Into the Fire

Passionate thoughts about the world of writing and the Power of God

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Passionate: right or wrong. Writes love stories with a passion. Raw Romantic Redemptive

Question . . .

                    XigKokxjT

I've been at this blog for many years. There have been some good posts, some tremendous interviews with a variety of people, some interesting reviews good, bad, and in between. I've primarily kept focused on the byline at the top of my blog. As with most of us who do blogs for any length of time, we often repeat information, try different approaches, and do no doubt struggle to put up entertaining, thoughtful pieces most of the time. I can testify it has stretched my creativity to the max – and I didn't have a lot of it to stretch! Suffice it to say It's demanding. 

So my question(s) to you (writers, readers, and miscellaneous blog visitors): What do you like to experience when you visit a blog? What keeps you coming back for more? 

I find those hard questions to answer, but I'll give you my answers in a different form by telling you what I don't want to experience when I visit a blog. I don't want to receive a lecture, i.e. how to write, what to write, how much to write, when to write. If I read a review of a novel (and I only read them after I've read the book), I don't want to hear gushing without specifics as to why the story was so darn good. I can appreciate many approaches to blogging, but not a lot them will interest me. And I confess, voice is important for me when I'm reading articles. 

So . . . what say you?

 

Father, you are my inspiration. Period. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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7 responses to “Question . . .”

  1. BK Jackson Avatar
    BK Jackson

    I don’t have a good answer for this mainly because my Internet habits are shifting greatly. I’m much more of a skimmer than ever before because time demands are always so high. So when I visit any sort of blog, it has to be super-duper compelling & relevant to my life to get me to spend time there.
    You might say I’ve shifted to “Survivalist Surfing”–if it doesn’t pertain to improving my daily life, giving me education I need to have a better life, then I don’t tend to read it–and even educational material gets skimmed because you still have to weed through a lot of junk.

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  2. Brenda S. Anderson Avatar
    Brenda S. Anderson

    Once upon a time, I read a ton of blogs, mostly those of friends who’d been told to be a writer, you must blog. Didn’t take me long to figure out I was wasting half my morning.
    Now for me to follow a blog, it has to have meat to it (like yours, Nicole), it has to offer something that makes me think beyond my tiny world.

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  3. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    Brenda, I get it with the time constraints. And, yes, as far as helping us live better lives, probably more junk out there than useful stuff. I use prayer for that. 😉
    Bren, I used to visit a lot of blogs too, and when I heard the instruction about blogging it made sense to me. Now I do it because I love you, Brenda, and Deb who primarily comment here and those who hop in intermittently. It’s like an extension of myself, but it’s definitely demanding.
    Thank you for your kind compliment. It means the world to me. Love you.

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  4. Debra Avatar
    Debra

    Since I’m not a writer, I have no interest in learning those skills via blogs.
    Here’s what I require to stick with a blog:
    – font I can read. I don’t even start if the font is small or spread across the entire screen. Nicole, yours is the best. I think it’s fun that you even vary the color. And your titles and “cover” pictures are perfect.
    – book reviews that don’t give away the story. Nicole, I don’t know how you write such a long review without telling everything.
    I am down to 2 blogs that I read now, and yours is the only one I’m tempted to try to read before going to work. Every day I think, “I wonder what Nicole has to say today.”
    Over the years I have been dropping blogs as I read book recommendations and have a completely different opinion. Nicole, I’m amazed that I always have the same thoughts as you.
    I find your blog supremely interesting. The book reviews are my favorite, but I always enjoy reading your posts. I enjoyed the “kitchen series” and tidbits about your family too. I love the photos you post from the view of your home.

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  5. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    Deb, you’re such a friend! Thank you from my heart. We do often connect on the novels we read. And I always appreciate your meaningful thoughts on my work. They’re important to me. Thank you, thank you. Love you.

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  6. Debra Avatar
    Debra

    Oh and your Friday 5 posts are fun too. Loved your Mary and Joseph posts and your tv show posts. All are so well done.

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  7. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    Now you’ve made my evening, Deb! Thank you isn’t enough, my friend. 😉

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