Monday Ramble: Ten Million Words and Nobody Cares! Have Fun on Steemit...
It's Monday morning, and I wish I didn't have to work.
Of course, none of us "have to" work; our individual lives are more accurately represented by a long string of choices and their attendant consequences. I choose to work, so I can have shelter, food and indoor plumbing. I could choose not to work, and score the reward of living in a gutter.
Life is pretty simple, for the most part.
Anyway, as I distracted myself with things not-related-to-working, I was considering one of my favorite pastimes: writing.
Blogging, Blogging, Blogging...
Somehow, I ended up visiting my first post on my oldest (still active) blog.
Sailing on the bay...
It's from September 26th, 2002, and talks about "starting down a new road," that road being my first niche blog — in this case related to Sensory Processing Sensitivity.
Even though you pretty much never catch me talking about that here, I'm actually somewhat of an authority and expert in that particular field.
But that's not the point.
The point is that that particular blog was not my first, by any means. And definitely not my last. I wrote about psychology, I wrote about gardening, I wrote about the Enneagram, I wrote about consciousness and personal development, I wrote about beach combing, I wrote about the history of sea glass, I wrote about collecting ols postage stamps... and along the way I kept several personal journals.
Although now defunct, "Inner Reflections" was one of those personal journals (it went away when mega social blogging site Xanga went away) — I mention it only because it was essentially the precursor to the rambles I make some of you suffer through here, ten years later.
ENOUGH of the mini history lesson...
Millions and Millions of Words
Anyway, in looking at all these bloggish things and meandering down memory lane... I ended up doing a little number crunching and came to the very sad realization that in the course cruising the Interwebz, I have scattered at least ten million random words out there.
Flowers in our yard
Ten. Million. Words.
If any of you ever had to work your way through Tolstoy's "War and Peace," that's pretty close to the longest novel ever written... twenty times over.
"Well, congratulations Denmarkguy, that's amazing! Please upvote my post and follow me!"
You're completely missing the point.
The point I am trying to get to is that here we have 20 years of writing, and pretty much nobody gives a shit.
I still have to get up in the morning, make the coffee, scoop the cat boxes, whip out some random words like this and go to work.
And so do you, because pretty much nobody gives a shit.
The "Magic" of the Internet and Self Publishing
The wonderful thing about the Internet is that it gave pretty much everybody with a keyboard the access to instant self-publishing.
The horrible thing about the Internet is that it gave pretty much everybody with a keyboard the access to instant self-publishing.
So now pretty much everybody can call themselves "a writer," and the Universe is filled with 10-million word "portfolios" pretty much nobody gives a shit about.
But Now We Have Steemit!
Sure we do!
And therefore, comma....?
Apricot Blossoms
Granted, this place got started with some degree of fanfare surrounding previously unpaid bloggers being paid for their content, and an underlying idea that Steemit could become this amazing repository of information, based on the glorious notion that because "The Blockchain Records Things Forever" people would add their very best quality content and we would have this encyclopedic repository of The Human Experience.
Sadly, that's not really where we are, is it?
Instead we have millions of words being generated again, that pretty much nobody gives a shit about.
More likely, we have this slightly surreal "cash grab" in which a bunch of people put lots of effort into being seemingly "relevant" and "important," in the hopes that someone with the resources to do so will throw them a few crumbs.
To my eye, there's actually something slightly ironic and marvelously symmetrical about that: Steemit IS a strange repository of The Human Experience... except it's the ugly, seedy, greedy TRUE version, not the "idealized" version at first pitched by Steemit's creators.
Do You Have a Point Here?
If there is a point here — aside from the one at the top of my head — I suppose it concerns the numerous voices of disillusionment of many who lament that "their content doesn't get seen or read" here.
Evening light over the lake
Of course it doesn't!
Odds are your content doesn't get seen or read anywhere; I'm pretty sure none of mine does. The deeper question is why you would think Steemit is any different?
Because there are rewards?
What on planet Pluto (I know, it's not a planet...) makes you think that the presence of "rewards" would make you dank meme more interesting than when you posted it to tumblr?
Use your common sense, people!
On any given social venue — past or present — less than one percent of all users become "stars." Less than 1/100th of one percent become "superstars."
Even at the peak for some of my best niche blogs, 1000 readers a day was a really big deal.
