I love eating delicious food. And I love creating new recipes. But I don’t think I would consider myself a foodie: what I like about blogging and about making up recipes is the creativity involved. I don’t watch cooking shows, don’t read cookbooks in my spare time, don’t spend hours upon hours thinking about food, and…
I feel so mean for what I am about to admit, but I don’t enjoy spending the day feeling like I have to read every single food blog out there. I really don’t want anyone’s feelings to get hurt, and I don’t want anyone to feel like I’m ignoring him or her, so I feel compelled to try and visit as many blogs of people who leave comments on mine as I can. Lately, I’ve felt overwhelmed at the sheer number of blogs I feel the need to visit and comment on each day. I try to be fair;
I’m definitely not one of those people who only leaves comments on the popular blogs. I hate to open up this can of worms, but it makes me sad to see the little blogs ignored. Just because a certain blogger doesn’t get 50 comments per day does NOT mean her blog isn’t good and she doesn’t deserve comments. In fact, I try to comment more on these blogs than the popular blogs because each comment means more to the bloggers. I remember when I was first starting out and got only 5 comments per day. Those 5 comments might as well have been 500 for how happy they made me. Not that I don’t still get excited when someone leaves a comment on my blog: I really do!
Even the comments that just say simple things like “yum” or “cool idea” mean a lot to me. So I feel like a hypocrite if I don’t try my hardest to visit your blogs and try and repay that happiness. You all do such a good job of keeping up with my posts that it’s only fair I should do the same. And everyone has such interesting, well-thought-out posts that I really wish there were time to thoroughly read them all. I love you all, and your blogs are amazing: creative, funny, delightful… Each of you offers something special and unique to the blogging world. But feeling like I have to visit so many blogs as quickly as possible (so I can fit all the other things I want to do into my life), I find myself skimming over your cute stories, creative ideas, and other ways that your personalities shine.
Yes, I know I’m over-estimating my importance in peoples’ lives. Logically, I can see you all probably don’t spend even a minute feeling slighted over such dumb things as whether or not CCK commented more on your blog than someone else’s. But not-so-logically, I have a fault of being way too sensitive and worrying about hurting others. I will still try to comment every now and then. I am going to have to step back even further in the amount I comment, though. It does not mean that I love you guys any less!
Blogging should be fun. Lately, to me, parts of it have become a chore. I want to bring the fun back… And I promise not to abandon you. I’m still reading blogs, even if I don’t always comment!
Question of the Day:
Do any of you feel like this; like parts of blogging—be it trying to comment on tons of others’ sites or the pressures to blog about certain things or to not offend anyone—can sometimes get you down? I’m sure many of you do! Please know that I will NEVER hold it against you if you don’t have time to comment on my site. Yes, I’ll miss hearing your thoughts, your cute stories, and your kind words. But it won’t make me stop loving you.
Hi Katie!! First time commenter!! 🙂 I’ve been reading for awhile now, but haven’t been commenting because I just assumed that since your blog was so popular, that my comment wouldn’t really matter. Not that you don’t come off as darling and nice, but I guess I’m just used to commenting on other popular blogs and never getting anything in return. And I don’t expect you to start commenting on my blog… that’s not what I’m saying, but what I do appreciate is that you recognize your commenters and let them know that even though you aren’t able to always comment you still love them. I totally understand what you’re saying about not being able to comment on everyone’s blog. If we did, we’d be sitting around on a computer alllllll day wasting away our lives. If anything this post just made me want to keep reading even more. Have a great day!! 🙂
While, we of course all love to hear from you, we ALL understand the time it takes and how it’s good to step back and not let blogging become a chore. I still plan to read your blog because I truly enjoy it. And part of it is because you aren’t solely obsessed with posting about food and only food. I’m no foodie either. I like to find healthy eats and recipes to try and share, but don’t spend tons of time figuring out new food ideas or taking pictures of my food either. It’s good to be well rounded with many passions and interests, which you are.
