Writing About Writing

I subscribe to Medium because the site has original content I can’t get anywhere else. I use it for inspiration, knowledge and hope to one day publish successfully on the site. Last week, a writer wrote about something that’s bugged me for some time.

In his post, Bloggers Who Blog About Blogging, Tom Belski essentially says -we don’t need them! Blogging about blogging, and selling guides to blogging, are – in my words – naval-gazing charlatanism.

I realize that I’m blogging about blogging, but I’m not taking anyone’s money AND I’m not claiming I know the recipe to the secret sauce!

I believe it starts with content. The blogs I love have something I want to learn or keep up with. Minimalist Baker is an example of a blog that’s worth my follow. It offers recipes made in one bowl with ten ingredients or less and taking 30 minutes or less. I also visit the blogs of people I like, such as – big surprise! – Erin Davis and Ricky Gervais.

People always have advice if you’re willing to hear it. I’ve been told hundreds of times how blogs should narrow their focus and be all about one thing. I could never settle on the one thing. Should it be writing or broadcasting or journalism or publicity or cats?

Those people are trying to sell courses on blogging for money, attracting advertisers and such. I’ve been approached by a few advertisers and frankly, what they were selling doesn’t align with my values. When one does, maybe I’ll allow a banner ad. But it’s not my main focus. Maybe that’s why bloggers who blog about blogging irk me. I don’t need what they’re selling.