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No-Niche Memoir Blog

Yesterday Vanessa from Silly Eagle Books brought her 2 girls over for a playdate. The kids played with stamps, hid in the Little Mermaid tent, made tortilla pizzas with olives, bacon, pepperoni and pineapple and then played Barbies in the playroom. Vanessa and I talked about blogging comments and our kids.

I was going to write a whole post about it and laugh about the fact that when 2 bloggers get together there should be lots of pictures and documentation. But we didn’t do any of that. Four kids kept us too busy. Or maybe talking did.

But as I started writing I got this block. I couldn’t write a this-is-what-we-did-today post for anything. It felt heavy. Forced. Boring.

Then later than night while I was answering Disney questions, I clicked over to twitter and saw this question:

no niche blog

That’s what ohAmanda is/was—a no-niche memoir blog. I want to pass along a window of my life (and my kids’ lives) to my family while encouraging and entertaining you along the way. It’s not an organization blog, a parenting blog, a craft blog, an attachment parenting, a simple living blog or any other amazing niche blog. It’s just a blog about a normal, run-of-the-mill mom and what I’m interested in.

But I find myself unable to write the day-to-day stuff about our lives. Seriously, when was the last time I did that? I try to show you a picture of the kids every Saturday because if I didn’t, I might never write a diary-of-our-mundane-life post again! And not because I don’t want to. I just can’t.

So, then I tweeted Cecily & Jo-Lynne about it. Jo-Lynne suggested that as our kids get older it’s harder to write about them. Maybe. But I wrote about Lydia when she was 2 like Asa. Why don’t I write about Asa being 2?

I wonder if it’s because I’ve been around so long—I mean, 4 years of me doing the same thing every year has got ME bored! I looked at my archives and in 2007 I was literally writing a journal of my days (check out this post exactly FOUR years ago TODAY). In 2008, I got wordier (surprise! surprise!) and a little more interactive (ahh, preggo me!). 2009? I sound different. And I start mourning the loss of my random. Last year I got introspective and began to write 4 feet long posts.

I know why this happened. I’m not suggesting I change or try to go back. It’s just interesting to look at. And it brings me back to Cecily’s question: Is there room for a no-niche memoir blog? Or better still, Can a no-niche memoir blog continue to grow, gain readers and have influence?

If you’re a no-niche memoir blogger, what do you think? How has your blog changed over the years?

 

If you’re not a blogger, do you read no-niche memoir blogs? Do you actively follow blogs that are ONLY about someone’s daily life?

 

 

Comments

  1. I’m a no nicher and I prefer to read no-niche blogs. I think starting out memoirs were the “thing” and were my thing too. If I had thought I needed to have a niche starting out I probably would have never blogged in the first place. I do think we are busier and have increased the amount of people and blogs we read and connect to so we do them at conenience now, via reader, on iphones and it’s not as easy to comment anymore. Instead of reading someone everyday I might play catchup every couple weeks and read a bunch at a time. Or just the day I happen to be able to pop in. I will keep my no niche blog because it’s my true self and I’m so thankful for it. I free-lance write for niche blogs and they are my least favorite to write and read. I’m out of style I guess, but you know how things cycle. I think it will come around in again.

    Steph

    Steph

    • I totally agree that if blogging had begun as “niche” I would not have been as quick to jump in. But I guess what I’m wondering now is am I really a memoirist? Maybe no-niche and memoir are NOT synonyms. I’m not sure if I’m a memoirist anymore. I kind of don’t want to just journal my days and years. I WANT to share the interesting parts of my life/interests. Does that make sense?

      And also, do you think we kind of gravitate to a “niche” even when we don’t mean to? Don’t you think you have a sub-niche of baby-wearing/AP in your blog? Maybe there is an inkling of niche even in us no-niche bloggers?

      Just talkin’…

      {I knew you’d comment on this one, friend!}

      • LOL I don’t know! I think by accident, writing about my life showcases a more attachment parenting approach but I’m not out there giving tips or anything. Actually, I’m more likely to GET tips from my commenters, ha. The babywearing stuff is kind of in the past now (but I won’t be changing my blog name!)

