To Blog or Not to Blog...
Milne, River Fairchild, Julie Dao, and Sarah Foster.
It's the day for writers to unite and
Ever worry that blogging just isn't cool anymore?
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| Photo: Wiki Commons |
That maybe they're going the way of the mullet?
When I first heard the chatter that blogs may not be the best place to spend my busy time, I had that spirit -dropping-awww-shucks feeling I got when I read that leggings were out of style.
Back in the nineties, I LOVED my leggings. They were so comfortable...and versatile. Casually worn with a tee, or dressed up with a bulky, shoulder-padded sweater. With a pair of boots in winter, ballet flats in summer...they were simple, comfortable, and versatile!
But then Glamour black-barred them...same day they ousted the scrunchie.
That was a sad day.
I whined to my niece, Kari, who in her then teen-age honest wisdom, declared..."Seriously? Aren't you like old enough NOT to be riding the fashion band wagon?"
What an epiphany!
One benefit of aging is NOT being a slave to trends.
Most trends are simply arbitrary dictates anyhow.
We get yanked back and forth by the powers that be...throwing out good things for the sake of coolness.
I'd like to say I was immune to the talk, but in hindsight, I know all the yack about blogs being out got under my skin. It's hard to put so much time into something that all the cool people say is a waste of time.
So, I stepped away. And paid a price. Hits down, sales down...insecurity way up!
But then I had to ask myself...what do they know?
And since when had I jumped back on the band wagon?
Most trends are simply arbitrary dictates anyhow.
We get yanked back and forth by the powers that be...throwing out good things for the sake of coolness.
I'd like to say I was immune to the talk, but in hindsight, I know all the yack about blogs being out got under my skin. It's hard to put so much time into something that all the cool people say is a waste of time.
So, I stepped away. And paid a price. Hits down, sales down...insecurity way up!
And since when had I jumped back on the band wagon?
Blogging was working for me.
And it isn't really about being cool. It's about finding a place where I feel content.
And it isn't really about being cool. It's about finding a place where I feel content.
Like a lazy day where I can curl up on the couch with a good book and wear my over-sized tee and some leggings...leggings which ARE, once again, for sale and hip again.
Seems you can't keep a good trend down!
Seems you can't keep a good trend down!
Casual...
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| Click here to buy now from Victoria's Secret |
Stylin'...
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| Click here to buy now from Victoria's Secret |
YAY for leggings!! Maybe not everything from the 80s should have come back, but I'd say leggings were a pretty harmless return. ;P
ReplyDeleteI don't really care if blogging is what I should be doing i.e. is it a waste of time? Because I love to do it, and I love being in touch with this community through my blog (and theirs/yours). So I will continue to do what I want, just as I do what I want with my writing. :)
If it's something you love, wear it. Maybe not out in public always..but on the couch, anything goes!
DeleteSo glad you're not leaving us, Elizabeth! I have loved blogging since I began in November of 2008. What I really do not care for is facebook, so I'm staying away from it, as much as possible. It was taking away too much of my "I could be blogging time." Whatever works for each individual, right?! Yay for you, and your leggings!
ReplyDeleteNo, I may be slow, but I always come back. I enjoy facebook, but lately I am not there as much as I used to be. But you're totally right! Do what is fun.
DeleteBlogging better not be going out of style, I'm only just getting back into it lol!
ReplyDeleteAnd I am so glad you're back! I've missed you :)
DeleteI realised I was old enough to ignore fashion when I found a leg width in jeans I liked and stuck with it - no more squeezing into tight jeans for me!
ReplyDeleteBlogging was my first source of writing friends. Therefore, no matter what 'fashion' dictates, I'm sticking with my blog and my friends :-)
I too am just getting back into blogging, so I hope it's here to stay. Like the others commenting, it's my main source of keeping in touch with writers in similar states to me. I'd probably have given up without you all!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you're back too x
I agree. I think blogging has a definite place in social networking, especially for writers. It might not be a 'must' for debut authors, but I think its a great way to force ourselves to write, ponder, and share. It keeps us fresh! Trends have a way of repeating themselves anyway:)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy blogging, and I plan on sticking with it for a bit.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I miss those old leggings! They might be IN again, but I don't think they'd work ON me anymore. Sigh.
Blogging will be here for as long as people love to read. It is also a great place to put your thoughts in order. I have never jumped on a bandwagon even if my interest have aligned with them at times. Good luck on the blogging it is still cool to some of us, :P .
ReplyDeleteThat's right!! It works for me and I am not about to quit.
