There are hundreds of thousands -- no, actually millions of blogs out there. How do readers find blogs they love? Word of mouth -- the link sent to a friend on Facebook or Twitter is one main way. Just being enough of an amazing writer that readers are able to wade through the blogosphere swamp and find/love your work is another.
About the Bloggess
Jenny Lawson has been blogging at thebloggess.com since June 2007, though she's been a professional writer for years, writing features for the Houston Chronicle, Sexis magazine and others. Her popular blog has created speaking opportunities for Jenny at national blogging conferences, and internet ranking site alexa.com ranks the humor blog in the top 9,000 websites (of more than 10 million) in the United States.
Suite101.com recently had a chance to sit down with Jenny and ask about the world of blogging.
Interview With the Bloggess
Suite101: Were you a writer before you were a blogger? What, in your opinion, is the difference?
The Bloggess: I’ve always been a writer. Not a good writer, but a writer nonetheless. I think it was Ray Bradbury who said “Writers write always” and it’s true because when I’m not blogging I’m scrawling notes in journals and napkins and toilet paper and on my arms. I am pathologically addicted to writing.
For me, blogging is the same thing as writing except that you get this instant gratification of people telling you that you’re awesome or terrible or both. Blogging is like open-mic night. It’s live and it’s flexible and you can continue to change it and hone it as needed. To me, “Writing” is the final process. It’s the last time you touch a paragraph and then let it stand forever.
Suite101: It’s been documented in the media that dooce.com makes $40,000 a month in advertising on her blog. In terms of earning income through your blog, do you think blogging is a viable way to earn money?
The Bloggess: I think I’m probably the most successfully poor blogger ever. I have tons of traffic but advertisers are usually afraid of me because I’m unpredictable and I say what I want. I’ve been told that if I became more mainstream I could maybe make some real money but that’s not why I started blogging and if I had to temper what I said because of an advertiser then I don’t think I would enjoy blogging anymore. I actually make most of my money writing for other sites. My blog is more a place for me to have fun than it is a place to make money.
Suite101: One of the most common complaints by bloggers is finding blog post ideas. How do you find inspiration?
The Bloggess: If you look at my blog the most common theme is me making fun of myself. Luckily, I have a lot of material. Basically, I blog every weird thing that happens to me. My family has become used to me stopping mid-sentence to pull out a journal and jot down whatever we’re talking about it. They hate it, but they’re used to it.
Suite101: Any advice for a beginning blogger?
Write for yourself. Be unique. Don’t be afraid to take chances. Say things that haven’t been said before. Re-read your post before you publish it…would this be interesting to you 5 years from now? If not, don’t publish it. Read. Comment. Listen as much as you ignore. Find your tribe.
Suite101: Thanks, Jenny!
Visit Jenny at TheBloggess.com or stop by and read more of the conversation with Jenny at Pajamas and Coffee.
Mary McCarthy - Mary T. McCarthy is the blogger at pajamasandcoffee.com and Editor of Chesapeake Family magazine.