        I think I’m just real life- kind of bits and pieces and I love to view that with other people- the bits and pieces. I write and read what I like. I think it’s fun to not know what to expect every day at your favorite blog. Maybe they’re waxing poetic, maybe they just posted a photo, maybe they are being crazy honest, maybe they tried an awesome recipe, etc etc. I am into that. Niche blogs aren’t an every day read for me. Like, I wouldn’t check a food blog/organization blog/etc daily- only when I need inspiration. But memoir/random-ish “blogs” (what I define as blogs originally anyway!) are what I’m more likely to not want to miss every day. If that makes any sense! Also, I feel like a dinosaur here. I am certain they were all: we won’t ever be extinct! LOLOHDEAR.

        • I still read memoir blogs and find that those are the ones that fill my reader. What saddens me is that a lot of them I used to love have either disappeared or turned into infomericials with sponsored posts.

          I don’t even say that trying to sound better than that. My blog turned into that last year as I wanted to join the money train all these niche bloggers were talking about. But I started to HATE my blog, lost a ton of readers and almost quit altogether.

          I would rather have little to no traffic, but still write about something that interests me at the end of the day. And if people don’t like to read my mundane drivel I will keep writing it anyway for now. Because I love the writing and I love the interaction.

          My 2 cents on what is happening with memoir bloggers is that Twitter is what really is killing them. If people want to know what is going on with me they can often find out via 140 characters which is a lot easier to read than 140 paragraphs over on my blog.

          • Jill, you know what I just started doing is saving my tweets into draft instead of posting them. I absolutely struggle with the Twitter killed the blog star thing. So then I go back and have plenty of blog posts right there waiting for me in my twitter drafts… kind of like the olden days BT (before twitter). So, my twitter presence is suffering. Maybe? Probably even not. I do think some of us give away too many gems on twitter that are dreadfully overlooked by a fast moving stream.

            Steph

          • “I would rather have little to no traffic, but still write about something that interests me at the end of the day. And if people don’t like to read my mundane drivel I will keep writing it anyway for now. Because I love the writing and I love the interaction.”

            Yep. that’s what I came back to as well. And ya know what? When I came back to that, my traffic started increasing again, after being stagnant for like a year. Go figure.

      • I think I have sort of two mini-niches — fashion and food — and perhaps that has helped.

        But the other thing – memoir vs journal – I dont know that there’s a difference, but for me, the light dawned when I realized that what I love most is storytelling, and that every post is its own mini-story, and I think THAT is when I came into my own as a blogger. Every review, every post about food or fashion or my kids or my TV shows – whatever it is, I try to tell it like a story. I think that’s what separates a mundane “here’s what I did today” post from something that is engaging and fun to read.

        Maybe?

        Or maybe no one really knows. It’s all a mystery. LOL

        • JoLynneS, That is how I write to – I love to tell the story behind real life. So, does that make it a storytelling blog instead of a memoir-blog? But I’m new to the blogging game (5 months and 54 followers).

  2. I keep reading all of this blogging advice from well-known, professional bloggers who are screaming about FIND YOUR NICHE! FIND THE NICHE NOBODY ELSE HAS! Oh, and while you’re at it, WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW!

    Well, what I know is what’s going on in my life. Just so happens that, right now, I’m a mom and an Army wife and so are a lot of other bloggers. And maybe I’m tired of trying to force myself into a niche. I feel like I’m being pigeon-holed.

    So, I write what I know. If that makes me a no-niche memoir blog, then… eh. Ok. No, it won’t make me a wealthy professional blogger. But if I’m basing my blogging happiness only on my stats, then maybe I’m not blogging for the right reasons, at least on my personal blog. I’ve noticed that when I start stressing about stats and trying to write the “right” things, that’s when I start losing my authenticity, and then the stats *really* drop. It’s not fun to read someone who’s clearly trying too hard.

