Are you content?
This is not a life question on your current level of satisfaction, though you are excused if you thought that, considering it is a topic I often write about. However, in the case of this "content" it is all about intonation and the inflection on the word.
kən-ˈtent - to satisfy desires
kän-ˌtent - the topics or matter treated in a written work
In this case, I am am talking about content, like the words between the covers of a book.
Over the years I have had my fair share of writers block - but I m not sure it would qualify as such in comparison to what is experienced by a novelist, as I am a blogger. What this means is that I have more freedom in topic and do not have to focus on keeping a story consistent for 300 odd pages - but, I "have to" (it is not absolutely necessary of course) write daily and this has its own challenges.
There is more to it than a random topic thrown out into the world, although that is what many people seem to think blogging is. Whereas a novelist has many pages to build a story, develop characters and draw a reader into the world they are creating, a blogger has maybe a thousand words, or two thousand at times - at least using the style I have. This sounds like a lot, but it is not - but as I have said many times before - an individual post hasn't much value, it is the body of work that matters.
In some ways, being a successful blogger (I do not consider myself as such, though I am also not a failure) is like writing a book, except the story isn't the book itself, it is about the author - a kind of "meta-story" that winds through all of the content below it. What I mean by this is that, I am always present in what I write, even if the content is not about me at all. So the story that people are engaging with crosses the boundary of posts to connect it all to an overarching personality. With 4400+ articles to my name on Hive, there is a fair bit to connect with and I think it is quite consistent in thread, as even though I do change my opinion, I am still there - my change is part of the content journey.
But as said, sometimes I do have "writer's block" of a kind, but it is more likely a micro form of it. Since I currently average about two posts a day whereas there have been times I have averaged four, it still requires some "effort" to identify what will be interesting to the audience. Interesting is important for perhaps obvious reasons, but when consistently interesting to the point people consistently read, the interest starts to lose focus on the topics themselves and more on the personality above it.
I visualize this like a conversation between friends over a lifetime, where all kinds of topics come up and life changes drastically over time, but the people are connected through the relationship they have forged through shared experiences and conversations. This means that we become invested in the opinions of others regardless of topic, as the interest developed in the relationship overrides the specific interest in the topic.
While a person can read a particular piece of content and find it interesting or not, the body of work develops a frame for all kinds of topics, making conversations of all kinds interesting. For example, there are people on Hive I read who talk across many topics and I find them interesting even though they aren't experts in all of them and I am not interested in all of them. I am far more likely to listen to a topic that bores me, when it is coming from someone I like, than a topic that interests me coming from someone I don't. This is because we are social animals that value relationships.
What this means in regards to content itself is, that finding something interesting to write about is generally pretty easy, as I do not have to please everyone else, I just have to find something that interests me. Of course, this is only possible long term if it also tends to be interesting enough to attract readers who are willing to come back, but it doesn't have to hit the "interest buttons" every time.
When looking at content that is stand alone as an individual piece and there is no prior relationships formed, it has to be acutely interesting to the reader for them to first read and then also engage. However, if that reader comes back for content piece two, the barrier to interest them is a little lower, as they have already accepted the first and are keen to keep building the relationships. After content pieces three, four, ten and a hundred have been consumed, there is that long range body of work across topics as well as interpersonal interactions, building the relationship.
Yet, I still want to have interesting content, which is valuable and usable for my readers in some way. My style is discussion based, where while I am essentially talking to no one, I have individuals in mind as I write, either specific people or a type of person. I hadn't really thought about this before, but it is kind of like a stage actor focusing their attention on a member of the audience, delivering the performance to them, making it more personal and engaging for all.
Relationships are important to me and I spend a lot of time building them in the real world, but I also want to build them online as well and while I can create thousands of interpersonal relationships, I can improve my engagement, by writing for individuals, even if it has a much wider appeal. At the end of the day, "for the masses" isn't that at all, it is to a mass of individuals.