I don't know how many readers I have here on Steemit, but given that my average post gets somewhere in the 50-100 upvote range, it's just not that many.
Not that I'm not grateful to you guys!
Yeah, I know SHAME on me for being a realist!
Just go out there and do your best; and ENJOY yourself! Writing stuff can be a lot of fun, and so can interacting with your 10, 20 or 50 authentic followers. So be grateful for that!
Now... I need to go to work. Because Steemit is not my job, and nobody ever promised me it would be!
Going to go a little more free-form on the comments, here. I invite you to share your thoughts, feelings, impressions, commentaries and rants about writing, online content creation, Steemit or whatever comes to mind! But do leave a comment-- share your experiences-- be part of the conversation!
Animated banner created by @zord189
(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Created at 180618 09:22 PDT
It's supply and demand, you said it yourself... Everyone is a self-publisher.
Most people are more interested in their own views than other peoples.
The realism with a touch of sadness came through.
I'll be the first to admit I often write for myself.
It's cathartic, and rants allow me to sort out my thoughts about things; to clarify what's going on in my head. The interaction is a bonus... and part B is that I like the idea that maybe — just maybe — I can inspire a couple of people to start thinking for themselves.
I'm glad you responded because I forgot to tell you...
I enjoy your writing and you have influenced me. I care!
I just get that people don't part with money for content!
I often write about what I need to sort out also. :)
because pretty much nobody gives a shit
Humans eat food and turn it into shit.
That's what we do.
Everything else is a byproduct..
Turdology.
Found myself in the small town of Hot Springs, MT one time.
This old Blackfoot named Lee Roy O'Bannon preached the gospel of Turdology and had some hot tubs and cabins out in a field.
Everything starts as stuff growing out of a turd, and then (eventually) becomes a turd again.
It's the eternal cycle of Turdology.
Makes sense to me.
Writing that motivates me to keep on doing and keep trying to write the best.
The keyword given is Write ... and keep writing do not bother whether there is a reader or not. What matters is the continuous writing
The motivation you give is great.
Sounds like you have a healthy approach!
I write because I enjoy communicating via the written words. I write on Steemit because it's basically a form of "social blogging;" that is, the social aspect is strong here.
Welcome to Steemit!
Someone has indeed read your blog today. Sometimes I wonder if the time and effort are worth it. Then I remind myself that my journey and self-growth is part of the rewards I am looking for.
I will never to a "star" or "super-star" but I hope I can help a few people. And if money comes in as I am helping, I will not be disappointed with that.
There was once this guy who told me not to complain about reading habits of people on steemit. His logic was that you should write for yourself and not for others.
I was so flabbergasted that it took me some time to even form a reply. I mean if wanted that I would have started writing a diary instead if blogging. It like telling as to talk to air just because we can talk. Blogging has purpose and major component of it is that people should be able to read what the what's written for them.
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Same here, I have been blogging for 15 years and well - that's a lot of time for not too much attention or anything else in return. At least on Steemit I get the moneyzzz in return, which is a huge upgrade from before.
Unlike you I've never been an expert blogger BUT I have always been a community blogger. First community blogging experience only got me some virtual candy though... ;-)
I was going to write the above, but then you did and you can't spam with a spam if it's in the post because then it give the impression I actually read your TEN MILLION WORD monologue! That is quiet the achievement, do you have one you are particular proud of?
Would love to read that one. I have been playing with the idea of submitting a piece for pay on another site and just the idea of it scares me. Writing on steemit has no pressure and unfortunately no minimum quality requirement.
By the way, I really admire your blog and wish I took more time to read through it!
You are right the great thing about writing though if you are true to yourself you don't give a shit if anyone reads it or not cause at least for me and other artists of all types that I know they do it for them not for those who may enjoy their art.
I write for me and if others enjoy it great if not I really don't care. Harsh sounding I know but it is the truth how I see it. And though I don't get by here daily when I do, I read every word that you have written on the ones I do see.
OMG! Pluto isn't a planet!?!?! NOOOOOOOOOO! My world is shattered :(
Seriously though, I had high hopes for Steem when I came. Steemit Succeeds if we make it succeed, making Steem a quality source of information to make the world a better quality place... but yeah... so much for that dream :/ Not many share that dream...