I've been a blogger for over fourteen years now and recently a family member asked how I found things to write about and what inspires me to do each post ... it really stumped me at first.
I guess I am what you call a 'lifestyle blogger' ... someone who writes about the bits and pieces and the everyday aspects of their life and the people and places around them. I've tried to pin myself down to specific things to write about with various new blogs over the years, but I always seem to bounce back to 'a little bit of this and a little bit of that'.
I guess my readers know to expect the unexpected from time to time ... like this post for instance!!
If I'm having a day when I really want to write a post, but I've done nothing that I think is interesting I will let a photo from that month's computer photo file inspire me. The one at the top of this post for example, it's just Ginger and Mavis listening to the sounds coming through the open doors of Dad making their evening meal in his kitchen. As the food hit the bowl Ginger's tail slowly made its way over to Mavis' as if he was letting her know that tea was nearly ready ... I quietly picked up my phone and just managed to get the shot before they both headed off for food.
I'm a blogger through and through and I always have either my phone or my camera to hand. In fact, the camera now lives in the kitchen on the lower shelf ready to snap food and its preparation. I got this shot because the minute I had slapped rather too much butter on this toast I suddenly had the realisation that this won't be happening in a week or so when rationing kicks in and excess butter might have the Ministry of Food or just my guilty conscience on my back. 😄
So random photos or a nice day out, a recipe that I have enjoyed making, a holiday, a washing line full of clothes blowing in the sunshine, all these sorts of things inspire me to write a post and occasionally take an extra photo to add to a post.
But what inspires me to read a post written by others?
Usually, it is a catchy title, or a nice top photo, a mention of books, or maybe I am going by to see how something panned out for them. I do know I prefer blog posts with photos, even just one that shows what the post is about. When you click on to a post and there is just one huge paragraph of long writing it can be hard to concentrate, especially if like me you are reading on occasion at silly o'clock in the morning.
What inspires you to either read a blog post or write one?
Oh, and I do love a question that inspires me to write a blog post!!
Sue xx
Like you I'm write 'random lifestyle' posts. I do not think I could sustain a 'quilting' or 'cooking' or 'gardening' blog which only covered one topic. So often I find other people's posts inspire me to write my own. Some posts almost write themselves. Other ideas simmer away on the back burner and occasionally boil dry and get thrown away. I tend to keep Sundays as a day for more reflective/faith-based ideas. And I usually have things done and dusted the night before, ready to go around 6.45, with an early morning tweak if needed. And I do make a point of trying for a catchy title! And a photo here and there breaks up the text for the reader.
ReplyDeleteI find I have to try to avoid reading other people's blog posts until after I have written my own or I lose all the focus I had to sit down and write. I get influenced so easily!! I love a catchy title; I find myself answering them when I see all the new titles pop up on my sidebar.
DeleteYou are a good blogger, I have always followed you even when I haven't had blogs, I guess with blogging its about just being yourself and blogging about what every inspires you at the time. 14 years is a long time, thats probably how many blogs I have had (I've been a bad blogger), I have found myself going down the route of writing what others seem to want, but I am not doing that anymore. It's for me now, and I have just started another one. Marlene.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at you calling yourself a 'bad blogger', you do well and then you vanish ... but we always find you again in the end, thank goodness. Never write for others and never tell a lie, however small, I think if I did that I would be caught out in an instant.
DeleteI'm a long time blogger and writer, as well, and many times it's a photo that inspires the words. One photo can produce an entire story or lesson in my head and then I have to share it. In fact, I'm much better at writing lessons the Lord has shown me, rather than just personal, day-to-day posts. Those always leave me feeling like I want to go back and delete. On days that I have nothing exciting to share, I will just write in my journal instead. Other days I wake up and have an entire topic to write about, with little effort. I try to let the posts come when they are truly there and on the other days, I take a break.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed coming to your blog each day. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, I am definitely of the opinion that when I have absolutely nothing to say I should just not do a post until inspiration strikes. I love it when an image or a simple sentence sets something off in my head for me to write about.
DeleteThank you for visiting. xx
I love reading the Lifestyle blogs but also dip into crafting blogs fairly often. Sharing other people's thoughts and 'happenings ' really helps to open up the world for me and there are often great tips and recommendations shared. Also when a blogger shows their humanness that can be very helpful, like a shared experience if that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI didn't used to comment but have felt even more part of the blogging community since I started to.
