Everyday Gyaan

Keeping Life Simple, Authentic And Holistic

Back To Blogging Basics

A to Z challenge, Blogging, Writing & Creativity / by

I’ve written a post called 7 Reasons Why You Should Stop Blogging and read and agreed with  Vidya Sury’s  7 Deadly Sins of Blogging. However, when Fabida,  who writes at Shocks and Shoes brought this article –  12 Reasons  You Should Start A Blog Today – to my notice, I knew at once that I just had to write this post.  

I was particularly struck by the following points in the article:

  1. Make a difference in the lives of others.

  2. Document your life in an empowering way.

  3. Find your authentic voice.

If you’re a writer, you really don’t need more reasons than these to start a blog.

A while back I shared that my blogging mantra includes actively using social media and networking. However,  I’m starting to wonder whether I really want to be such an active networker. I’m increasingly disenchanted with social media and how it insidiously begins to take over our lives. What’s the value in it, I’m wondering? I will continue to be on social media, but have already begun to cut back on the time I spend there.

I’m going Back To Blogging Basics

Now I want to go back to the basics:

  1.  Writing with passion – People tell me anyone can be a blogger and I agree. It’s simple. Yes, software, templates, a good commenting system and great SEO are all important elements – because we want to get ourselves heard. What makes the difference between a blogger and a great blogger is passion. Today I want to remind myself to write with passion about subjects I’m passionate about.

 

Seth Godin quote

2.  Connecting with my readers on my blog. I’m not going to try to take those connections onto other social media platforms – except to find avenues to share the work of others.

As an experiment, I have taken off most of my social media buttons on this blog. I’ve left on some simple sharing buttons.

I never did buy the idea of link dropping, preferring to stick to smaller blogging groups, but I’ve already started to cut back on the groups I am a part of. The decreased social media presence will continue.

What I will do (yes, I know  you’ve heard this before ;)) is focus on responding to comments and visiting the blogs of those who comment and those of like-minded bloggers.

I would like you to take a minute to visit Leo Babauta’s website (do come back here after that!). Talk about keeping things simple. I won’t ever get to that stage as far as a template is concerned- because I like color too much, but I love the focus on quality content he has.

Leo Babauta quote

3. Publishing consistently – I think that it’s definitely important for regular readers to know more or less when we’re going to be posting. I try to stick to a twice a week schedule. If I’m going to be posting every day (like this month) then I let my readers know in advance. I also need to let them know when I’m taking a break. Once again, it’s about making that connection with your readers.

  1. Creating quality content – I aim to write stuff that evokes emotion and a response from my readers. My posts may not always be of the feel-good variety, because they will reflect my own questions and doubts, my experiences good or bad, and I try to keep it real. I think the important thing is to make sure my content is relevant and useful too.

I am attempting to keep things simple and will rely on you, dear reader, to keep me honest.

What are the blogging basics as far as you are concerned?

This post is written for the letter B for the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014. José and I are undertaking the Challenge on our blog, From 7Eight too.

 

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Comments

  1. Shailajav

    Did you read my mind this morning? I was just thinking along these lines about blogging and social media and how the latter is taking away a lot of time from blogging itself.

    I love the simplicity and elegance of the design on your blog and hope we continue to connect over the blog and elsewhere 🙂

    Big fan of Leo and so is my dad 🙂 He literally walks the talk, doesn’t he?
    Shailajav recently posted..Believe in the pain- #atozchallengeMy Profile

  4. Tasha

    Very interesting points. I think there can be a big problem with social media when you find that’s all you end up doing. Blogs seem to be where you can see much more of a person than something like Twitter. I’ve recently tried to add some things to my blog that might be useful to others, so hopefully there is more than just me bathering on :).
    Tasha recently posted..AtoZ Day 2: B is for Blood, Baobhan sith, ByzantiumMy Profile

  5. Beloo Mehra

    Love this post! Back to basics always works when things get a bit too much. There is some deep beauty in keeping things simple and authentic. I really value this post from a seasoned blogger like you, because as a relative newcomer to this world of blogging I have a lot to learn. And when the learning such as this resonates with you deeply, it is so much more meaningful.
    Beloo Mehra recently posted..B is for Beauty, A Beautiful EducationMy Profile

