Apparently, I’ve been on a blogging break. Didn’t really mean to do that, but I’ve not had much to say…okay, that’s a lie. I’ve had plenty to say but most of it was so opinionated that I scared myself when I wrote it. I stopped writing for a few short weeks, but I’m back and I have SO MUCH to talk about. First up…..
Originality. Unique. Different.
I like different. I am not a fan of the cookie cutter anything.
I love that one funky house in the neighborhood – you know the one. And on that note, I love old neighborhoods where the houses were each different. Different styles, different heights, different colors, different sizes… just different. I am not a fan of the modern subdivision with the six standard house styles, matching mailboxes, and standardized yards w/ approved fences. I know the whole property value thing… just not my style.
When I started on this blogging journey in January 2008 one of my favorite things about the blogworld was the uniqueness in the blogs. Sure there were some cookie cutters (and a few copy cats) but overall there was this wonderful difference in blogs – different voices, different structures, different styles and different designs. I loved it. There were no subdivisions with standardized yards, there were just originality popping out everywhere!
Something is happening…. so many blogs are becoming….well, all the same. I can’t tell you how many blogs I’ve read in the past six months that are copycats. Where was once a unique blogging voice, I now hear an cheap knock off. Where I once read fun exploits, I now find promotional posts. Where I once found different, I now find….. subdivisions. Of course, subdivisions give you a collective voice and a more powerful presence. I’m not knocking it, just saying I miss more of the original voices.
Sure there are still originals, but commerce is choking off the different. I realize that I should like the pot telling the kettle it’s black and yes, I do blog for a few different places, but those are organizational blogs — they aren’t me. I’m still me, just here doing the blog thing when I remember. What about you – what’s happening in your blog world? Are you still walking along on the different path or are you joining the collective voices?
Mary,
I am so trying to be the unique blogger that God called me to be. Oh, I do not want to become cookie cutter boring. Nope! Actually, I have been somewhat silent in blogland of late and that is because I saw myself doing exactly what you are talking about. I had fallen into the trap of posting just to post; rather than posting what the Lord gave me.
Now, I’m trying to post only when God says write and then, only what He gives me.
I want to be an original….a God made, God promoted original.
Luv ya girlie, n
Leah
I go through different phases. My blog is typically a bunch of pictures and stories about my children, me, and my faith. From time to time, I start spending too much time on the Internet, reading what others are doing, and get really involved in the relationship aspect of blogging. I read too much. I post too much. And sometimes get into weekly themed stuff, doing a giveaway here and there, etc. So in that regard, I see your point about cookie cutter blogging. But then real life beckons, I get out of my overblogging stage, and I go back to my regular blogging format…less frequent, more of a journaling format. Both are fun. And both are me. We recently moved to a new state. New, new, new everything, which rips me apart every time. I’m so sick of moving, but it’s part of living for the Lord…accepting His call is really hard on me, though. And meeting new friends, reading new blogs, posting, etc. has been a much-needed distraction for me. It’s filled a hole, not having friends. So if you find my blog to be in the cookie cutter category, I’m sorry. But it is very much me, however I do it. 🙂
When it comes down to it, though, my blog is a record of me and my life. One day, I will read back over it and remember who I was, who we were. What a blessing!