For one of the first Catalyst lab sessions, three of the top Christian bloggers took the stage to talk shop: Ann Jackson (www.FlowerDust.net), Carlos Whittaker (www.RagamuffinSoul.com), and Jon Acuff (www.StuffChristiansLike.net)
So what wisdom did these titans of the blogosphere impart?
Stay away from blogging.
Well, take breaks at least. Basically, blogging is like cat nip for your ego, so taking the odd break is advisable.
Carlos led the way: “When the traffic started coming, I started to get a big head.” And it wasn’t just his head that was getting distorted by blogging exploits, his family, including his 3, 5 and 7 year-old were getting involved as well. No, they weren’t blogging. He was blogging about them. So much so, that Carlos says they “grew up on the blog.” Alarm bells sounded for Carlos when he snapped a family picture and his son asked, “Dad, are you gonna ‘twitpic that?'” So Carlos took a break.
So did Anne Jackson. She was hitting the same wall. After her article on female porn addiction for Relevant magazine sent a flood of traffic to her blog, and she landed a book deal, her head started to swell.
“All I could think about was how I could sell more books, promote myself and get famous.”
She took a break too.
Jon Acuff issued the same warning. After his homage / rip off to stuffwhitepeoplelike.com took off he “got drunk on (his) own awesomeness.”
He prayed a strange prayer: “I want fame, God.”
God’s answer: I’m the creator of the universe. What is anyone’s recognition next to mine?
Then Jon threw a curveball, that had nothing to do with blogging.
“I want to talk about the devil. Notice how nobody wants to talk about hell anymore? I bet Satan loves that.”
Like I said, a curveball. But given the dangerous pride that successful blogging seems to engender, maybe a good place to end.
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