    One of my very very very very favorite blogs to read is Mir @ Woulda Coulda Shoulda. I’ve been actively following her for 5 years, and I scroll through my reader, looking for her post everyday. She writes about her daily life in a way that has made me fall in love with her family. Her blog sports a thriving comment community, so I definitely think there is a place for memoir blogs.

    • I guess it’s like any kind of blog–anyone can be successful at it. But not EVERYONE can be successful at it. I don’t think I’m cut out for a true memoir blog. I click over to some and it DOES feel like a breath of fresh air after brands, seo, etc. (Not that there is anything wrong with that!) But I think I’m not good at being a true DAILY memoirist. Altho’, like you, I only write what I know. Which usually is what’s inside these 4 walls.

      a

  3. I’m a no-niche memoir blogger, and I came around backwards in a way. I began thinking I’d fit a simple living / parenting tips niche, but I’ve found that blogging is my sanity. And most of the time that sanity comes from taking the time to really write and reflect on my daily life. At the moment, I’m just doing what works for me. That said, I usually only average something like 75-100 hits a day when I post, and of course more readers would be nice. But I totally get why it’s hard to keep up with reading and commenting on memoir blogs. I agree with Stephanie (who I read often and rarely comment on, btw!) that convenience reading makes it harder to comment. I also think it’s more pressure to write something personal on a memoir blog comment instead of just “Oh great idea! Thanks for sharing” kind of comments on niche blogs. Great post, Amanda. I’ve often wondered the same thing about whether there is room or not anymore, but I just keep writing. 🙂

    • Katie–yes! Regardless of if there’s room (influence, readers, etc.) all the memoirists will keep writing. Without blogs, we’d scrapbook or journal. So, it doesn’t really matter if there is room, right?

      And I think you are exactly right in that memoir blogs are hard to keep up w/. I used to follow a lot of straight memoir blogs and can’t do it anymore b/c it is a commitment. There are probably only 2 blogs I’ve been following since my first foray into blogging.

      I guess asking “is there room” is loaded b/c what you’re really asking is, “why can’t I be a famous memoirst!” LOL! 🙂

  5. Yeah, I struggled with this and I just came back to the fact that I’m a writer at heart. I write about whatever is on my mind, and my blog has evolved. My readers have evolved too – some have gone as they’ve gotten busier or my topics hold less interest to them now, but others have come along. I write on Musings b/c I love it. All Things Chic is more of a job, and the freelance jobs help pay the bills. Fortunately I’m able to write about topics I’m passionate about so I enjoy them to, on another level.

    I miss the community we had in the beginning, but like Steph says, things cycle, hopefully it will come around again.

    • Just have to say that Jo-Lynne’s has been one of my favorite blogs to read since venturing into the “blog world” a couple of years ago. I think when I identify with someone – their passions (real food), sense of humor, struggles (parenting) – I am somehow encouraged and inspired by continuing to read (even though I admit to commenting on Musings of a Housewife and other favorite blogs very rarely).

  6. I’m a no-nicher and read mostly no-niche blogs. Honestly, all the healthy, money-saving, foodie blogs get old for me, because most of the time I don’t feel a true connection to the writer. And that’s what keeps me coming back. I think my blog has changed as I have changed. The more I write, the better the writing {for the most part}. My original goal with my blog was to document my life/family’s life, to have a creative outlet and to share with others. I don’t think that will ever change, even if my stats do go down. I just stop looking at them. 😉

    • You’re right–the niche blogs I do like share their personal life and that’s what keeps me coming back to them. Otherwise they are just boring info sites. I keep lots of niche blogs on my bookmarks, even if I don’t read them all the time b/c they DO have good info and I tend to trust a blogger more than a business/professional site.

  7. THIS. This is what I have struggled with, in some capacity, since my first Blissdom two years ago. The other day, Jill told me to quit changing my blog because she loves it, but what you (and your readers) have said here? It’s all part of why I can’t quite settle into one thing.

    Yes, those are profound words there. What I want to say is – thank you. This is a lot of what I feel, and it’s good to know I’m not alone. The end.

