Blogging part 2: ‘Bad’ Posts
Hello. Me again.
I know, I’ve already blogged once today. Although, maybe you missed it. I published it, took it off, then published it again in the space of a few minutes which probably fooked my RSS feed up good and proper but oh well.
I had decided it was dull. Dull dull dull and wasn’t really about anything and was probably of no interest to anyone and I should just take it down.
And once I’d got over myself and my silly wobble I was pretty struck by the whole stupid thing.
Why on earth did I take it down? It wasn’t THAT bad, just a rambly kind of post that didn’t make much sense and probably left readers not really sure how to respond. But that’s ok, right? Why am I being so insecure?
And then lovely Mum’s The Boss said something on Twitter that made me do one of those head-smack “doh!” moments. She said maybe all this talk in the bloggosphere today about what makes a ‘good’ blog post had made me question myself.
I think she’s absolutely right.
It’s been the hot topic today. A Modern Mother wrote some tips about what she thinks make a top blogger and I liked her message that silly tantrums, cattiness and resentment won’t get you anywhere.
Then Notes from Lapland and Babyrambles almost simultaneously posted their take on writing good blog posts in a weird moment of blogging synchronity.
Now don’t get me wrong. It’s all good advice and well worth a read. We all want to be ‘better’ bloggers, engage our readers, write posts that stand out from the crowd. It’s good to stand back and analyze sometimes, work out what it is that made this post ‘work’, what made it successful or not so. It makes us better writers and helps us to grow and not become stuck in boring, predictable patterns.
But I think it can be counter-productive.
We’re not writing articles for magazines here. We’re writing personal blogs.
Sometimes it’s not about writing well, ticking all the boxes of a ‘good’ blog post.
Sometimes it’s just about writing.
Getting it out there.
So. I just wanted to throw it out there. I hereby give you permission to write bad blog posts. It won’t stop me reading your blog, or lessen my respect for you. It won’t make you any less of a ‘top’ blogger in my eyes.
It will just show that you are human. REAL. That you are fearless in claiming your blog as your own, which is what it is. That are you are not going to let self-doubt and perfectionism get in the way of creativity and self-expression.
Be boring.
Be rambly and mindless.
BE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO BE.
And try and remember that sometimes the ‘bad’ posts, the ‘mistakes’ we make, help to make us better writers too.
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I wrote a bad one just this very day. It’s what I do best 
geriatric mummy´s last blog ..How Did I Get This Lucky? Part 2 
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Do you think that’s why I can’t tap anything out today? I can’t think of anything funny to write. Having a shite day truth be told and I always find it really difficult to write when I’m feeling so frustrated and locked-inside-myself. I’m not looking for love, or reassurance, but I can’t seem to get over myself either. I even did a bit of a double-take when I realised that none of my posts featured on any of the alternative carnivals out there today, then I did the hyper-precious scanning of other people’s blog rolls and felt all unloved and outski…. I wasn’t popular at high school either! Lord, look at this comment – it’s long, rambling and self-obsessessed..
Vegemitevix´s last blog ..An old bag’s bag!
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I’m the queen of rambly and mindless. Fact.
I’ve been left feeling uncomfortable with some of the things going on recently and it’s all a bit confusing.
I’ll carry on waffling regardless though.
Insomniac Mummy´s last blog ..Rescue me! – A ‘Slummy to Yummy Mummy’ Style Challenge
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I’m going to go write a bad post now…just for you!
Love you!
Karin @ Cafe Bebe´s last blog ..The Best of the Rest Carnival
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lol! I was wondering where all this stuff about good posts was coming from today, I even wondered if it was one of your workshops!
Look, I don’t need ANYONE to tell me what to write on my blog, or how, or what makes a good blog post, and what doesn’t. That’s not just because I’m incredibly secure in my ability and dazzling talent (!) – after all, it’s been paying my bills since I was 21 (that’s ALOT of years – *cough*). It’s because it’s a flaming blog, and it’s entirely up to me how I craft it. That should go for everyone who writes a blog. It’s up to you (I don’t mean you personally Josie, I mean one, you know what I mean) how/what you write on your blog.
The only people I want telling me what to do with my writing is the Editors that commission me to write for their magazines, newspapers and websites and the agents who will be hopefully desperate for me to sell my book to them in a few months time (!) Everyone else can just b****r off!
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Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by cosmicgirlie: RT @porridgebrain: Brand New on Sleep is for the Weak: Blogging part 2: ‘Bad’ Posts http://tinyurl.com/yhh763z...
