Writer’s Workshop: My Blogging Regrets
by Jenners • 04/29/2010 • Blogging, Life, Writers Workshop • 28 Comments
Time for Writer’s Workshop again!This week I’m choosing Prompt 3: List five things you would do different if you started blogging today. And believe me when I tell you that this is a subject I’ve actually thought about more often than I should.
So let’s step into The Way Back machine and see what I would have done differently on my blogging journey…
- I would choose WordPress instead of Blogger. Ah, WordPress … home of threaded comments, flexible templates, built-in statistics and more powerful editing software. (And I bet they send their bloggers chocolates on their birthdays!) How many times I’ve wished that I started with you. But I’m here … somewhat well-established … on Blogger. And, honestly, I’m lazy and I don’t have the time (or the technical skills) to make the switch. But some day, I WILL make the move.
- I would choose a URL that was related to my actual blog name. Honestly, when I started this little blog, I expected it to last maybe a week or two tops (like most of my creative projects and endeavors). I never thought anyone would actually read my blathering (other than a few friends I harassed). So I put little or no thought into my URL (http://lifewithbooks.com! BLECH!) and now I’m saddled with that name until I decide to finally commit to this blog and perhaps buy my own domain. Do you think I should commit … finally … and get my own domain for this blog AND move it over to WordPress? I probably should … and will. One day. (I think the fact that I’ve been blogging for 1.5 years now means I’m probably not a fly-by-night blogger like I thought I’d be.)
- I would build a time machine and go back to the beginning of Land of Blog … when bloggers weren’t a dime a dozen but pioneers and trailblazers and thought of gimmicks like … oh, I don’t know … cooking every recipe in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking and then getting noticed by huge media outlets and then scoring a book deal that led to a movie getting made about your book and blogging experience.* In other words, I wish I’d gotten in at the ground floor when I could have had a chance at getting noticed and somehow been able to turn this hobby that I love into a career and a profession that maybe would result in some money. But now I’m a little tiny drop in a giant bucket o’ bloggers, and my chances of turning this hobby into something other than a hobby are slim to none.
- I would win the lottery so I could hire people to clean my house so I could blog guilt-free while the Little One was at school. I really do try to fit my blogging into the small amount of free time I have between when the Little One goes to bed and I go to bed … but that just isn’t enough time (plus these books aren’t going to read themselves)!!! So, I feel compelled to sneak in blogging time when I really should be doing housework. And although I’ve gotten more efficient in my blogging over the past year, I always wish I had just an hour or two more a day that I could devote to this most addictive and time-consuming of hobbies. (By the way, if my lovely readers paid for someone to clean my house, I could pay you back with daily posts. But I’m not that amusing, am I? Yeah … I thought not.)
- I would have lived a more interesting life so I had unlimited blog fodder. I only have so much material left that I can spin into comic gold (if I may be so bold and immodest). I mean, I’m already plundering my childhood diary (and yes … I know I owe another entry concerning my twin discovery of Jesus and masturbation … it is coming sometime next week), and I already told you about the time I pooped my pants (and not as a baby). If only I had done more amazing and exciting things so I never run out of material to write about … if only my family had sailed around the the world in a wooden boat we built ourselves or I’d fallen down a well and discovered a path to the center of the earth or if I’d been part of circus family.
But, in all seriousness, I probably really only regret the first and seconds ones (well, OK, the third one too … why didn’t I blog sooner and come up with an awesome gimmick???!?). Blogging has been so rewarding to me. Not only does it feed my need to be creative, but it has rewarded me with a network of wonderful and supportive people (that would be you) who have really enhanced my life and made me feel good about myself. So, I’ll keep blogging along until the well runs dry and it isn’t fun anymore, and I thank you for being a part of that journey for whatever part of it you want to join. And I hope your own blogging experience is as fulfilling and fun as mine has been.
Surprising myself with my sentimentality and mushiness,
* You know I’m talking about Julie & Julia here, right? The book written by a blogger that got made into a movie?
Oh, man! I just started and see, I've already made the same mistakes. But I didn't know they were mistakes. I guess ignorance is bliss. I like bliss.
Hey, I love your blog. It is hilarious and I laugh when I visit. That is why I have given you the Sunshine Award. Do what you like with it, but just know that you may not have cooked all the recipes in Julia Child's cookbook, but you bring some Sunshine into my part of the world.
Thank!!
I think you've lived a very interesting life and have lots of blog fodder
loved the reference to Julie/Julia. Love the show–the book not so much.
I almost did this one, too. (But I'm too lazy to post 2 days in a row.) I feel the same way about the first two. I still may do the wp move if I can only find some c-c-courage.
I, for one, am personally very glad you took up blogging – even if all it will ever be is a fun and entertaining hobby. And I mean that you provide ME with a fun and entertaining hobby…reading your hilarious posts. I guess it's good that you get some enjoyment out of it, too.