    • Oh, Mary. Your blog is FABU. I think when you have a blog like ours (thinking of a new term…”kinda no-niche”…”sorta memoir”…what do you think?) I think we get nervous when it starts changing…or not changing. Like we should be MORE like the really focused niche blogs. Instead, we need to remember that a blog is just that—a log of our life. However we want to show it.

  8. Interesting thoughts.

    I’m seeing many no-niche sites — great blogs that were once so prominently up-kept — becoming abandoned for the simplicity of Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook status updates. These social app’s ability to seamless connect with mobile devices are only perpetuating the trend.

    I love blogging, but I also keep a pretty busy schedule so time is factor in my blogging process. The one minute it takes for me to snap a photo with my phone, send that photo to Twitter, and then have Twitter communicate that image everywhere I want it to go — Tumblr then Facebook — will win out against the time it would take to post that photo on my blog (paulhobson.com <- shameless plug) later that night.

    But, to answer your question about a no-niche blog continuing to grow and gain readers? I would say yes. If you write about what your interested in, you can't help but connect with people who share similar interests. For example; I can't say I'm a fan of all your posts (and this is nothing personal, being a…well… a dude, I don't really connect on the whole "mommy" level so well) but I find your posts about blogging spot on and well worth the read. I'm a big fan of your blog because of your posts about blogging itself (such as this one) — So ironically, I'm following you because of a niche.

    • First of all–a DUDE READS MY BLOG! WOOT!

      Secondly–you are RIGHT ON! Yes! Twitter and other easy social media sites (tumblr, pinterest, facebook) gives the same feel–interaction, follows, instant affirmation, etc. as a blog. But it’s quicker and easier. I’m like Steph above, I’ve stopped tweeting every single thing and (try) keeping it as a blog post jumping board.

      And. Interesting about following me for a niche. (First of all b/c wow–I like that I’m insightful about blogging!) I’m trying to think of some of the blogs I read to see if I do the same….

      Thanks for commenting, Paul! 🙂

  9. To be honest most of the blogs I follow are niche blogs. Of course my blog feels no-niche to me, so I don’t know. Just trying to blog my passion and see where it takes me I guess

  10. Definitely feel pressure to blog differently but I’m just not a niche blog. And my stats show it. But that’s ok with me. I won’t ever be a famous blogger but it’s not why I started 9 years ago and it’s not what keeps me going.

    For the record, my favorite posts by anyone are the personal ones, not where you learn something. I just love seeing slices of people’s lives. How they truly live. I am interested in the person, not the content.

    • Whatever. You ARE famous.

      ps–I had a DREAM about you last night. Actually, it was a mash-up about The Amazing Race and the Compassion trip to the Philippines. But Shaun Groves was Jeff Probst. Which is actually Survivor not AR. Which is so totally weird. Anywhoo–you were there and you were actually saying the same thing you said above, about loving personal posts best and not the brand stuff. WEIRD.

      pss–I think it means you and I should try out for the Amazing Race. Or maybe that we need to go on a Compassion trip together. 🙂

  11. I’ve been thinking about much the same thing. Although, I never even really considered myself in the “no-niche” niche. I just kinda write whatever needs to get out of my head.

    I go through phases where I feel like I should change something, I’ve even started other sites to try it out, but then the phase ends, and I just write “stuff”. Sometimes, that stuff is our day to day life, sometimes it’s not.

    It may not be the route to fame and fortune, but there ya have it.

    At the risk of waxing on about “the good ol’ days”, as Amy said above, it used to be about reading about a person and their life, but things changed, and now it just kind of is what it is, I suppose.

    • FYI, yours is one of the first blogs I ever read, Mrs. Busy Mom. Your humor and candor and honesty has always inspired me to write better and to be real.

      And yeah, I think “it is what it is” sorta sums up the whole mom blogging thing. Can’t stop time, and all that.

      • Thanks for your kind words. Like I told someone earlier today, when I get frustrated by the whole thing, I try really hard to see what I can learn from the new trends, so I don’t get stuck in time, but when it comes down to it, I just do what I do.

