I started BornStoryteller in January of 2011. In the eight months of writing this blog, I’ve written about a lot of topics. In the beginning, I had no clue as to what this space was about or should be about, and eight months later:
I’m asking myself that same question.
So: I am asking YOU to please vote in the above poll. Tell me what you like to read on BornStoryteller. What should I spend most of my writing & thinking energy on?
PLEASE don’t throw it back in my lap, as many seem to like to do with the “write what you feel like” etc.
I am asking a question(s) here for the simple fact that I would like to know my readers opinions. Like many blogs, I get a lot of hits but no where near the amount of comments percentage wise. Comments help: they tell me I’m on the right track. But, I do an interview with almost no comments, and I almost triple the number of hits on the blog.
The above poll lists the main topics I touch on. I am thinking of making BornStoryteller a three or four times a week blog, posting content only on certain days. My schedule for writing my novel and other submissions is beginning to get tight, and as Ray Davies sang: Give the People What They Want!
bornstoryteller 
Sep 11, 2011 @ 23:20:32
Storytelling
Creative Drama/Teaching Artist
My Life As A Writer
I gave it to you… my thoughts anyways .. I really loved reading your blog
Sep 11, 2011 @ 23:22:41
Thank you Deborah. This is a great start.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 01:01:09
I voted for Life as A Writer 🙂
Sep 12, 2011 @ 09:34:40
thank you Damyanti. I hope to get there one day.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 04:47:18
I voted, I hope you got the results. The “other” field never would show my typing. I use an iPad a lot and some things don’t alwys interpret to it perfectly. My other would include how sharing writing could be more universal, like PC, laptop, iPad, iTouch, etc. I like Flash Fiction because it’s a length that can be read easily in a few moments on a portable devise. Also, I am having major problems organizing myself. How do you, writers, balance posting to a blog, reading other blogs/other people’s writing, commenting, tweeting, Facebooking, etc. How do you respond when you read/comment another’s work but they never, or only hit and miss, to yours? How do you connect with other’s? Do you reply to comments left at our site? Tweet or Facebook? Or what? It’s all really vey confusing and a bit overwhelming. And, like you said, I ask and basically get, “don’t worry about it”, or discussion that does not touch on any of those questions. Am I too new? Too naive? Too clueless? Sometimes it’s very frustrating. Some kind of topics that could address those things would be great. I hope this helps you. I know it did me, the venting did anyway, thank you.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 09:38:21
Kwee… a LOT of great questions: if you don’t mind, I’ll take them all into a separate blog entry. Might do some good to answer them there. I can take my time and not obscure what’s up here. Thank you.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 05:02:14
I’ve always thought that there is all the difference in the world between having something to say and having to say something and the central focus of writing should be people. I’d write about things you’ve seen or issues you’ve read about and how those cameo stories you’ve experienced have made you feel and what you felt was important for other people to understand about the ‘life cameo’ that you thought was important. Bring your beliefs and ideals to the blog. Make a stand on an issue and say what you think. A blog, in my opinon, is a sort of ‘secular sermon’ where you share an experience and then have a message to share with your followers. It sounds arrogant, but it’s not. Writing is not just about story telling. Many of the self publsihed e-books I’ve read, because of advertising on twitter, are just ‘plot platforms’ and do not speak to the reader in a subliminal way. ‘Moral’ messages have been removed from story telling and yet the origins of stories were not just to entertain, but to express cultural beliefs and to impart wisdom about life. I’d take the format of Aesops fables in a blog and try to construct entries about things that bothered you about notable experiences. Write it like a cameo story. Those are the blogs that I like. I’ve signed up to loads of blogs as I’m interested in people and their thoughts; I suppose that’s what drives my writing, that and the words and ideas pouring into my head every day. I hope this helps you. Not a subject idea for blog, but a suggestion for an approach.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 09:43:21
Richard: thank you for such a thoughtful set of comments. Yes, I do believe that MOST (not all) of my posts have come from a basic passion and caring, more than just getting any type of content out. When I have nothing to say, I’d rather not post.
As to storytelling: I’m a professional storyteller, and that’s what I meant: telling about the profession, research, performances, etc. I write stories on Tale Spinning (my fiction blog). LOVE what you wrote, and I hope others read it.
Thanks
Sep 12, 2011 @ 05:11:20
Humblest apologies for typo and mistakes in my comment above. ‘published’ not ‘publsihed’ and missing apostrophe on Aesop’s; additionally should have capital for ‘fables’, though strictly not a title in that sentence context. Again apologies. Hang my head in shame! Teach me to rush things.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 07:12:36
Voted, Stu. I’m partial to the personal aspect. I like your writing but time constraints make it impossible to comment on each of your posts, though I’d like to. Also, you are quite prolific. Is there a difference in which of your blogs gets the most comments?
