I haven’t been posting much here lately. It’s not that I don’t have anything to say. I just don’t have anything to say that anyone wants to hear.
The internet for me has turned into the same thing everything else in the world has turned into: a place where you better look good and feel good all the time, or no one wants to be around you.
So if I want to stay in the game, I need to buy a much better camera and learn how to use it.
I need to learn how to optimize content to get search engine attention and cater to the whims of the public.
I need to be available to all of you at all times to create relationships.
I need to partner with companies that will pay a pittance for advertising on my site, a pittance that barely covers the cost of maintaining my site.
I need to post product reviews that make the item sound like it’s the best thing since sliced cheese.
The problem is, I don’t want to do any of that.
All I wanted to do was find a place where, for once, just being plain ole’ me was good enough. And that’s not even true here online anymore. I need to be splashy, catchy, and kitschy.
As anyone who knows me can tell you, I am not a positive person. I am a person who sees things the way they are, and not the way I want them to be. Positive people have their place in the world, but so do realists such as myself.
I just need to figure out where that place is.
Dogpaddling Through Life 
Keep being yourself, that”s what we like.
❤
me too… please give me a sign if you found it :o) we probably are a dwindling species like the dinosaurs :o(
Keep being your authentic self. That’s what I’m doing. All the other ideas are just opinions, nothing more.
And that’s what we like about you. I’m a bit pessimistic. Pessimistic people are always being told to be more positive so hopefully by now I’m a realist. The thing I find hard about blogging is I don’t speak much so if I suddenly wrote a lot it wouldn’t feel authentic. I’ve noticed those who do write a lot get more empathy. I guess it shows their flavor. If I were you I’d find something you are super passionate about and take it from there. For example you could focus on the next generation who will be dog owners and teach them early how to treat dogs.
I like your stories. I’ve learned about malamutes and an interacting group of pets. I learned about social work and how terrifying and hopefully occasionally rewarding it is. I don’t think you need to be splashy, just real. I like my Rumpy dose (although the cats in my family are partial to June Buggie).
We follow on facebook too and enjoy Rumpy’s short snarky comments about his morning walk.
What!!!??? Where did this come from? You, just being you, is refreshing and why I come back. It’s for you and not the superficial glitzy fluff that never resonates with me anyway, being that it’s my inclination to fast forward commercials and advertising! Your site has been a great balance of fun, serious, all over the map. I just don’t get who/what threw a wrench into your-be-yoursefl-and-I-like-it-that-way posts. Big hug. P & gang
Well, you received several responses to this, so you are read. This is my first actual time to read one of your posts. I saw nothing wrong with it. So, you are not a positive person. I am, but that’s because I believe God to always be doing the best for us. I am not religious. I am spiritual. You are who you are and what you are.
Keep writing.
Scott
I totally disagree. You were one of the first bloggers I followed when I joined WordPress, I read lots of your posts and I enjoy them. I feel like what you write is authentic and honest, which is why I have continued to follow. I have monetized my blog, but I offer opportunities for other bloggers to advertise themselves, not companies, and this hasn’t changed any of the content that I create. I started the blog in the first place because I was experiencing difficulties with anxiety and depression, and if I’m feeling negative and low, then I say so because it’s my space of the Internet. This is yours and I hope you continue to write as you always have done!
Polly and I find we have binges on reading blogs. We do look at yours even if we don’t comment. And Polly says “Woof” (she’s trilingual!)
It’s so easy to get caught up in what everyone else does! If you want to monetize your blog, yes, you need to pay attention to trends and what people want to read. Otherwise, do what YOU want. If you lose subscribers, are they really a loss?
I have over 600 subscribers. I only hear from a handful regularly. The rest – I have no idea how they found me or why they follow me, other of course than hoping I’ll follow them back.
Yes, pretty pictures are nice. I have them in my blog because I enjoy taking the pictures and post processing them. It’s a shared passion with my husband. It’s part of my creativity. That doesn’t mean it should be your creativity.
If you write about what you want and don’t put in pictures, I bet you lose some subscribers, but the amount of comments stays the same. Your commenters are pretty consistent (like mine) and have been friends with you for a while. They like you as you are, not as they think you should be.
