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According to a NY Times article, blogging is waning for people under 34 and on the slight uptick for those over that age. Twitter and Facebook are the preferred communication media for the younger set, like texting to the world and having the world text back.
How do us old fogey bloggers counteract the exodus of the youngsters?
As a blogger of fiction, I love short, short stories…if well done. Anyone can string together a series of pretty words that don’t exceed the word or character limit as defined, but that does not a story make. Telling a complete story with a sparsity of words is what separates the women from the girls.
I do like that many bloggers are telling longer stories in 500 word segments, though I must confess that I have yet to start and finish such a serial endeavor. For me, the reader, it’s still hard to top the novel that I sink into and devour at my own pace.
Why do I visit other writers’ blogs? To read about their novels? No. Not really. Sorry. I go there because I want to know about the person, or the blogger has experience, wisdom or knowledge that I want or need. So, unless you’ve got something to teach me, then make it all about you, the writer–who you are, why you write, what your experiences have been (cause misery loves company and everyone loves a parade). Tell or show me something that makes me laugh, cringe, cry or fume.
When I’m in blog visiting mode, I’m visual. Pepper your blog with pictures and photos. I have a hard time sticking to long posts (over 500 words) that don’t have anything visually interesting besides the text. All text and no graphics is hard for my tired little brain to read. Throw in a poll. Make up some kooky sort of list. Give me snippets of trivia. I notice and like stuff like that.
Do I follow my own advice. Uh…no. But I will try to do better.
Now to recap for the youngun’s here’s how I would tweet the above:
Bloggers: Give me short blog posts that: Showcase the person, Are visually pretty, Play on my emotions, Educate me=Return Trips.
(with 12 characters to spare!)
Claire Gillian 
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I feel like a blog twit sometimes.
I agree with your take on blogs – I like getting to know and seeing quick, witty bits, too. As for the younger set, I think blogging takes too much time and effort without immediate feedback. Just a thought (I didn’t have time to read the article, maybe they said that?) Thanks for sharing =)
I think you’re right about the need for immediate feedback and of course the time and effort. I can’t say I blame them. I’m sure I would have felt the same at their age had we even had blogs waaaay back then.
Yep, saw that article. I don’t think blogging is leaving too soon, because people are still doing it.
And I agree with most of what you like to see on a blog, but not all. But that’s only due to preference.
Blog POST content: no more than 500 words–yes, agreed; no long novel chapters for the reader to follow–yep, agreed (unless it’s by one of my favourite authors); short works of fiction can be cool–yep, agreed; learning about a bloggers personal life–um … only if it offeres up some valuable insight, or makes me laugh, otherwise no because I don’t really want to know every time a blogger has had issues with their train being late–that’s more Twitter, right?
The blog itself? I like ’em to be as uncluttered and simply as possible, because I’m usually only going on there to read the blog post that caught my eye, not to look at pretty pictures (unless that’s what the blog’s about). If it’s too busy, I’m less likely to stick around.
But, as I said, that’s just preference. 🙂
Ooh, good point on the personal info. Too much is not good. Keep it professional. Don’t wail about your dirty laundry, unless that’s the type of blog you intend for it to be. But then I’m probably not going to be a reader if that’s the case. A little Erma Bombeck, sweet-spirited personal info is fun and fine, but there is definitely is such a thing as TMI. But I do like those 10 Things Most People Don’t Know About Me, especially when done humorously or in a self-deprecating manner.
Ha! Awesome! Love your recap. 😉 LOL Does that mean I’m too close to 34 still? 😉
You ARE almost 34, so probably, yes. Thanks!
Exactly what I like in a blog and how I try to write mine! The picture thing doesn’t make a difference to me, though.
Thanks for dropping by Andrew! I’ll definitely pop over to visit you then.
I go there because I want to know about the person, or the blogger has experience, wisdom or knowledge that I want or need.
Um… Now I’m wondering why anyone comes over to my blog for the nonsense I normally post there. I’m neither wise (unlike most wise sages who deliver information I still get fits of giggles when I say certain words), nor am I overly knowledgeable – unless a comprehensive understanding of pop culture and forgotten television series’ is now considered to be so.
Actually, I read peoples’ blogs because they are interesting people. Full stop. They have ideas which make me think, and neither Facebook nor Twitter can replace the extensive posts which unravel the neurons and get me reconsidering things I might otherwise not give a chance.
I love the pop culture and forgotten television series references you make. That’s the relatable (sp) post that invokes a sense of nostalgia draw–you know the “make me laugh, smile, get angry, etc” part of what I meant.