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While watching the Oscar awards last week, I got to thinking. There are so many fabulously talented actors and actresses, directors and producers, animators and screenwriters out there. There are so many others behind the scenes who I don’t even know about or will never quite understand what it is they do. They all work so hard. Their work consumes them. And they’ve likely been at it for a very, very long time, dedicating every waking moment to their craft.
The winners, of course, gets to bring home that coveted gold trophy. Their future is pretty much guaranteed. They have huge name recognition and probably have to fight off the paparazzi and scores of fans that stalk them, read about them, have plastic surgery to look like them, and want to be them. They’re the ones who probably say, “I came out of the womb acting/singing/dancing/knowing-I’d -be-a-star.”
And what of the losers? To me, just the fact that they’ve been nominated is huge. Who is to say that their contributions are less worthy than the others? But, it’s all a contest, after all, and only one person in each category can win. Otherwise, there would have been no Oscars for the last 86 years – and no motion pictures since the 1890s.
Interestingly, it’s not as simple as it seems (or maybe it is, if you’re someone who knows a lot about this kind of thing). The biggest correlation to predict Oscars nominations, according to a UCLA sociologist’s research, is being in a very serious movie. Dramas are nine times more likely to get nominations. And size matters: the fewer films that are released around award season, the better the odds are that any one movie gets a nomination.
Still, with these dire odds, plenty of people continue to make and act in movies. They do it for the sheer love of it. They do it because it’s all they know how to do. They do it because they must.
So what does this all have to do with my blog?
Well, here’s the thing. I write because that’s what I love to do. And if given an assignment, I can write about just about anything; I’ve written about erectile dysfunction, calcium, breast cancer, midlife, heart disease, meditation, sleep, osteoporosis, Botox; you name it. Just don’t ask me to write about quantum physics or some very ancient religion or the science behind what makes dough rise.
But blogging? That’s different. To win an award, get a book or film deal (think Julie and Julia), get a cooking show (think Pioneer Woman), get thousands of ‘likes,’ ‘followers,’ ‘friends,’ or comments, you have to live it, breathe it, network it, be a conference-hound, self-promote and put yourself out there.
And you have to have something to say – preferably dramatic – almost all the time. Because if you don’t, your readers will lose interest and forget you ever existed. That’s not good for people like me, who are usually quiet unless they have something worthy to say. I’m just not a born natural “chatterer.”
Face it, you have to practically come out of the womb loving to blog– and we all know that blogging wasn’t around when we came out of our mother’s wombs (at least not my mother’s).
Don’t get me wrong. For all the bloggers who work really hard and win awards: I admire your passion, talent, dedication and sheer ability to have so much to say.
But for me? I’ll just sit here and write when the mood strikes. I’m happy to do that.
To the academy: I can dip a toe in – but I just can’t play.
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Cathy Chester says
I hear exactly what you are saying, Sheryl. Exactly.
You words and your whole being are wonderful. Whenever you feel like talking, I am always here to listen.
Wonderful post.
SherylK says
Thank you, dear Cathy. That really means a lot to me. And I know you mean it.
Brette says
I know what you mean. If you want to be a successful blogger it really has to be a job and you have to devote all your time to it. And then you have to figure out a way to pay your bills because your blog almost surely isn’t even going to keep the lights on. For most people it becomes just one part of what we do and only because we enjoy it. I do enjoy reading your blog however!
SherylK says
Yes, Brette, that about sums it up! I appreciate your comments. I really do.
Lois Alter Mark says
Sheryl, you are totally a winner in my book!
SherylK says
Well, coming from the Blogger Idol, I take those words quite seriously, Lois!
Sharon Greenthal says
So many awards are popularity contests, and I’ve never been interested in that. I blog because I love it!
SherylK says
That’s the best reason, Sharon, to do something you truly love. It surely shows in what you do!
Helene Cohen Bludman says
Sheryl, I agree 100%! Blogging has become so much more than the simple joy of writing. In fact, writing is the least of it. However, your blog is one that I always enjoy reading, so I hope you never stop.
SherylK says
Thanks, Helene. And I truly do enjoy reading yours as well!
Phoebe Wulliman Graber says
Hear! Hear! You may not be getting any awards but you are on my bloglovin’ feed and I enjoy reading whatever you have to say!
SherylK says
Thanks for stopping by, Phoebe. I appreciate your comment!
Lisa Froman says
Oh Sheryl, I so get it. You and I are cut from the same cloth in many ways. LOL. I pretty much write when I have something to say, too. I always enjoy your posts….!
SherylK says
I’m not surprised you feel the same way, Lisa. Your words are always meaningful.
Estelle Sobel Erasmus says
Sheryl,
I have been doing that as well–writing when I have something to say. I find lately that my from-the-heart posts make more of an impact on people then my brand-related posts (of course) and that is giving me pause and making me reconsider how I balance my writing. I’m happy to read your profound writing whenever you feel you have something to say:)
Estelle
SherylK says
It is all a balancing act, isn’t is, Estelle? I agree that from-the-heart posts are the most meaningful.
Chloe Jeffreys says
Oh Sheryl, don’t even get me started. I have a love/hate relationship with writing, and a mostly hate relationship with all that blogging has become. I also will never win any awards, and I’m okay with that.
