I miss blogging. I miss how it used to be….
I started blogging when I was pregnant with my daughter, which would be 8 or 9 years ago. It was just a family blog with pregnancy and then baby updates. My family, who didn’t live close, could read it and keep up to date on our little family in Wisconsin.
I continued to blog very regularly and documented so much of my daughters first years. I love being able to look back and read details I would have probably forgotten if I hadn’t written it down. I wish I would have been better keeping up with it for my son 4 years later.
Back then blogging was about sharing pictures and journaling our lives. I have met and made friends through blogging. Most don’t blog anymore. Now it’s Instagram and Facebook. I miss connecting in the blogging world. Seeing fun pictures and memories my friends are making. It used to be simple and straight forward. No rules and no schedule.
Now it seems to be more about traffic. About making money. Having to have a “niche” to blog. I can’t stand it when bloggers apologize for being away. 1. That pressure is so unnecessary. And 2. I’m sorry but, I think people kind of need to get over themselves when they say that. Not everyone is on the edge of their seat waiting for your return.
Anyway! I miss when blogging used to just be posting what and whenever we wanted. Not to earn traffic and money. No pressure. And the rules! Oh man the rules these days. Pinterest is filled with posts about How to Start a Blog or Great Content to Write for More Traffic or What SEO to Use… Blah Blah Blah.
I don’t think blogging always has to be that way. I think it can be as simple as opening up a page and writing. No structure, tags, links, or whatever. Make it what you want. I understand people doing it for income. Some people have special talents and wisdom that is great for sharing. I totally get it. But I don’t think there has to be rules to have a blog.
My blogging has evolved. I had a personal blog, that’s now private and I don’t write in that anymore. I had a crochet blog and turned it into this blog. This blog I want to use to write about whatever I want. It may be heavy in the knit and crochet categories but I plan to open up to other things. No rules. No pressure. I’m cool if I don’t get a single comment. I just want to share things and will be grateful if people want to interact and follow along. I hope to write about my weight loss journey in the future. Hoping to encourage others.
Thanks for listening to my long winded thoughts on blogging! I hope if you want to start a blog that you can find peace in knowing that it can be under your own rules and what content you want to write. Blogging should be fun and enjoyable!
Do any of you have a blog going back years? The good ole days of blogging? Or do any of you want to start one and are hesitant? Feel free to share your blogging thoughts. 🙂
-Mary
Rachel S.B. says
I’ve had a crafty blog for just over 8 years and a family blog for over 11 years and I totally agree with your post. Blogging has definitely changed and I miss it. I’ve wanted to quit several times (almost every month) but I keep going because of my mom – she likes seeing what I’m up to 🙂
Mary Jane says
I say don’t quit and do it for yourself (and your mom). 🙂
Debbie Skretting says
Thank you….finally a blog I can get behind. I don’t read blogs because they seem so….”prepared”. Almost as if they’re all alike if you get what I mean. Be who you are, write what you feel and keep sharing – I appreciate it! 🙂
Mary Jane says
I am totally with you on reading blogs these days. I have a couple I have been reading for years and that’s usually it. All of the newer ones seem to be about the same stuff. Full of ads and sponsored posts. Thank you for your sweet comment! I plan on keeping this space for what I want to post. Thank you!
Jeanette Renting says
My blog is nearly 3 years old now. And I write about my life, my visits at musea, crochet and knitting and everything else.
I love these post of you, and totally agree.
Have a nice day, Jeanette.
Mary Jane says
Thank you! I think that’s great you are blogging about what you love. Thanks for reading!
Suzanne Sawyer says
I’ve often thought about starting a blog, but all of the rules and accompanying expectations kept me from it. I like to write, and occasionally think I may have some things to share that could be useful to someone. Or not! Your honest comments have made me rethink the idea of blogging and given me a bit of encouragement.
Thank you!
Mary Jane says
I say start one! It can be so simple and easy. You make your own rules. I think if you have a passion for writing, you should share it. Even if it’s just a personal journal for yourself. Let’s bring back “old school” blogging with no rules. Ha! 🙂 Thank you for reading!
Linda in Calif. says
I’ve been noticing the same thing many of the blogs I read seemed geared for driving traffic to the ads. Well, I’m not a great writer – or even a good one, however, I’m just going to keep blogging for myself (so cool to see the wonderful things that have happened throughout the years). I love visiting and seeing another “cyber” friend’s life through their words and pictures. Nice to read your blog post and agree with your blogging thoughts.
Fonda says
When a blogger apologizes for being away, I want to say that I didn’t notice you were gone! Yes! Get over yourselves!!!
I have a blog, and I haven’t written in it for probably two years. It was a regular, run-of-the-mill production. I posted when I had something to say. It was heavy on my love of making cards and playing with paper. I have to deal with depression, and the thought of posting was also dragging me down. So, I quit. Although I’m still dealing with depression, I was to start another blog. Maybe heavy about showing what I’ve found while thrifting. I even have a name chosen, but I have yet to start it. I keep saying SOON.
When I see a blog becoming too “commercial”, I don’t stick around. Really…How do you work a pain reliever into a blog about refinishing furniture!?! Geez… I have an ad blocker running on my computer. It gets rid of the clutter, and I love it. Sometimes, I have to turn it off in order to participate in something, but I can also use a different browser. If someone wants to make money off their blog, fine, but I don’t have to look at their ads, and I don’t click on their colorful words that send me to Amazon!
Believe it or not, I found your blog by getting a list from Bloglovin’. It’s because I follow my own chosen blogs through Bloglovin’. So, like it or not, you’ve made a name for yourself. I don’t knit or crochet any more, and I don’t know what your blog is all about, but I will check it out and see if it’s for me. I’ve had a wonderful time reading just this entry, so your low-key rant was something I could identify with. And, that’s fine with me. Keep blogging, and enjoy the process. Don’t follow trends, and have your own kind of fun. Thank you for your piece of mind. I enjoyed reading it.
Dalene says
How refreshing to read your blog. Blogs were so simple and uncluttered, not so commercialized. I don’t blog (yet) but have wondered what I would blog about.
C Kigour says
I like the idea of old school blogging. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it I found them interesting.
Kelsey says
My current blog is only a year old, but I’ve been blogging for about ten years altogether. And it definitely has changed a lot! I never used to have to make a content calendar or plan relevant social media posts. There’s a lot more pressure now. But I don’t really follow all the rules.
By the way, my favorite sentence from this post, about bloggers apologizing for being away: “Not everyone is on the edge of their seat waiting for your return.” I can’t stop laughing!!
Jackie Theresa says
I liked the honesty of your article and your passion for blogging to share everything and anything that of interest to you. I have had ”I know right” or “that’s what I was thinking” moments reading blogs and that’s a nice feeling!
Margaret says
I totally agree with you. I love blogs more than all other social media. I love reading blogs, giving a reply on blogposts. And I love to make blogposts without income and commercial stuff. When you want to find sonething on a blog it is easy. With Instagram and FB it is like they are eating up posts and I don’t like that someone behind those social media is influencing what I can see and read and when.
Let’s blog as in old times. That gives a good feeling.
Have a nice day. Margaret
Angela says
I just became a grandmother and started a new blog, ( it has no posts yet), with my daughter about crafts, parenting and life. I spent all my time trying to figure out blogging instead of writing what I know and love and just sharing it. Your blog inspired me just when I was getting overwhelmed. I needed to hear this at the exact moment I found your post. I am also a Christian and was excited to see you include this on your blog. So thank you for reigniting a flame that was starting to fizzle out.