After a short gap, I am back with another of my blogger reminiscences posts, moving on to the third phase of my blogging - a long period of 13 months with very few scattered posts.
Keeping the Wolf from the Door (Mar 2009 - Mar 2010)
Fame goes to the head and can be addictive. I thought my blog had come into its own after the success of the bride hunt series and things seemed to be going well for sometime. But with time, readers began to dwindle and even though I continued to have a decent readership, it was a far cry from the earlier success. Loss of motivation coupled with some changes in life such as marriage and retrenchment brought my blog to a grinding halt in Oct 2008. After things began to stabilize a bit, I tried to resume blogging and keep the blog afloat for over an year. I could not find enough humorous personal life incidents. So I began to explore what other bloggers write about. So I tried writing about current affairs and also tried a hand at book and movie reviews. I also made feeble attempts at blog promotion but did not see too much foot fall. I have seen quite a few blogs shut down after running successfully for a year or two. So the most notable achievement of these period was just hanging in there despite lack of readership.
MBA and the CEO
An attempt to make a satire out of some of my work experiences. Preferred to write it as an imaginary satire post rather than describe actual incidents as washing corporate dirty linen in public can be dangerous for someone planning to continue in corporate world. Tried to bring humor by using some lines from Tamil Superstars.
The Socialist Agenda
Another attempt at satire: this time based on some outrageous statements made by a politician. But I am generally of timid disposition and did not want to take the names of influential people. So tried to bring humor by taking on things at an ideas level and avoiding reference to people.
Man Biter of Rajajinagar
I tried to resume the old series of posts narrating my childhood experiences at different houses I have stayed in, in a humorous fashion. This was about an incident wherein I was bitten by a neighbor's dog at the age of 10.
A Historic Perspective of Chinese Strategy
I was running out of humorous personal life incidents. So I had to diversify. I did not want to write on current affairs situations unless I have something unique and different to contribute. Here I found I had a radically different view on the topic of China's motives leveraging some of what I had studied in my history of international relations course as well.
Alice in Wonderland - Book Review
After current affairs, I found another popular topic for bloggers was book reviews. But most of the popular books had already been reviewed. So I had to come up with my own unique review style focusing on my personal reflections. So I decided to take on the niche of all genres of speculative fiction: fantasy, satire, science fiction and children's fantasy.
Gulliver's Travels - Book Review
In spite of lack of response for my first book review, another attempt at review, this time of Gulliver's Travels, again trying to give my unique personal reflections on the book.
Is Flat the best shape for the World
Once again I could come up with a radically different view on a current affairs topic - this time on globalization. I tried to present an unconventional view pointing out the disadvantages of globalization. But I did not find the response these kind of analysis encouraging. Most people tended to ignore the arguments in the post and just strongly express their own set views.
Center Stage at Baldwins
After forays into other genres, back to humorous narration of incidents from childhood. This was an incident at school. Typically most of the humor comes from events that were of unfortunate nature when they happened. Looking back after years, one sees the funny side.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Book Review
I continued with reviews of my favorite books to keep by blog rolling. Response though was completely lackluster not even garnering as single comment.
The Magic Faraway Tree - Book Review
Yet another book review - one of my all time favorites during my childhood. I usually try to weave my personal experiences with the book in these reviews. But somehow the reviews were not finding takers.
3 Idiots - Fools Review
After trying my hands at book reviews, I decided to try a hand at movie reviews as well. Movie reviews usually work best when movie is new. But I was not in the habit of seeing new movies. So I tried to present an off beat view of a popular movie.
The Aman ki Asha Paradox
Again a current affairs topic, but not an offbeat view. More a popular view which I also felt strongly about but I tried to see it with a level head and give a logical basis for the views. As expected post was popular but for wrong reasons - not so much for my arguments but for agreeing with the populist views.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Day Time
This was again something new I attempted - a random musings post. I have been a fan of popular authors who reproduce streams of thoughts randomly jumping from idea to idea. I attempted to do that here with a sprinkling of elements of humor and satire.
Chicken Soup for the Soul from Bollywood
Another attempt to write on Bollywood, inspired by year's top 75, all time top 75 movies etc. published close to year end on commercial website. My top 4 Hindi movies with reasons for the same. Somehow Bollywood is a very popular topic among readers but then almost everyone knows more than me. So I realize this is not really a topic where I can really make my mark.
Swami Nityananda Incident: Uncomfortable Questions
My offbeat views on a very popular current affairs event of the time. This is again a general view point post and not really one of my best ones. More to just keep my blog rolling during the lean period.
Keeping the Wolf from the Door (Mar 2009 - Mar 2010)
Fame goes to the head and can be addictive. I thought my blog had come into its own after the success of the bride hunt series and things seemed to be going well for sometime. But with time, readers began to dwindle and even though I continued to have a decent readership, it was a far cry from the earlier success. Loss of motivation coupled with some changes in life such as marriage and retrenchment brought my blog to a grinding halt in Oct 2008. After things began to stabilize a bit, I tried to resume blogging and keep the blog afloat for over an year. I could not find enough humorous personal life incidents. So I began to explore what other bloggers write about. So I tried writing about current affairs and also tried a hand at book and movie reviews. I also made feeble attempts at blog promotion but did not see too much foot fall. I have seen quite a few blogs shut down after running successfully for a year or two. So the most notable achievement of these period was just hanging in there despite lack of readership.
