Friday, May 04, 2012

The Archive effect

How often do you read your own old posts? Or do you even read your archives? I do. Especially the posts of the current month for the previous years. And it gives me different feeling - there is nothing happy or sad about it - it's just different.

And every time I think that I used to write well. I lack that flow, that touch now. I lack the topics, the flow, the style - everything. I rant, talk about same things again and again. And still people read me and comment. And I am sure I am repeating this too Nth time. Anyway I know I am hopeless like that and will always be this way.

So yes, the archive - the first post, second post, tenth post. Then comes the readers, and you become conscious - about formatting, language, content, topic - everything. You start writing for readers and comments. You start reading for readers and comments. The phase lasts for a few months - your writing is still good, but you ain't entirely yourself.

And then the realization hits you. You become yourself again. You restrict your reading list, stop commenting everywhere. Your readers drop, comment numbers drop. Now you are back to being yourself to a greater extent, but you have kind of lost interest from blogging. Good or bad, the readers did motivate you to write a post on every third day. These days your blog is dormant for days. You don't have anything in drafts. You have a lot to blog about, but it's all the same. Same rants, same achievements, same people and the same you.

You still write it - once in a week, or ten days. The same thing, without bothering, for you have hardly any reader who reads you. Those who do know about you and they are happy reading it. And it makes you all the more happy, for people who matter to you read you and share your life.And the interest comes back. You again start enjoying blogging.

It's not only about reading your archive. Read the old posts of the bloggers you like. There are a few people here whose posts I have read. Each and every post. From day one. And it's such a wonderful journey. You travel with them from beginning to end. You see them evolve as writers. You realize that they are more or less like you, and yet so different from you. And you realize that you connect somewhere, the reason why you are even at their archives reading 3 or 4 years old post.

It is amazing to see the growth of you as a writer. As a blogger. And as a person. You realize how you felt two years back about something and where you are now. And it's possible when you write for yourself. Write about what you feel and what you think. Write your thoughts, write your feelings. And blogging becomes beautiful. Something you don't feel obliged to do, but something you would want to do whenever possible.

14 comments:

  1. I read my archives all the time! And the feeling that I get is "Oh did I write that?" It's wonderful to go down the memory lane and it's like a chain reaction... a small thing and it triggers so many other memories...

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  2. Agree Neha, That old posts evoke very happy memories:)

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  3. Ahhh!! Exactly my sentiment! There was a time when I used to receive tons of reader comments within a day of posting a new post; and there have been almost zilch comments in my latest ones.
    I used to blog so frequently at one point of time and now, I have scores of unfinished drafts, which I don't even feel like completing!

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  4. You've stolen my words Neha. I love reading my archives. Readers and comments - the phase comes and goes but what continues is the happiness with each post when published and read by the ones who still continues to read you.

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  5. I guess I must go and read some of the old ones... I have just not delved there !

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  6. Yeah that phase. The teenage phase as I call...Its peace now because you are not obligated to post once in 3 days so that you have high hit rate

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  7. I do go through my archives often and fondly remember and miss the 'golden period' of my initial days at blogger.

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  8. Neha,

    If you do not mind, let me say what I truly feel :

    Be your own self always. Never put on a facade for acceptance by others. If I put on a facade, I will never have peace of mind.

    Write for own satisfaction. Put your thoughts across as per your own conscience. Comments or feedback are surely motivating but that should not be the main criteria to write.

    I also do read old posts at times.

    Take care

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  9. I am in the dry phase now ... updating the blog is very irregular. But its okay, the blog is one place I keep coming back to - its my space.

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  10. I do,I do so often.I fell so good

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  11. I am sure it must be a great feeling. As the ones I have written in the diaries are still close to my heart. And revisiting those memories gives u a divine feeling.

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  12. Mood and environment are the decisive factors in writing a blog. It is not easy to pen down your thoughts when you really have no idea about the topic. Probably- All writers write in this way only that later becomes a book/Blog. I really like the last para line that says "It is amazing to see the growth of you as a writer. As a blogger. And as a person. You realize how you felt" I guess, each one us realize certain things sooner or later but realizing constructively is an art, generally, people lack, resulting a messed up life/routine.I can understand how much you would have forced yourself for writing this blog. you may have started as an obligation to write something (You start writing for readers and comments.) but later it turned up a very good article. Its good way of releasing any kinds of emotion in this Virtual world. Please do not mind any words. The idea is to appreciate the article keeping the tone down.
    Keep writing.

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  13. I go through my archives and like you said sometimes feel my writing has gone down. And there are some posts that make me cringe too but I would never delete them. Never! :D

    It's all a phase, I believe. Sometimes you are on a high and sometimes on a low. You just have to wait for the right tide to rise. :)

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  14. Well how strange I just read an old post(something written about 3 years back) when i recieved a comment on it.... was surprised that somebody found that post :).... and wondered why don't i get such blog ideas anymore ? agree about the journey part ....

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