Comments on: Do You Blog For Yourself or Your Readers? http://www.readreactreview.com/2009/08/10/do-you-blog-for-yourself-or-your-readers/ Book Reviews, Philosophy, Academic Life Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:53:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bev’s Books » Blog Archive » My father would’ve loved to blog http://www.readreactreview.com/2009/08/10/do-you-blog-for-yourself-or-your-readers/#comment-5363 Bev’s Books » Blog Archive » My father would’ve loved to blog Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:19:55 +0000 http://www.racyromancereviews.com/?p=3245#comment-5363 [...] I’ve noticed a spat of posts around the romance blogosphere about why people blog. There was one over on Racy Romance Reviews a while back, but it was by far not the only one I’ve noticed in recent weeks. There have [...] [...] I’ve noticed a spat of posts around the romance blogosphere about why people blog. There was one over on Racy Romance Reviews a while back, but it was by far not the only one I’ve noticed in recent weeks. There have [...]

]]> By: Alice Audrey http://www.readreactreview.com/2009/08/10/do-you-blog-for-yourself-or-your-readers/#comment-5128 Alice Audrey Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:43:25 +0000 http://www.racyromancereviews.com/?p=3245#comment-5128 Personally, I blog for my readers. But I see no reason why you can't toss in your two cents if you are so moved. Personally, I blog for my readers. But I see no reason why you can’t toss in your two cents if you are so moved.

]]> By: Rebecca Baumann http://www.readreactreview.com/2009/08/10/do-you-blog-for-yourself-or-your-readers/#comment-3680 Rebecca Baumann Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:55:45 +0000 http://www.racyromancereviews.com/?p=3245#comment-3680 Hi Jessica - <em>love</em> the topic - you're a blogger blogging about the purpose of blogging, and then other bloggers added blog comments on why <em>they</em> blog. It's a glorious blogfest. I'm only sorry that I'm late to the party. Can I keep using the word blog? It's so much fun. My reasons for blogging: 1) I haven't had an in-person 'girlfriend' since the third grade (I look at every redheaded woman I meet trying to locate my long lost bud Kristy). Seriously, I meet very cool readers, authors, and bloggers by blogging. 2) I'm an ego-centric hound dog who is fawning shamelessly for attention each and every day. I'm practically jumping up and down, peeing on myself with excitement, and saying "Look at me! Look at me!" 3) Everything that could ever be said about books has already been said. But people want to read fresh old stuff, not old old stuff. I'm like the emperor penguin who toddles back to my chick and regurgitates partially digested seafood into their gullet. When I put it that way, how can you help but say, YUM? Sorry, I'm obviously an irreverent jackass at times, but I did enjoy your post and all the ensuing comments. I hope you won't ban me from now on. I'd like to come back for tea and crumpets. Hi Jessica – love the topic – you’re a blogger blogging about the purpose of blogging, and then other bloggers added blog comments on why they blog. It’s a glorious blogfest. I’m only sorry that I’m late to the party. Can I keep using the word blog? It’s so much fun.

My reasons for blogging:

1) I haven’t had an in-person ‘girlfriend’ since the third grade (I look at every redheaded woman I meet trying to locate my long lost bud Kristy). Seriously, I meet very cool readers, authors, and bloggers by blogging.

2) I’m an ego-centric hound dog who is fawning shamelessly for attention each and every day. I’m practically jumping up and down, peeing on myself with excitement, and saying “Look at me! Look at me!”

3) Everything that could ever be said about books has already been said. But people want to read fresh old stuff, not old old stuff. I’m like the emperor penguin who toddles back to my chick and regurgitates partially digested seafood into their gullet. When I put it that way, how can you help but say, YUM?

Sorry, I’m obviously an irreverent jackass at times, but I did enjoy your post and all the ensuing comments. I hope you won’t ban me from now on. I’d like to come back for tea and crumpets.

]]> By: Jessica http://www.readreactreview.com/2009/08/10/do-you-blog-for-yourself-or-your-readers/#comment-3610 Jessica Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:45:29 +0000 http://www.racyromancereviews.com/?p=3245#comment-3610 <b>KristieJ</b> wrote: <blockquote>I think the most important thing of all though is to have fun – even if you are ranting over something.</blockquote> Amen to this, Kristie. I find that as long as I don't lose sight of this, everything else goes smoothly. KristieJ wrote:

I think the most important thing of all though is to have fun – even if you are ranting over something.

Amen to this, Kristie. I find that as long as I don’t lose sight of this, everything else goes smoothly.

]]> By: medumb http://www.readreactreview.com/2009/08/10/do-you-blog-for-yourself-or-your-readers/#comment-3605 medumb Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:53:56 +0000 http://www.racyromancereviews.com/?p=3245#comment-3605 Thanks Jessica! Had seen romance wiki in passing, but haven't made time to look at it more in depth. Though I guess this means even less work is going to be done this week! ;) Thanks Jessica!
Had seen romance wiki in passing, but haven’t made time to look at it more in depth.
Though I guess this means even less work is going to be done this week! ;)

]]> By: KristieJ http://www.readreactreview.com/2009/08/10/do-you-blog-for-yourself-or-your-readers/#comment-3596 KristieJ Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:48:12 +0000 http://www.racyromancereviews.com/?p=3245#comment-3596 Me - I blog for myself. If I did it for others, I'm sure I wouldn't blog about half the stuff I do and I know I'd stifle myself a lot more then I do. Of course I'm happy that other people enjoy reading my thoughts on books, toilet paper, underwear, playing poker and other things I've done over the years. As for taking on a topic that others have done, everyone has a different point of view and I think yours is just as interesting as others - and probably more so in some cases :) I think the most important thing of all though is to have fun - even if you are ranting over something. Me – I blog for myself. If I did it for others, I’m sure I wouldn’t blog about half the stuff I do and I know I’d stifle myself a lot more then I do. Of course I’m happy that other people enjoy reading my thoughts on books, toilet paper, underwear, playing poker and other things I’ve done over the years.
As for taking on a topic that others have done, everyone has a different point of view and I think yours is just as interesting as others – and probably more so in some cases :)
I think the most important thing of all though is to have fun – even if you are ranting over something.

