If you’re a blogger, have you ever wondered:
- If you’re wasting your time blogging?
- If what you write really matters?
- If blogging is the best way to reach your goals?
I have!
I’ve looked at my social media stats and I’ve wondered if I could save time saying things that no one pays attention to by just talking to my family–and skipping the blogging.
The cricket chirping sound really shouldn’t bother me. As a booklet and freelance writer, I never received immediate feedback on my work from anyone but my mom. Thanks, Mom!
Blogging without feedback though (comments, shares, and likes) feels eerily like getting chosen last by the team captain for the sport du jour when I was a kid: bad. Really bad. This experience motivated thousands of students to GRADUATE.
And so I have considered graduating from blogging to hobbies that have a higher rate of return–hobbies like baking. I make the occasional inedible bomb, but for the most part my family and guests rave, “Amazing! Delicious! Can I have the recipe?” My online concoctions rarely receive these five-star ratings. (Before anyone suggests that I blog about my recipes, I need to admit that they’re not mine. They’re AllRecipes‘.)
A Reason to Quit
The lack of readers isn’t the real reason I’ve considered quitting, however. I haven’t been promoting my blog for long at all. I haven’t dedicated the time it takes to build a following. If I am patient and build my blog, they will come. I think.
The real reason I’ve considered quitting is because I didn’t think blogging was big enough.
I’m an author. I self-published the book, So You’re Not Wonder Woman, that I recently learned has sales in the top 20% of all published books (never mind that that’s because 80% sell fewer than 100 copies). Books seem like a big deal to me. My life has been changed by books. My faith in God grew by leaps and bounds in reading George Mueller’s The Life of Trust; Being a Narrative of the Lord’s Dealings With George Müller
. My health was restored through the book, A More Excellent Way w/ DVD
. And my fears diminished when I read The Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life
I want to write life-changing books. That seems bigger than blogging to me.
I’m a speaker. I wish I had a total number of people I’ve spoken to with in-person events, radio, and TV combined. It might seem somewhat impressive. Regardless of the number, speaking is big to me. My life has been changed by speakers. Becky Tirabassi convinced me to read the entire Bible and pray daily in her Change Your Life seminar. Ken Ham and Dr. Carl Werner gave me confidence that the Bible is true from the first chapter. Beth Moore helped me see the difference between believing in God and believing Him. I want to be a life-changing speaker. That seems bigger than blogging to me.
Why I’ve Been Held Back
Despite the fact that I’m a bit shy of 10,000 blog followers and that I have bigger, more important opportunities (the kids want to know what’s for lunch), I’ve persisted in this little, unimportant, everybody’s-doing-it hobby/business/addiction called blogging. Why?
Because John Piper is right.
It is sentences that change my life, not books.
The sentences in A More Excellent Way w/ DVD about the connection between woundedness and illness changed my life–not the whole book. Becky Tirabassi’s repeated admonition to spend time daily with the living, loving God changed my life–not the whole seminar. And though I have doubted that what I’ve written or said could possibly change others’ lives in the same way, people come to me with sentences from my book, my seminars, and my blog. They repeat them to me with meaningful looks and I try to remember sharing them.
The words that we string together, whether in a book, a speech, or a blog are big to someone–even if that’s just your mom. That’s the little reason you and I shouldn’t quit blogging.
Someone who may not comment or tweet or share or “like” you may take one little sentence from one of your posts that you wrote when you wondered if your blog even matters and may be TRANSFORMED.
That is why I blog. And maybe it’s why you do, too.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much (Luke 16:10a).
P.S. Have you thought about giving up blogging? Have you ever been surprised by the big impact of something little you’ve written?
GREAT article. I agree, its so hard to keep on blogging when you’re not getting the feedback that you’d hoped for. I’ve had a lot of people tell me not to blog for comments, (like wanting comments is wrong) but its sure hard to comment when you don’t feel like the words you work so hard on are connecting with anyone.
But you’re right. It’s the sentences that change lives and matter. It’s the sentences we remember. We don’t quote books, we quote lines. That sentence alone has made a huge impact on me today. 🙂
You and I have already talked about what an impact you’ve had on me as a blogger, so ignore the crickets that sometimes seem to be so loud (for me, too) and listen to this: Your words matter to me! And if you’ve made it so I don’t feel like a failure in my homeschooling or writing or mothering today, that’s a HUGE thing to this family! 🙂
Thank you for your words.
Amy, you’ve always been an encouragement to me, so it goes both ways! That sentence inspired me the most, too. I really like Loren’s comment that blogging is like any ministry with its ups and downs. We start struggling when we think of it as something other than a ministry–maybe as a way to prove our mettle as writers or whether or not we’re likable? Of course, blogging stats tell us neither of those things. 🙂
You keep writing! I look forward to hearing about how God uses the talents He’s given you. Isn’t it great when God allows us to really enjoy our service?
I have felt impressed to blog again over the last month or two. You just confirmed it. Thank you, Dear!
That’s great, Kim! I wrote this post as part of a blogging inspiration series I wrote for an iPhone app. Don’t know if you have one or not, but I think you’d like the series which includes lots of motivating posts from various authors.
I think, for me, it’s helped to think of it as a longterm journey. Yes, it has its ups and downs, but so does any other form of ministry. We have this misguided notion of overnight success or overnight spiritual growth. In reality, God works on people for years and years and years – and they normally work for years and years and years before the fruit begins to really come in.
Loren, I really like the concept of thinking of blogging as a ministry. As a mentioned to Amy, I think we get into trouble when we think of it as something else. I learned about that for the first time from The Inner Game of Tennis. The author essentially says if you’re on the court to determine if your value, you’re looking for something tennis can’t give you. It’s the same way with blogging. Our value is in being part of the body of Christ. It’s unchanging! Hallelujah for that. 🙂
This post really hits home for me. I am slowly creeping up to only 200 subscribers but I am fortified and so encouraged when some little sentence of mine made a difference in another life! It shocks me what small declarations have a huge impact. I love to write and consider Recovering Church Lady my reward after a day of web writing with little substance. Thanks for being here, we need you!
http://www.recoveringchurchlady.com/
Susie, another reason we may not get many comments is they are going to spam. That’s why I found yours! I really enjoy your blog and I thank you so much for your encouragement. That’s the key, isn’t it? We are to encourage one another! Writing is definitely a reward. So is meeting new people like you. Have a blessed weekend!
Hey Sister!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and heart right out here for us! I have to consistently ask God to help me with what words to write and how to press “submit” and just leave it alone… for His glory… and for Him to bring the people along that He wants me in community with! I too have had discouraging moments, selfish moments, and then big aha’ moments! For me, blogging has been as much for me learning about me and God, as it is hopefully encouraging and strengthening others! ~ Blessings out girl, Amy
Is that ever the truth, Amy! It is definitely a great learning experience. 🙂 Our gifts and talents are for HIS glory and not ours. It’s hard to remember that when insecurity (or hormones!) creep in. I’m glad to have brothers and sisters in Christ (like you!) who are on the same journey.