But that never lasts forever…
So far, I have had 199 hits on this little experimental blog of mine. In my ignorance, I was thrilled by that number. Almost 200 people at least took a quick glance at my words and art and ideas in a month. That is much better than trying to lure people into my home and then giving them the ‘Arthur Browne show’, as my family calls it.
Then my older daughter came to visit yesterday. Jessica and I tend to drive each other a little crazy. We realized recently that this is because we are so exactly the same in so many ways. And to be honest, from my point of view, it sort of bugs me that she is, if anything, a better me than I am… And she is smarter than me. She has been since she was three or four years old.
I told her proudly of the vast number of hits I had achieved. After rolling her eyes and reminding me that she didn’t really want to hear me talk about the blog all the time, she calmly asked, “How many followers do you have?”
I had my answer and my joke ready… “Four,” I replied, “I am now the official leader of the world’s smallest cult!”
And then she said, quite reasonably, “So out of 199 people, only four people are planning on sticking around?”
I hadn’t looked at it that way. I didn’t want to look at it that way. But she had a point…
And once I started looking at it that way, I couldn’t stop looking at it that way. I assume that most of the 199 hits are from family and friends, people who already love…(or at least tolerate)… me. People I had been begging nonstop in Facebook to please check out my blog. And even they were not signing up to follow it! I felt the first waves of depression setting in…
Jessica tried to cushion the blow to my ego in that way that only cool, popular, well-adjusted 21 year olds with lots of friends and a real social life can do, when they are talking to a parent that sort of embarrasses them, but that they love enough to feel sorry for…
“It doesn’t have to be all about you,” she said.
(She knows me well enough to know that that isn’t true, but whatever)…
“Most of these people don’t know you, so why should they care about your life?” Again, she asked a reasonable question.
“But it is supposed to be about my life, it is my life, that’s sort of the idea,” I tried to explain.
Then she went on to point out that I didn’t need to show every piece of art I ever created, because nobody cared. She reminded me that I even told people that I was showing mostly my old artwork that wasn’t all that good. I made jokes about it. I tried once again to defend my actions by telling her that I was attempting to show the whole life-long development of art in a person, how it improved and branched out and evolved, and how it was a journey for all of us. I tried to explain how I was making lots of jokes at my own expense, and trying to tie my early work into the narrative in a fun way, while showing people that if they want to do art, they will start off with silly pictures that will not impress very many people, but that they can and will get better, and they can have fun doing it. And, I didn’t want to show my best work first, and end up with the crappy stuff still sitting in drawers being unused and unseen.
As for all the family stuff, the pictures and back-story, I just sort of had fun when I started doing that. None of this is planned, by the way. My mind just doesn’t work that way. Each part of this blog is just what happened that day, based on finding a new drawer full of poems and songs, or new disks full of old art, or new files in the computer with old family pictures. I make a few wisecracks and tell a funny story and throw in a few pictures. That is my life. Unplanned, rambling, sometimes funny, occasionally exciting, often boring, now and then just sad. It bounces around like the thoughts in my head.
“Maybe you could talk about current events, you know, stuff people are actually interested in,” Jessica suggested helpfully…
(Ouch)…
Well, I could tun this into a blog that is a commentary on modern life and politics and all the crazy stuff that people do. I have some pretty funny opinions on everything…if you ask me… I do want this to be a success. On the other hand, there seem to be millions of blogs that do that already. Do we need another one? If so, maybe I could start a second blog that would be more popular. But for now, unless you all agree that I am wasting my time telling my silly little story of my life and how art takes over every aspect of that life, I am going to carry on rambling…
Just as an experiment, here is a political observation; I can’t help thinking that the only way to make Newt Gingrich a more focused, effective politician, is to have him newtered…
Pouring My Art Out 
I never could get the hang of chess.
Why does WP think it’s 3:29 PM? From this POV that is still the future. AM I A TIME LORD? It’s about time we had a female Time Lord.
dude… that would be freeking awesome!!!
I am not good at it
Don’t change a thing — at least as far as I’m concerned. Write what you want to write, whatever that is. You will get far more out of it that way. I know, because I spent the first 4 months worrying about statistics. Really, they are nowhere near as important as the gift you give yourself, in writing every day. You have nothing you need change, unless you want!
Well, I did come to that conclusion at the end. This post was just a few months in, when I was still trying to find my way. I always end up doing what feels right and fun. And thanks again.
You are welcome. Thank you for being true to your own feelings about the blog!
It is more self-centeredness, but I like your version better.
😎
please no more politics! this is good!
I am trying to put it all behind me.
ha!
But you never know.
true dat! 😉
Precisely.
lol
I do love your blog. You can always make me smile. I too have a hard time getting those closest to me to come over and follow or even check it out. I feel bad a lot, like I have great things to say and no one cares. Writing has been most of my whole life and it almost feels like an insult when people won’t even try to participate. I just look forward and know that even the best started somewhere. 🙂
That may be the nicest thing that anyone ever said to me.