]]> By: Tumperkin http://www.readreactreview.com/2009/08/10/do-you-blog-for-yourself-or-your-readers/#comment-3583 Tumperkin Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:38:48 +0000 http://www.racyromancereviews.com/?p=3245#comment-3583 <b>Jessica</b> wrote: <blockquote>And for me, this kind of reflection on blogging IS fun. I don’t stress over what to blog, but I am interested in thinking about it. There is a difference. There are stressful things in my life. Blogging is not one of them. I think the tension between the self-interested or selfish aspects of blogging and the public/communal ones is interesting. </blockquote> Yes. It <strong>is</strong> interesting. And you're right - I do think of the people who may read a post as I'm writing it, so it's disingenuous to say 'I only blog for myself' (as I probably implied in my earlier comment). I wouldn't keep a private journal in the nature of my blog. The fact that it is public and open to be read and commented on by others is part of the attraction. You're opening a conversation (hopefully) and engaging with others on questions that interest you. But it's not all about debate and exchange of ideas. I think a lot of its about validation; the seeking out of like-minded people and the reaching of consensus is I think just as important to a lot of bloggers. Um - I don't think that really adds anything - I'll ponder further... Jessica wrote:

And for me, this kind of reflection on blogging IS fun. I don’t stress over what to blog, but I am interested in thinking about it. There is a difference. There are stressful things in my life. Blogging is not one of them.
I think the tension between the self-interested or selfish aspects of blogging and the public/communal ones is interesting.

Yes. It is interesting. And you’re right – I do think of the people who may read a post as I’m writing it, so it’s disingenuous to say ‘I only blog for myself’ (as I probably implied in my earlier comment).

I wouldn’t keep a private journal in the nature of my blog. The fact that it is public and open to be read and commented on by others is part of the attraction. You’re opening a conversation (hopefully) and engaging with others on questions that interest you. But it’s not all about debate and exchange of ideas. I think a lot of its about validation; the seeking out of like-minded people and the reaching of consensus is I think just as important to a lot of bloggers.

Um – I don’t think that really adds anything – I’ll ponder further…

]]> By: Jessica http://www.readreactreview.com/2009/08/10/do-you-blog-for-yourself-or-your-readers/#comment-3581 Jessica Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:28:05 +0000 http://www.racyromancereviews.com/?p=3245#comment-3581 <b>medumb</b> wrote: <blockquote>Just wanted to pop back with a thanks for the book titles for me to hunt down. to go with the copy of BHB that just arrived the other day. PMSL </blockquote> Laura is an incredible fount of knowledge about what's going on in romance scholarship. Have you checked out the romance wiki? It's also a great resource. http://www.romancewiki.com/Romance_Scholarship medumb wrote:

Just wanted to pop back with a thanks for the book titles for me to hunt down.
to go with the copy of BHB that just arrived the other day. PMSL

Laura is an incredible fount of knowledge about what’s going on in romance scholarship. Have you checked out the romance wiki? It’s also a great resource.

http://www.romancewiki.com/Romance_Scholarship

]]> By: medumb http://www.readreactreview.com/2009/08/10/do-you-blog-for-yourself-or-your-readers/#comment-3580 medumb Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:36:01 +0000 http://www.racyromancereviews.com/?p=3245#comment-3580 Just wanted to pop back with a thanks for the book titles for me to hunt down. to go with the copy of BHB that just arrived the other day. PMSL Just wanted to pop back with a thanks for the book titles for me to hunt down.
to go with the copy of BHB that just arrived the other day. PMSL

]]> By: Jessica http://www.readreactreview.com/2009/08/10/do-you-blog-for-yourself-or-your-readers/#comment-3579 Jessica Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:10:53 +0000 http://www.racyromancereviews.com/?p=3245#comment-3579 The Hollows looks very good. Our library actually has it so I think I will pick it up tomorrow. So I don't come off as a real naysayer ... You know what essay I think is really terrific? "Busting Textual Bodices: Gender, Reading, and the Popular Romance" by Carol Ricker-Wilson, The English Journal, Vol. 88, No. 3, Genderizing the Curriculum (Jan., 1999), pp. 57- 64, Published by: National Council of Teachers of English, Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/821580 (it's in the Romance wiki). I was just rereading it and thinking of assigning it with the Gaffney. The Hollows looks very good. Our library actually has it so I think I will pick it up tomorrow.

So I don’t come off as a real naysayer … You know what essay I think is really terrific? “Busting Textual Bodices: Gender, Reading, and the Popular Romance” by Carol Ricker-Wilson, The English Journal, Vol. 88, No. 3, Genderizing the Curriculum (Jan., 1999), pp. 57-
64, Published by: National Council of Teachers of English, Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/821580 (it’s in the Romance wiki). I was just rereading it and thinking of assigning it with the Gaffney.

]]>