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How to Blog with Focus

By

Our Purpose As Artists
I teach in a building next to the School of Music. So it’s not uncommon for college students to practice their instruments in the adjoining courtyard. On any given day, multiple melodies fill the atmosphere. But in the early morning, when I’m arriving for work, I hear the sounds of a lone clarinet drifting through the hallway.

I pause to listen.

At first, the notes are scales — ascending and descending. Soon, the notes transform into familiar refrains by Beethoven and Bach. Eventually, the young clarinet player abandons the notes on the page and begins to improvise. He creates an aural art, a cadence pregnant with mystery, uncertain of where it will lead.

The clarinet player in the courtyard has no idea how much a writing professor down the hall enjoys his musical gift.

I wonder how many bloggers can relate to this clarinet player.

As bloggers, we sometimes wonder:

  • Is anyone even listening?
  • Is all this blogging worth the effort?
  • Does my presence online make any difference?
  • Am I just another voice in a cacophony of noise?

When we ask ourselves these questions, we open ourselves to self-doubt and become susceptible to false ideals about blogging. We start to listen to other voices — voices that talk about numbers.

Subscribers. Visitors. Page views. Comments. Likes. Shares. There’s a statistic for everything.

In a sincere effort to increase readership, it’s not uncommon for bloggers to start chasing these numbers. A blogger begins, writing from the heart, and she finds a small but receptive audience who appreciates her work. Then she reads advice online — a prescribed methodology for blogging success. As she emulates these “best practices,” she becomes a clone of other bloggers. What made her unique in the first place has dissipated.

The fastest way for a blogger to lose her focus is to focus on numbers.  {Share on Twitter}

That’s not to say all numbers are bad. The information we glean from statistics can be helpful. A well-frequented post can tell us what strikes a resounding chord with readers. A weekly tracking of page views might reveal which days of the week are more likely to receive visits. Such data can inform our strategies and guide our blogging decisions.

Bloggers are wise, however, to view their statistics with discernment. Because numbers abide by the law of diminishing returns. Once we’ve achieved a numeric goal, we simply up the ante with another number. This never-ending chase perpetuates a cycle that saps a blogger’s creativity, resulting in a spiritless body of work.

We must decide ahead of time what kind of blogger we want to become and what kind of reader we want to reach.

Yes, the allure of bigger numbers is an ever-present reality. Our society revolves around numbers because we’re conditioned to believe that numbers translate into happiness or beauty or success. We’re told bigger statistics will provide access to better opportunities. Which may or may not be true.

But I do know one thing that is true:

Numbers neither define me nor fulfill me.
Numbers neither determine my worth nor control my fate.

Whether we have many readers or few, we overcome the seduction of numbers when we’ve already settled within ourselves a sense of purpose.

When we know our purpose as artists, we retain our focus as bloggers.  {Share on Twitter}

I want to blog with the same focus as the clarinet player. He’s committed to developing his craft, and he’s not following the noisy crowd. Nor is he playing louder in an attempt to be heard. In fact, he doesn’t seem concerned with being noticed for his talent. He’s found his own space, and he creates music because that’s what he does. It’s inside him. He may have dreams of playing in an orchestra someday, but whether that dream ever comes true or not, he’s a musician.

And a true musician will continue to play his instrument for the simple love of music.

Comments

  1. Here I thought you were going to talk about tuning out distraction And you end up celebrating the one who is creating. The practice of scales, the recitation of the familiar and the improvisation of the musician’s own heart and mind – for no one in particular. That is indeed focus. Thank you.

    • Yes! I love how you put that, Amy: “The practice of scales, the recitation of the familiar, and the improvisation of the musician’s own heart and mind — for no one in particular.” That’s it exactly!
      Amy, you are one of the reasons why I love the Allume Conference so much! I get to meet awesome folks like you there! xoxo

  2. As a writer/blogger who has totally forgotten her purpose and can’t find her focus to save her life, I am tucking this one away for rereading regularly in hopes of creating again! Maybe someday I’ll return to the blogging world! This is so encouraging

    • Julie, you are a brave soul. We all experience seasons where we may feel as if we’re “drifting” a little aimlessly. Those seasons have actually ended up being some of my favorite seasons because we can take the time we “would have used writing” and we can pour everything into reading God’s Word and seeking His face and resting in His presence. God alone can re-order our days and re-align our purpose and restore our focus. {HUGS}

  3. So good Denise!!!!! I rarely look at numbers. My heart is to connect with the one person who needed to read my simple offering. I tell people that I focus on the depth and God will increase the width.

    • I love that about you, Karina. And I love how the Allume Conference allowed us time together on a comfy sofa. I’m so thankful for the time we shared. You are a beautiful soul.

  4. Such great words of wisdom here Denise. Sooo good!! And I love the illustration of the musician, your expertise as a writing professor is evident in this piece.

  5. Denise,
    I have always said that I write to an audience of One, but you’re right, the allure of the numbers game can be sneaky indeed. If I find myself getting too caught up in that, I need to readjust my focus on to what made me start to write in the first place. I needed this!!
    Blessings,
    Bev

    • I love that, Bev. I do the same thing. All I need to do is remember what made me start to write in the first place, and then the distractions fade away.
      Blessings to you today!