Since we are all interested in different things and have preferences of how we absorb and engage with information, I find it useful to build style into the consistency. For me, the style is not a particular writing style, it is the style of my, a conversationalist who likes to think about the way we behave and interact with our world. While it isn't to everyone's liking, that doesn't matter, as it is the same for all kinds of products and services, where people are able to pick and choose what they buy and use. No one is forced to read my work - it is opt-in.
So, the title of this piece is "Are you content?" because I find people can at times struggle for content itself and it is actually someone who mentioned their struggle to me this morning that inspired this particular article. While it was a passing comment, for me it sat in my mind for a little and I recognized that yes, it is content.
In my opinion, the best content is the stuff that forms organically from conversation, interaction and the observation of the surrounding world and the things that are important to us. The reason is that if it is on someone's mind, if it is happening in our environment, it is likely relevant to more than a single individual who mentions or exhibits it. In this way, it is possible to tap into the potential of thought trends to create content and in so doing, potentially inspire more thought and content.
Content is part of the conversation of our lives and its relevancy depends on what is happening to us at the time. The strangest content I come across on Hive is the type that has no connection to the audience itself - where it is just thrown into the ether in the hope someone will consume it or, vote on it. Most people will not consume content that they are "not in the mood" for, because they are human. It is like choosing a movie to watch, sometimes a comedy is in order, sometimes a drama.
As you can see by the length of this post which is meta content on content itself, many people will not engage with it as they will not be in the mood to read it at the moment and possibly ever. However, someone that does read it who is looking at developing their online profile through the content they produce should be able to find several points that they can consider in relation to their current position and future direction.
For someone just reading for interest's sake however, there are probably still a few points that they will be able to mull over and perhaps see if my opinions on the subject align with their own experiences. This is valuable, as even if they don't engage, we are having an indirect conversation that can change our own understandings of the world or, reinforce what we already believe and know.
Some people see content as a placeholder for votes, which often makes their content quite soulless and less interesting - a high school book report, not something engaging. I see the value people add as a byproduct of producing content that is engaging and while not every voter will do it for this reason, consistency in product delivery of something that can attract attention and interest, will generally see consistent support, as a type of "brand loyalty" comes into play, which are the relationships created and acted upon in each of us as individuals - our preferences for one thing over another.
Content is everywhere and what I find is the people who have the greatest struggle to produce content are those who don't necessarily range widely with the world and tend to stay narrow, not building a lot of relationships. It is not necessarily that these things instigate content creation, but it could be that a more social personality is ably to find and build a wider range of content because they are on more often on the look out for relationships and may be more sensitive to the interests of others as well, as they are wanting a discussion of some kind.
Now, while you got this far (maybe skimming), this might not have been interesting to you in the slightest, yet for me it was a reflective experience that allowed me to recognize some of the processes and strategies I use when creating content - and there are many more workflows not mentioned here as well. Once I can recognize my processes and the conditions I need, I can better design my environment to work for me, which is like investing capital to earn passively, so I don't have to work as hard, meaning, I can work on the parts I enjoy like writing, rather than on other parts like finding.
Again, this is about relationship building where for example, a person looking for a love interest is unlikely to find anyone sitting around watching TV alone. If a person wants to meet new people, they will have to put themselves in an environment that makes it possible to find new people. Content discovery is the same, where if you want to always have something to write about, you have to surround yourself with food for thought. If you think about it, it isn't that difficult - is it?
Look around, you might be content yourself.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
To answer your question, yes. I put a lot of effort into posts that I write about. And a typical foodie blogpost for me would require at least 4 manhours into it. From the prepping to the actual doing, documenting, photography, writing and layouting before finally publishing it. I love what I do and believe that others will benefit from what I write about. I also write about other things aside from food posts but that's the beauty of blogging, it shouldn't be boxed into a one-size-fits-all output. It also reflects what I feel and believe about a certain topic or what my experience is in a theme, such as meditation. And, yes, I skimmed a few paragraphs of this post but still managed to slow down and read again towards the end.
