send you a photo.

      Take care- I am writing a post here- Jane is going to put me on a comment diet-
      Thanks you so much for commenting- you know how much it means- and the gracious compliment-

      take your time reading the other posts- they are not going anywhere:-0

      • http://midlifebloggers.com byjane

        @ridgely johnson,
        Definitely NOT going to put you on a comment diet. Instead, I think I’ll appoint you our official moderator!

        • http://savortheride.com ridgely johnson

          @byjane– blush- thank you Jane- I just love meeting new bloggers. oh, and I love titles ;-)

  • http://www.duchessomnium.com DuchessOmnium

    What?!! A pox on me? That’s a bit harsh, Jane… I was only trying to respond to Ridgely’s grammar remarks. What I meant to imply was that any bloody body can one up you on grammar, and if you are retweeted you win, whatever the misspellings.

    Or, as EE Cummings said, Kisses are a better fate than wisdom.

    As for BlogHer — I am sorry. They ought to want to pay more attention to midlife bloggers. The kids will grow up eventually, and maybe some of the mommies will have to too. And then middle age will be all the rage.

    Only by then, of course, we pioneers will be OAPs (Jane knows that’s Old Age Pensioners, but the rest of you might not). And we will still be out of style.

    Nevertheless, please, no pox.

    • http://midlifebloggers.com byjane

      @DuchessOmnium,
      Okay, a pox on me for having raised the pox at all!

      Re the OAPs, I remember being shocked that the classification included people in their 50s!

  • http://savortheride.com ridgely johnson

    You should be bragging about your blog-http://delicacies.wordpress.com/ I cannot wait for my husband to watch that video you have up today. He has problems with people who do not follow through on committments.

    As I said over on your post, take care of yourself… you will get through this. It just seems like forever.

    bloghugs
    ridgely

  • http://awomanspage.com Walker

    I was going to Blogher but had to change my plans.. I’d love to attend a conference of midlife women! “Walker” was a nickname as a child, named Laura for my mother. I hated the name Walker but couldn’t shake it in my small town upbringing. In the mid-80′s I legally changed my name to Walker. I’ve gotten used to it and can appreciate it now. At the moment I’m using a “walker” for my broken foot and again getting some of those childish comments about the name!

    As for links, I do link back to posts if I think it’s relevant to the current topic. Unless they’re really bad and then I …don’t. I’m working up to listing some of my best posts and doing a little bragging on my blog Delicacies- http://delicacies.wordpress.com, as it’s got enough prior history for me to do so.

    • http://midlifebloggers.com byjane

      @Walker,
      What would that conference of midlife women feature? Imagine it, and we can make it happen.

      • http://savortheride.com ridgely johnson

        @byjane, I think this would be a terrific idea- Although many, many midlife women are out there, most of the blogs I run across are, frankly, boring. We need to bring some zip into MidLife. The right approach to our middle aged cohorts to attend a fun experience would be a win-win situation. (just my .02- jumped in our Walker’s reply mode)

      • http://awomanspage.com Walker

        @byjane, I’ve got a few snarky replies which I’ll supress.. let me think on that and get back to you… Though I see that Ridgely wasn’t so reticent!

  • http://savortheride.com ridgely johnson

    Jane- yes, ridgely is my given first name. I am named after one of my ancestors, William Ridgely. William lived in Anarundale County, Maryland.

    I have met only one other ‘ridgely.’ During my college years at a fraternity party, I started talking with one of the brothers. I asked him what his name was. When he responded, “Ridgely.” I, of course, laughed at him. Only AFTER he showed me his driver’s license did I believe him. We became close friends- used to scream “namesake” at each other across campus. ;-)

    bloghugs
    ridgely

    • http://midlifebloggers.com byjane

      @ridgely johnson,
      In high school, I lusted after that kind of a name–the last name of an ancestor as a first name. To me, it was all about WASPs and I was going through a period of wanting to be a debutante, which was not exactly on the horizon for a Jewish girl. My best friend and I cultivated personas that were a mix of WASP and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She was Harmony Evans and I was Burgandy Smith. In real life, she was Jan and I was Jane–so unromantic.

      • http://savortheride.com ridgely johnson

        @byjane, We could have traded places for a year or two- you could run the southern belle gamut including the country club scene, sororities and endless “let’s do lunch” to talk about important things. Now my alum group has teas
        ;-)

        I love the name Burgandy Smith- this entire scenario sounds like a great book.

  • http://midlifebloggers.com byjane

    Walker: see, I’m not the only one to say “Is that your real name?” Of course, being called Jane, I could get away with it. Ridgely? Not so much.

