For her weekly Blogging Insights prompts, Dr. Tanya provides us with a quote about blogging or writing and asks us to express our opinion about said quote.
This week’s quote is from Lee Odden, a marketing strategist, author, speaker and social media expert.
“A blog is only as interesting as the interest shown in others.”
I think this quote is a bit of a conflation of two different notions. One being the ability for a blogger to write interesting posts and the other being a blogger who shows an interest in what other bloggers have written.
In my opinion, some bloggers can be very good at writing interesting posts but not so good at reading and commenting or showing an interest in the works of other bloggers. But I don’t think that makes an interesting blog less interesting.
And there are probably some bloggers who show a strong interest in the posts of other bloggers, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into those same bloggers having the ability to write very interesting posts.
I know I probably sound a bit like a contrarian with my opinion about Mr. Odden’s quote. But I would probably revise his quote to say, instead…
This, That, and the Other 
I agree. And there’s also a reality issue involved. If I tried to read every blogger in my list, I’d need a 48 hour day, assuming I also wanted to occasionally sleep or eat or have a conversation with anyone who wasn’t on the computer. I try to get to everyone, but in the end, I have to pick and choose subjects that interest me because there really are other aspects of life. I love writing and blogging and photography — I really do. But I also love my husband, my son, the Duke, the birds — and reading things that are NOT blogs. You know — BOOKS. And now, I’m spending a lot of time drawing which is fun, but time-consuming.
We can’t do everything. None of us can.
Also, finally, blogs aren’t inherently JUST relationships. Sure, they often become that too, but that’s not what it is about. It’s authorship and with luck, also some surprisingly solid friendships. I have about 70 blogs to which I’m linked with probably a dozen no longer functional from which I should unlink. I could never read posts on all of them, no matter how hard I tried. Reality bites. i also understand that many people are just like me. They don’t comment on everything and many of them pop up from time to time if I write something that interests them — but they also have lives to live.
I don’t think we should give up living so we can be better bloggers and I don’t think anyone really believes that. in an ideal world, we’d have a doppelganger who could take take of that other stuff for us. Now THAT sounds good to me. She could also cook and clean!
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You’re absolutely right. Blogging is just one aspect of our lives. For most of us, it’s not our entire lives.
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I absolutely resonate with you! To read every post as I keep following more and more people is a job by itself and can be very distracting. At the same point of time I feel guilty for reading either!
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These quotes are so Hallmarky it’s hard to disagree with them, so I’m glad you found a way!
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I guess I’m in a disagreeable mood today. 🤨
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Time is the issue in both counts I believe. I try to write interesting posts but they can feel flat when I rush, and I try to read posts, but can be time poor.
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An almost universally time-management problem for bloggers.
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I totally agree with your version of the quote. Someone can have a fantastic blog and have no one look at it if they fail to engage with others, however, success, that is dependent on interaction.
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Exactly!
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Very few, if any of the blogs I follow are in the areas that I write in. I’m interested in finding out what people with other interests have to say. The linking factor may be intellectual curiosity, humor, and an interest in exploring. Marilyn pointed out that there are many, what I call “ghost blogs” out there. Periodically I clean out the really dead ones but restrain myself because some folks are periodical but worth holding onto. And in that manner blogging is about relationships.
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You make a good point about blogging being about relationships that develop among and between bloggers.
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I fully agree with you
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Yes l think your revised quote is a better quote Master F. The first quote reminds me of a carshop that puts two cars together and makes others believe they are one.
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I like your version of the quote better. Well said Fandango
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I think your version of the quote is much clearer.
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Thank you, Tanya.
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Most welcome ☺
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