Do you ever feel like your rowing a boat upstream or climbing a hill that never ends? That's what I feel like sometimes. Well, I took 2 days off from posting anything at all so that I could put things in perspective. Usually when I take time off from posting, it's because I don't have a choice due to power outages or a lack of DSL connectivity. This is one of the few times I purposely didn't write anything.

Not only did I not write anything, I refrained from responding to comments and email messages as much as I could. I don't normally do that either. In order to see where I stand, I needed to ignore as many things as I could get away with ignoring.

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(This is a guest author article.)

Have you ever thought that your blog might suddenly have become too structured?

Have you ever felt that you have lost spontaneity in blogging? Have you created too many "compartments" to fit your content into and then felt restricted by that?

I think it happens to a lot of us over a period of time. I have tried my best to avoid over-categorization on my blog, but it happens almost subconsciously and it can become a mental trap. So rather than writing spontaneously, you end up writing content to fit into what you think already defines your blog.

Sure, a lot of people think that being focussed is a good thing. It is, but at the cost of creativity and originality. Too much focus on one particular topic has never appealed to me (well, I never cared about making money online, so sue me. :P ). A personal blog should have personality as well as spontaneity. Sometimes I think bloggers end up turning over-categorizing their content and creating regular features which they feel compelled to stick to even if they have nothing more to say on those topics.

And most of all, I think sticking to a rigid blogging schedule is the best way to become uninspired and dull. If you have nothing to share with your readers, don't share nothing. :razz:

After more than 14 months writing on this blog, I've decided to redefine my focus. I have previously written about anything and everything that comes to mind and this has left you, my readers, without a clue as to what direction my blog is heading.

I want to focus on helping other bloggers (blog authors, writers and owners) by reviewing them, assisting them with miscellaneous blog issues, and helping them to reach their full potential. I'm thinking of adding a tagline of "Blog Reviews, Issues, and Promotion" or something like that. What do you think? Is there a better way to define the focus of "helping other bloggers" in this context? Is a tagline even necessary?

Yes, I will stray off-topic on occasion. Sponsored posts are almost always off-topic. The brunt of my articles, however, will always be on-topic. I refuse to follow the examples that I've seen on some other blogs. I'm going to set the example.

In the spirit of my new focus, I'lll be adding another link to my right sidebar's widget of "Reader Appreciation" after I write the article for it. It will simply say "Comment for a Review". Of course, just like the comment for a stumble offer, I will accept review invitations by email and from other sources as well as comments.

Aside from my own articles, I have a co-author as well as guest authors. They are free to write about whatever they want to write about. My focus is not their focus.

I know that a lot of you reading this are bloggers just like me. Sometimes I wonder why you read some of the tripe that I write. I know it's not because of the picture on my "About" page because I fell out of an ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. It's part of the reason I don't like to have my picture taken.

I don't know about you, but the blogs I like to return to on a regular basis have a lot of personality injected into them. How many of you have gone to blogs to read the top 10 plugins, tips, whatever, only to never return to those blogs (except to reread the same thing)? Why is that, do you suppose? I believe it's because the rest of their content is boring and sounds like lectures, not inviting interactivity.

I like to ask a lot of questions. I think it invites readers to comment when they wouldn't normally do so. I also like to throw in a little controversy, but not too much. When I do that, I get beat up by social news sites. Now, if you took the time to follow me to some of the blogs that I visit, and how it affects the way I write and what I write about, you'd know that I have a wicked, yet subtle (but not always so subtle) sense of humor. I think everyone likes to laugh once in a while, don't you? In my case, I don't care if you laugh with me, or at me, as long as you're enjoying yourself.

As I mentioned in other places, I like to focus on entertainment of all kinds when I write. Unfortunately, it's not possible because I get sidetracked by other issues. You know what? Some of those other issues are just another form of entertainment for some people, even if not for me.

You've heard that content is king. You've also heard that comments are important. I'm suggesting, above all else, your personality is the most important ingredient in your blog. You don't believe me? Fine. If your blog doesn't have personality, let's see if I visit YOUR blog more than once (you'll know if I do because I like to leave comments).