    • I’m w/Jo-Lynne–you are fabulous. When I first met you at Pampers I was a blogger wet behind the ears. I was shocked at Stacy DeBraff and some of the others that were making MONEY on their blogs. I had never even heard of such! And I asked you about it—you were so encouraging and “don’t worry about it”. I’ve always remembered that b/c you seem to really see how blogging is (and what it is not, too).

      Anywhoo. Yes! I’m w/you blogging just IS different. And without the dinosaurs of “real” memoirists there would be no crazy growing money making niche blogs. They are standing on our (your) shoulders. It’s just how it is.

      • You’re too nice to me…I’m surprised I didn’t scare you at Pampers. I was SO sick with tuberculosis or something (attention world: that was a joke, I had some horrible viral respiratory illness) I ended up in the hospital after I left that one.

  12. I have two blogs – my personal blog (which is a conglomeration of mommy moments/theology/philosophy/life happenings/pictures/etc) and a writing blog. I’ve had the personal blog for about 5-6 years, and the writing blog for 5-6 months, and already I have almost as many followers for the writing blog as I do for the personal. So for me, niche blogging is definitely more popular. But I feel like the few followers I do have on my personal blog are real friends, which helps me to feel comfortable being honest, and that’s very important to me.

    Which doesn’t exactly answer your question – but addresses it in a roundabout way, I guess. Maybe the no-niche blogs aren’t going to be as spectacularly popular as the niche blogs, but I think they serve an important purpose for their writers, and that’s a good thing, too. I know I wouldn’t trade my dozen followers/friends for 1200 impersonal readers!

    • I think that’s it—niche is more popular because you’re drawing from a subculture. But the readers are probably more invested in a personal blog. Interesting insight!

      a

      • When we were trying for Ivy, Jeff said “this will be great for your blog!” – ooooh boy. People do love those belly photos!! I don’t know that I’ll ever get as many comments on posts as I did when pregnant with Ivy. But, I do not ever advise that to be a reason to have a baby. LOL.

        Steph

        • The ONLY reason you would need to hide these from your husband is if the baby isn’t his. Go get busy with that man. Just THINK of the traffic and sponsored posts from baby companies. Steph could pass on all her baby wearing contacts. There is absolutely NO downside to this. None!! 😉

  14. Your entry and the comments that followed have been very interesting and insightful. I have been thinking lately, “Why do I blog? Should I change how I blog/what I blog about?” But at the end of the day I blog for me – to document things that go on in the lives of my boys/family, to write about my spiritual/life journey, to keep family far away up-to-date, to vent, to encourage, to inspire – and if people want to keep reading that’s great, but even if they don’t, I would still blog.

  15. Very interesting stuff! I am so late to the whole blog scene- just started blogging back in February- so perhaps my perspective is a bit different. I think you are absolutely right that writing will evolve- our lives change constantly and our words should reflect that. I think the most important thing is to evaluate what your purpose is. If it is to gain followers, then you have to write about what others want to read. But if it is about the pure joy of writing, then do it! And don’t get caught up in the stats!
    BTW- Amanda- you were a huge part of my decision to start blogging in the first place. So, keep on doing what you are doing!!!! 🙂

  16. I personally don’t even feel like a real blogger. I don’t run with a circle of blogger’s at all, so to those people I am serious business, HA!

    You are absolutely right that us “no nichers” would be writing anyway. Before I knew about blogging I had a totsite for my son, and before that I journaled. I started my blog with weekly topics and I still do that to some degree. It keeps me from feeling like everything is open to discuss, so you won’t typically find me chiming in on current events or sharing my random thoughts.

  17. I wonder sometimes if we’ve forced ourselves to be more useful than interesting. I just want to read good writing, really. I never do anything interesting with my kids (or before I had to kids), so blogging became real to me when I focused slightly (mostly self-deprecating humor while musing on God and food).

    I don’t know. I read you then and I read you now. I get what you mean. I think a good mix is, well, good. My best advice, always, is to just write what you want, whatever it happens to be that day. Because if you write what you don’t want to write, it shows. (Not you in particular. Everyone.)

    • I just know that I used to “blog” and now I “Blog”. I’m not saying it’s bad. It’s just different. And I wonder about it. I really have no conclusion. But you’re right, writing what you want is the most transparent and attractive.

