No, this isn't about my husband. I usually don't apologize to him because I'm right and he's wrong. Right, honey? (That was a joke, by the way.)
This is about blogging.
I read a bunch of blogs. I currently have about 65 that I'm subscribed to. Few of them post every day. Some almost never post. I read most of those posts; I comment on very few of them.
There is one thing I see over and over that bugs me. Apologies. Apologies bug me because it seems like these bloggers are questioning themselves, whether they are enough with what they offer. It feels like they believe they are inadequate as they are. That they need to constantly dance to keep their followers happy. These bloggers apologize constantly. (No, not all of them. But enough that it seems like all the time.) I probably read a post with an apology at least once a week. And in the blogging realm I think I am much less involved than others so I'm sure there are more out there.
If I hurt someone's feelings through something I say, I am sorry. And I will say so if I know that I hurt them. But there are very few things about my blog other than that for which I will apologize.
I will not apologize for:
*not commenting on every blog I read
*not replying to every comment I receive
*not posting when you think I should
*not writing about what you think I should
*not using pictures on my blog
*dropping blogs that no longer appeal to me
*not blogging in the way you think I should, whatever way that is
*choosing my real life over an e-life
This is my blog. I will decide how to use it.
This blog is not my life. I will not surrender my life to the internet and/or my followers. When I am old and gray I hope to be surrounded by my family not my blog posts.
Please do not read this post and think about all the things you're doing wrong (if you're a blogger). Please do not feel like I am judging you. I am not. And because I am not, there is no need to apologize. You don't owe me anything. If I read your blog it is because I like what you write. I consider your writing to be my reward for reading. I don't need to be wooed or babysat. Neither of those things will keep me coming back like good content.
Just be who you are, even on your blog. Write what you want, when you want. Authenticity in a blog will get you so much further ahead than pandering.