In 2005 when I learned to knit, I assumed that writing about and posting photos of my knitting might be boring to readers here, so I started another blog. It focuses not just on knitting but on domestic arts: recipes, cleaning tips, and I toss in a few silly quizzes for variety. (Because silly quizzes don’t really fit with “serious tone” of this blog.) Then in 2006 I started exploring poetry again. And again, because I didn’t want to bore or alienate readers here, I started a separate blog for that.
And I must admit, it was fun for awhile, and I really enjoy the look of all my blogs. There is such a variety of stuff I like and the styles of the other blogs reflect this. Knit Together is warm and cozy looking; Aenigmas is sleek and austere. There are content-specific links there as well.
And yet… I stopped writing poetry in 2007 (my brain is on sabbatical). I plan to write more someday whenever the inspiration arises. And I stopped knitting in earnest for awhile in 2007, because of pregnancy carpal tunnel and a new baby. Now that I’m knitting more, I’m feeling a disconnect with the idea of managing more than one blog. Sure, I like how nice they look, and yet I don’t know that I want to be split like this. I find that my knitting friends only have time to read and look at my knitting blog, but that’s not the core of me, and they miss out by not coming here. Also, that and the poetry blog have almost no readers, so why keep them?
If I were to integrate these other two blogs with this one, I’m trying to envision how I can bring over some of the extra content as well. I suppose I could list the extra links for poetry under the “Express” page and the knitting/domestic arts ones on the “Create” page. I could put the blog rolls for each on those pages as well. And I could just trust that readers not interested in knitting or poetry would just skip reading posts pertaining to that.
Any opinions?
Well, seems to me all your blogging is to express yourself–the different ones are different aspects of that. Right? So, I don’t see much problem putting them together if that is what you want. People will read the bits they want whether you put them together or not. I think the question is what would make it easier for you to post? What format will encourage you to keep writing and expressing yourself in the myriad ways you need to? Your life to busy. Make it simpler.
But what do I know with my too many blogs?
I wasn’t aware of your other blogs, and I like seeing what’s of interest to the bloggers that I like, so I’d love to see your knitting, what’s cooking, and poems too. Yes, please! (And Claire, too, and your thoughts and ideas…)
I debated about having secondary blogs myself for a while because my interests are so diverse, but it’s hard enough maintaining one blog and doing the visiting of other’s blogs. I just put different posts in differnt categories, or multiple categories.
Turn, turn, turn.
By the way, I accessed your blog at school and we have a very stringent monitor on what we can access because of the kids here. Fortunately, faculty has the ability to bypass the block, but it did say that your blog is unauthorized because you have adult content. Where? I want to go to it!
Fran, I can only come up with one possible reason my blog is censored. I’ve used the word “nipple” in some posts (when talk about the bottles Claire uses) and the filter probably detects that word. I’m bummed to know it’s restricted because I’m not that exciting!
i think integration makes the most sense (for you and your readers!)
I also used to keep separate blogs for writing, knitting, witchy stuff, kid stuff and then my regular one. When I switched to WordPress, I consolidated b/c I could use tags and categories. Categories are as good as keeping separate blogs. Some people read me for the kid stuff, some for the knitting, some for the everyday stuff and it’s much easier on me just to put everything in one spot.
I do keep a separate writing blog still b/c I think that when I get talking about writing, it wouldn’t be of much interest to my average reader. It’s pretty topic-specific.
My vote: consolidate. Most of your readers, if not all, are interested in every aspect of what makes you you.
What is fascinating about this is that it reflects your own perspective on your life. Where before you might have viewed it in terms of compartments, now you see it as one life. Some of us realize that true advancement is to be able to count to one and stay there.