Sep 12, 2011 @ 09:33:49
Adrienne: the posts I get the most comments are the Education/Arts in Education blogs. This is one of the reasons I’m asking. As Richard writes above, I write about what moves me, but I am thinking of offering certain days of the week on those themes. Thanks for writing. Yeah, I throw out a lot: that is another thing, cutting this one down a bit but more on schedule.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 08:02:08
Oh, Stuart!
This is EXACTLY what the “experts” tell you to do. And, it’s SO DAMNED WRONG!!!!
Let’s consider…
Everyone tells you they love your style of writing. But, they want you to write about jet travel- or mythical monsters. 10 million readers Big market. And, if you gave a…. about those subjects, you’d be just perfect. But, you know what? These topics mean nothing to YOU!!!! So, even if you tried really hard, your writing would fall a little (ok, maybe a lot) short. And, no one would read you, anyway….
So, write about what stokes YOUR passions. Write the best you can. (OK, I know I am preaching to the choir about these two facts- but you have already wandered off the reservation). And, they WILL come.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 09:53:20
Hey Roy: I am just curious. I think, as a reader and commenter here, I do tend to write about what moves me. I have just been thinking I should cut back a little (more for myself, time wise) and, if I do so, what of the things that does “stroke my passions” should I THINK of concentrating one. Yeah, I’ll still go off tangent when it moves me. That’s me: I’m not the world’s most linear of thinkers (got Kinks on the brain). Just sometimes: it’s good to get the feedback, even if it’s only in numbers form.
Thanks for caring and being so impassioned.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 10:29:34
I voted “other” and wrote in all of the above. Surveys are a great way to engage your audience, but the analytics already give you a lot of info on what’s working and what’s not. We all want more comments. Why? Because a high comment rate shows interest. But so does time on page and number of pages per visit. Don’t fault yourself for visitors who prefer reading over writing.
Do you use Google Analytics? It’s a great tool to get the numbers you need and more.
Keep up the great work. Write your passion. You have a topic list that is manageable.
Sincerely,
Fernando Maneca
Sep 12, 2011 @ 10:32:58
Thank you Fernando. I don’t find fault: sometimes I also just have time to read and move on, not always leaving a comment. I get that. WordPress has it’s own analytics.
I’m more interested in hearing things then numbers. I understand the vagaries of blogging, after 8 months. Content before %’s is what’s important to me. If I wanted numbers, I’d write “sexy” headings all the time.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 10:42:31
I’m sorry, perhaps I misunderstood the purpose of the survey.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 10:47:18
No..you got it. You have a great response. I am taking a look at a few things: If I cut down to a set three times a week schedule, which is what I’m contemplating, I want to concentrate on the top three things that not only interest me but also interest the readers. I do scatter-shot writing right now on a variety of topics and I’m not consistent in that way (from a readers viewpoint). So…instead of creating five different blogs (two is enough) on each topic, I’m trying to give myself a break through hearing from the masses.
Hope this makes more sense.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 10:57:06
I would have voted Arts for Education three times…great idea to ask your readers what they want to hear
Sep 12, 2011 @ 10:58:59
Thanks CLM. Hmm..something unethical in that 🙂 As Roy pointed out below, I do and will continue to write what moves me: I have to. It just helps me to hear from others at times.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 11:09:12
Hi, Wow, I am complimented you think they are good questions. Thank you, you just took some of the pain out of how new I feel. Yes, please, use them for a post in whatever format works for you. I am eager for your answers/responses, as I’d really appreciate some help and direction. Just, thank you for the interest.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 11:14:22
No sweat. They were just questions that I felt need more room, and open it to others to answer. It’ll be up later today.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 11:25:07
I voted for ‘My Life as a Writer’! Nothing can inspire me or give me food for thought than getting to know what another writer’s life is like.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 11:28:14
Thanks. All these comments help me.
Sep 13, 2011 @ 12:56:03
A couple of quick remarks:
1) Never use comments to measure success in blogging. Most readers don’t comment, which is why we have things like international delurking day.
2) Write about what drives you. Bloggers who write with passion are far more interesting.
Just my two cents.
Sep 13, 2011 @ 15:15:01
Hi Jack: thanks for stopping by.
Short answers: no, I don’t measure success by comments. I’m just more curious to get to know my readers, esp the Lurkers Who Read (LWRs). Nothing more.
I only write about what moves me. I will never write about shoes or the like. Just not me.