And yes, comments always make my day too! I totally hear you on that. But at the same time, its not necessary either if you use blogging for the right reasons of an outlet to express yourself. 😉
Hi, Katie –
You have a fun and informative blog, and I feel badly that it is causing you angst (examples such as calorie counting, commenting, etc). I don’t have a blog, but I am an avid reader of several blogs. From my perspective, I enjoy reading blogs as opposed to nutrition/diet/food books because blogs offer an opportunity to see how real people incorporate food and fitness into their life, instead of idealized suggestions on how life should be lived. I am grateful that people are willing to honestly share their unique lifestyles and let readers know what works well and also what doesn’t work for them. I think that as soon as you, or anyone with a blog, starts catering to their readers and worrying about making everyone happy the integrity and individuality of the blog is gone. Once the blog becomes more generic and less Katie, the readers are losing out on gaining your one of a kind perspective, and much of the joy you get in sharing yourself and your life will be missing. Not exactly what your post was about, but basically I am trying to let you know to worry less about what others think. In the long run your blog will be better and you will be happier.
Karen
AHhh don’t EVER feel pressured to read MY blog. I make your recipes because I love you and I love your creativity, NOT because I want to be promoted. I feel a little overloaded with reading blogs sometimes, and I have to remind myself the reason I blog (it’s a creative outlet for me!) – so I can’t get upset if no one reads it because I do it for myself. I (of course!) love getting comments and positive feedback, but I don’t expect anyone to share the love of MY food like I do. Hah. Blog because you love it, not because you want other people to love you. 🙂 (Although, I think people love you so much JUST because you ARE you)…shake those guilty feelings and just do your thang.
Katie –
You rock, plain and simple. I’m not a food blogger, but I have a little blog, and I admit I kinda like it that way. It doesn’t bother me when I get 5, 10, or 15 comments for each post. I kinda like the smaller side of things. Keep it simple, I guess. I don’t read your blog just so you respond to my comments via email, or comment on my blog. It’s always awesome to hear from you, but I don’t expect it. Does that make sense? Beyond blogging, we are all human beings with lives and priorities. I really love your creativity and spunk in the kitchen, you writing style, and your personality; that’s why I read your blog! It’s not about the comments!!!
You won’t be abandoned for admitting that! Your readers love you! Don’t feel selfish for not always being able to comment, because you have, as you said, *plenty* to do in the real world outside of blogland. Blogs are for entertainment, fun, sharing, and support. Other bloggers will still know that you are reading their blogs, and simply reading each other’s blogs can keep bloggy friends in touch too. 😀
Oh Katie dear, I was so happy when you featured me in your Shout Out one day. I was screaming! It made me feel FAMOUS!!!!
Most popular bloggers like you wouldn’t give the time of day to a little blogger like me, but you are one in a bazillion!
Thank you for thinking of us little people! And keep up those tribute posts. You’re the kindest soul!
I am a lurker…I admit that because I read your blog every time you post and I don’t always comment because I don’t always have the time and I don’t always know what to say…but this post reminded me that even the big bloggers still appreciate and get excited about comments. Thank you sooo much for being so inspirational, creative and unique! Thank you for being so awesome and honest here. Please do what you need to do to bring the fun back because blogging is supposed to be fun, not a chore! I’ll always read, no matter what!
Hallelujah! As a “little blog” I too appreciate every comment, and I only comment on the blogs I want to. I never started my blog to try and get a gazillion readers, I started it to share. Having people who enjoy it is a definite perk!
You’re posts are so honest Katie – and I totally agree with you. I don’t know if I’ve yet developed the same courage, however, to not “omit” certain things from my blog because they might offend others. Someday!
katie never feel guilty!!! you are an amazing blogger and such a kind person! dont even fret about losing readers becuz i know that everyone is grateful to your blog for tons of reasons and we love that you update so often and appreciate comments and do shoutouts!
you are one of my fav.bloggers and simply put you have a heart of gold.
accept that you are awesome and we have no problems hehehe 😀
so i guess while you say thanku to us so many times its finally time for us to say a big thank u to u!
Thanks katieeeeee!
—Bella Lena