the writing and photography of Neil Kramer

The Three Types of Personal Blogging Posts

I’m giving a little talk to a group in New York this afternoon on the “art of blogging” and it got me asking the question, “What is the essential core of personal blogging?”

After much pondering on the question, I whittled the entire art form — every single blog post ever written — down to three basic topics, or themes, and the typical responses to these posts from the readership-at-large.

Blog Post Theme #1 —

“This is why the OTHERS are WRONG.”   They act, speak, or think incorrectly, and I will tell you why.

Response from Readers to Blog Post Theme #1 —

“You nailed it. I’m sharing this on Facebook.”

Blog Post Theme #2 —

“This is why I am RIGHT.”  I work hard. I play hard. I am blessed with good luck.

Response from Readers to Blog Post Theme #2 —

You are AWESOME. I’m sharing this on Twitter.

Blog Post Theme #3 —

“This is my real life, unfiltered, warts and all.”

Response from Readers to Blog Post Theme #3 —

1)  “Crickets.”

2)  [HUGS]

3)  You’re one fucked up asshole.

4)  I am so proud of your strength and bravery in being so vulnerable online.  Unfortunately, I need to only surround myself with positive people, so I am unfollowing you everywhere.   Namaste.

5)  Thanks for voting for me for my 2013 BlogHer Voice of the Year blog post this year, which I will be reading in front of thousands, assuming you DID vote for me.  And even if you didn’t, it doesn’t really matter.  I can’t wait to see you and have you hear me read my post out loud! It’s so exciting, right?!  Check out my other blog posts at —

6)  Venetian blinds are an excellent addition to any abode. Your information adds much insight into my glorified research. Thank you for your good work! What is your favorite travel software to Belirus?

24 Comments

  1. AlwaysARedhead

    Yep, I fall into theme #3, thanks.

  2. Amanda

    Nicely done, Neil.

  3. Kim

    As someone who never writes anything but a theme-3 blog post, I have learned to love the crickets. When they make the film about my life (ah, self-aggrandizement so early in the morning!) there will be a charming scene where the crickets surround me to comfort me, and their chirp-noises will turn into a Bon Iver song.

    Congrats on your speaking engagement! Knock ’em dead.

  4. Gen

    [Hugs]

    Everything about that common comment makes me uncomfortable. And it permeates the Internet. Only comment that makes me more irked is the one that goes like so:

    Snarky rude comment filled with sarcasm but followed by a winking emoticon so if you respond to the aggressiveness of it, I can proclaim to have meant no harm. Because I winked with punctuation. 😉

  5. Megan

    You nailed it. I’m sharing this on Facebook. 🙂

  6. Avitable

    So are you going to buy some fucking Venetian blinds or what?

  7. Maggie May

    I write mostly #3, sometimes to Bon Iver’s Crickets ( perfect, Kim ) sometimes to a lot of response.

    What about your post? It’s #4, Humorous Observation.

  8. Lillian

    I only wish my spam comment writers were as articulate as yours seem to be.

  9. Carrie

    Warts.

    Damn. I now apparently have’em.

    Thanks for bring THAT to my attention. =)

  10. Absence of alternatives

    Namaste.

  11. Cynthia Meents

    I’ve written all three types. I feel so well-rounded!

  12. Tracie

    I mostly end up in #3.

  13. Josette Plank

    3[b] I write hyperbole about my everything, plus some poems.

  14. Josette Plank

    Also, I was voted a VOTY this year, but I won’t be at Blogher. I’m sending an Appalachian moonshiner in my place to speak out against the injustices of liquor control laws. So there.

  15. Linda Roy

    I’m a 3 – crickets and all. I see Bon Iver is booked so I’m going with Mumford & Sons.

  16. Alexandra

    You are a funny man.

  17. Kiss My Grits

    You are AWESOME. I’m sharing this on Twitter.

  18. Jack

    Sometimes I wonder if anyone will hire me to do nothing but write spam comments that I can share on the really brave posts.

    Damn, I think a million of years of blogging has made me jaded. Hope things are good with you, I don’t comment like I used to, but I still visit.

  19. sizzle

    Yep. That’s about it.

  20. Angella

    Theme #3, for the win!

  21. Tarja

    Neil – so glad I finally made it over. First time blog reader, long time FB reader. (Positive people are so overrated.)

  22. Amy (KidFreeLiving)

    You forgot “here’s a bieber bunch of popular bieber pop culture references in the bieber hopes I’ll get more bieber traffic.”

  23. Robbie

    yes. yes. yes.

  24. Estelle

    So the ass-kissing comments that one receives from posts 1 and 2 don’t count anymore? How disappointing:)
    Estelle

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