MBA and the CEO
An attempt to make a satire out of some of my work experiences. Preferred to write it as an imaginary satire post rather than describe actual incidents as washing corporate dirty linen in public can be dangerous for someone planning to continue in corporate world. Tried to bring humor by using some lines from Tamil Superstars.
The Socialist Agenda
Another attempt at satire: this time based on some outrageous statements made by a politician. But I am generally of timid disposition and did not want to take the names of influential people. So tried to bring humor by taking on things at an ideas level and avoiding reference to people.
Man Biter of Rajajinagar
I tried to resume the old series of posts narrating my childhood experiences at different houses I have stayed in, in a humorous fashion. This was about an incident wherein I was bitten by a neighbor's dog at the age of 10.
A Historic Perspective of Chinese Strategy
I was running out of humorous personal life incidents. So I had to diversify. I did not want to write on current affairs situations unless I have something unique and different to contribute. Here I found I had a radically different view on the topic of China's motives leveraging some of what I had studied in my history of international relations course as well.
Alice in Wonderland - Book Review
After current affairs, I found another popular topic for bloggers was book reviews. But most of the popular books had already been reviewed. So I had to come up with my own unique review style focusing on my personal reflections. So I decided to take on the niche of all genres of speculative fiction: fantasy, satire, science fiction and children's fantasy.
Gulliver's Travels - Book Review
In spite of lack of response for my first book review, another attempt at review, this time of Gulliver's Travels, again trying to give my unique personal reflections on the book.
Is Flat the best shape for the World
Once again I could come up with a radically different view on a current affairs topic - this time on globalization. I tried to present an unconventional view pointing out the disadvantages of globalization. But I did not find the response these kind of analysis encouraging. Most people tended to ignore the arguments in the post and just strongly express their own set views.
Center Stage at Baldwins
After forays into other genres, back to humorous narration of incidents from childhood. This was an incident at school. Typically most of the humor comes from events that were of unfortunate nature when they happened. Looking back after years, one sees the funny side.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Book Review
I continued with reviews of my favorite books to keep by blog rolling. Response though was completely lackluster not even garnering as single comment.
The Magic Faraway Tree - Book Review
Yet another book review - one of my all time favorites during my childhood. I usually try to weave my personal experiences with the book in these reviews. But somehow the reviews were not finding takers.
3 Idiots - Fools Review
After trying my hands at book reviews, I decided to try a hand at movie reviews as well. Movie reviews usually work best when movie is new. But I was not in the habit of seeing new movies. So I tried to present an off beat view of a popular movie.
The Aman ki Asha Paradox
Again a current affairs topic, but not an offbeat view. More a popular view which I also felt strongly about but I tried to see it with a level head and give a logical basis for the views. As expected post was popular but for wrong reasons - not so much for my arguments but for agreeing with the populist views.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Day Time
This was again something new I attempted - a random musings post. I have been a fan of popular authors who reproduce streams of thoughts randomly jumping from idea to idea. I attempted to do that here with a sprinkling of elements of humor and satire.
Chicken Soup for the Soul from Bollywood
Another attempt to write on Bollywood, inspired by year's top 75, all time top 75 movies etc. published close to year end on commercial website. My top 4 Hindi movies with reasons for the same. Somehow Bollywood is a very popular topic among readers but then almost everyone knows more than me. So I realize this is not really a topic where I can really make my mark.
Swami Nityananda Incident: Uncomfortable Questions
My offbeat views on a very popular current affairs event of the time. This is again a general view point post and not really one of my best ones. More to just keep my blog rolling during the lean period.
15 comments:
I have gone through similar phases LF, though am not as prolific or gifted as other bloggers. Initially I wrote humor and sarcasm which attracted readers. But today I often write what I feel like and do not keep readers in mind. Some posts find resonance, others do not. Follow your heart. I particularly love your short fiction.
Thanks Alka. Though I am not very regular on your blog, I have always liked your sarcastic posts. Glad you like my short fiction. I am planning to write as my heart directs going ahead.
You are doing such a comprehensive review of your blogging journey. Impressive. My hurried look at mine tells me that I haven't done a single post this month! Not impressive!
Thanks Rickie. I wanted to do this to give people a sense of what I have been writing over the years. Even I was wondering how come you have not written for close to month.
Hmmm. I hope when my blog comes to such standstill I have enough tenacity like you to hang on to it. I guess it's quite tough to write when you aren't motivated to do so.
Now that is some really interesting set of topics you've written on. Looks like I've missed your humor posts except the bride hunt series that I read recently. I have mostly read fiction and reviews from you. And this series of yours makes us go down memory lanes ourselves.
Indeed it was, Pankti. If I had let go then, I might have let my blog die for good.
Yes, Rachna. It is interesting to go down the memory lane. Most people who know me at some time might miss a different facet of my writing during a different time. That is why I wanted to start this series to acquaint people with various facets of my writing.
It happens. Even I did not write anything for a very long time until I started recently. The change of topics are quite normal. I wrote crap, poetry, fiction, reviews and crap again. Nice to see you going back to looking at how you have traveled so far.
True, Diwakar. I am curious to learn what this crap would be.
Such phases are unavoidable TF. Happens I suppose!
Guess you too were undergoing such a phase recently, Jayashree.
haha..When I read my old posts, I find areas of improvement there, and hence I call them crap :)
I am so glad you capsuled your blog in this post. I got to read the ones I missed earlier as I hadn't read you much.
Also, its a wonderful way of looking at your life.. guess, I would also do something like this someday.
Thanks a lot, Namrota. You surely must.
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