I have to admit that I sometimes think of content as placeholders of upvotes too, but this doesn't distract me from the fact that I want to upload something with "quality", value and originality. So great post @tarazkp. You've managed to affect me and reflect on me and blogging. I believe that you are a successful blogger but not just me, I know that many others believe in you as well. :)
I think the core of blogging is to explore who we are as people in relation to the world we inhabit. Sometimes this is through localized and personal experience, sometimes big picture. We are complex organisms, specialization is for a job. =)
The system dictates this, after all, there is an economy for a reason.
Which is why there is a market place for these things.
I am glad you found value in it
!ENGAGE 20
True, specialization is for a job. I get it. The only thing I regret about my HIVE blogging experience is that I don't post often enough. I would love to get to that rhythm where I can post 2 to 4 posts a day like what you are doing but that is a goal for another day as I am learning how to do crypto-trading. And that is my priority, for now... :)
You can also write about your trading journey too. I think if done well, it can be very interesting
That's a good suggestion that I have already tried. Just need to be more consistent in posting about it. :)
ENGAGEtokens.I dove into this expecting some thoughts on contentment vs. happiness. Not a topic I would normally look into, but as you pointed out, there's a pretty low barrier to my interest at this point, when I see your name on an article. I thought to myself "This probably isn't my cup of tea, but this guy usually has something to say, so..."
Great article, and written with so much tact! A link to this will be my new reply every time I see the question "Why ins't anyone reading my posts?"
I make silly puns with words.
People spend a lot of time looking at the content they create, but not so much at why they create it and even less at the how. These things are what engage the audience and empower the writer. The what is not so important.
Thanks for stopping by!
!ENGAGE 20
ENGAGEtokens.A wonderful reflection and even more wondrous photography. Impressive aesthetics you achieved with those images. I loved the one of the "flying" squirrel.
I struggle all the time with content, not for lack of it, but for the abundance of it and the predominant direction I tend to take that content. It is certainly true that unless we look for that content that will make us feel content, it is not going to come to us; unless, of course, we have wild imagination and talent to write about things that are not happening to us, as if they were.
I think that it all comes down to confidence and a certain talent to turn your experience into a content that can be enjoyed by others. Consciously or not, over here we have surrounded ourselves by experiences that generate rather repetitive and depressive content. It becomes a struggle to change the subject matter or allow more trivial or cheerful events to take over the overwhelming amount of crap that rains on us every day.
We keep picking and choosing, but when I look at it the way you have pictured it here, it is a serious matter to allow our experiences to shape who we become as content. Our contentment will depend on those choices we make.
My daughter was pretty impressed by the squirrel :)
I think that even then, we are in it somewhere. The way we each see the world is unique, how unique varies.
It becomes a rut and sometimes I wonder if it creates somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy, where change is made harder as trying seems futile in the mind.
As will our world.
I agree. The corruption and vilence we have experienced has made most believe that 1. everybody is corrupt and 2. you face mortal consequences if you try to do the right thing. That has led to a lot of inaction and despair. Most people has waived their will to contribute to making the needed changes. You can have a crappy mayor in a town and even if most people oppose or criticize that politician try organizing a massive protest to make him/her resign.
At the personal level, there might be more room for individual success amid so much institutionally-induced failure but there is certainly a lot of self-sabotage.
I fear that the entire world is heading into this abyss of depression and despair, yet are too preoccupied with shiny things to notice it yet. Avoidance is self-sabotage.
!ENGAGE 20
ENGAGEtokens.Content is King - I am content
(thats my company slogan)
SO yes I am content
And amazing photos!!
Thanks you :)
Content can take many forms and I see humans as content creators - though often we outsource the task to others :)
Content contented.
Yes and I'm really good content.
