We recently had some good discussion here about the fact that irregular blog posting doesn't seem to be the reader turn off that many assume it to be or promote it as. I hope that we can follow this with some discussion of what does turn readers away. For me, it is usually the writing. I don't just mean bad writing, but writing that in some way makes me feel unwelcome or unwanted.
In my latest article on the JavaScript/Java site at BellaOnline - Some reflections on being a female IT professional OR Why I won't be learning TurboGears - I talk about how the tone of an unnecessary fictional subplot in a technical book caused me to not only put the book aside, but switch to an entirely different technical tool. (This is particularly unfortunate for the authors since one of them is also the creator of the tool I was using.)
Yesterday's post on One Man's Goal about The 7 Types of Visitors has, as I commented there, another example of a poor turn of phrase - using an expression usually reserved for making the best of a bad situation to refer to a subset of his readers (and one the author specifies in the comments that he feels good about - if anyone who is offended gets to the comments.)
I know I manage to stick my foot in my mouth in person on a regular basis, so I'm sure I'm no different online. I do try to read and edit everything I post - even IM's; but I'm sure things slip through anyway. Unfortunately, I can't see them so I have to pick on other people for examples.
I'm not sure how to completely avoid problems like this. Good editing is one. In a published book, you probably have an editor (or two) who should be able to find and point out these problems for you. But for a blog, generally, you are stuck editing your own work, and even the best editor falls short when it comes to something they wrote - after all, we wouldn't write it if it didn't make sense to us! Avoiding unnecessary chatter can be another. Trying so hard to be welcoming or inclusive that it seems forced or fake is another way to turn off readers, but it can be hard to know where the line is.
What do you think?
Julie, I read that guy's blog you referred us to and if I had run across it, I certainly would not be interested in anything he had to say in the future.
Readers are readers, and as you said.. they give you, those that comment you and your advertisers exposure.
He turned many a phrase that would have had me clicking off his page had you not wanted us to get to the comments. I didn't even finish reading the comments because this guy seems to have his own little following that believes the stuff he's dishing out.
Oh.. can you tell.. I was offended by what he had to say? haha!
Judy
This may be off point, but...
Technical Writers provide some of the worst writing around. Many are caught in corporate gobbly-gook and jargon that makes for difficult reading, and even more difficult learning.
Those who have mastered the art of writing in plain, conversational native language, are few and far.
Arye Michael Bender
I can honestly say I don't get what offended you so much about that guy's blog. It didn't bother me one bit, nor did it bother the majority of his readers who bothered to comment. He's doing something right - he obviously has a following...I wish I had that many people interacting on my blog!
I think for me this proves the point that you can't please all the people all the time. When I hear you getting upset over his comment about lurkers, I see you as being a tad overly sensitive. I am the kind of writer who will easily offend certain people, but then if I toned it down other people would not find my writing to be so spicy.
So I think you need to be yourself, and if a few people get offended and leave, let them. I certainly don't punish writers permanently for one faux pas or even a disagreement in philosophy. I certainly don't want readers on my site who are going to expect me to agree with them or please them 100% of the time. If that's how they are, then I say, good riddance.
I also checked this out, and while I think the content is only mildly useful compared to the multitude of other sites out there doing something similar, I wasn't offended.
Guy Kawasaki is one of my favorite techy-kinds of guys, and writes an excellent blog (http://blog.guykawasaki.com) (he also has someone else edit his posts, as he often comments on), and he explains Apple's marketing approach, which I find fascinating. He sums up their technique in one word: Polarization. And it works. He says that Apple (he used to be "the" tech evangelist for them) deliberately picks sides and approaches that are off-putting to many consumers, but are completely enthralling to others. By doing so, they create passion for the technology, both love and hate. He says it is MUCH better to have some people love it and some people hate it, than for most people to shrug their shoulders and say, "eh..", and I have to agree.
One blog you should check out (though, with caution, as she is very crass and often controversial) is Violent Acres (http://violentacres.com/). If you want to be offended by someone's opinion, this is the place. That being said, she often has some really interesting, very candid remarks about things that we all put up with that maybe we shouldn't. I read her from time to time, but she has a HUGE following because she is controversial, and her writing is engaging. Huge, meaning she has posts that purportedly reach over 100,000 readers in a day. She is a blogger's Dan Brown (Da Vinci Code, etc.) -- she doesn't write particularly well from a writing perspective, but uses a lot of the tricks well to keep you turning pages.
So, I think polar opinions make for good reading, even if I disagree with what's written...but that sure does get a large number of readers to come back!
Didn't know he had a blog. Have been a long time admirer of his take on technology, and Apple in general.
Also am checking out Violent Acres. Sounds like another dangerous mind. We run in packs, you know.
Thanks for the tips.
Arye Michael Bender
Stephanie and Bedarkened..
Through his descriptions of readers, he tells me that he does not want people like me to bother reading his stuff.
Most of my readers never leave comments. I appreciate their giving me their time regardless of a comment.
The level of offense is not great, but he doesn't want me to read his stuff, so why would I want to?
Judy
Why do you care whether he wants you to read his stuff or not? (Note: He still wants you to read his stuff. He just also wants you to comment on it.) Read people's stuff because you find it interesting in some fashion or another. Or don't read it because you aren't interested in it. There's no other reason to read.
Basing your desire for reading on whether or not the author personally honors and acknowledges you is a losing proposition. For all you know, the author that kisses your ass is the one who truly doesn't give a hoot.
Honestly.. it's not all that big of a deal.. You seem much more upset than me over this whole thing.
Judy
www.lovelaceway.blogspot.com
www.illogicalpursuits.blogspot.com
Welcome back.
One more comment:
I create for myself as the audience, always have. I won't insult myself, or speak in jargon that I wouldn't otherwise understand. I compose titles that would get my attention, had I come up on them.
When others find my works interesting, I am delighted. We can all join together as an audience of supreme quality and taste. If no one is delighted, well at least the audience of one is pleased.
Arye Michael Bender
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