It’s all about your definition of “bad” – it rarely matches your readers. There’s a book called “Screw it, just do it”. I’ve never read it but I agree with the title
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Quite right!! I write crap all the time, my blog so all good It’s here to enjoy xx
Liz@VioletPosy´s last blog ..What was I thinking?
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Like I said to you earlier Josie, the dull posts just help make the brilliant ones sparkle
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I wholeheartedly agree! Your readers respond to you and what goes on in your life – and if you have a dull day, it makes everyone feel a lot better about the lack of excitement in their own lives (or is that just me?)
Anyhoo – your *permission* certainly makes me feel better about my last post which consisted of a bit of a rant about an unpleasant neighbour!! I thought about taking that one off – til she contacted me via Facebook to say she’d seen it – now I’m just basking in the warm glow of satisfaction!
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Well said! However, if you write bad posts all the time then after a while no one will visit your blog any more. And let’s be honest, most bloggers want visitors don’t they? If you don’t want any readers and you’re happy then that’s fine. I wrote the post because at the moment people seem to be wondering what exactly a good post is. Myself included. I agree people should write what and how they want. SIFTW has never suffered from bad posts, despite what you think!
Emily O´s last blog ..What is a good blog post?
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@Emily O
Hee hee absolutely! No, it’s about balance. OF COURSE ‘good’ posts are important and thinking about what makes a good post is important too! But I think it’s about saying that perfection isn’t required all the time. It’s ok to write badly sometimes without worrying about losing readers or making our blog less ‘successful’.
And thank you I’m sure my blog is littered with baddun’s but I’m glad you think otherwise!
x
P.S. Threaded comments not working! Bah!
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I absolutely love this post. Well said, Josie.
Kat´s last blog ..When In Rome
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All mine are bad, with the exception of the ones my 7-year-old posts.
My advice for those that want to be writers … never take a creative writing course, it kills all your creativity.
A Modern Mother´s last blog ..Conversations with a Polish housecleaner
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Both post were fine, I read beacuse I want to, but I want that picture back as I liked it – feet stomping
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What’s good and what’s bad? Dunno, but thank you for saying what I was thinking. It’s a blog. Something fun, frivolous, serious or silly, but essentially up to the writer? I enjoy yours, I enjoy lots of others, I usually enjoy writing my posts. It’s interesting to hear different opinions about what might or might not work. But sometimes a bit dull. You can only write what you write. Nice makeover, btw.
angelsandurchinsblog´s last blog ..Pancake eating and cookery lessons
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What’s good and what’s bad? Dunno, but thank you for saying what I was thinking. It’s a blog. Something fun, frivolous, serious or silly, but essentially up to the writer? I enjoy yours, I enjoy lots of others, I usually enjoy writing my posts. It’s interesting to hear different opinions about what might or might not work. But sometimes a bit dull. You can only write what you write. Nice makeover, btw.
angelsandurchinsblog´s last blog ..Pancake eating and cookery lessons
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You’re dead right missie. Surely a blog is the one time when you can write from the heart – good, bad or shite and bugger the consquences. No manager to delete what they think is unnecessary. No ramifications if it isn’t perfectly scripted. It’s just opinions in cyberspace at the end of the day and I think most of us do it because we enjoy it. So why worry?
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OMG, just seen that your blog comes up with a clever ‘last blog’ thing, complete with cute heart motif. HOW DO YOU DO THAT??!!
angelsandurchinsblog´s last blog ..Pancake eating and cookery lessons
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I haven’t read the posts in question, but I will. However, what I wanted to say is that it is very hard to categorize what makes a ‘good’ blog post anyway. Often the posts that I write in a hurry and don’t think much of get the most traffic or comments. There’s no predicting what other people will or won’t like, but they certainly will not like something you don’t publish.
And even beyond that, we have to be willing to be bad sometimes if we want to learn and grow. Perfection isn’t attainable, and certainly not if we’re not willing to take risks and look kind of silly sometimes.
Amber´s last blog ..Adventures in Veterinary Medicine
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Good point!!
Sometimes I feel like that but then you’re so right, they’re our blogs for our stuff…good, bad or boring!
Thea´s last blog ..Oh to be Romy or Michele
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Hear hear! Total agreement. Blogs are a personal thing, should we actually care if anyone does read them anyhow?
