Comments on: In Appreciation of Silent Readers

By: Survey Results | Ryan A Graves.com

Survey Results | Ryan A Graves.com — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:36:05 +0000

[...] In Appreciation of Silent Readers [...]

By: Belated Thanks to September Commenters : Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor

Belated Thanks to September Commenters : Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:40:51 +0000

[...] readers,” those of you who visit and read without commenting. Joanna Young’s post In Appreciation of Silent Readers reminded me to let you know I appreciate you, [...]

By: Thanks For Reading With Your Mouth Shut | Catherine Lawson

Thanks For Reading With Your Mouth Shut | Catherine Lawson — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:43:11 +0000

[...] post was inspired by/pinched from Brad Shore of Word Sell Inc. and Joanna Young of Confident Writing. [?] Share [...]

By: Thank You, Silent Readers

Thank You, Silent Readers — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:38:35 +0000

[...] via WikipediaJoanna Young had a wonderful idea recently when she wrote a post in appreciation of silent readers. It was such a good idea that I decided to steal [...]

By: Joanna

Joanna — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:44:32 +0000

Hi Debbie, there is definitely something to be said for just ‘being there’ as a reader. I guess you’d probably comment if something moved you strongly or you wanted to provide some more specific feedback or support. I know I read your own blog without always making the time to comment or maybe feeling I can add something, but I do try to whenever I feel you’ve written something particularly powerful or if you sound like you’re having a particularly hard day! Your last point is important, coming back to the issue of intention: we write some things to teach, or motivate, or explain or inspire and they don’t ‘need’ comments because they weren’t written with that end in mind. They’re providing a different kind of value, and knowing that at least one person has read and learned from it is enough

By: Debbie Yost

Debbie Yost — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:06:00 +0000

I know exactly what you mean. I have too many blogs in my reader to be able to comment all the time. It's hard, though, because I want to be able to support them also. I agree that sometimes, I really just don't have much to add and "good post" seems a little lame. I enjoy getting comments but I do appreciate my small readership even if they don't comment. I find that my Tuesday posts don't usually get a lot of comments. That used to bother me, but I've noticed I still get the hits, and people don't seem to have much to add. Since it's on Down syndrome awareness either my readers have "been there, done that" or they really don't have the experience to comment. They read for information and that's the purpose of it anyway. Whether they take the time to say thank you or not doesn't really matter to me. I think of those posts as more like a magazine article where you read it and move on. Debbie Yosts last blog post..Good News - Bad News

By: Ami (Write Out Loud)

Ami (Write Out Loud) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:07:54 +0000

Don't get me wrong, Joanna. I love me some comments! The more the better. I just don't let the number of them influence what or how often I write anymore. (It took me several years to get here, though.) Ami (Write Out Loud)s last blog post..How to Use Questions to Develop Your Ideas – Part 1: The Who

By: Joanna

Joanna — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:23:18 +0000

Hi Ami

Thanks for sharing that perspective. That’s interesting that you don’t depend in the same way on comments – sounds like you’re focused in a very positive way on your writing intention.

Me, I’m a comment junkie I’m afraid!

By: Ami (Write Out Loud)

Ami (Write Out Loud) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:24:46 +0000

My tendency is to only comment if I think I have something important or witty to say. Unfortunately, I don’t often think I do.

As for my own blog, I used to depend on comments to motivate me to write. Now it’s more important to me to get my words out there. I know people are reading them, even if they’re not commenting, and that’s what matters to me. Sure, comments are great, but they don’t make or break my desire to blog and reach out to people.

Ami (Write Out Loud)s last blog post..How to Use Questions to Develop Your Ideas – Part 1: The Who

By: Joanna

Joanna — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:36:08 +0000

Wendi, I think it’s a big question and the answer probably depends on what you’re trying to do with your blog – I mean what all of us are trying to do, because it’s different for each and every one of us.

I do sometimes feel I’m falling into the blog-talk trap – which is tempting because that’s where the richest and most rewarding conversations lie. But when I think about my bigger intention – which is to inspire and encourage people to believe that their words count and they *can* write… then each and every reader matters, regardless of how they respond.

I guess maybe it’s similar for you – that your words will touch, move and inspire, even if you never get the direct feedback to tell you so