But if your style caters to a small group of people and you want a larger audience, then you probably have to change the way you write.

It’s much like being in real life. People like me want to be who we are but at the same time we also like the company of others. Yet who we are isn’t always accepted by others. It’s a tradeoff there, but we eventually learn be more than just who we are and in that gain people we never thought of as friends.

In blogging terms that simply means blogs are as they are. We might not agree with them, but that doesn’t mean other people do. If we don’t, we have an option not to read them. They may grow up and learn new ways or they won’t. In the grand scheme of things, it works no matter what happens. We will all still be in our own communities we create. If they complain about why they don’t have much of a community being who they are despite offers for help and guidance, then that’s their business, their life and their blog. Where they go from there is up to them.

I don’t know whether I made any sense there or not. My thoughts are a little jumbled bringing out this point.

Good additions.

I would probably also add FW-List bloggers who use the F-word and other “shocking” language and bad behavior, lacking moral values, bloggers who do what they do because it generates and attracts negative attention and energy.

There are so many lists out there, exploring what it is that defines success for them helps us to understand more about why people blog and what they get out of it that makes their blogging a success. For them. Not the list builders.

LTS bloggers blog anything that will links, traffic, or search engine juice. They write sensational headlines, name drop, and stuff posts with key words thinking those things help. They make long link lists of other bloggers to game the system, hoping other bloggers will pick up the list and pass it on giving them link after link after link that is tied to no content.

IU bloggers writer impolite, unprofessional emails asking for things such as link exchanges and favors from other bloggers they don’t know.

and to end on a high note
LLH bloggers — they’re the one in a million blogger you meet who you know from the first word is going to be a lifelong friendand hero.

You, Lorelle, are an LLH blogger for me.

The other lists are for those who stand out from that crowd.

You ask a very good question. With more readers, and commenters, comes responsibility. Does it change who you are and how you blog when you move beyond the basics?

As with everything, as you grow there will be changes. A favorite quote of mine is “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional”. The same goes with blogging.

I wonder if there’s another list? A list of bloggers who simply blog on a subject they’ve seen other people doing well with.

Great blog.
Cheers,
ploop