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| The Farmer |
In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined
forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm
with nothing in the bank but love.
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| Me...ready to battle the weeds. |
The
farm gave me plenty of fodder for blogging. I developed a following. But when
the farmer (our son) left the farm, the experiment ended, and we sold the
property. I changed Tortuga Thursday to Trippin’ Thursday. And I’ve kind of
fallen flat on my creative juices with it.
My
husband and I decided to live in the RV when the farm sold in one day, and we
had no clear plans for the next move. I borrowed a term from our younger days—trippin’.
In everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose...in
our latest season, with only a vague plan and a touch of creativity, we're off
on another adventure. Half of this twosome is retired; my half will probably
never know what that means. I promise to share.
But
once I logged on about the RV and have thrown some tips out there about how to
live frugally, I just can’t get the real crux of what I should do with my
Thursday post. We don’t move the RV around, especially since we now own a much
bigger unit. There’s a whole lot less going on at the RV Ranch with just the
two of us than there was with the farm experiment.
I’ve
toyed with getting really gritty with what life is like at this point in time:
grown children, grandchildren, aging parent, political strife within the
family, changing habits in the later years of marriage, and on and on. But
there’re a few people in my family who actually like their privacy. Jeez. Do you think changing the names would help?
What
would you like to read from an author that isn’t about writing? If you followed
Tortuga Thursday, what do you see as an interesting direction to take? I’m open
for any and all suggestions.
Brenda's personal blog, Discover Yourself:
http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/
Brenda's personal blog, Discover Yourself:
http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/
22 comments:
I agree. Coming up for topics for a weekly blog is the pits. It's hard to come up with topics that will interest potential readers. I'm still trying to figure that out too.
I set up a schedule, too. I'd post 3 days a week. Monday Musings...soapbox sometimes required. Writerly Wednesday, but the more I write, the less I feel I know. Friday Friends, but I forget to ask someone to be a guest blogger. I joined Tasty Tours and chose which of their tours I want to promote, but doing that is more bother than it's worth. Plus I'm not getting a whole lot of traffic from that idea. I seem to get the most interest when I just ramble, which we all know I can do quite well...but WHAT to ramble about? That's the thing.
Ah, we're all struggling, apparently. Thanks, Zara and Vonnie.
Let me join in that struggle...I love blogging, so I commit to too much of it, and I'm not nearly that interesting. Good luck with figuring it out. I always enjoy your posts.
I feel your struggle, Brenda. I loved Tortuga Thursdays because the farm was an interesting experiment in so many ways. But as to what should come next, I have no clue. Heck, I haven't touched my personal blog in months (years?). It's all I can do to come up with something to post here twice a month. Good luck!
I'm afraid I'm the lazy bones who only posts on her personal website once a month. Admittedly they are long posts which might take more than one read, but that's what I do. When I travelled cross-country last year for 7 weeks with my daughter, I posted daily...yes, daily! Me! Admittedly those short posts had quite a following but, like you Brenda and the farm, it was something that seemed to capture an audience. Did it make a difference to book sales? Nope. And, who knows, maybe the very fact it had a short life expectancy was something the large audience felt it could hang on with. So, what this boils down to is, I have no idea whether blogging makes a difference to writers and, quite honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. My 2c. No help, am I...
I gave up on my personal blog. I started it intending to post recipes and "dog" posts each once a week. But it was time consuming, and I'd get maybe 20 views. I gave up before growing a following. I don't know what to tell you since I can't figure it out, either. We get a whole lot more daily views here at ROP than I ever did on my own blog, so I've just made this my focus. I post a few dog pictures on Facebook, and call it good! Maybe you need to get a new dog to post about since he won't complain about privacy issues... LOL
Personally, I don't think blogging is the big thing it used to be. I tried blogging, but without a specific passion or expertise (like the farm) or cooking (like Julie-Julia), I floundered. I have so little time to write as it is, I feel my time is better spent on writing stories, not blogging. I do update my website (monthly...or I try) and throw a blog up there every now and then, but I don't sweat it anymore. Sorry I can't be any help, Brenda! (Like the farm photos, though!)
Well, Liz, if you blog a lot you must have something to say!
Alison, glad you like the old farm blog. I did too.
Thanks, Andi. Daily? That would be a chore.
No dog, Jannine! I really miss my Rusty but I do feel free!
You're right, Leah. It isn't such a deal anymore. I think I may just drop the Thursday blog. Who knows?
Sorry, Brenda. I'm no help either I'm afraid as I also started a personal blog with good intentions that soon fell flat. Focusing on my days to post here is pretty much the extent of my 'reach'. I did enjoy your posts about the farm too. You sure there's not that muchgoing on around the RV Ranch? Just asking! ;-)
I suspect every writer asks the same question. Should I Blog? If yes, what should I blog about? The canvas is vast. It is time-consuming. It can be a pain and a huge effort. I don't think the reasons for blogging are what they used to be, i.e, you need a blog as part of your platform. I would need to fact check. If you're going to blog my suggestion is don't limit yourself to a theme. I think of mine as a place to express my thoughts and try new things. It has to be something you as a writer enjoys and has fun with, if not then you have your answer.
I'm looking at the rv goings on again. Maybe I could do a gossip column Margo.
Sorry, I'm no help either, Brenda. Once I get off writing about writing I find that anything I have to say kind of bores me. It's finding inspiring topics that eludes me. I have friends who do it well, but I can't figure out what they're doing right. So . . . you have my commiseration, if not advice :-)
--Connie
Brenda, I always read your Tortuga Flats blogs because they were different. A great topic. But yes, coming up with a weekly blog must be hell. I don't even try. I can go six weeks between blogs because I suffer from "don't want to upset the masses" syndrome.
So right, Brenda. Thanks.
Well Connie as the progressed and some suggestions rolled in I've decided to look again at the boring. I just might squeeze some fun out. We'll see.
Yeah I hear you Connie. I think I'll keep blogging but not stress on it.
Yeah I hear you Connie. I think I'll keep blogging but not stress on it.
I like reading a blogger's take on what's happening--everyday life, for example. Not stressing is a good idea.
Good to hear, Diane.
It's so interesting how many authors are no longer blogging. I understand it's not all that effective, but I really enjoy it. Yes, it's time consuming, but the key is to keep the blog posts short. Readers are easily bored, and busy, so you don't want to go on and on. I have a few regular weekly posts, other than that, I love to host other authors. Whatever you decide, wishing you the best!
Thanks, Alicia. Actually I have hit on something new I'll enjoy. I think I just had to complain a little. LOL
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