I like blogging most when it feels organic to me, or like you say, when I have something to say. Having to say something for the sake of saying something (or to get some free stuff that I can just go out and buy for myself) isn’t any fun for me. And since blogging will never even come close to paying my bills, if it isn’t fun then I see no reason to make myself miserable over it.
SherylK says
That is definitely a very clear and realistic way of looking at things, Chloe. It can be a complicated dance sometimes, but we CAN keep it simple, right?
Donna Hanton says
So happy to read this post and know that I’m not alone! All the info out there about what bloggers ‘should’ be doing is overwhelming. So much so that I became paralyzed in my writing. But I love my blog, so am gearing up again, to write my best and consider anything else I manage as a bonus. Thanks for sharing this perspective!
SherylK says
Thanks for stopping by, Donna. Glad you’re feeling positive about your blog and gearing up again. It’s always nice to have energy behind what you’re doing.
Walker Thornton says
Sheryl,
I agree with your portrayal of the ‘work’ of blogging. I’ve blogged for a number of years with satisfaction-and very few rewards. Though actually, the reward is feeling good about a piece I’ve written and the heartfelt comments of readers. When we connect with someone whether it’s through advice or a lighthearted moment I think that’s our reward.
SherylK says
Yes, Walker, that is very true. Connecting and achieving a dialog with your readers is very satisfying.
Lou xoxo says
I enjoy your blog and all your writings because you have the gift of saying so eloquently what we non-bloggers are thinking!! You are my hero…
Sheryl says
Oh, what nice words, Lou! I’m glad I am your hero.
Lisa @ Grandma's Briefs says
I so get this. Seems to win awards for blogs requires SO much self-promotion and vote begging. It makes me crazy. I did it a time or two but won’t again. I know those up for Oscars must do a fair amount of promotion, too, but for blogging it’s absurd… and absurdly time consuming.
Yeah, I’ll just write. 😀
SherylK says
Writing without worrying about acceptance and accolades…now that unleashes creativity, doesn’t it?
Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com says
Hey Sheryl! I so agree that the best part of blogging is doing it because you love it. Otherwise it becomes just another 9-to-5 where a person slugs it out to make a buck. I think for some that awards become just another notch on the belt (especially when they aren’t bringing in any bucks!) that don’t mean that much. Early on I got “nominated” for some of the blogging awards going around–but thankfully it didn’t take me long to realize that it was just another way to promote your blog–some award right? If we don’t love what we do–then we really need to go and find something else that we do love. And if we do love blogging, we need to just do what brings us joy. And isn’t that reward enough?
SherylK says
The joy is reward, yes, Kathy. I get a lot of joy when my words resonate and invite thought and response. Thanks for your thoughts!
merr says
It’s when so much of the focus in on awards that it all ceases to matter. I’m more impressed with award winners who manage to keep their mouths shut and continue to work at their craft. They are the people I truly admire because they are focused within.
Kerry Dexter says
well said, merr. those are the artists and creators I admire as well.
SherylK says
I couldn’t agree more, Merr!
Roxanne says
I did win a couple of blog awards in 2010. I tried (and lost) in 2011, then I decided there were far more important things. I, too, will never have the blog numbers people equate with success, and that’s OK with me. My hubby laughs at me when I watch awards shows or the Olympics or some such. I almost always say, “I’ll never be that good at anything.” He replies, “You’re good at being you.”
SherylK says
I love what your husband said, Roxanne. So sweet…and so right.
Alexandra says
I do not covet any awards either. I simply feel pleased when I succeed in reporting on something worthwhile. Blogging is such a strange animal.
SherylK says
A strange animal, indeed. It all comes down to feeling satisfied with what you are actually writing, I think, not what others are saying about you.
Kerry Dexter says
you’ve begun an interesting conversation here. I am reminded of what musician Emmylou Harris said when asked about winning the many awards she’s received “Winning awards is nice — but this is music, not a horse race.”
perhaps the time will come (or the clock turn back?) to wider recognition for more reflective writing and perhaps the venues for writing will shake out even further than they have. in the meanwhile it seems we are both keeping at it, Sheryl, and who knows what good things may come of that.
SherylK says
Perfect words. Thanks for sharing, Kerry. I’ll have to remember EmmyLou’s sage advice.
Jane Boursaw says
I think we all figured out the awards are just based on who can get the most people to vote up their blog or post anyway, right?
And I’ve recently come to the realization that longevity is everything in the blogging world. I know you’ve been at it a long time, Sheryl. Slow and steady is the thing.
SherylK says
Yes, rounding up votes is the way it’s done in so many cases, Jane. That in and of itself, is exhausting~
Jeanine Barone says
Sheryl, you have a wonderful blog. I’ve long enjoyed reading your posts. And I do agree with so many of the comments. Blogging has become an industry that often has little to do with crafting wonderful posts. You have to care about SEO and page rank, post daily or even more frequently. I realized that, given all my paid writing gigs, I can only post once a week. I watched google change their analytics so my page rank went from 5 to 4 to 3 and now it’s 4 again. And, as to SEO, I still haven’t figured it out. I’m not really into awards. I prefer just creating quality work. And that’s what you’ve been doing.