Awww. I truly do feel your pain. But I think you are awesome! 🙂
Thanks so much. I didn’t really take my daughter’s comments that much to heart. I rarely listen to anybody. She actually does read the blog now. Although I think she gave up on the novel.
lol…well, that is something. 🙂 My son doesn’t follow my blog, but he will read my books. hehe… I have abandoned all my so called friends and turned to Twitter.If I sell one measly book a day, I’m happy. I know I’m getting out there, one book sale at a time. My blog is for pure entertainment. 🙂
I am thick headed. I am going to try to get the novel published on paper, at least for a while. My writing class starts next week and I hope to get some editing help and tips to get it out there. It may not work. It isn’t exactly going over like gang busters on the blog.
In my experience, and this is just my experience, paper books don’t sell well. It is good to make them into paper copies in case people want to collect your books or for autographs. But, to make them into ebooks is a great option. You maintain control of your price, your cover, your sales…and Kindle especially gives you great exposure. I have read several ebooks on marketing as of late, being frustrated with the market. I was on Smashwords and sold very few books unless they were free. The KDP program through Kindle has been great so far, that being since August. I have sold more on there since then than I did ever on Smashwords. If you want to read a couple of marketing books, look up John Locke. He has a great book on how he sold a million copies. It helped me out a bunch. And I would be willing to link you with my website and blog once you get it out there! If you want to write a guest post for my blog, that would give you even more exposure, not that I’m that popular in the blogging world, but hey. It is something. I will help you any way I possibly can, man. 😀
I am trying to figure those options out. Some e-publishing makes it so you can’t ever sell to a real publisher. And I am a computer moron with a computer that is getting ready to die. But I may justg end up going the e-route if I can’t interest any publishers. And I would write or colaborate with you at any time.
I am asahmed to say I haven’t followed your blog yet. Oh… wait… I just clicked the button. I hardly have time to read the blogs I follow. Every thing I do takes more time from something else.
I completely understand. I have a hard time being social too. I enjoy it, just don’t have the time.
My first, second and third books I have published were through a small publisher who makes it simple to get a book out. However, it made me mad that I had no say in my cover design, they charge a lot for my book, and I won’t own the rights to my work again for a whole year. They run in 7 year contracts. However, e-rights should be separate from traditional publishing rights. I have sold about a thousand e-books in the last few years compared to a handful pf paper books.
I look forward to working with you more, whatever route you take will be the best one for you! 🙂
See, this is all the kind of stuff that my all-art-side-of-the-brain outlook makes hard for me to do. I need a manager. A tiger.
And just keep reminding me to do stuff with you. I forget a lot of stuff. My brain is funny that way.
I will, definitely! And it has taken me 6 years to get a grasp on what works in the literary industry. Some mistakes, some triumphs, but I have a small following and it grows everyday. If I can help you in any way, I sure will. And I added your link to my blogs…
I have this bad cold kicking my butt. I haven’t read anything for a couple of days.
I hope you get better soon. Take it easy and then start again! I just figured out how to make myself a button!! I’m pretty stoked! 🙂
Ha.
Groan on the Newt joke and thanks for showing me what I have waiting for me when the kids grow up. I am now thoroughly depressed. I think I will stop following you, just to bring the same depression your way. Just kidding. I name you Renaissance Man!
That may be the best honor I ever got. And I don’t have to pass it on to 10 other people…right?
Of course not. That would be just weird, wouldn’t it… oh right. I forgot.
Those blog awards drive me crazy. My computer just wants to die. It doesn’t like links. And my theme has no place to put the awards anyway.
You don’t want em man. You’re better than em anyhow.
I don’t think I am better than anything. And I like the attention.
Nah, you’re better than the awards. They’re just chain mail anyhow.
It does sort of feel that way.
Reblogged this on Pouring My Art Out and commented:
199 hits… I was so sweet and innocent…
Dear pmao,
oooOOOOooo
I got a reply.
Love Dotty xxx
My daughter and I butt heads all the time too and for the same reason as you and yours.
I humbly disagree with her though. I’m not interested enough in current events to read a blog about what someone else thinks about them. At least not entirely. I’m interested in people. And it *is* interesting and entertaining to see your art evolve. It’s tempting to go and see your most recent posts but I won’t do that. I’ll let your story unfold.
You are the Best ever. I can’t wait to start reading your stuff. I had to help Jess finish moving this weekend, but I am back now.
No hurry, it isn’t going anywhere. I think I’ll read one more post before going to bed. Not feeling too well.
i concur….i know i’m late, and you’ve made up your mind, and my opinion at this juncture means naff all, but there it is; mud and cobweb me
My daughter always gives good advice. And I almost never follow it. It works both ways.
i think i could quite happily watch you two wind each other up for hours!
Dear pmao,
If I want news I’ll go to a proper news channel. If I want opinions on the news I have my own opinions and they’re all that matter. If I want a peep inside someone’s head I’ll read an interesting blog that gives me a peep inside an interesting person’s head. You’re doing fine.
Love Dotty xxx
I give more than a peep inside my head… I invite you in to play in the mud and cobwebs.
The beauty of the internet is that you could post a picture of toe jam and *someone* would find it interesting. Know why I started a blog? Because I really, really enjoy talking about myself. True story!