Boring and ranty
This blog is getting a bit ranty and one-dimensional. I think it is getting a bit boring. It's getting repetitive. It's all about politics, fear, July 7th. I suppose that I think a great deal about politics, fear and July 7th at the moment, and I go to work, hang out with J and my friends, do stuff, and store all the things I write about here in my head until I get a chance to download it all onto this blog. Which is fair enough and it works for me, but maybe I should try and write about other things as well so I don't turn into rent-a-rant victim lady.
Everyone who blogs seems to have one of those 'why am I blogging' moments, and I guess this is mine.
Has anyone suggestions? What would you like me to write about? I wrote for the people who read this as well as myself, and I think I need to extend my range a bit so I would be really grateful for any thoughts anyone can chuck my way. I will try my hand at anything anyone suggests, I promise to give it my best shot.
Thank you for any feedback and for your patience during this somewhat tiresome time.
Everyone who blogs seems to have one of those 'why am I blogging' moments, and I guess this is mine.
Has anyone suggestions? What would you like me to write about? I wrote for the people who read this as well as myself, and I think I need to extend my range a bit so I would be really grateful for any thoughts anyone can chuck my way. I will try my hand at anything anyone suggests, I promise to give it my best shot.
Thank you for any feedback and for your patience during this somewhat tiresome time.
posted by Rachel at 6:36 pm
I haven't noticed you being repetitive. I think you should write about whatever you like. My blog tends to be quite frothy and people expect me to make them laugh, which is great - it's what I started blogging for; my job is actually quite political and I specifically wanted my blog to be an escape from that. But at the beginning of this year I was quite depressed and just couldn't be funny. I didn't want to stop posting so in the end I just wrote about how I felt. People kept reading. It's no bad thing to break the mould and show off your range as a writer every now and again.
Maybe start another blog? Leave this one for July 7 angst, and support for your fellows, but do another one where you give yourself new parameters and write about everything but.
Just let us know, so we can follow along...
I reckon the best blogging comes when people write what they want to write, not what they think others want to hear. If that helps.
The whole point of your blog is to allow you to let off steam, so rant away! If it is repetitive it's because almost everything at the moment on the news can be traced back to July 7th and the Govt's silly knee-jerk reaction to it, which you feel very strongly about! And rightly so.
So if you were to suddenly begin writing about other things wouldn't it then be a bit false? That said maybe break it up with something contrasting you fancy writing about if you so feel. Variety...spice etc.
Steve
hi rachel,
you started out with july 7th and have gradually evolved into many other things .its so scary and sad that we live in a world where we dont have control over our lives like we had 20 or more years ago,
i know ive suggested it before,would u consider setting up a general email address if people want to reach you outside this board? i wanted to send u and j an internet congratulatary wedding card but alas didnt think this site( or kcu) was appropriate.
seth
Rachel,
I agree with Diamond Geezer - the quickest way to make your blog boring would be to worry about what other people want to read.
What I love about your blog is the way your personality shows through - whether it's your happiness about your engagement or your annoyance at the government, you always seem to write in a way that resonates. I think that's a rare skill, and my only advice would be to keep doing what you've been doing....
I just came across your blog so I hope you don't stop blogging now. I agree with the other comments, when one writes what one feels strongly about, other people appreciate it. You survived a harrowing event and its perfectly justified to write and think about it. I was visiting London a few days before the bombing and remember feeling terrible when it happened. Well wish you all the best and hope you continue your excellent writing.
What diamond geezer said.
Truly the man is wise. You write honestly about things that you feel passionately about, whether it's domestic politics or poledancing, and it's the quality of the writing that draws people back. I would imagine. I'm a bit biased, of course. x
Hi Rachel,
Without sounding like a radio 4 listener resisting change, I like your mix in your blog already
london bombing info / personal effect / politics / news / etc.
you have a very open and honest writing style.
Slightly xxx
Coming late here, but I agree with what previous commenters have said - particularly Diamond Geezer and Katy Newton.
Like Katy, I had a period where I was quite miserable and I did feel that all I was blogging about was depression-related; but I think it's important to write about what you want to, rather than what you feel people are expecting.
It's your space after all; and whatever you write about, you do it well and it's interesting to read.
Doesn't seem boring or repetitious to me - in fact it's more interesting to read a gradual development of ideas along regular themes than to read the chaotic, superficial chat that one finds on a lot of other blogs.
In any case, most/many blog readers "dip in" rather than reading every single word on the site, so even if there is stuff that you've said more than once I think you're on pretty safe ground. As DG said - if you write about what interests you most, that's bound to produce the best and most readable writing.
But as you asked for suggestions - I'd be really interested to know more about your thoughts on the issue of forgiveness - what it means, how one goes about it, whether it could ever be wrong to forgive etc.
As a classics scholar I couldn't resist sending you this quote from Pliny the Younger, Roman author & politician (62 AD - 114 AD)
There is nothing to write about, you say. Well then, write and let me know just this - that there is nothing to write about; or tell me in the good old style if you are well. That's right. I am quite well.
By the way, I too have been reading Andrew Marr's "My Trade" (whenever I need a break from the Classical world or my own blog)and I think it is a 'must read' for bloggers.
Please keep up the good work, I find your blog informative and entertaining.
Have an out-of-body experience, Rachel! If you were a psychiatrist giving advice to Rachel, what would you tell her?
Perhaps a lovely Space Alien landed near your flat - how would you explain life in London?
-gene
PS: I think Stinky likes me.
Rachel, you get the same answer to this question that every other blogger and livejournaller gets from me when they make this post.
We read this place because we want to. You write it because you want to. If we stop liking what you write, we'll either stop reading or tell you. If you want to write about other things, we'll chose to read them or not, but it's your blog, your place.
Write what you like; odds are we'll keep reading. Naturally, I want you to keep writing about the crappy govt and the politics of fear, but that's because you simply do it better than me.
rach...I think you are feeling like this because YOU'R E bored of the whole 7th July thing. None of your readers are . Write what you want, & I'm sure it is helping you. You might be feeling bored of it all, as am I, hence my escape to the sea this week end, but if it's still in your mind you need to keep talking about it. Don't ever worry what others think, this blog is essentially for you. It is where you can rant and rave and laugh and cry when sometimes you may not feel you can do it anywhere else.
It's doing you good, so keep on doing it....big hugs hxx
THANK YOU all of you.
I will keep on keping on.
Without you, etc.
Really.
xxx
I think you just reached a Point where you want to walk on. It's time. Go for it.... you helped so many people with your blog as well as it helped yourself. Thanks for helping but now show people that it is vital to move on.... :-)
Hey, no-one has to read this blog if they don't want to... ;)
Rant away, swoon away, go off on flippant tangents or hammer away at the topics you feel most passionately about, again and again and again...
Until someone somewhere sets up an official Blog Police, anyway (actually, hope that's not encouraged any ideas...)
Keep on keeping on, it's all meant to be fulfilling and satisfying for you - and if it is for others too, it's a bonus (to adapt the old NME cliche.) And yet it is...
Rachel,
I have gotten a lot out of your blog. I hope, however, that you decide for yourself, not for use readers, how you want to spend your time and energy. If the blog is done for you, it is, and so it should be. If it's not done for you, keep writing whatever your heart desires, according to your Light and truth and not for reader expectations.
Best,
Julie