(Yes, I'm reusing the post title. I acknowledge that and am moving on.)
Okay, there was some sort of thing in my life or a book or something that inspired the post you're about to read (assuming you continue, which I hope you will), but I honestly can't remember what it was. So, I'll be making one up.
The book Extras, the fourth book in the Uglies Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld (or, really, I think of it as a spin-off, but that's a different conversation), there's a lot of discussion about the sort of things that people kick (post on their blogsites). In the fame-based world, there exist a population of people called ego-kickers who post mainly or entirely about their lives. Others post about other things, but even the MC, who posts about a lot of things, admits to having put pretty much her entire life online. [Good book, by the by. Highly recommend the whole series.]
So, here's my deal. What sort of things do you post about on your blog? By which I mean, do you talk a lot about your life?
I, personally, don't talk a lot about my life on the blog. (You might have noticed.) Usually, I limit the references to comments on how the post idea came about, or maybe an amusing anecdote. That was a personal decision. I didn't want to go splashing my life all over the interwebs. So, yeah, I'm not an ego-kicker. It's not all about me. (I mean, it sort of is, but not in quite the same way. Oh, you know what I mean...)
Sometimes, I admit, I'm surprised about the sort of things people are willing to post about themselves online. I've read some things in which people talk about medical conditions or other people's personal lives. You hear all sorts of stories about people blogging their intimate relationships with other people, as it were. And part of me thinks, "Why would you do that?"
Please understand that I don't intend this as a judgment on people who post a lot about their life. I'm just a somewhat private person, so I wouldn't dream of posting that sort of thing on the Internet for the consumption of people I've never met. I mean, if that's what you prefer to do, that's your business, and I hope you enjoy. I just don't share the impulse.
So, how do you feel about posting things related to your personal life? Why do you feel this way? How do you make the determinations about what to post?
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I don't generally post about my life, it's pretty boring. I mean, I may put in a line or two about the Monster Baby driving me nuts, or building the fence but that's because I want my 'audience' to see I am a real person too.
ReplyDeleteI started the blog to talk about my writing and I try to stick to that, with all its ups and downs, trials and tribulations, because that's what it's about.
I try to limit any discussion about my personal life. I started blogging to document my writing journey, so I try and stick to writing related topics.
ReplyDeleteI try to keep to the subject of writing in general, although I may include tidbits of my life.
ReplyDeleteI try not to get too personal. Although I did do my first vlog and shared my bed with the world today. So maybe I share more than I think. Hmmm.
ReplyDeleteBest Bedtime Story Ever!
Piedmont -- Well, you've clearly found your platform, which I'm told is a good and useful thing to do. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteSusan -- I think this is a common sentiment in the writing/blogging universe, at least the parts of it I tend to encounter.
Talli -- I think that's the way of the world. The tidbits are sort of an unavoidable aspect of blogging.
KAH -- Now I'm wondering about the sort of things that people reveal without realizing it. Hmm... interesting. I'll have to go check out this vlog. (In the most non-stalkery way possible, I promise.)
Generally I post content that hopefully readers find thought-provoking, entertaining, educational, humorous, or even touching. Most of the time I do that without getting too specific about my personal life, because quite frankly, none of the people in my life signed up to be the topic of one of my blogs.
ReplyDeleteIts difficult not to get personal though. We each pour our heart and souls into our writing and that spills out onto our blogs sometimes.
hmmm, I think I'm a cross between you and a full-blown ego-kicker.
ReplyDeleteI don't say stuff about my personal friendships usually, unless it's a funny story, or inspirational/thought provoking. But nothing they wouldn't be comfortable with. Also, it's not an entire narrative of what happened.
I will also rant about lame stuff that happened to me occasionally, but I'm trying to keep that to a minimum, cause I know that it's not too fun to read :P
But then again, it's better to get that out of my system by talking about it than exploding in someone's face from pent up frustration. It's an odd balance to manage :-/