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Brain Sex: Can You Be Unique on the Net?
By Erica | June 10, 2010
i’m willing to start a very serious debate over this, because as a new blogger, it’s something that has really perplexed me while trying to do all the things bloggers are supposed to do.
as a writer AND a blogger, like many of us are (but not all of us!), i obviously try to produce my best work online. you never know what opportunity–or magazine editor–might come knocking (er, e-mailing). it’s really a place to showcase my best work. or at least prove that i AM working.
but, as i’ve found out: everybody else is working, too. & a lot of people (bloggers, specifically) have been working in this medium for a lot longer & with a lot more fire than i have. i’m not gonna lie, this is a little bit disheartening to a blogger–& more specifically, a writer. since not all bloggers are writers, per se, it’s even MORE disheartening to see bloggers who don’t consider themselves “writers” reeling in big bucks from their blogs.
but perhaps what is even more disheartening is that THERE ARE SO MANY OF US. & there are SO MANY OF US who are passionate about the same exact topics–(or at least pretend to be for money’s sake?)
when i was writing on xanga & the like in 2001 (ok–i still do write there!), the whole blogging scene was different. it probably still continues to be a little different on xanga & other sites that encourage “per-blogs” vs. blogs about a niche topic. per-blogs encourage, inspire & drip INDIVIDUALITY. you’ll never find a per-blog that is just like another, just like you’ll never find a person who is just like another.
but in the world of niche blogs? it seems like it’s particularly hard to find a niche that hasn’t already been unearthed & done well already (unless, of course, it’s something totally obscure like obscure research.net…oh wait).
let’s face it on: on the internet there are a million & one other people JUST LIKE YOU. passionate about THE SAME TOPICS. engaged in the SAME DISCUSSIONS. seriously, who woulda thunk?
i’m beginning to wonder if it’s really possible to remain completely unique & authentic on the internet. can you really do or produce something that someone else hasn’t already thought about or attempted or worse–succeeded at?
i get that the internet is a large place & just because someone has done something doesn’t mean everyone else has found it. i get that we are all supposed to have unique talents & views & even if someone wrote a book on the EXACT SAME TOPIC it would contain different insights & a creative twist. right?
i just want to be me on here. i don’t want to have to worry about being different than anybody else, about TRYING to stand out from the crowd, about coming up with new ways to stretch, push & market myself. i just want to write about stuff that interests me.
so let me put it all out there. i’m a little manic, a little crazy at times, prone to sleeping 12 hours one night & none the next, addicted to hanging out with people who also possess these neurotic quirks & i’m constantly engaged in some sort of “catastrophe.” i’m not a drama queen, per se, but i truly believe life is SO boring without a little bit of rising & falling action. perhaps it’s the writer in me, but if i can’t turn every day into a story (hopefully a fairy tale, but nightmares also make an appearance, too)…then i feel the day is wasted.
so, yeah. that’s me.
but…is that enough?
xoxo erica lee
Topics: Brain Sex | 9 Comments »
June 10th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
One of my favorite blogs is The Fluent Self. The woman who writes it, Havi, is hilarious – she discusses yoga and creative work and healing and fun. She did a blogging therapy series awhile back where she addressed a lot of this – basically a lot of people talk themselves out of doing awesome things on the Internet because they’re convinced someone else has done it. And Havi’s answer is something I think about all the time.
She talks about finding your right people. Yeah, your blog might be similar to other fashion/inspiration blogs, but the differences, no matter how miniscule, are there, and those differences are what helps you find your Right People. [She capitalizes Right People, too. :-D]
I think you’re doing brilliantly. I worry about this a lot too, for what it’s worth. But it’s important not to let the worry take the place of the work. :-D
June 11th, 2010 at 4:06 am
Amazing post! I hope you don’t mind I’ve linked to this post in my round up of the week!
http://wastemylifepretending.onsugar.com/Weekly-Love—Week-28-8700116
June 11th, 2010 at 5:48 am
I think we’ve all had these sorts of thoughts run through our mind. There are millions of blogs but the ones that stand out are those with a defined voice. Their niche may be saturated but it’s their style that makes them win. But comparing our own writing to that of other bloggers and trying to see why they get the spotlight and we do not is not going to win us any race. Keeping abreast of our niche is important. Reading widely is too. But we need to be ourselves in our blogs and develop our own style and voice and be persistent in our efforts. We should also write because we want to, not because we feel it necessary or because we aspire to the success others have found here online. Keep plugging away – we may not be unique in our subject matter, but we are unique as authors. :)
June 11th, 2010 at 9:04 am
Wow, this is so right it’s stunning.
I’ve often wondered and struggled to keep my blog afloat on fresh ideas that no one else has yet had – and I sometimes wonder if it’s worth the fight.
But then I remember how much I love blogging, and I remember that I’m doing it for me and no one else (even if I do consider myself a writer, because I have four years at uni before I’ll even think about going professional), and I smile, and type. :)
xx
June 11th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
@everybody – Honestly, I wasn’t sure what kind of response I would get to this, but you have all been very inspiring. I started writing as a way to express myself, not as a way to make money or promote myself. I think sometimes it’s too easy to forget that when you’re (or at least, I’m) writing online. I want to thank you all for reminding me of that fact. All you can really do in this world is be yourself. I just hope that shines through in my writing.
& thanks so much for the link, Rachel!
June 11th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
This is something I struggle with All. the. time. I’ve been blogging for over 4 years and started as a means to hone my writing and build my portfolio. My particular niche is fashion but I find myself feeling a bit stifled within it and feel like non-writing bloggers get all the shine.
Ultimately, I choose to stay true to the topics I want to cover, in the way that I want to cover them and not be a slave to the blogosphere.
June 19th, 2010 at 7:28 am
I agree wholeheartedly with Kate! There *are* so many bloggers and writers out there but honestly, trying to compete with them all would be such a fruitless and frustrating endeavour! Sure, we may occasionally share the same interests as another 1,76877 other people out there but at the end of the day, we’re still unique in our own way and even though 200 bloggers might write about chimpanzees (or whatever!), HOW they choose to write about it will always be their point of difference from everyone else!
I don’t want to be the best blogger or writer in the world – I just want to write full stop and have as much fun as I can along the way!
September 15th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Just want you to know, I’ve been reading through and I already love your blog. I think you’ve already succeeded in being a compelling writer and blogger, since I can’t stop clicking through your links. Just keep doing what you’re doing!
October 12th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
[...] about, or what my “blogging purpose” was (as you can see documented quite painstakingly here + here). I think I was being much too hard on myself for something that, for now, is only a [...]