If you want pictures but don’t want to take them, try some of the free stuff out there for stock photography. Some of it’s not bad. Pictures of Rumpy and June Buggie are also acceptable. Have you ever seen White Feather Farms / Mary Muncil? She posts all her own pictures and I enjoy them, but the quality is all over the board. She’s a writer and without apology, not a photographer. And there’s a lot of cat pictures on her blog! They’re fun and not usually relevant to what she’s writing.
But Jen – let this be a source of enjoyment for you. If you need a break, take one. You’ll lose subscribers, but once again, so what? I took a break from late 2013 to mid-2014 and rebuilt very quickly. Otherwise, get pleasure from your writing. If it’s too much work, you’ll quit for good. That might not be bad, but I think you’ve enjoyed your blog. Stop comparing yourself to everyone else. It does you no good.
So ends today’s rant.
Nancy
Im one of your “silent followers” we met on Twitter. I was @Keely_Bobs, now @ourChloePup. I always read your blog, i dont follow many and like to read the ones i do. I dont blog myself so im not hoping for a follow back. Plain ole you is good enough for this reader. Your stuff interests me as you are the other side of the pond & i like to see a different view on things. I’ve only just got the hang of how to leave comments, so you might hear more from me infuture xx
Since I started reading your blog, I’ve never missed any of them even though I didn’t write comments for all of them…..I enjoy whatever you wrote about….I like to hear how you see things….sometimes to me, the contents of the posts were complicated (difficult), so in that case, I read it with a dictionary. I like your blog… Hugs
Being true to yourself is the best you can be…and to hell with the rest of them!!!
Oh I like you Granny. You’re a cool cat! Jen: she’s right. 🙂
I don’t want to do any of that either! I don’t like doing reviews, sponsored blog posts or sharing infographics. I’m barely blogging as is, I mostly post some of the photos I keep taking of the cute pets that live here. 🙂 It’s your space, do what you want with it!
I write mostly because I like to write. If people read it, that is great, if not, that’s too bad but I would still enjoy writing it. Personally, I like to keep my Facebook positive but I will read about serious issues on blogs. I hope you find an outlet that is fulfilling to you.
Just be you,and write about what you feel like writing about,and most of all enjoy it and the rest will fall in to place,you’re doing great,xx Rachel and Speedy
I give thanks for people like yo Jen every day of my life. You make real change, real meaningful social change happen. Thank you. it hard to be you. It is hard to be ethical and honest
Be yourself. It’s why people started to follow you in the first place!
What? You mean I’m not going to get rich writing Waggin’ Tails? Boo hoo! I like your blog because you are yourself. You tell it like it is and have some of the same reactions to things. Like how some rescue advocates won’t accept you if you don’t have money. Take a guess how many events I got to do with a local pet pantry when I don’t drive. I volunteered for everyone of them and just needed a ride. Just keep being yourself. All the splashy people will eventually be seen for what they really are. And tell the truth about pet products, the good, bad, and ugly.
I blog because I like to write. I don’t do the stuff that makes money and I don’ t have a gazzillion folliwers or comments. I read blogs but there just is not enough time to read and comment everyday on all of the ones I follow, like yours. You have something to say so say it without apology.
I know how you feel, Jen.
❤
Just keep doing what you are doing. If someone doesn’t like it, they will stop reading. I enjoy having people see my Scotties and their antics. PERIOD!
I love this piece…and I relate 3,000% plus…quite frustrating to feel we are communicating with brick walls….you do reach my sensibilities everytime you write…love your approach to life and your ability with words!
You’re speaking from your heart. You are always in ours. We hear you. ❤
I really enjoy who you are in cyberspace. No need to change.
I went through this and then decided…heck, I’ll just be who I am..if you or others enjoy my blog that’s good. If I never have a huge following oh, well. You hang on we love you!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer
In the words of William Shakespeare…Unto thine own self be true. Besides, we wouldn’t want you any other way. ❤
Rumpy, just be you.
Social media/FB/blogging. Suddenly all the “sparkle, baby, sparkle” and “what do you mean you aren’t reading other people’s blogs 24-7” and writing witty comments and responses?
(and I’m so tired of having people ask “How much money do you make from your blog?”)
It’s just a place for me to write.
I know what you mean. Sigh.
I love your posts and your pictures of Rumpy, et al are very good. So are your captions.