    Duchess: A pox on you and your subjunctives! Re BlogHer’10–I tried my best to have us represented. Wanted to make a nice party and all. But the powers-that-be at BlogHer were not at all interested. I’ve been to the last four, and they get bigger and busier and more chaotic every year.

    Ridgely: is that your real name?

    Joanna: We can have an I’m Not Going To BlogHer party. Your house or mine?

  • http://savortheride.com ridgely johnson

    Hey Walker- Love the name- is this your given name? You can imagine how my name was brutalized (is this a word?) in school, but now it;s kind of neat to stand out of the pack.

    Yes, you are absolutely correct. If bloggers want to reference previous posts via hyperlinks, then they should. (I will offer a bit of advice- triple check links frequently to make sure they are working!)

    As I wrote to Duchess,I was a little unclear about how to introduce previous posts. I know the blog police exist only in my mind, yet I tell myself I should write new copy (HAP)every day.

    Just about the time I decide to give myself a little slack, I read a mentor say “every post should be your best, don’t put second-best posts up.” It’s a good thing I have put second best posts up,oftentimes they have the highest RT’s.

    I think sustaining a blog is tough. I wanted to get that message out.

    Thank you for the compliment-it means a great deal.
    bloghugs,
    ridgely

  • http://www.thefiftyfactor.com Joanna Jenkins

    Oh yes, I have “published” posts there were sorry excuses of drafts and went way to long before I realized my error. I have also “published” completed posts but under LAST years date. That took me way, way, way too long to figure out and correct.

    A comment to the above comment by Walker– I actually like links on blogs with their “best” or favorite posts highlighted– specifically if they are posts that help me get to know the blogger better.

    Love the HAP reference. Sure wish I had more of those.

    Hope your week has started off great Jane. I’m not going to BlogHer either. I’m guessing I’ll have lots of extra time next week to catch up on my reading since a lot of others are heading to the conference.

    Cheers, jj

    • http://savortheride.com ridgely johnson

      @Joanna Jenkins,
      A Hank Aaron Posts (HAP) designation is what I strive for with every post. Why is it sometimes one of those just happen. Girl, if we could bottle that up, BlogHer would fly all of us to New York City ;-) Just sayin’

      My experience with dates has been an on again, off again relationship. When savor the ride first went up, I left everything as it was set in default. Date was listed in straight Month day, year mode. Then with a moment of Einstein-like frenzy, I decide to take the dates off. Problem of post frequency solved.

      We scooted along dateless for awhile. I am always searching for new blogs to read, preferably written by midlife women. Then I ran into blogs with no dates. When were these written? Hello, anyone home?

      Savor the ride’s post dates were showing within the hour. Every post may not be terrific, but I AM home.

      Thanks for checking in with a fellow MLB-
      bloghugs,
      ridgely

  • http://www.duchessomnium.com DuchessOmnium

    Oh, heavens, would that anything I posted were tweeted 101 times! So now you can see that while I can use new vocabulary (the verb to tweet) I am also expert at the Contrary to Fact Subjunctive (nothing I have ever posted has been tweeted even a fraction of a hundred times — hence the “would” and “were”).

    But Walker has a good question! Why not repost your best, or somehow link to your best posts? I got exhausted when I first started blogging thinking I was only as good as my last post. I ruthlessly close windows after only a sentence or two — and lord knows someone else is doing the same to me. Why not at least highlight your best?

    On the topic of this post’s introduction, I have another question: Could not someone represent the Midlifebloggers? (I think that is a future conditional, just btw, but pardon my Latin.)

    It seems a shame that we should not be there, at least in spirit. (That’s definitely a subjunctive.)

    • ridgely johnson

      @DuchessOmnium, I have committed what we, as bloggers, fear: an unclear message. I attempted to describe my frustration with knowing I may have one shot to emotionally connect with a reader. I want to say, “Hey, I can keep you in stitches- get your day going with a smile- go read this post.” I would call it begging if I was not the person saying it ;-)

      I use hyperlinks in my posts frequently. Most of the time they link back to one of my previous posts; what I have found, however, is few people use them. I notice many bloggers now using reference links at the end of posts. If you liked this, then… (must be a plugin)
      I immediately think of something funny- like if you hated this post then you definitely don’t want to read this one…

      I wish I was going to BlogHer 2010. I would love to represent this great group of people!

      Duchess, thank you for reading and commenting on my post. As a blogger yourself, you actually do know how much this means to a blogger.

      bloghugs
      ridgely

  • http://awomanspage.com Walker

    Great post.. I’ve had some of those experiences. But, a question for you. I’ve seen bloggers who do post a list of their most popular or highly read posts.. do you see something wrong with that?

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