Saturday 20 October 2018

Where Have All The Bloggers Gone...?

I've been blogging for almost 11 years- and reading blogs for a little longer than that. I have noticed that many of the blogs that were out there when I started have completely disappeared, and others have become more sporadic. Just recently someone commented on the fact that many of their 'old favourites' have 'gone dark' too.
I guess that our lives change and circumstances change, and for many people it becomes impossible to sustain a blog.
The 'monetised' ones, where people either get paid for the adverts they carry, and the 'business' ones, where bloggers are selling their crafts [or the patterns for replicating them] seem to survive. But many of the 'single-theme' ones go to the wall. And the 'I'm a Mum and this is how I'm coping with my kids' often dry up when the aforementioned kids grow older and wisely declare that they do not want Mum sharing all their secrets with the outside world. 
And if your blog is "My year of...dieting/renovating the barn/planning my perfect wedding/cooking all the recipes in Julia's book/getting out of debt/living biblically" then it inevitably has a time limit. It does seem that many of these ones end up with a successful book or film or speaking career. 
Sadly my blog has yet to be snapped up by a publisher. I am sure that's due to its weirdly eclectic nature. It's about....anything and everything - my crazily random everyday life which is underpinned by the grace of God. 
I have recently pruned my reading list - cutting out the blogs where no posts have appeared since 2017, or where the posts are increasingly repetitive. The list has got much shorter. I have not really added many new blogs of late either.
I thought I'd found a new one which promised me tips on preparing a Brexit Food Box and austerity in general. Then I read [I am not kidding you] the first item on the food list was Canned Lobster Bisque - and that I could save money on decorating by using Farrow&Ball paint on the 'feature wall' only, not the entire room. I read right through earlier posts- and realised this was not a spoof, but the author's genuine attempt to help us survive the expected economic exigencies. She's republished her blog in book format too  - that said, many of the online reviewers were pretty scathing. I shall save my money and not purchase it. [why would anyone buy it anyway, when the blog is still there for all to read for nothing?]
But many of the blogs I discovered back in the early days are still out there - and the writers have actually become 'offblog-friends' - so we exchange emails and cards and sometimes even meet in person. We've upped sticks and moved house, shared through the joy of new babies and the tears of bereavement together. You know who you are! 
I know that lots of you who read this blog also read this one. Today our good friend Sarah is getting married in her little chapel in the Fens.  I have no idea if she'll have time to continue blogging when she is loving up there in the frozen north - but I want to thank Sarah for her friendship and her lovely blog. I wish her and David every happiness in the years ahead. May God bless them both with love, life and laughter.

Just spotted a typo - I put loving instead of living. Either word will do! 


22 comments:

  1. I wish I'd written this post - it's exactly how I feel. So many readable blogs have gone, so many spring up like seed on rocks. I like the eclectic blogs, the ones which flit from food to craft to holidays to whatever.

    And most of all I join with you in wishing Sarah and her new husband every happiness.

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  2. What wonderful news you have shared today. I used to read the blog and thought about her a lot when Colin died.
    Pleased to hear her girls are doing so well too.

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  3. and I forgot to say Thank you for your years of blogging and all the interesting things I learn from your blog.

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  4. I hope you continue to write your blog for a long time to come, Angela. I truly enjoy reading it and learn a lot of new things!

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  5. I think in this age of instant gratification and digitalisation, the 'old-fashioned' ways are being discarded while everyone migrates to other social media outlets. I love blogging and reading other peoples' blogs and although I'm one of those sporadic types, I'm keeping on going for the forseeable future. I've also honed my blog list right back which leaves me very little 'followers' but stats never really bothered me in the first place.

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  6. I love reading your blog Angela but since I had my stroke it is hard to read but I do like to read yours and a few others and worst still is trying to write. I like it when I saw all the clothes you had made. Thank you.
    Hazel c uk

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  7. I have noticed the same thing Angela. And there are some that I do miss. But I guess that everything has a life. I find it hard now to find much different to write about, all days are much the same.
    But I so enjoy hearing abut all that you are doing.

