And, I'd still argue for improvements. Need more about your boat, pictures, why you bought it, what you like or dislike about it, maintenance, etc. And about yourself, how you got into boating, what activities you like/dislike.
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Every blog has a theme and purpose. They aren't all the same, not even cruising blogs are all the same. Every reader would like to see different things. Might I suggest just a general thread of "What I like about cruising blogs and what I'd like to see more of." I do think calling your initial post a rant set a tone you didn't intend to or now thinking back perhaps realize wasn't best.
The bloggers have to decide how much of what to include and how much time to spend on it. Every blogger I've ever known has found it taking more time than they thought it would. Part of the cause is that they keep placing more requirements on it themselves.
We all read for different reasons. We read to see where they've been, what they've done, to get ideas for places to go and to make notes of things we really want to see when there.
Just on your simple list above, and my personal reading preferences:
your boat, pictures, why you bought it, what you like or dislike about it, maintenance-I like just to know what their boat was perhaps, but don't read blogs to concentrate on specific boats. The boat was just the vehicle that allowed all the rest. I read for places and things and attractions and pleasure. If I was writing, I'd minimize boat information as I wouldn't want people to think they needed the same boat I have to enjoy cruising in the area. I have no interest in reading about their maintenance. To say they had a problem causing a delay is fine, but to read the details and how they fixed it isn't what I'm looking for. I see many of the things in this topic as great for separate sites or blogs, such as a how to of boat selection or boat maintenance, but not for a cruising blog itself.
About yourself, how you got into boating, what activities you like/dislike-Most of that comes out in the blog. You quickly find out what the persons enjoyed doing. If someone wants to give more of their background, that's fine, but I don't see it as a critical requirement. Each person has to decide what they are comfortable sharing.
My point is that we all read for different reasons so there isn't a one size, fit's all rule for blogging. Now, if there are extras that don't interest me, I just read through them quickly. A lot depends on where, we the reader, are in the process. A newcomer may be looking for a guide on the selection of a boat while established boaters know all they need to know on that subject.
I know if we published a blog, it would bore half the audience to death. It would be a cruising log mostly and have we went from place A to place B which was xxx nm. Conditions were xyz. We docked at xxx marina which was very nice/horrible. Clearing in was xxx. From there we went to see sight a, which was x. Then sight b, which was xx. Then sight c, which was xxx. We ate dinner at xyz restaurant.
How should a blog differ from a book? A book would include more. It would develop the characters or persons more. It has many more pages to do all that. Also, is it to be a blog, or a website? Blogs are limited in structure.
I notice many bloggers start out very committed and along the way get less and less frequent and then ultimately it ends. I think that is a testament to the amount of work involved and I'm afraid in asking for more, if they try to meet those requests, we'll end up with less.
I'll start that other thread now, Seavee. I'd love to also hear in it from some bloggers. You brought up an interesting topic. Just seemed a bit demanding and hoping the thread I just started will help reach what you were after.