ReplyDeleteI think it's good to evaluate fashion and trends (including blogging) from time-to-time and decide if it's really the best choice. It was a sad day when my leg warmers were trashed but maybe one for the best (although, my daughter bought a pair recently-- who knew?!). Heart-checks for fashion or blogs are good. But glad you are choosing to stick around. :)
ReplyDeleteI was seriously just thinking about scrunchies yesterday! I had a friend who made her own. She was so cool. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice not to have to worry about being cool or in, isn't it? Although, I never was, so I never had to worry too much about it anyway! ;)
I love blogging! And even when there comes a time when it's no longer "cool" I'll still be doing it. I created such great content and met such amazing people all thanks to blogging, so I'm not giving it up! ;)
ReplyDeleteI am a junky for fashion, so I love that this post was also about leggings and scrunches. :D
I still think, as a writer, your most powerful online tool is your blog. Facebook, twitter, tumblr, pinterest, and the innumerable others are all places to refer people to you base of operations--and as lovely as website are, they aren't as dynamic and searchable as a blog. Even Goodreads can only garner so much traffic. Let the trends change. That just means to get NEW readers you're going to have to venture into other realms, not abandon old ones. =)
ReplyDeleteLeggings were great and especially comfy when one is in a leg brace and on crutches. Really? Scrunchies are out of style? Where have I been? My hair hasn't been long enough for one in awhile, I suppose that's where.
ReplyDeleteAnywhere we enjoy being is a great place to be and spend time.
Darned tootin. I just wish we could have flared jeans back. I know that they make most people look silly, but for me they really work... because they made the legs several inches longer! I'm tall, so jeans are a constant battle between showing my midrif (which I hate) or baring my ankles to the world.
ReplyDeleteI mean really world, can we just have those longer jeans back (oh, and when they make them tall, people just go crazy and do things like size them four sizes smaller and add six inches. Seriously, are longer legs that hard!!!)
Also, I'm glad you still blog. I love your blog.
If blogging is still in your heart, go for it. We are still out here reading it. I love blogging because I get to help and connect with others.
ReplyDeleteAs long as I'm not stuck on the street naked, I'm just fine with whatever I have on. Blogging is cool to me and I've met loads of cool people so who cares about the trends.
ReplyDeleteI think blogging has a few years left in it though I've heard the rumors also that blogging is on the way out. Don't want to believe that and I'm back in the leggings too. Why did we give them up?
ReplyDeleteBlogging should be about enjoyment and enjoying other's blogger's company. That's why I'm visiting your blog today. Not to sell books, not to get more people to my blog (because honestly? I don't think that works). To connect. :)
ReplyDeleteI almost got on the phone and called in a whooping on your candy a**!! then I read on... phew. don't DO THAT!! but yes, please wear leggings because I do at LEAST once a week. :) and I wear a scrunchie at night...IN YOUR FACE GLAMOUR MAG! blogging is as cool as me know you...and dang it if that's not cool!
ReplyDeleteI questioned blogging just because of the time element and nothing to do with the coolness factor, but simply cut down, rather than stop. I like to blog. It keeps me practicing the craft when I don't feel like working on fiction. And it seems I always have something to say.
ReplyDeleteM.L. Swift, Writer: The Best is Yet to Come
I've had to cut back on blogging, but so far I haven't quit. I'm just managing. As to leggings, I love 'em. Comfortable and easy to work out or sit in while I write. Love the flex they have.
ReplyDeleteYay for leggings! (as long as you're not wearing a regular t-shirt w/them...lol) And now that I've discovered blogging, I don't see myself stopping- it's too fun! In fact, I just picked up a couple of small items today for a Valentine's giveaway that I want to do.
ReplyDeleteAh, the black leggings. I wore them as a goth girl. I'm trying to get myself to step back from a lot of blogging and balance my time better. Personally, I love reading blogs and blogging. I believe it's my biggest tool as a writer in so many ways. :)
ReplyDeleteDo what works for you, Elizabeth. That is the most important rule to follow in any aspect of life. Dragon hugs!
ReplyDeleteHey Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, rock on with your blogging. I think of it as an integral part of the ethos of sharing, caring and encouraging. Or something like that. Blogging can be exhausting. I like to think of it as productive form of exhaustion that can be of interactive reward.
I, however, do need new leggings. Thanks for the reminder.
Gary :)
If blogs are uncool, then facebook is dead. How much life blood does Twitter have?
ReplyDeleteWho knows were the trends are heading in social media, but the blogs seem to be a good outlet for me right now. I'm glad they are working for you too!
Leanne ( http://readfaced.wordpress.com/ )
NO wonder I haven't seen you around .... PLEASE>.... Blogging IS and ALWAYS WILL BE in vogue! Where else will total strangers give you their time, advice, friendship, and yes, may I say, LOVE, asking for nothing in return. Our community is like a pack of puppies always aiming to please everyone.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are back in the fold, Elizabeth.
At times we ALL leave for a bit of time, but when we come back we are welcomed with tales wagging!
ALL the best for 2014!