    • I think I struggle with this because I’m not necessarily a good writer, in the aesthetic sense of the word. I don’t even know if I’m really that interesting on a daily basis. I love tips, tutorials and technical writing, although that’s not what I want to do every day. Im a teacher at heart. Every now and then God presses something really strongly on my heart, and I will burst if I don’t write it. Those are the posts that explode and go semi-viral on FB, but I can’t do that unless he prompts me. I am a natural “spread the word” kind of girl, so I like partering with brands I love, but not every day. See what I’m getting at? I’m not a memoir blogger, but I’d be miserable in a niche. At the same time, I can’t expect the traffic of a niche blogger, or even a really great writer. And I’m ok with that. Does this make sense?

  18. I guess I tend to read the more niche-specific ones–but I don’t think that means there isn’t a place for memoir blogs–I think your personal interests naturally translate into your blog even if you don’t have a specific “kind” of blog. Had fun with you all yesterday. Thanks for having us over and for being my blog comment system counselor. 🙂

  19. My comments may not have any weight here because I have a blog that I rarely post to; however, as I read what you write my heart breaks to think that you question your place a blogger. While I do not know you IRL, I feel like we could be friends. You are one of two blogs I read everyday and always enjoy!!

    After reading all the comments, the only thing I keep thinking is- What is the goal of your blog? Are comments and other “analytics-” really how you measure if you are meeting said goal? I look at your blog as a ministry… (I know you understand this being a former Children’s Pastor). Sometime it’s hard to know what impact you are having because you are the seed planter, and someone else (even another blogger) may be reaping the harvest of what you planted.

    Let me tell you, you blog is constantly challenging me to evaluate how I serve the Lord, raise my kids, bless others less fortunate. While your blog may not change my life everyday, and I definitely don’t have time to comment everyday, I truly appreciate the non-niche you are reaching because it is me!!

    Is your goal to get famous? The stats can lead to that, right? Is it to relate with someone out there that desperately wants to know that the things they are dealing with are “normal”? That’s what those day journal posts do for me. Is it just a release for your own sanity? The stats can’t track that success.

    So the question I ask to each and every blogger that commented is what is your goal of your blog?

    • Wow. Thank you. I wish I had something more profound to say in response to your comment.

      I think what you did is say what all bloggers hope–that someone reads and is impacted. Yes, you’re right. My real goal is to influence people. (And granted, sometimes I’m influencing them to stay at Disney and buy something cute of etsy…but ultimately I want to influence people for the Lord.) Stats are sometimes the only way I can see if my words go anywhere so I think that’s why people get stuck on them.

      But thank you for the heart-felt encouragement. You have no idea how much it means to me. I’m treasuring your comment.

  20. I’m totally a no-niche blog! and over the past year or two my blog posting has dwindled, and so have my comments (commentors?). that makes me sad. but maybe not enough to make me post more. 🙁 I blame a lot of it on facebook. I write snippets of my life in status updates, and so my blog posting motivation or inspiration is lost with my one-line statuses. *sigh* I miss my blogging life.

    not sure if that answered your question. in fact, I’m pretty sure it didn’t. *sigh* sorry.

    • Facebook (and twitter, etc.) have definitely “killed” blogs. I know for sure a few bloggers who dropped their blogs because facebook was easier and just as fulfilling. (If fulfilling is the right word to use for facebook…)

      a

  21. I love to read no-niche blog. Like a good book, I like to peek into the stories of peoples lives. My kitchen thrives on the recipes on the foodie blogs. I’ve been blogging for a short time and trying a little of this and a little of that. Blogging is therapy, getting the words floating in my brain down. I think it is more honest!

    • I agree—reading no-niche blogs is a window to another life. That’s how I started reading blogs, I was unhappy at my job/life and started reading a blog about a girl w/a baby the same age as mine and I LOVED HER LIFE! You get to meet so many different people and have experiences thru them!