I remember saying to my husband on the day I found your blog, "I get her. She's like me." I'm enjoying every visit here
I know what you mean about trying to find interesting blogging material. It's getting tougher and tougher.
Ohh how I love to blog…I think the hubs is getting a little tired of it, I told him to let me quit my job, stay at home and do nothing but blog, so then that way when he gets home I can give him 10 minutes of my time but any more than that is pushing it! =)
I hear you, Jenners, I hear you. My biggest regret also is not getting in at ground zero, mostly because I LOVE blogging.
And I would listen to your blathering any time, any where. You blather real good.
Great job. I looked at all the prompts and couldn't for the life of me figure anything out this week… my brain took a vacation I think.
I wish I would have checked out other blogs and figured things out a little more before I started. I just had to do a lot of changes along the way but am pretty happy with things now
You are that funny. But I'm not that rich. If I do suddenly become independently wealthy, I'll see what I can do about the maids.
Well, there's a good chance I would have never found your blog if you used WordPress. Not that I'm some hugely important follower, but I'm happy to have found your writings!
I wish I could change my blog title too. I wasn't really thinking about the KKK initials. Not the content I promote. LOL
To answer your question, Lunchladies are like Santa. We know all the kids and all the parents. There are only 230 at the school I work at. My hubby laughs when we take the kids to the playground because everyone knows me.
The mom I spoke of in the post is a tell you my life stories and all my problems in the first minute we speak. For example the first time I ever spoke to her she told me that she had narcolepsy and my fall asleep and not retrieve her kindergarten. Would I mind fetching her from the bus stop. I was virtually a stranger.
The 3rd grade daughter struggles to fit in with her peers and blurts out randomness as well.
Sorry to be so wordy.
This was fantastic! I savored every word. Thank you.
Yay, I'm wonderful and supportive! But, it's only because you write such an awesome blog that I keep coming back.
I am on WordPress and love it. I also have my own domain, which I am really glad I got. I would highly recommend it!
How funny 'cause I totally said I wouldn't choose WordPress LOL that's where I started at before I came here
Yeah I have many of those same things that I would do differently….but I won't. I think you can make blogger work and to be honest I would rather use the time it would take to learn WP to hone my writing skills!
Stopping by from MamaKats have a great day!
Probably because I am an IDIOT, I actually don't love wordpress as much as blogger. I get so annoyed when I have to type in all my information to leave a comment. I don't think they are that fantastic. Like I said though, I am sure I am an idiot. I always love coming to visit you : )
I hear you about having lived a more interesting life Jenners.
I wish I could blog more about my exploits from my younger days but there is that pesky statute of limitations thing to worry about.
You have a way of making everything interesting..so I don't think you'll ever run out of fodder….yeah wordpress is good..and having your own url…I did it because other bloggers had told me that if google decides to erase your blog they can and do and have..I know you can have a backup..but still..I wanted it to be my own and now I own the rights to it…not that anyone is breaking down doors to purchase it..LMAO…but its still nice to call my own..
I've wondered about WordPress – I get that it allows you to do things that Blogger doesn't, but I'm visual, and I prefer the look of blogs on Blogger. But then I think accessories give a home personality, and there's a whole generation that considers accessories to be nothing but clutter, so what do I know?
My first visit to your blog via Mama Kat. I enjoyed your take on the prompt. I will be back!
Totally agree with you on the first two points. If only I had gotten my act together and moved to WordPress a long time ago, my move would have been much smoother. I just hope that you don't end up having the same annoying issues that I got when I made the move…
As for the name, I should have really thought it through before settling on what I chose. I was thinking only of the present (at that time) and never imagined that I'd be blogging with so much more focus in the future.
Sigh, well at least we learn from our mistakes and just make do with what we can, right? Blog content always makes up for errors we made in the past
I share your dilemma on wordpress, though my research tells me that moving would mean starting over in my search engine rankings and I am not crazy about that. It would also mean being a more technical blogger, and I'm not so hot on that either.
Stopping by from Mama Kat's.
I wish I could change my title/URL too. It sounds too mommy-bloggish and mine isn't really a mommyblog. IDK. But it is what it is. I can't wait to read the next week post, lol. Your childhood stuff is always a riot. You DO have great blog fodder.
What? You mean you didn't receive your package of birthday chocolates?!!!
I'm on WordPress.. love them! So easy and good, although I'm still waiting for my birthday chocolates.
I always love your posts.
you might want to buy a domain, get your readers going there first and then make the switch to wordpress
I've heard that causes less commotion.
You are a wonderful writer and always make me laugh. Thanks for sharing your life with us.
I considered this prompt, but The Mister said it was lame to say that I would have endeavored to have a richer life for blog fodder…I should listen to my own instincts!
Oh, and I'd adopt a couple of witty and very photogenic preschoolers…readers love that crap.
I think you're doing a great job!
I have exaxxxtly same regrets!!! I so love the way you write…I wish I had writing skills just like you….
Not to sound creepy or weird or ???
But I WANA hug you for expressing all my thoughts in words…haha..