Sorry, skipping the read this time, so I have no clue on what you're talking about. But I love your photos. They're not only beautiful but stunning.
I bet you are - wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.
The best thing about Autumn photography is the fog.
I am content with the basic content of my life-if not so much the the ability (or probably more correctly the willingness) to share it on a broad scale.
I have things, I am things, I do things that just don't translate very well around here, so I am much more than my writing or lack there of. Everybody knows that I love motorcycles but nobody knows my depth there.
Mechanically I'm really superior to most, even those who make their living working on motorcycles. I'm really an expert on motorcycle camping, to the extent that I once owned a company named "Small Camping" that got litigated out of existence. An expensive lesson in the futility of cutting corners when forming a corporation in the state of Arizona. These are tight focus topics that don't present (or sell) well to the general population. It's not that I give two shits what a specific post makes or doesn't make EXCEPT as a scorecard for how many people actually read and understood the damn thing. Remember the long ago feature on Steem? That showed how many people read the post? That had to be taken down because people got pissed the posts that were read 3 times out performed posts that were read 30 times? It ends up always being about the rewards, doesn't it?
Ohhhh, the start of a great tangent. I'll quit then with the 'great pictures of small steps' segment. Of course, you knew they were excellent or they wouldn't have been in your post...
I think that highly niche is difficult at the moment and perhaps always will be - for at least a while to come. Or maybe, the general "social media" doesn't give space for it. When communities arrive (really arrive) there will be the potential for narrow slices of content with a lot of people collected. a handful of users like there is now make it difficult.
In regard to the counter of old, the main reason it was dismissed was that it was broken, adding a count on every refresh. There were some accounts that were refreshing to add more views and then complaining about not getting support. The other problem was there were times where I had more people commenting than there were views - go figure that one, as at the time there was no interface just to comment from without opening the post :D
I find content as the mirror of the world and sooner or later we will all look into that mirror.
So many of us might have similar experiences, or thoughts and it only takes the content of one blog that can light the flame for us to respond. Then a permanent bond will materialize with a likeminded author.
Now with some emphasis on the other meaning of the word "content" our little smallsteps looks very contented in that pink suited photos.
Marian said that there are two beautiful ladies in your first photo and I tend to agree with her.
You must tell smallsteps that she has two fans in South Africa.
sometimes I am surprised at what some people respond to. I have written across many topics over the years and sometimes what I think will be less interesting, gets flooded. Content should inspire a reaction - whether a thought or a feeling.
I remember taking these photos well and they are among my favourites. :)
Oh yes, I find the same.
It was a brown leather couch of the best quality leather on the market and one felt so relaxed sitting on the soft cushions
The emphasis is on the leather and relaxation here.
So someone says that they don't like the color brown and they go on to explain about the effect of different colors on them.
I am sure that you will find the same response from me in many of your writings and yeah, it's all about feelings and reactions mate.
Those photos should be framed in poster size and hung on your study walls methinks
For those wanting to blog, I am pretty content that you covered some of the important content delivery and finding of content to write about. I also loved your choice of imagery that you used, they were very inspired; displaying both forms/definitions of the word content at least for me they did.
I am kind of surprised people have mentioned the photos as much as they have - I am contented. =)
The pursuit of happiness may be a challenge, but determination, perseverance, and clarity on one's goals would certainly make the difference in one's life.
Oh! now... that explain many uncanny things about you. :D
what do you think it explains?
The Uncanny Things. Didn't I say that already?
I think that the best content comes from within. Of course that most people also think about the audience, but if one does not write because of something internal making him want to do so... Then it would be a torment to post.
I loved the pics with smallsteps when she was small. So cute and fluffy hihi
!ENGAGE 20
ENGAGEtokens.Sounds like me XD
Completely unrelated aside from the fact that it was there, I love that reflection shot.
oh ps - I'm content in the happy sense, and probably content in the content sense too given the amount of stories I need to get out but am struggling x_x lol