  6. Sheethal

    Some time back I wanted to get away from social networking sites…. but now I use that to connect with all my blogger friends and blogs. For that… Thanks to you 🙂
    Sheethal recently posted..B is for …My Profile

  7. Shiva

    Passion..that is the key word… I am trying to get my basics right and keeping it simple. Connecting with my readers and making an identity for my blog is what I want to aim at as of now
    Shiva recently posted..Band Baaja BaraatMy Profile

  8. Obsessivemom

    There comes a point when things get too complicated and it’s best to return to the basics. It’s time to rethink the basic reason why we started to blog.. for most of us it was/is the love for writing or sharing our feelings and thoughts. In the end that’s what counts – not the pageviews, not the shares and maybe not even the comments, other than the few regular genuine ones.

  10. nabanita

    I agree blogging first and foremost is about writing with passion…and also I agree that being on social media encroaches on our time…I have spent the whole day yesterday on facebook and it’s tiring and at the end of the day I didn’t write a word y’day…yes we should actually come back to basics
    nabanita recently posted..B is for feeling BlessedMy Profile

  12. Richa Singh

    I just read Vidya’s comment and smiled to myself because as soon as I had read this post I had sent you the same message.

    I confess I hated the idea of not blogging the way you have listed, initially. But then somehow the bug bit me, or the idea of defeating ‘them’ at their own game did, I don’t know. Now that I am into it I will agree the charm is intact. I love social media, it is something that finds me hooked on to. Perhaps a few months, years (or say never) I will get bored and move on.

    Until then my attempt will be too keep the blogging as a medium preserved while the ways of connecting suited to social media networks as well.
    Richa Singh recently posted..Remove all ‘Buts’ from life- #A2ZchallengeMy Profile

  13. Kathy

    Just this year I have cut back considerably to the groups I belong to a choice few, and at this time an A-Z group which you and I are both in. I found that I didn’t want to just drop links anymore or stress myself out trying to keep up with it all. Technically, if you take away the A-Z group, I belong to one group on Face Book. The other groups encompass the weekly writing challenges that I always participate in each week. It makes sense for me and is a lot more manageable. ♥

  14. Sreeja Praveen

    I’d gone away from FB for a very long time, till I got into the AtoZ group this year. Till then, my presence on FB and other social media was very less. Now it is mainly for connecting with blogger friends, and for spreading a word about their work 🙂
    Lovely point, Corinne. Social Media or not, we are always with you as readers, and we know you’re with us 🙂 Cheers !!
    Sreeja Praveen recently posted..# 2. Beauty n Brilliance…..My Profile

  16. Crystal Collier

    Great thoughts. I’m totally in love with blogging. I’ve been on the sphere since 2008, and I’ve seen so many people come and go, but I also have lasting relationships that have been so beneficial–whether from an emotional standpoint or a professional one. I couldn’t have done the publishing thing without my bloggies.
    Crystal Collier recently posted..A Dyslexic IWSG and A to Z: BMy Profile

  17. Leo

    Never been much of a social network person, Corry 🙂 Has its advantages and disadvantages. But oh, I’m glad to be writing regularly and happily again. Even commenting often, which I was missing of late.
    Leo recently posted..Brick by brick…My Profile

  20. Found In Folsom

    My blogging basics..ummm…write from your heart. Don’t write to please audience. Read blogs you like even if they don’t read your blog. Don’t make the statement come true, I scratch your back and you scratch mine 😛
    Found In Folsom recently posted..B – Boys!!!My Profile

  23. Jayanta Tewari

    Thanks for this talk about these basics. Yes, I took up blogging seriously 2-3 months back just out of sheer passion in the path of reinventing myself. These thoughts somewhere echo with my own understandings as well. Thanks again.
    Jayanta Tewari recently posted..Bigotry Be BygoneMy Profile

  24. Inderpreet Kaur Uppal

    If everyone is sharing then who is writing and if everyone is writing then who is reading?
    Social media is intrusive and time consuming.
    You have hit it spot on!
    Inderpreet Kaur Uppal recently posted..B = BEAUTY or BRAINSMy Profile

  25. usha menon

    Corinne you are very correct. The focus on social media and writing the basics are entirely different aspects altogether.I prefer to write the basics and leave the frills all together.
    usha menon recently posted..Bihu FestivalMy Profile