Even though most bloggers and readers will never physically meet one another, most days when I catch up with the blogs I enjoy I feel I'm touching base with good mates!
Alison in Wales x
Thank you for your comments, they really do mean a lot, and yes like you say there is a real sense of community when there are comments and answers. It's like having a pen pal that you can connect with daily or weekly.
DeleteWhen I lived in Wales, I did get to meet quite a few of my readers as our house was so recognisable and right on the main road to a lot of popular places. One lovely reader even recognised it right at the last minute and shouted to her poor shocked husband to turn left immediately ... thank goodness our gates were open. We all sat on the patio putting the world to rights over a cup of coffee while the dogs played ... and her husband recovered from the shock.
10 years next April for me!
ReplyDeleteI love that I can read about ordinary people from other continents - there's nowhere else to do that and people feel like friends after a while, blogging certainly helped through bereavement
Ideas for posts come from books and from other bloggers as well as the 'exciting' life here in Suffolk.
I'm right off reading blogs by people who moan constantly and who swear too much!
It is a real community isn't it, and I really feel that a lot of us have helped each other out with lots of things that have gone on in our lives.
DeleteI must be swearing far too much at the moment then, as all my comments on yours seem to be languishing in your Spam folder again!! Moan, moan, moan. ;-)
Oooops sorry - I'll let them out!
DeleteI am not a blogger, just a reader and commenter. I am usually drawn to blogs that are mentioned on other blogs. I like photos and stories of life around the world and a bit of humor is good too. I have bookmarked a long list of favorites that I check each day to see what is new in their lives. It is like having penpals around the world and I enjoy it so much. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteSometimes that's the best way to find 'new to you' blogs isn't it, to see one mentioned or linked to in the posts of a blogger that you enjoy and follow. A lot of us are of a very similar age and even if we're not we have very similar interests or outlooks. It's definintely like having lots of penpals, and we don't even have to leave the house to post a letter.
DeleteI'm very much like you, a lifestyle blogger. My blog really is a record of all the good stuff that fills my life, a diary to reflect back on.I seek out similar blogs, normal life, with normal people, Like you a good picture, mention of a book or crafty stuff always pulls me in.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to have an online diary that we can refer back to over the years isn't it. I find myself reading some very old posts of my own sometimes and thinking 'Did I really do all that?' I used to have a lot more energy than I do now!
DeleteI like 'Lifestyle' blogs or 'Bit of this, bit of that' as I like to think of my own blog. I'm just nosey, I mean interested in how other people live! Especially like minded folk. Most of my friends and colleagues aren't interested in the same things I am so I like to 'talk' to other frugal folks. I love photos, recipes, food ideas, successes/disasters. Anything really! Oh and I do love your challenges!!
ReplyDeleteWhen you said you'd been blogging for 14 years I wondered how long I'd been blogging. I looked up my first ever blog post on an old blog (I've had 4 previous blogs!) and it was on Saturday 9th June 2007. So 15 years for me!!!!
Wow, that's a good length of time .... it's a wonder we still find things to write about isn't it, but then again, I think we move forwards a quite an alarming rate doing all sorts of interesting things. I doubt we will ever be really stumped for something to say.
DeleteThe new Challenge should be starting sometime next week, I'm just in the process of sorting out my cupboards so I can keep rations on one shelf.
Its lovely seeing everyone's comments. I think for me most of the time its what I have been making, something new I have tried usually inspired from another blog post, a book I have read or a program I have watched that might interest others. Mx
ReplyDeleteSometimes a book or programme that a like-minded blogger has recommended can turn out to be a little treasure, and I'm so easily tempted to try out books ... I MUST be stronger to resist ;-)
DeleteSame here, it just seems natural to click and post something. Mind you, my comments grow less each week so clearly not interesting enough for some.
ReplyDeleteIt's just like keeping a diary isn't it and reading other people's diaries is always VERTY tempting.
DeleteOh I don't know, I bet if you check your stats you are still getting as many visits. Most days I get between 500 and 800 visits, over a 1000 on a day with a good title, but even then there are only around 5-10 comments.
