Comments on: The End of my Blogging?

By: compuwhiz7

compuwhiz7 — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

Don’t go. No, really, we need you.

By: Mike Hillyer

Mike Hillyer — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

Perhaps it is time to do like in reality TV and churn out some recap episodes?

“Code samples? Nope. Applications? None. Really good articles and original content? Laughably, no.”

Ok, so do it! Cut back on the blogging and write some good articles and original content. I personally get a lot of satisfaction from the thankyou emails I get from readers of my articles and samplecode. Maybe that is why I blog very irregularly: I am always too busy writing articles and samplecode.

Another thing about the samplecode and articles thing is it can give you satisfaction in spite of work. While I may not get to exercise certain skills at work, I keep them honed with my writing.

Of course, if you want to do technical writing or samplecode I have a home for what you write.

By: Dennis Pallett

Dennis Pallett — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

Can’t offer you any perspective, but I can tell you this. I really enjoy reading your blog. It is actually one of the few blogs I actually look forward to reading through.

Though you may not contribute anything (which I don’t think so actually), but you’re definitely worth reading! I really see your blog as a ‘peek’ in the whole IT/tech world, and for me, that’s really interesting. So no, you shouldn’t stop blogging. In fact, I’d rather see you blog more

(If you want to write technical articles/code samples on ASP.NET (or PHP), I could definitely need you!)

By: Canadian Headhunter

Canadian Headhunter — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

A blogging friend of mine told me that he might cut back to one or two postings a week so that he would have time to do the research necessary to put together a long article. Since his blogging is for his own pleasure – not work – I told him that this makes a lot of sense. I suggest that you do the same – whatever you feel like doing. That doesn’t mean that your blog is not contributing anything. I’ve only known of you for a week or two and have really enjoyed the contact.

By: Vinnie Garcia

Vinnie Garcia — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

I too have toyed with changing my blog to the “magazine” format (1-2 articles per week, but in more depth than the average blog post). I would do it, but once you start blogging it’s hard to stop.

Jeremy: I can’t help but feel like I’m in the same boat as you. I like Web design and all, but as an industry I feel like IT is getting less relevant by the hour. I’m not really sure what industry would be better to switch into though; I get a good personal feeling in this line of work but feel like my career isn’t as rewarding as it could be. Maybe I should just try working for a different type of company than the ones I’ve worked for previously.

By: Michael Moncur

Michael Moncur — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

I don’t have much to say that can help, just a word of support.

I enjoy reading your weblog because it gives me a view into the Microsoft-dominated IT world that I have less and less of a connection with now that I’m doing Web projects at home, and i find it quite entertaining.

Of course, you should be doing this for *you*, and if it doesn’t work, quit. Or maybe move to a more group-blog system and let a few other people contribute perspectives.

By: Wayne Hurlbert

Wayne Hurlbert — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

Jeremy, whatever you decide to do, remember that you are among friends will support you. If you decide to take the dreaded “break”, do it. If your choose to write fewer but more indepth articles, do it. It’s your blog and it’s your decision to make. I’ll support your choice, as will all of your other friends.

By: Patrick O'Keefe

Patrick O'Keefe — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

If you only did long articles, I would seriously stop reading! Just kidding.

I enjoy the lighter, personal, funnier, short messages more than anything else.

Whatever you want to do, do it. I’ll still visit.

By: Joey Padot

Joey Padot — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

Hey! I know exactly how you feel. I just started my own web design business, but have learned that as the owner, I’m somewhat far away from what I love to do (web design). Sure I can do a project here and there, but it’s not enough for me.

I started my blog only a few weeks ago. I have two on the same site. A personal blog that sports all of my garbage, whether it be tech related or not, and the other, which fills my index page, is for my articles which I write once a week. They aren’t deeply involved, but they focus on some of the things I feel the most strongly about in web design. Additionally, I’m working on a series of tutorials that are going to play with some of the more advanced techniques in CSS. I like this because it allows me to be creative in three different areas. Articles, Tutorials, and then my own garbage. I type fast and my personal blog isn’t really focused on anything. That’s for me. The other stuff gives me a reason to bother messing with a personal website.

I think that your comment about IT not enriching your life is a load of crap. Without it you wouldn’t be here in this community that YOU’VE created reading the advice of people whom you’ve probably never seen in your life nor would have had the faintest hope of meeting if you weren’t here now.

The real question for you is:
Where am I now? and… Where do I want to go from here?

Hope this helps. Your blog ROCKS!

By: Trevor Cook

Trevor Cook — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000

Jeremy, I’m shocked. In my short blogger life, your encouragement has been very important to me. Unsolicited supportive emails are valuable indeed! You seemed to be one of the great blog advocates and pioneers.
I’ve only been blogging a month or so and I’ve been kind of obsessed of recent weeks but already I can see that I’m going to have to work out how I fit blogging into a balanced lifestyle.
I’m also going through a mini-slump myself – with the article I worked on for over a month appearing on Saturday what next? And thanks for the positive feedback on that too. I sort of feel well I’ve done blogging shouldn’t I find something else new to focus on. Or go back to my library with all those treasured volumes.
One of the great things about blogging is to have some contact with people like yourself.
But I do think one of the limitations on blogging is what’s in it for minor leaguers over the long-term. It’s great to get up to speed and to feel the thrill of it all. But if you’re not A-list and getting all the publicity and the major league hit rankings, well why bother.
We all need to find something, some level of involvement that is comfortable and sustainable. I like blogging but it doesn’t pay the rent and really I’ve got to do it because it’s fun and I have to find a way to keep the fun in it. Or why not sit on the porch and have a beer?
The core seems to me to avoid the competition thing. For an alternate media the blogosphere is very very competitive, everything is set up to be intensely competitive. Who links with who, who ranks high. It looks to me like hyper-competition – a minute by minute rat race and crap who wants to be part of that.
It can be very seductive. last week Scoble said I was a cool blogger and my hit rate went up ten fold that day and dropped right back to where it had been the next day. It felt like 15 minutes of fame and it felt weird.

Take a break, whatever, but please don’t go altogether – the blogoshere will be poorer without you.
I still reckon we can work out a blog world that’s fun for the little guy and not just the street rat race on heat.