  6. When I was younger I would play the piano for hours a day. I’d finish my work in class and beg the teacher to let me retreat to the auditorium or choir room so I could play to my heart’s content. I was alive on the inside and no one needed to hear that beautiful noise but me. One day, however, I came out of the choir room to find a hallway filled with students who were clapping fiercely. They were from the art room just down the hall. Day after day they listened to my music and thought they were hearing a recording. On the day my fingers missed a few keys they were struck with surprise that a person was actually in the choir room playing in real time. I was flattered, but felt a bit conspicuous after that. Afraid to make a mistake and let my fingers do their thing. Mistakes were probably the reason I preferred no one hear me play.

    As I flash forward, I felt the same conspicuous feelings upon blogging. I wanted to share my words but the fear over building an audience and maintaining that audience really scared me. My writing remained private for a long time. Now that it’s public, the same fear doesn’t overtake me and I’m grateful. I write because I feel and that, to me, is really living. I hope my words find it into the hearts of those who need to hear it but the strain over hiding it is just as bad as trying to promote it. I’m letting God lead. He will put me where He needs me to be. Platform or no platform. And that is a pretty comforting thought…

    Thank you so much for these words, Denise. Beautiful, encouraging and most definitely reassuring.

    • Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing that story. I love it. And I think we can all relate to feeling a little self-conscious at times. I still write a lot of words that remain “for His eyes only.”
      I can appreciate what you’re saying about how “over hiding it” can be just as bad as “trying to promote it.” Those are good words for me to remember. I tend to fall on the “over hiding” part of the spectrum. But when we’re called to write, it is in obedience that we share the words He has put on our hearts. 🙂

  7. This was perfect. Truly edifying in every way and something I continually wrestle with. This, “He’s committed to developing his craft, and he’s not following the noisy crowd.” May God continue to develop us and the gifts He has blessed us with, that we may may “play” for the ultimate crowd – Him.

  8. Denise, I love how you are a continual champion of writer’s being authentic to their individual passion, gift, and calling. Such wisdom and encouragement in this post, friend…grateful and better for having read it.

    • Can’t add to what Becky said! I certainly am in that funny place between feeling like I should be focused on the numbers if I want my blog to “go somewhere” and then just being totally happy right where I am, writing my guts out, and being faithful. Thank you Denise!

      • Oh, Victoria, you are in the best spot ever when you’re writing from your heart. Will you be at Allume this year? I’d love to connect with you in person! xoxo

        • @denisejhughes:disqus that is such an encouragement! Thank you 🙂 And as far as going to Allume, I’m afraid it won’t work out this year! I’ll be at The Influence Conference in September, though.

    • Thanks, Becky. Your friendship is one of the greatest gifts I’ve received through blogging — and through Allume! The two things I love most about blogging is the ability to write for others and the opportunity to build relationships with sisters around the globe — and even sisters next door! What a gift indeed. 🙂

  9. “Numbers neither define me nor fulfill me…they do not determine my worth nor control my fate…” This is so good, and so true. And this post? Stunning in concept and craft. You never fail to inspire and encourage with grace and truth. Love you so. That is all. xo

  10. I needed this. I sometimes get so discouraged because I never get comments on my blog but yet my page views are more daily. I have to remind myself that some people are silent readers who are encouraged & just don’t comment. I didn’t start my blog for any other reason but to encourage others. So if I can do that and not get a single comment, then I’ve accomplished my goal. Thanks for the reminder to keep encouraging to my silent readers.

    • Hi, Regina, you are so right about that…and, yes, many people are silent readers who don’t leave a comment. And that’s okay too. I tend to be one of those “silent readers” sometimes myself. 🙂

  11. Love this post! It’s so true!!!! So many times I’d waste good brain cells thinking of why I can’t be as popular as certain blogs and then realized that when I write from the heart I can be the creative soul that I am meant to be and that’s good, warm bloggy goodness!

  12. Denise, I just discovered you. You are a true inspiration!;) I’m a teacher too and share your love of many good things. I

  13. Words of grace and authenticity inspire and encourage, oh yes and yes. Thanks for sharing this encouragement, for I’m sure most bloggers have felt the pressure you so eloquently describe. Whether it is numbers or some other skewed purpose, writing with my heart on the page and wisdom inscribed in my spirit is the goal.

  14. Oh, may we always live with HIS purpose in mind! I love this so much and you! 🙂

  15. OMG! OMG! OMG! For some reason, I missed your previous posts. But I jumped out of my chair in glee when your ‘name’ flashed in my INBOX!

    Aah – missed your honest words, Denise! Your book is my favorite work on writing (On Becoming a Writer). Thank you for always being as uniquely brilliant and radiant as that clarinet player! Muaah

    Kitto

  16. Denise,
    I think I need to read this post every couple of months just to remind myself that I write to an audience of One. It is so easy to be lured in by the numbers game. Thank you for the reminder to keep my eyes and my focus on Him and His purpose for me.
    Bev
    Bev

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