When Blogging Takes Over …

We all read blogs. And we all click refresh throughout the day hoping for another post. We want more information. We crave more information. We want a constant stream of information targeting our specific interests. We want this because we’re tired of getting spam or wasting our time filtering out useless information. And we go to specific blogs because we’ve done our homework to find the gems of knowledge or commentary that gives us our fix on topics that pique our interest. And we do this without ever thinking what toll blogging does on the blogger.

In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Heather Armstrong, author/blogger of Dooce.com, a mother/parenting blog, breaks down the pressures and emotional stress writing for the 59th most popular blog on the Internet brings her. From hate mail, family feuds, strange looks from readers and pure exhaustion, Armstrong tells all. And it is not like you have to read the WSJ article to see this, Armstrong is pretty much an open book online. She regularly talks about everyday things – her husband, 4-year-old, dog, work, parenting, family and friends – things you’d find yourself talking about with friends at a coffee shop or something like that. And as a result of her frank conversations and honest approach, she has created a loyal following.

Blogging is a strange phenomenon that has taken over the Internet. Journalists go to school and train to become great writers. Journalists train to work under the pressures of deadlines. Journalists build up a wall of defense overtime to block personal attacks. Bloggers are everyday individuals who like to share interests of their own, and while doing this, happen to make some cash on the side, if they are lucky.

That brings me to another interesting article from the New York Times published in the Seattle Times on Sunday, April 6. This article too breaks down blogging from the inside, only the Seattle Times goes behind the scenes and details the money making aspects of blogging and the pressures that inflicts on bloggers.

Imagine getting paid $10 for every blog you post. $10 is not a lot of money. I know what you’re thinking, if I post 1,000 times, that’s $10,000. Now you’re talking … I’m all ears. However, there are only a few things in life I’d do 1,000 for only $10 without getting completely bored. Now imagine that in order to get paid that $10 your posting needed to obtain a predetermined number of views. That makes it a little more difficult. I don’t care if you’re George Malley in the movie Phenomenon, you’re going to run out of things to blog about. Not only that, if you are passionate about something, and have a wealth of knowledge that goes deep, how do you plan to keep your audience interested? All things one has to consider.

Back to the Seattle Times article – there are people who walk away and can separate work/life balance, and there are those who can’t. There have been reported deaths by people who have come so consumed with blogging that they have ignored their health – gaining weight, losing weight, ate unhealthy and forgot to take medication. Yeah, that can happen in any field, like WOW players, I’m only talking about blogging right now.

So what does all of this mean? I’m not really sure. I just wanted to post something.

However, below you will find the top motherhood blogs reported by technorati. Enjoy!
= Dooce.com
= 5minutesdormom.com
= Designmom.com
= Parenthacks.com
= Scribbit.blogspot.com
= Fussy.org
= Notesdromthetrenches.com
= Stirrup-queens.blogspot.com
= Izzymom.com
= Surburbanbliss.net