Don’t Waste the Good Stuff
Blogging, embarrassing January 17th, 2010Last weekend I met with a fellow local blogger to talk about the blogging process, technical and otherwise, what works and what doesn’t. In preparation, I jotted down some tips that have proven useful to me.
One of them is “Don’t waste a good post on Facebook where only your friended people can see it.” I did that recently with a status update about my failure to understand that Fiber One cereal needs to be eased into slowly, as I’d eaten twice the daily recommendation for three days in a row and paid for it dearly. That update saw over 20 comments. Shoulda, coulda been a post.
The tip about not wasting good material on social media sites also extends to comments I leave on others’ blogs. My friend Maureen wrote a piece some time ago about treating her parents to an anniversary dinner at a fancy downtown restaurant, complete with a ride in a stretch limo. She made reference to the Petula Clark song, Downtown. A song that prompted me to leave a comment, one that she said I should have blogged about.
The comment:
The stuff I remember. Here goes. When I was 12, I took part in a musical show at my school. Each grade had to perform some kind of dance or act. We did a little number to the Petula Clark song. We wore pink satin sleeveless dresses and if we were any older, we would have looked like hookers. We also wore long white gloves. Anyway, when I was being measured by the seamstress who was making the dresses, I was standing in a room full of other girls when she exclaimed “My, someone’s getting her breasts early!” I died a little and that’s what I remember every time I hear that Petula Clark song. The day I got noticeable boobs.
So today’s lessons are:
1. If you’re trying to develop a following on your blog, make it a home for all your best stuff. If you have an entertaining little nugget for Facebook, consider fleshing it out for a post instead.
2. If you’re a seamstress taking measurements for pubescent adolescents, watch what you say in front of other people. Childhood embarrassment lasts at least into your 40s.
Stumble it!
January 23rd, 2010 at 5:54 am
Jen Hinton — Thanks so much for the shoutout! I had to laugh when I realized you were sending people to me, a humor blogger, with one of the most depressing posts I’ve ever written on the front page.
carol at A Second Cup — I heard murmurings about how blogging is dying because of Facebook and I said “never!” But it does make me wonder if that’s where people are moving more and more.
Kim Wheedleton — Aw, you’re a good and sensitive Mom! p.s. I love your “More Signs of Life” post!
Kylia — thanks.
January 23rd, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Hahaha…love your blog. Even the depressing posts!
.-= Jen HintonĀ“s last blog ..Affordable Valentine’s Day Outfit =-.
January 25th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
[…] I stopped by The Junk Drawer, another blog I love. She had a post about blogging and the idea of not wasting all your good blog material with little Tweets &…. Which I do a lot of. I’ll have a short idea or thought & rather than try to flesh it […]