I know the word blog - it rhymes with bog and fog, 2 things forever within this Caoe Cod girl - but I’ve never subscribed to one. Now the world is on fire, and I want to run and hide .... instead I’m forcing myself to do new things. Like use linked in.
I have yet to twittet or snap a chat. I still don’t watch TV. Sone days my disappointment at what life is , as I arrive soon at 66, is overwhelming. But I like sunflowers. I liked you the instant I met you, when I said Im taking this path and you said ok, you’d go with me. I think I’d like to travel along this path you’ve chosen. We never stop learning - even when we think we may want to.
I had wondered whether this was really primarily a therapeutic exercise for you - in which case the answer is a) it doesn’t matter and b) people who know you and your story and care about you. But that’s not an answer that helps build a business model.
I think beyond that, people who want to understand what you are experiencing. That could be others who have been through what you have; it could also be spouses and friends of those who have.
And beyond that, I think there’s a large percentage of people who long for authentic human connection and are drawn to people who can speak eloquently and honestly to their most vulnerable selves.
It's not that I want to build a business — because you are right, it is therapeutic — but as a writer, I want to write well enough to have a broad audience. I want to be read. So I'm just trying to figure out why the consistent 300 or so people who read my posts on average are readying. You know? It's helpful
Are you saying then that my posts only appeal to people who personally know me? A friend also said that last night. Just trying to understand, thank you
Maybe I’d initially say people who know your story and have been rooting for you. So, people who follow you professionally or heard about your experience through your essays for Politico are rooting for you, even though we aren’t necessarily personal friends.
But my guess is you also have readers who read those Politico essays and connected with them, even though they never had heard of you before. Probably because they shared something of your experience directly or through friends and family. Or maybe because it was touching to read a reporter in a political outlet sharing such personal struggles. So they/we may not know you as people you’d consider friends, but are still rooting for you and are interested in how you’re doing. Does that help?
what if you don't like or don't approve the reasons somebody reads it? would you still write and cater to such reader? Along the same lines - why do you care who and why?
It is sort of like a survey. I don’t think I can cater even if I wanted to. But I have so much to say and I want to know why people are reading bc I can’t write everything
well... insomnia at 12:30am might be one reason :D. But in reality the reason is the same as for why people read anything? To fill some void. Could be void of knowledge (news), void of adventure (fiction stories), etc. In your case I think it is either curiosity, or need to feel like you care about somebody, or need to feel better about themselves :/ If you ever decide to cater - entertainment is the best void to fill ;) You can put personal stories into stories of fictional characters, don't need to tell anybody about that and can turn those characters to do things you wish you have done. Actually I think most fiction writers do that to a degree.
I know the word blog - it rhymes with bog and fog, 2 things forever within this Caoe Cod girl - but I’ve never subscribed to one. Now the world is on fire, and I want to run and hide .... instead I’m forcing myself to do new things. Like use linked in.
I have yet to twittet or snap a chat. I still don’t watch TV. Sone days my disappointment at what life is , as I arrive soon at 66, is overwhelming. But I like sunflowers. I liked you the instant I met you, when I said Im taking this path and you said ok, you’d go with me. I think I’d like to travel along this path you’ve chosen. We never stop learning - even when we think we may want to.
❤️❤️❤️
I had wondered whether this was really primarily a therapeutic exercise for you - in which case the answer is a) it doesn’t matter and b) people who know you and your story and care about you. But that’s not an answer that helps build a business model.
I think beyond that, people who want to understand what you are experiencing. That could be others who have been through what you have; it could also be spouses and friends of those who have.
And beyond that, I think there’s a large percentage of people who long for authentic human connection and are drawn to people who can speak eloquently and honestly to their most vulnerable selves.
It's not that I want to build a business — because you are right, it is therapeutic — but as a writer, I want to write well enough to have a broad audience. I want to be read. So I'm just trying to figure out why the consistent 300 or so people who read my posts on average are readying. You know? It's helpful
I would go with “because people care about you and want to understand what you’re going through.” Which is a pretty good option
Are you saying then that my posts only appeal to people who personally know me? A friend also said that last night. Just trying to understand, thank you
Maybe I’d initially say people who know your story and have been rooting for you. So, people who follow you professionally or heard about your experience through your essays for Politico are rooting for you, even though we aren’t necessarily personal friends.
But my guess is you also have readers who read those Politico essays and connected with them, even though they never had heard of you before. Probably because they shared something of your experience directly or through friends and family. Or maybe because it was touching to read a reporter in a political outlet sharing such personal struggles. So they/we may not know you as people you’d consider friends, but are still rooting for you and are interested in how you’re doing. Does that help?
Yes, very much, thank you 🥰
what if you don't like or don't approve the reasons somebody reads it? would you still write and cater to such reader? Along the same lines - why do you care who and why?
It is sort of like a survey. I don’t think I can cater even if I wanted to. But I have so much to say and I want to know why people are reading bc I can’t write everything
well... insomnia at 12:30am might be one reason :D. But in reality the reason is the same as for why people read anything? To fill some void. Could be void of knowledge (news), void of adventure (fiction stories), etc. In your case I think it is either curiosity, or need to feel like you care about somebody, or need to feel better about themselves :/ If you ever decide to cater - entertainment is the best void to fill ;) You can put personal stories into stories of fictional characters, don't need to tell anybody about that and can turn those characters to do things you wish you have done. Actually I think most fiction writers do that to a degree.