  22. Amanda,
    I am SO GLAD you are writing on this topic! I am new to blogging (about 2 months) and keep reading the advice from the pros- find a niche and stick to it. Conversely, they also suggest to stay genuine. I am finding it difficult to reconcile the 2. I think I am more than a one-note, but maybe that’s boring or confusing to some (most!). When you find the answer you seek- please share!! :DM

  23. Definitely that last one! I’m still holding out for us to go on a trip together!! And I wouldn’t complain if Jeff Probst showed up ;).

  24. I specifically enjoy reading no-niche memoir blogs. I like reading about other people’s lives. I only know about my life and the lives of my family and friends, so I like knowing what other people around the country (and world) are experiencing, learning, doing, speaking, suffering.

  25. I never thought of myself as a writer really – I’m more of an observer and a storyteller. I am not a blog superstar by any means, but I’ve been blogging for over six years now at Mundane Magic. My blog has evolved, but it basically is a reflection of my crazy life – I love tech / parenting ideas, adore travel, and just happen to have three kids who are growing rapidly. I started the blog while recovering from Grace’s birth – the one where we both were brought back to life after a uterine rupture. That’s where my name comes from – an appreciation of the small things in life. I ramble, but living that appreciation is a lot of what I blog about.

    Lately I have just begun to have enough material to reflect back on how much my family has changed – comparisons of Disney trips, Halloween group photos, and first day of school comparisons. Keep blogging about each of the milestones…it is so fun to look back!

  26. I’m not a blogger. I mean, I have one for the 5 or so family and friends that want to keep up with the kiddos. But I LOVE to read what you have to say. I love it because you’re normal, and smart, and dispense major amounts of humble wisdom in your reflections about everyday life. I like the “no niche” quality because it’s not intimidating. It doesn’t make me feel bad because I’m not better at this, or that. It inspires. Makes me laugh. Makes me cry. That’s why I look forward to your posts. Also, because you like good TV (Big Bang Theory!!) I don’t often comment, but I always read. So thank you!

  27. there are a precious few no-niche memoir blogs that i read. honestly, i sometimes step back and wonder why it is that i do? why do i care? what is it that sets them apart from an other jan, jane or marsha just doing their daily duties down the street?

    it probably has something to do with their presentation, a lot to do with the images, and mostly to do with the authentic nature in which they present their life. you feel like you can relate with the good, the bad, the ugly – they’re not afraid to make fun of themselves, but not in a pity party way either. hmmm….y’all have got me thinking about it all over again.

    i’ll leave a link to a post that you may find interesting related to this topic – check it out and let me know what you think…

    no-niche memoir blogs

    cheers!
    -h

  28. Hi Amanda! I had to save this post and go back to read all the comments–I find it all so fascinating. I have struggled a lot, especially since Blissdom and all the pressure I felt there (that was not healthy for me). I have finally come back to just blogging because I love it. I write for me, and if, as others have said, some people get something out of it, that’s just a bonus. I totally resonate with what Teri Bennett said above–I have to constantly go back to the goal of my blog. And I have to just let the stats go, because I have a feeling they will never be as good as I want them to be. Oh well.

    • I get it! The thing is, there’s always going to be a blog bigger than yours. So, it’s a losing battle. I see each milestone as, “Well, I should be doing better!” etc. And then it’s another balance of giving up vs. being content. Who knew blogging would be so emotional?! 🙂

      Thanks for your comment!

  29. The blogs I keep coming back to are the ones with an interesting story to tell, or a way of making everyday life interesting through good writing.
    (aka: no niche required)

  30. I know my blog is called “Holy Spirit Led Homeschooling,” but I’d really like to just call it “All other things Jesus.” I started in 08 as a memoir-journal-thing. I think I still do that. Now I also write about “stuff” the Lord puts on my heart, which is a lot of home schooling, parenting, living cheap and tons of FAITH. I think I’m all over, but I love to write so I get back to “use it Lord {somehow}.”

    This is a great post and SUPER informative comments!

  31. I’ve been browsing on on the internet a good deal much more than 3 hours these days, however We in no way identified out just about any fascinating post such as the 1 you might have.

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Hi there!


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