  26. Fab

    Thank you for the mention, Corinne!! That article mentioned several valid points, as does this post!! I completely get what you’re saying, sometimes social media even leaves me with a weird feeling of guilt; that of not visiting all the blogs featured. Sometimes all this talk of SEO and networking can be so confusing that it’s good to be reminded of the very basic reason we started to blog.
    Fab recently posted..Monthly Goal Update – March 2014My Profile

    • Corinne Rodrigues

      You’re welcome, Fab. Thanks for the link. It really made me think. I like the aspects of social media where one can share inspiring links like you did and have meaningful conversations at times. It’s the link dropping and the pressure that gets to me. I think you’re very balanced about this. 🙂
      Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Color Personality?My Profile

  27. Danny Simon

    Wow! COming from an expert like you…this is something I’m definitely going to come back to… I’m not a regular blogger but one thing that has kept me coming back is my vision for why I first started it….and that’s to get me into the discipline of writing and making a difference….Great post!
    Danny Simon recently posted..B for BuilderMy Profile

    • Corinne Rodrigues

      Hi Ananya – Glad you liked it. Increasingly some ‘big’ bloggers including Seth Godin and Copyblogger are taking off commenting. Copyblogger has moved the conversation about their posts to Google Plus. 🙂
      Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Color Personality?My Profile

  29. moondustwriter

    You are so right. 4 years ago I was a crazed blogger, had a public site that got 1000 hits per day, got a shorty award (twitter) and then I came to the realization it was too much. I enjoy meeting a few quality people, I write for me, I’m doing this A to Z madness with the hope of finding a few potentials for publishing. Simplicity and stay true to you!

    Happy A to Zing
    moondustwriter recently posted..In the key of B #atozchallenge #photography #poetryMy Profile

  31. Rachna

    Incidentally Corinne, I have resolved to do the same this year. In addition to blogging, I write professionally as well. And I wish to take blogging back to more reading and connecting with bloggers through blogs. Overdose of social media definitely distracts and detracts, and I am already cutting down my time there. Your post comes at the perfect time for me. Quality, honesty and passion were the reasons for the hobby in the first place.
    Rachna recently posted..The conundrum of success!My Profile

  32. Cristina

    I wish we could have coffee and talk about how refreshing this is to read. You know, all I read and see is focus more on social media and then when CopyBlogger turned off comments – well the internet exploded and then blogs started to follow suit! I lean right where you do. Social media is great, for those that are about that. BUT, as a writer, we write and want that to always have a sense of intimacy and connection with our readers. Oh please, let’s grab that coffee together!!!!

    🙂
    Cristina recently posted..B is for BibleMy Profile

  33. Darla Sue Dollman

    Great post. I’m a firm believer that if you’re going to take the time away from your family, friends, pets, spouse, to write, then YOU should be in that writing. It should be meaningful, and reflect who you are!

  34. Chai a Cup of Life

    Corinne, you hit the nail on the head. (Is that the correct phrase?) There is no shortage of social media, groups, etc that it is easy to forget why we started blogging in the first place. At one point I wrote down all the sharing tools I could use and ended up feeling overwhelmed and scrapped them all and kept the basic ones I enjoyed. Thanks for this post.
    Chai a Cup of Life recently posted..A Birthday & Very Addictive Chocolate Mousse!My Profile

  35. Kajal

    Great blogging basics points. I think it does make sense to stick to smaller groups and interact and learn, rather thank just link dropping in bigger groups and not really creating an impact. Loved the quote from Seth 🙂 Thanks!
    Kajal recently posted..Brave (2012)My Profile

  36. Loni Townsend

    Passion, yes passion. Being unable to sleep at night and needing to pour out my thoughts is the reason why I started blogging. Networking had never even crossed my mind until this past year. I’m terrible at social media, barely have a presence on facebook, tweet only occasionally, and share rarely on Google+. But blogging? That’s fun. I like that.

    Excellent post, and I’m glad you’re getting back to the basics.
    Loni Townsend recently posted..A to Z Challenge – B #atozchallengeMy Profile

  39. Monica Deshpande

    Corinne! I couldn’t agree more. I was just having a rant about how I would like to blog without all the distractions that seem to accompany it. It doesn’t help that I am a social media Luddite. 🙂
    Your post is a welcome read and very reassuring. Thanks!