The Dying Art of Blogging?

Some of you (are you our there? sure you are!) may have noticed that Twitter and vlogging have taken a serious chunk out of blogging activity here. I have great plans to reinvigorate this blog, but until then, I drew some bittersweet solace from this article in yesterday's NYTimes claiming that 95% (!!) of all blogs are abandoned, which is defined as having no posts for 120 days. That's a sad but understandable number, as so many of us bloggers end up feeling like we're only writing for ourselves and (sometimes!) our families. It takes tenacity to keep writing in the face of low/no feedback. But, as a five-year veteran of this medium, I can say that I draw comfort from knowing that this blog is here whenever something noteworthy comes along. And, if you're reading this, I hope you'll be here then, too. Thanks.

Comments

[Ken G.]

See, sometimes, I blog because it's "just writing for myself and (sometimes!) my family." And you've only been blogging for five years? Newbie!

[Tom Guarriello]

See, that's the kind of weird attitude that most people do not possess, Mr. Rg! Yes, I'm still a blogging puppy!

[Phil Davis]

Sometimes I'm a bit of a loner, but when I do engage with people I want to interact. I have a blog, but I seldom post. Most entries never receive any comments, a few have received one comment and a couple got two. When I make a video I routinely get 100 or more comments. Twitter is very interactive for me. Blogging is very lonely. I always got angry with Ian Crossland when he said text is dead. It isn't dead yet. It survives in 140 character installments - and on my Kindle.

I read most of your posts, Tom. There are still some of us out here who are paying attention besides you and your family. At least Ken and I are.

[Tom Guarriello]

And, such a distinguished readership definitely spurs me on!

Yes, we vloggers have gotten used to a much more interactive medium and Twitter, well, interactive hardly begins to describe it. Text is not dead but it is morphing into a form it hasn't seen before in the hands of all of us rank amateurs who, unlike those pros at the NYTimes, stoop to publish any damned thing we want, truth be damned!

[Mike Wagner]

I still read and wait for when the noteworthy arrives...or even the blogging whim.

Thanks Tom for writing your mind!

Keep creating...with abandon,
Mike

[Tom Guarriello]

Thanks, Mike. You're certainly part of that loyal band of folks I can count on to stay in touch. Much appreciated.

Tom

[Bradley]

My blog's always been specifically designed for family, so there's never been any severe disappointment that they're the only ones who read it. I have two aunts who are very devoted readers, and I force my wife to proofread it sometimes. Basically I'm building a historical record for others to read later, like I enjoyed reading my dead grandfather's correspondence back in high school.

[Linda Breskin]

You have a worthwhile blog site. There is intelligent commentary-not the usual "what yI ate for breakfast, lunch or dinner".

[Tom Guarriello]

Linda, that's very sweet of you to say. You're a lovely, soulful person and I'm very proud to serve with you on the Soaringwords Board. See you Saturday?

[Krisitin]

As a family member I was tickled to see some text again! Long live the blog I can read at work (where I can't watch videos...)

[Tom Guarriello]

Now, THAT was a great comment, "Krisitin"! Thanks!