This particular blogger was writing about all sorts of stuff, and a lot of it made sense to me even though I wasn't and am not dealing with similar issues.
How much do you write about yourself?
This question has so many sub-topics related to the main premise. The biggest thing for me is finding that fine line which makes me seem real without going overboard with details. I seem to be flipping between finding a connection with lots of people who like to take photos and write stories and then in the next breath feeling guilty because I write about part of our life in a public forum. I don't know about you, but we are bombarded with internet safety campaigns and there is a little nagging voice in the back of my head which is making me feel less than brilliant. On the other hand, I could sit in a box and never step out of my house and that really wouldn't be much of a life and it would certainly be a negative message for our kids.
So, this weekend, I will probably not go and sit in the grass, because it gives me hayfever, but I will take photos and write stories. I will also decant paint, cook for hungry workers and referee several sibling disputes. I'm also hoping I get lots of washing dry because I am sick and tired of my house looking like a Chinese laundry.
Let me know how you are managing to find connections with your blog and readers, it's not always easy and sometimes we lose motivation and inspiration. I found this post a great read and a great way to expand on a story - I'd love to hear your ideas.
14 comments:
It's an interesting question, Amy, and I guess I am often more concerned with/about how much about others I convey, rather than thinking about myself. I guess it might depend on how you see your blog (and this mihgt change over time) and what you think it's for ... You're making me think and I haven't really come up with a clear answer yet, but I will go and think some more! Thanks for the link - I don't really ever seem to find blogs where people lead perfect lives. :) Hope your workers are grateful for your time and attention, and the laundry gets sorted - and the hayfever isn't too bad...
I tend to post hard things from time to time. It used to be about getting a response. I was looking for something to happen with my audience...and it's not really about that anymore.
When I'm sharing something challenging now I feel like I am standing up and saying something. Meaning, the only thing I expect from it is MY process. My standing up and saying x,y,z...throwing it out there...stating where I stand. And that's it. It just feels like I am saying something to say something...though stating it like that sounds trite...it doesn't feel trite. It feels like by saying something publicly I am claiming it on another level.
So...it's been good for me. That's all. ;) I'm all for it.
Great topic Amy. I loved the linked article - especially the quote from This American Life. That's what I try to do whn I'm doing a story telling Sunday or other story-ish post.
I don't worry about revealing my identity/location much. As a professor, I'm already a pretty public person.
Rinda
Hello, I'm having a "catch up" session, so I just read several posts at once. I liked your notebook cover - maybe you should send me the dimensions needed to fill it?
Love to see your LSNED pages - their style is fab and i just love the simplicity of the whole thing. I noticed the ubiquitous Pink Gumboots! You're so right about that rain - and of course we are headed into autumn here now, so plenty of that for us! DS nowleaves for school at 730am, so it's an early start for us. I just bought myself one of those Sunrise lights, to wake me up in the mornings!
This all put an interesting perspective on this specific post - several posts at once, giving glimpses into Amy's Life. I don't think I'd be able to steal your identity from what I have read - but it's so nice to "have a friend in Australia" whose life and bits of news I can keep up with! I for one hope you keep blogging the little things - they're what makes you Amy!
Pity Melbourne is so far from Shropshire.... See my current Post (or Jo's) to see why...
A really interesting thought provoking post Amy, how much of ourselves should we post out there on the internet? I think we all try to show enough of our lives for people to have an idea of what we are like, but hold back on the really personal stuff. I love reading and seeing insights of people's lives and like Lizzie, I do feel that I have a 'friend in Australia'!
Great questions Amy, I tend to go back and forth without making up my mind. With the kids getting older it's also getting more important how much I share but I remember my Big Girl reading the post about her on her birthday and she was pretty pleased with it so my plan is just to play it by ear so how things go.
I've wondered about this question myself, Amy. I think about why I enjoy reading blogs and most times it's because I get to feel like I "know" the people from the things they write about their everyday lives. That's what I enjoy and keeps me coming back for more. The fact that some of the blogs also cover a topic I'm interested in - ie. scrapbooking, photography, sewing is an added bonus. I guess I'm nosey and enjoy seeing how other people live :)
xx
PS Thank you for your comment on my latest blog post. I'm loving being a Grandma and perhaps it helps being a bit younger (though there's a big birthday looming next year!). x
I've read a few 'being real' posts recently,Amy....and it's an interesting question....Your 'link' post certainly made me think....and it definately is a fine line.
My blog started as just somewhere to post my 'craft' makes....and has developed a lot from that....but is still a lot less 'real life' than many.
Funnily enough my kids [in their twenties] are far less worried about what I might write about them....than about photos [or scrap page photos] that they disapprove of "how on earth could you let anyone in cyberspace see me looking like that,mum????"
But my favourite blogs are certainly those that are 'mixed'....with a bit of art/craft,a bit of photography and a bit of themselves.....exactly like yours, in fact!
I DO sometimes wonder if anyone DOES really need/want to know,about some of the mundane things that come into my mind when writing a blog post. Like Jackie and Rhona, I personally like to KNOW about people and their lives...and let's be honest-no-one's life is perfect, so I reckon it's OK to be REAL...just not TMI that leaves people uncomfortable! I enjoyed the post you linked to, TFS
Alison xx
An excellent, thoughtful post and I am so sorry I am only getting to it now. (I have some extra work on at the moment. All will be revealed soon!)
My main worry is that if I write a lot about myself that it will start to sound narcissistic. I'm always conscious of how many "I"s I have in a post! I think that's why I sometimes tell stories about other people from my past. The kids are very relaxed about appearing because they are the Facebook generation, but I do try to protect their privacy at the same time. And this will continue to be an issue for me in weeks to come I think.
But walking that thin line is worth it for the connections. You are absolutely right.
I'm a bit late to this post as well, and found it, your previous one, and the link all thought-provoking. I worry less about privacy because my kids are grown and gone, but I do try to keep some of the more personal issues off my blog. I'm not sure why, and I need to think about it some more.
I'm probably on the most open end of the scale. I've posted on my blog about the trials of being a mother of teens, about my struggle with weight and wellness, and about my journey in learning to love myself. I think it probably doesn't get more personal or real than that. I'm an open book... and I have considered whether it is appropriate and ultimately decided that if my experiences and life lessons can help anyone else on their journey, then reaching out to share is probably a good thing! I try to balance all that personal stuff out with heaps of creativity and an occasional bit of humor. I guess I just assume that anyone who is not comfortable with that level of sharing will just stop following my blog! Funny though, my numbers are still going up, not down. And I hope if I'm ever guilty of a serious breach of TMI that my blog friends would call me on it! I do feel we "know" each other well enough at this point to be honest.
Amy, what a thought provoking post and thanks for the link to the other post. I know I tend to keep most of my thoughts private. I don't know whether I'm afraid people will be bored or what.
I am careful to a certain point with what I talk about... I tend to not talk about work or politics. Although I would like to talk more about politics it would not be wise (mostly because of my work).
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