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  8. So true, Angela - and I am as guilty as any of the lower frequency, and probably less entertaining, blogging.

    I am glad you are still here, still reflecting, sharing and entertaining. Even if I don't comment, I still enjoy reading. Sot hank you.

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  9. It's such a shame when familiar and favourite blogs disappear. I understand many use Instagram instead these days, but I find a good blog read much more preferable.
    Lovely other read of Sarah's news. X

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  10. I read and enjoy your blog Angela and thank you for sharing the very happy news. I like the way you your blog shares interesting information about so many different things.

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  11. A timely post Angela, as I've just closed the doors on mine( thank you for your comment). Too many awful events meant that the gaps between posts became wider, and I just didn't miss blogging. In fact the less I blogged, the less I wanted to, so I've stopped.
    I was very happy to read the news from the Fens, and I hope they are having a joyous day today.

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  12. Hi, Angela! I read your blog regularly and enjoy it so much. I know what you mean though about things disappearing. In the beginning blogs were a way for people to express themselves and share ideas and life experiences and unfortunately, I think a lot of that has now gone over to Facebook. It is sad because I love to get up and read my blog list with my morning cuppa. It just sets my day off right like I have had tea with friends. I hope they don't go away completely!

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  13. Do keep blogging. Yours is the first one I read as I know it will have an entry every day and is so varied and helpful and cheering. Thank you so much.

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  14. I love to read your blog, so thank you for keeping blogging. I love the mixture of topics that you write about & sometimes recognise the places too. Like you I've found some favourites have just stopped blogging. Thanks for sharing the lovely news about the wedding, I often think about Sarah & her family, nice to have good news Vee xx

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  15. Garn, blogger ate my comment, and now can’t recall everything I said! I should always copy my comments before I post them, blogger does love eating my comments so, so much. They must be tasty.

    Yes, many bloggers have lost steam or have closed up shop, as it were. I am still here, but the network I was briefly part of is gone. Mind you, I don’t have time to invest in it now anyway - my writing energies are required elsewhere! I am another ‘sporadic’ sort! Glad you are still going strong :-)

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  16. Hi Angela I agree lots of interesting and eclectic blogs have gone by the wayside I suspect due to time restrictions and other commitments. It is a shame. I like your blog as you always manage to throw something different into the pot and even though I do not comment much I always read. I am not keen on Instagram at all. I used to follow Sarah's blog as well and am so pleased for her and hope she and her knew husband have a lovely day.

    Tricia x

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  17. I agree with you Angela - there don't seem to be as many non commercial blogs out there - I'm hanging in but can't say my readership is growing much. Cheers from Carole's chatter

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  18. I have noticed the same thing - and while I do understand that some bloggers have simply "run out of steam" I do appreciate when they at least let their readers know - give everyone the chance to say a proper goodbye - and then often leave the blog "live" so that tips & recipes etc. are still available. The ones that simply disappear overnight do annoy me a bit.
    I have also been cutting back a bit on what I read and do appreciate those that have a real community. There is one I followed called "The Prudent Homemaker" - she really only posts once a week on a Monday but she has developed such a great community that we readers "chat" and comment on each others comments (and offer help & prayers and ideas as needed) so there is something new to read all week long. The blogger has 9 children (youngest is only 4 months) so she has found a great way to reduce some of her burden but still keeps all her readers happy.
    I enjoy your very eclectic posts very much and hope you will continue for a few more years. Thank you.

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  19. Life tends to crowd blogging out. I do think that im just a depressing read of late , the thankless task of caring isnt very interesting to me or anyone else .

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  20. So many lovely comments! Thank you everyone for the encouraging words.

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  21. I feel similarly. Many have moved to Instagram and I get that but I still like my blog but I've not posted so much. I love yours.x

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  22. I've really missed my blog but as you know i had so much going on lately somethings just had to stop for a while.
    I like everyday life blogs, the sort of chat over the garden fence type blogs about the everyday things.
    X

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