Bloggers are often going gaga over Darren Rouse and Problogger. But that’s because Darren’s site continuously delivers the good content like this guest post from Jonathan Fields: 3 High-Powered Reader Engagement Tactics.
- Prescriptive Posts give readers practical application for their life and work.
- Immersive Posts draw the reader into a story, image, or idea.
- Feedback Posts invite the reader to participate Liz Straus style.
That’s a fun list of three things to consider. But that’s not why I’m linking to Jonathan’s post. In the comments, tons and tons of people claimed to write “Immersive Posts.”
That’s how I was thinking of describing what I do here as well. I tell stories. I share poems, scripts, etc. And I do my best to hook readers with old fashioned good writing that leads to old fashioned inspiration.
Aren’t I swell? I must be a good writer to pull this off, right?
Just like all of those other people in the comment section at Problogger who are talking about their own immersive posts…
And it hit me. Far too often, I get far too self-obsessed here. Or at home. Or at work. Or anywhere.
But let’s stick with blogging for a moment. Even my desire to write more prescriptive and feedback posts that bring value to readers is really just a lame desire to pat myself on the back and say, “Look at all the value you give your readers, dude. You rock!”
C. S. Lewis wrote a book called The Problem with Pain. I always wished someone had written The Problem with Pride. I’d write it myself, but that would be the ultimate act of hypocrisy.
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Are you sure that your writing is just a lame desire to pat yourself on the back? Or maybe you mean this simply about the writing you do here? (I'm assuming that someone as prolific as you must write in other places for other audiences, or even just for yourself in some tucked away location.) What this really raises for me is the question of why people write, and I'm going to suggest that pride, albeit potentially a motivation, is not a central factor.
Ah, yes, the drive for excellence. In that case you must continue to cultivate your sense of pride and of course your readers will thank you for it by saying, to use your colloquial phrase, “Dude, you rock.” (What an odd feeling that had on the tongue, I must confess.)
The act of writing in itself can be viewed as an act of pride. But the hope–or the escape–or whatever is needed that a good piece of writing can bring to the reader often redeems the pride of the writer. It's just a more magnanimous reason to write (might make you feel better to consider yourself magnanimous)!
Grammy, I like the idea that the reader's experience redeems the writer.
And the word magnanimous is always great.
Dude. Don't be hiding your light under a bushel. If you write well (and you do), it's a gift from God, to be used and celebrated. Just carry on, and trust your community to point it out if you get sinfully prideful (which is, in my opinion, unlikely).
Thanks, Satchel.
Thanks, Satchel.
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