November 6th, 2007
There’s been plenty of talk around Teh Internets regarding blogs needing focus. I remember a lot of BlogHer attendees mentioning that one of the more important things bloggers had to do to gain traffic and regular readers was to zero in on a niche target or niche demographic: have a certain focus for their blog. I scoffed at the idea thinking this is my blog and I can cover whatever topics I want, whenever I want. Who are they to tell me that my blog will not be successful without a niche target or demographic. Why do I have to focus: I just wanna write!
And so far, that’s what I’ve been doing: writing. I’ve noticed that I do have a bit of focus though, unintentionally: it’s me. Me, life, my family, child rearing… I tend to go off the beaten track once and a while, but I always seem to find myself back in this mommy blogger-ish mode. Not that being a mommy blogger is a bad thing; I just never pictured myself as one. When I started this blog I thought it would be about me. A spot where I would have time for myself, hence - Temporarily Me. Temporarily a space where I can leave everything else behind and focus on what I want for that moment.
Maybe I’ve succeeded at that, I’m not sure. I wanted to talk about anything and everything I thought about, thought it seems that my thoughts are consumed with this life I’ve created for myself, as a mother, wife and employee. I seem to have lost myself in this life and forgotten the dreams I once had for myself.
You know I wanted to move across country and live near the Rocky Mountains? I don’t even ski, I just LOVE mountains. Mike and I had talked about this briefly, yet nothing came of it as we comfortably settled into our roles of young adults. I wanted to be a Park Ranger (Oh Joy, you would have LOVED my uniform! Except, I’m not a man… so maybe not.) I wanted to work in the National Parks at the Rocky Mountains.
We’ve been discussing this move again. A move that would take us to the other side of the country, far from family and friends, to start a new life. Something we feel so desperate to have. A fresh start, a clean slate and a new and invigorating life style. I am beginning to think that it’s just our delirious way of running from our rut. The rut we can’t seem to get out of, but only make deeper with each attempt. One drastic move just may get us out, just may help us succeed at moving on with life and living life.
It can be very overpowering thought and seemingly cloud judgment that would otherwise think rationally. It’s an extremely daunting task, but could be the start of what we’re looking for.
Ever have that feeling that you just wanna pack up and leave? Become someone else? Do something with your life?
What did you really want to be when you grew up?
:::
Are you NaBloPoMoing and looking for some topic ideas? HERE’s a couple that might tickle your fancy…
:::
And I still wanna hear funny morning sickness stories… even if you scoop them from somewhere off Teh Internets… share!!
As a single, childless woman with a personal blog, I fit in nowhere. Lately the focus of my blog has been writing, so if that’s where it wants to go, so be it. Most of the blog I read are mommy-blogs, I guess, because most woman my age (thirty-ish) are mothers. The thing is, there are very few mommy bloggers who blog exclusively about their kids — their other interests usually make an appearance somewhere, whether it’s web design, music, crafts, whatever…
November 6th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
You know, focus is great and all, but I think that sometimes it can actually be a bad thing.
Every couple of weeks I have a blog breakdown where I question everything that I write and I worry that I’m not writitn got my “target audience”. That sucks. Plain and simple.
Focus, to me, is restrictive. If I’m a “mommy blogger” then I can only write about my kid. That’s no fun.
What if I want to write about my dogs? What if I want to write about a kick-ass video game I’m playing?
I say screw focus. In the end, people read a blog because they enjoy your voice. They’ll continue to read because they’re interested in what you write and how you write it.
[At least that's what I tell myself.]
November 6th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
“writitn got” should have been “writing to”.
I guess I should have proof read my comment. oops.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I wanted to be a mom when I grew up. Kinda lame, I guess. And we live across the country from our family and it fucking sucks. But that’s just our experience. Good luck with whatever you decide.
November 6th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Honestly I have never wanted to pack up and leave. I am very close to my family and am very happy in the state and city I am in. I have never had much of a desire to live anywhere else. We did move halfway across the country about 7 years ago….away from family. It wasn’t too bad….hard at first but wasn’t bad. But I’m glad I came back when I had kids……without the support of my family during those hard times who knows where I’d be? Good luck hon.
November 6th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Focus?
What’s that?
November 6th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Well… if I was going to kiss a girl ranger, I”m sure you’d make a cute one! xo, my leetle ranger princess!
November 6th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
What a timely post…my husband and I are contemplating a move out of our town to another city about three hours away…still in Ontario, but it will be a bit of an adventure if we do go. So yeah, I definitely relate!
As for blog topics, I know…I don’t really have *one* topic, and since I don’t have kids, I don’t quite fit into the mommyblog demographic, although I get lots of e-mails from marketing people complimenting my thoughts about parenting. DUH.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
I live out west. It’s the best. Clean air, mountains, jobs galore. I hope to never have to move back east. My family lives here which is great.
Jenn
November 6th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
I prolonged my Europe trip by well, lets round it up to 20 years…the total lets get lost kind of life. so its funny but my big yearning lately is homeward…what’s weird is it would be a totally foreign experience to me…last time i paid taxes in Ontario was 1987. how to come home after so long… how to get a job in a land of masters degrees…may be here a little while yet.
November 7th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Yes, I get that feeling a lot.
And I don’t ever want to grow up, so I don’t have to answer that last question.
November 9th, 2007 at 3:00 pm