Martin Koss – thinking out loud…
I don't mean to be so opinionated and argumentative, it's just me…
Blogging Without Pictures – Breaking The Rules?
I got a criticism the other day – yep – criticised for doing what I love – the way I feel most comfortable doing it.
You see, I love writing (some will have already noticed that). But, believe me, I don’t love scouring the web for the perfect complimentary ‘royalty free’ photo from Flickr or Big Stock Photos – just to add the obligatory photo alongside a blog post.
Some may say, and, I suppose, they’d be right by saying that I can’t be arsed. Fair enough – I can’t. All that techy stuff gets in the way of my ‘flow’ and that stresses me out. I don’t want to get to the end of the day regretting that I didn’t write xzy post because I lost so much time looking for, saving, editing, uploading, embedding, (not forgetting linking to the photo ‘owner’) the ‘must have’ photo on the other post I wrote.
Does that make me lazy? Apparently. But not in my game. It just lets me get on with doing what I love to do and that is write – which is squeezed in between working with clients so I don’t have much time for my first love as it is so spending time wading through images.google is not part of my daily plan, thank you very muchly.
I read a lot too.
I enjoy ‘following’ certain people who muse about random things that happened to intrude on their lives or about what they are up to in there business – and I especially enjoy particular bloggists who have a lot to say and say it very well. Some use pictures – some don’t.
Some of my favourite blog authors are so funny they make me literally roll on the floor laughing (I mean, of course: ROTFLMAO) and others make my stop and ponder for a moment and rush right down to the comments box because I just have to add my own two-pence worth or just congratulate the author on a great piece of writing.
Did I mention the pictures? No.
Did the picture make me want to read more? Nope.
Did the picture make me believe the story more than the words? I doubt it.
You see, in my opinion (IMHO, of course) I hardly even notice the pictures strategically placed in most blog posts I read (a spin off of ‘ad-blindness’ perhaps) – because, unlike the clever use of random imagery in my friend Vicki’s blog or other, occasional relevant use of photos that relate to the post (CB is good at this too), I don’t care about the photos at all – I read the writing.
Am I saying that using what many consider to be a ‘must have’ is the wrong thing to do? No. Everyone is entitled to do what they feel works for them and do what they love doing and do it how they love to do it. We all have our own preferences and we should stick to doing what we love and how we love doing it. No one blog follows all the rules and no one blog breaks ‘em.
There are no ‘rules’.
Blogs are like people. Each and every one of them unique – or at least I hope so. If we discount the ones that clearly copy and paste other people’s work – which winds me up but that’s a whole other issue.
In fact, I often wonder if some people add a picture to there blog posts because they actually think it is the right thing to do and that no-one will read the post unless a picture of a cute little kid or a photo taken during a conference (look how cool I look up on the stage) is added to the top left or top right of the post.
It’s not right. It’s not wrong. It’s okay to do it and it’s equally okay not to do it. It’s your game, you create your own rules and stick to doing what you love doing – the way you love to do it.
Just keep writing – for those who love reading. And, don’t let other people’s ‘rules’ interrupt your ‘flow’.
Thank you for reading this one – it makes my love of writing all worth while.
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2 Responses to Blogging Without Pictures – Breaking The Rules?
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Good point Martin. I've been thinking a little about pictures too recently, and have come to the conclusion that they really need to be about the post, and if you can't find the perfect picture that illustrates how to 'self-love' (http://www.vegemitevix.com/2010/04/how-to-self-… for example hee hee) then you're better off leaving it out! I think pictures can be a huge distraction if they don't fit the context of the post, but then as you know I'm more of a writer than a photographer so I would say that wouldn't I! Mind you, sometimes I wonder whether the writing is enough in itself also. Many of the very large blogs are not neccessarily well written. What makes them popular? Is it the pictures?
(thanks for the link btw I really appreciate it!!)
Hi Vicki. Thank you for adding your thoughts to the 'conversation' about 'Blooging With (or without) Pictures'.
I agree with you that some blogs are not very well written and I think many add pictures just to fill the space more than the very short and sweet post takes up – but I also think that sometimes a very short and to the point post sits fine by itself, picture or no picture.
You're most welcome for the link. I thoroughly enjoy your writing – you have a great creative way of merging a bit of humour with a serious point – and many of your pictures work too – they subtly enhance the post rather than distract from it.