Back in the day before mummy blogging took off, I had 3 readers, my husband, his mate and my mum, those were the days…. that I am returning to rapidly…
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I come to this a little late and knowing that you know how i feel about it all having blogged about it . I waffle with the best of them. Some of the ‘this is how you comment on a blog’ posts have left me a little cold – kind of like school rules used to…I don’t leave nasty comments, if I don’t like the post i won’t comment, or if i have nothing to say because of where my head is at i won’t write, otherwise i may rmble a bit – but good grief bloggers – edit my comment – i only write them for you to read, not to be up here published
Great post josie.
Oh and I.M I challange you to the queen of the rambley and mindless I love your blog and find it a very friendly place to visit.feels comfortable.
Just like here
april´s last blog ..The death of a bag…..
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I’d like to write a bad post, Josie, just to please you (I’m a people pleaser, as you know) but I just don’t have it in me. I’m just so darned talented. Cough.
What I will add, though, is that I’m often asked “How do I write a good blog post” or “How do I get more people to read my blog?” or “How do I get more people to comment?” so I can see why someone would be motivated to write that sort of post, and lots of people probably WILL find useful advice in there.
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@Sally
Yep it seems a lot of people DO want guidance in that area which is why posts like Heather’s and Emily’s are fab. I know Heather’s was in response to requests from readers to give advice in that area.
I guess I just wanted to say that the need to be ‘good’ shouldn’t always get in the way of just writing and being yourself. Other wise I fear the blogosphere will either be empty with everyone too scared to post something that might not meet up to standards, or filled with ‘safe’ posts that mean we miss out on the spice and variety of people just writing without thinking too hard.
Just about balance… you know, think Yoda and all that. I’m all about the Zen these days you know…
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Well, m’dear…. I read both your postings of today… before you deleted the first one…. when I saw the title of your second posting on my sidebar, I had to come and see…. as I’m always interested to read what people are saying about good/bad postings.
For me, I started blogging so that I would be more consistent about writing. So I’m getting over whether all my postings are their ‘best’. I’m learning that with blogging friendships, they are often as giving and gracious as my face-to-face friends, taking me as I am (sometimes inspired, sometimes ordinary, sometimes boring, sometimes verbose, sometimes word-less……)
Happy Day………
Brenda @ It’s A Beautiful Life´s last blog ..Smitten….
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Hear hear! I am relatively new to mummy blogging but WOW it’s taken seriously by some. So refreshing to read this post.
My blog is FULL of bad posts so glad you’ve given it the heads up
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Good post… but really I dont care if a post is rambling and long or funny and short so long as it is honest. It is the honesty what keeps me reading and coming back. Its what stays with you after you’ve read the blog – and that s the mark of a great piece of writing. I thought both posts were honest and that s what makes them great.
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I agree! Not that you’re capable of writing a bad post!! I’m ignoring everything that’s being said about good or bad post on principle – apart from your post because I think you’re great.
I’m not half of what any of these bloggers are but I can’t say I’m bothered. I like people to read my stuff but I’ll write it even if people don’t! It helps to clear a space in my head that I need for other things right now.
Keep doing what you’re doing & stop over analysing! You write beautifully, just believe that.xx
Emma @ Notsuchayummymummy´s last blog ..Writing Workshop #13
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oh yeah, totally! Despite writing the post myself, I think you can really over think these things and worry about them too much. The most important thing is that you enjoy it.
Heather´s last blog ..What Makes A Good Blog Post?
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I struggle with the whole ‘good blog post’ thing.I’m not academic or technical.It made me feel belittled.I never passed my G.C.S.E’s or went to university.I don’t have hundreds of followers, feature in the Tots, get asked to review products or write articles.I do not need someone to stipulate to me HOW to blog.It’s a blog.A personal account on how I see and live my life.Can you all come back down to Earth please?
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Some days I just don’t have to energy to write a good post, but I want to get something out there. This week I’ve been churning them out, but haven’t spent much time ‘crafting’ them, if such a wanky word can be used for a blog post…
But that’s fine. It’s just a blog, sometimes I’m happy with what I write, other times it’s a bit meh. So what?
For the record, I’ve yet to read a meh post on your blog x
Victoria´s last blog ..A letter to my bed
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I just wanted to write. I didn't want it to necessarily be a good post or a bad post. It should not have made a difference really because I was writing for me, not for other people and I was enjoying it. But I'm not now, So now I'm not writing at all, except in a few comments because I'm enjoying reading the blogs I've always read and the lives of the people I've always followed. But writing my own blog? No. Not for a while at least. I need a break for it all.
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I am sure some of my blogs are very banal and boring but they are there for me to let of steam and not always to be interesting to others! Hope some of my blog posts are good enough for a read though
Becky´s last blog ..Recipe for a great long weekend away…
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