Blogging is writing, and writing is telling a story…whether you are writing about social media, life, chocolate chip cookies, or mathematics; you are trying to tell a story. The more authentic you can be in doing this, the more successful you will be. I am a firm believer in writing how I speak, sometimes I lose my way and the stuff I write doesn’t feel good to me.
If you’re trying to tell a story you don’t “own”, it will come across to the readers…and more importantly why are you trying to tell a story that isn’t yours? Any one of us can go harvest facts and data, and then right about it; the goal is to spread information and stories from the “authentic you”. Every single one of us engages for a longer amount of time, and more whole-heartedly, when we believe the message and have been pulled into that message by the storyteller.
Don’t let all the “techniques” and “how-to’s” take YOU away from who you are. Be you, always and forever, the sooner you accept that and embrace it…people WILL engage!!
I agree with you Matt, you should be the “authentic you” when you write. However to have your writing appeal to the larger reading audience, it probably doesn’t hurt to read and incorporate some basics about writing. For instance, @kirstenwright just finished up a 5 part series on sucessful blogging tips. If anything her tips didn’t say you should write like she does, although Matt she’s pretty fearless and says what she thinks just like you do. But instead she shared some tips that writers might want to consider and all bloggers definitely might want to do in setting up a blog that will appeal to many.
The “authentic Matt” is just fine in my book. You have a purpose for each of the blogs you are involved in and are creating a voice for your experiences. The most important part to me [but maybe not to some of the popular bloggers out there], is your blogs invite people to comment. I read a huge number of blogs each week but only feel comfortable enough to comment on a handful of them. I stopped subscribing to some recently because I decided if I don’t feel comfortable asking questions or politely challenging their content then why am I wasting my time?
You keep on doing your thing. It’s only going to get better.
I have been to her blog, but did not see her recent series on blogging…just to be honest, and if I’m going to be it should be on my blog (meaning, I’d rather say this here than out loud on Twitter)…but I kind of stopped following her to some degree because I would retweet stuff and attempt to chat but she was evidently too busy…or whatever.
Now, to your point, I agree…there are definitely “techniques” one can use to appeal to a broader audience…but if any of those techniques take away from who you are my concern is that you could potentially lose the authentic storytelling aspect. However, using keywords, or structuring your blog a certain way is a “technique”, I find these avenues won’t take away from the story.
As you can see from my blog, I don’t really follow any rules…I have thoughts, put them out here, and let it be. Chris Brogan, Copyblogger, Problogger, and many others would probably disagree with what I am doing…but hey, can’t make everyone happy!!
Thanks Cheri, always love your responses!! They continue to make me think!!
Cheri,
Thanks for the sweet compliment! I appreciate it.
Matt,
I am sorry that you have stopped following me, and that you felt I was too busy to interact. I really try to be as involved as possible with the people I follow! I appreciate every re-tweet, comment and message but am human, and so I do miss a few sometimes. I hope that you will continue to converse with me, and hey, if I miss a message, let me know! I am well aware of my faults and one of those is I can be forgetful in returning messages…
INdeed, thanks are owed to Cheri, she is awesome!! Kirsten, I always give people numerous opportunities because I understand how busy life is. I own four businesses and am self diagnosed a.d.d. and over extended with all that I am involved in…lol. I follow you on Twitter still, but pulled back from RT’s and attempting to converse. No worries though, I have never had “hurt feelings” on Twitter.
I most certainly appreciate you taking the time to come comment, and respect and admire what you do…so many brilliant people on Twitter. I am always on the side of the doers, the innovative, and the brilliant. So cheers to you, and Cheri, and I will see you in the stream!!