One of my favorite things to do is to bake; however, it’s baking with a purpose. I rarely bake for myself unless I have a strong craving for cookie dough. I like to bake for others. I’m happiest when I’m making other people happy.
I view blogging in a similar fashion. I have had the Write Right blog called a personal blog, which I suppose it is in some ways. I catalogue my experiences with the writing life and with being a perfectionist. The blog is not, however, primarily personal. I may write about my failures or feelings of failure, but I write about them because such writings can serve a purpose. They can help someone else who feels like a failure.
It’s that mindset that directs most of what I publish. If I write a piece that has no value to a visitor to the Write Right blog, I don’t publish it. I may tinker with the post until it becomes something relevant or applicable, but if it never achieves those qualities, it remains tucked away in a folder. I refuse to serve my readers something that has too little or too much salt. I won’t proffer them with something that bears little to no resemblance to a cookie even if it tastes fine. I am baking cookies for my readers, and I won’t give them the half-baked, misshapen, or burnt ones. I will give them the best ones because making them happy makes me happy.
Image: El Finco (CC BY NC SA 2.0)
I just baked a wonderful chocolate cake yesterday (for my cousins birthday!) and now I see the connection to blogging!
Hajra I know I could have written about how blogging can be like following a recipe, but that’s been done already. I wanted to focus on a different aspect of how blogging is like baking. 🙂
You’re friends with weird people? I am, too!
Erin F. Hajra Too many! Some adorably weird!
I haven’t baked since I blogged. But the holidays are coming up and I love to bake too for others, not myself.
lisabuben290 You’ll have to find your favorite recipes and take a break from blogging so that you can bake.
Always provide value:) And since I don’t bake, I will eat your cookies…and your content:) Cheers! Kaarina
KDillabough That works for me. I’m happy to bake and to write. 🙂
I bake and I blog but I shall serve no pastry before its proper time.
Joshua Wilner/A Writer Writes You and I are alike in that regard then.
Your line has a nice rhythm to it. I like it.
Quality content! Yes, ma’am. Thanks for serving only the best cookies in the batch. So, my friend, how do I know if my cookies are terrible? I usually like them when I bake them and then I serve them to scrunched up faces and noses. Hmmmm……:-)
rdopping It comes down to listening to your readers. They’ll let you know – in one way or another – if your cookies are terrible. You then decide if your cookies only are terrible with a select few or many. If it’s many, it might be time to change the recipe. If it’s only a few, you may want to focus your recipe even further. Testing, targeting, and being responsive are some of the names in the game.
Erin F. @rdopping Very practical approach. Love it. Thanks.
rdopping You’re welcome. I have experience with it. Earning a degree in creative writing and working in the writing field has helped me to be a better listener and to take a stand when necessary.