I began blogging in January 2007, so 15 years here. I wasn't sure what I wanted to write about, I just knew I wanted to write. I had tried journals but they bored me because at heart I am a sharer, which is probably also why I became a storyteller. I had hoped a blog would help keep connected with my large and scattered family, but I think only a few of them read it. Then I thought I should use it to promote my storytelling and I did do that, but I posted most often about home and gardens, and about things that interest me like folklore and history. Talk about a mishmash.
ReplyDeleteNow that I have given up storytelling, I guess I have become a lifestyle blogger. Hunt. Not sure too many people would want or be interest in my simple life though. But I wi continue writing because I just enjoy it so much. I also really enjoy the people I have met through blogging. Oh, and I did inspire my English cousin John of Stargoose and Hangkands blog to start that blog, and have since got to visit him and his brother several times. A connection that has become very precious to me.
I think the most important thing is to write for yourself isn't it. If I tried to think of a 'theme' for each post it can seem very forced, if I just sit down and let a thought, book or photo inspire me the words flow, and I find it interesting myself and that way hopefully other will too.
DeleteI would much rather read about fellow bloggers lives than start watching something like The Kardashians or one of the TV soaps.
I enjoy lifestyle blogs like yours. You are true to yourself and it shows. I set up a blog a while ago, but never posted. I just am not very creative with writing. I was late discovering the blogosphere, but so glad I found it eventually! Many wonderful blogs in this community.
ReplyDeleteAw, that's a nice thing to say, thank you. I think being true to yourself is the most important thing in life, especially in this day and age of 'influencers' and rampant social media images that are so far from reality.
DeleteI'm hopeless at catchy titles. I often write a post to get something off my chest and help me deal with it, then I enjoy reading other people's perspectives on the issue. Blog land is indeed like having lots of penfriends. I enjoy glimpses into other lives and other countries too. I'm not very good at taking photos either. After the event I think "oh... I could have photographed that for my blog!"
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to seeing what you have written Sue 😊
Love the pet photo!
Sometimes a catchy title comes to me, other times I just pick something that I have written as part of the post that jumps out at me as I type it. Little glimpses into real people's lives are fascinating aren't they.
DeleteMavis and Ginger are a real double act aren't they, totally besotted with each other and I love that they match colour-wise.
They truly are, Sue, they look so comfortable with each other ❤️
DeleteI really enjoy reading your blog because there is always something that interests or resonates with me. The photo is wonderful and made me smile. Catriona
ReplyDeleteThank you. It made me smile too, I'm just glad I could catch them with the phone for once before they ran off for their tea.
DeleteI began blogging in 2008. I stopped for a while, and got back into it. I love the connection to others. What makes a good blog post? I haven't a clue really. I'm pretty random as well.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy eclectic blogs like yours... lifestyle, different arts & crafts, etc. I'm a sporadic blogger - sometimes I post regularly, sometimes not for a couple of weeks. I do find it hard to know what to blog about sometimes, and wonder if there's anyone out there who is interested in my witterings, but I can't quite bring myself to stop blogging.
ReplyDeleteI like the simplicity of your blog Sue,I’ve been following you before you went to wales,never commented before always emailed you but have now managed to work out how to do comments! I also enjoy the photos of your four legged family as we share very similar ginger toms🐈
ReplyDeleteHello there! I popped over from Alison Fatdormouse as I thought this sounded and interesting post and I've realised, upon reading this one post, from your style of writing, you are very much my type of blogger so I shall follow along if that is ok.
ReplyDeleteI love writing and waffling and generally talking about things that make me happy is very much WHY I started blogging. I’m a bit waffly in real life so I worry I bore people but on my blog, I can waffle to my heart’s content and if people read it, hurrah! It also serves as a diary for me too. Also, sometimes, I just want to ask opinions on something or share something silly. I started blogging outfits quite a lot as I followed some lovely chatty bloggers who did that. It seems a very self-indulgent, vain thing to do but I really do like putting together fun colourful and inspired outfits (& have too many clothes) so I quite often like sharing an outfit that made me happy, accompanied by waffle, of course! Also, it is quite a lazy way of showing my face when I have nothing particularly coherent to say. I've struggled in recent times to maintain a regular schedule of varied posts- I just don't seem to want to get on the computer and I'm usually very tired.
Anyway, lovely to meet you and hopefully, I will be back soon!x