How to Save Blogging: Clap Your Hands, Leave a Comment, Tip the Jar

If you're reading this, I'm writing to you.

I've been blogging, producing regular content here at My Urban Kvetch and at JDaters Anonymous, for five-and-a-half years. Magazines' worth of content...a book's worth, probably.

But it's been a creative and financial struggle to keep the free content coming. Journalism pays less and less, and sometimes, in the Jewish world, almost nothing. (I once had an editor tell me they paid $15 for original articles, and nothing for reprints.) And financial times present a struggle for us all.

If you believe what you read (and let's face it, most people do), blogging is dying (or straight-up dead, depending on who you ask). 

I am among those who don't think blogging is dead. I think it's changing. Metamorphosing, even. The challenge is to see beyond this moment and into a future for electronic publishing that we can't quite imagine.

People are fixated on redrawing the line between journalism and blogging, even as that line seems to fade at certain points. Most agree that not all blogging is journalism. But blogging is one way to keep people informed more immediately and frequently than in-depth journalism does. I think that blogging - or Tweeting a link, or sharing something via Facebook - is still about writers creating conversation, building bridges, and trying to understand other people a little better. In other words, it's about writing, and about relationships.

I've never claimed that My Urban Kvetch is a news source. I'm not trying to replace Entertainment Weekly, New York Magazine, and now the LA Times with some snarky Jewy culturey hybrid. But if you're here, and you're reading, you either know me in some way or like what I have to say. You might not articulate it in this way, but you believe in writers, and you believe in blogging.

I'm not planning to abandon this blog. And I hate asking for help. But since I have always appreciated your support of my internet life, including this blog, I'd like to ask you to take your reading one step further.

There are ways to show you believe.

1) Clap your hands. Show you believe by leaving a comment, starting a new conversation or participating in one that's already taking place.

2) Give something and get something. You don't have to be an altruist to help; there is space on this blog dedicated for ads, and ad prices are affordable - in some cases, goods or services may be accepted instead of monetary payment. Make me an offer. (Contact me at myurbankvetch at gmail.com.). 

3) Put something in the Tip Jar or send me a donation directly through PayPal. $5. $10. $18. Consider it an optional subscription to "My Urban Kvetch Magazine." I can't give you a tax credit, but even the smallest amount helps me pay for things like hosting, site upgrades, and outings to Trader Joe's. And in the tradition of tithing, if I hit $100 or above I'll give 10 percent of the total to a charity or Jewish innovative project of my choosing. 

Here's a button to make it easier.

4) Buy me a belated birthday present from my Amazon wishlist. There's also a link in the sidebar, or you can search for my account at Amazon.com. 

5) Recommend me for paid freelance work, whether it's writing, editing, creative consulting or conducting social media workshops for groups or individuals. I'm pretty sure the Rambam would approve.

6) Forward a post to a friend, by sharing it on Facebook or retweeting it on Twitter.

No matter what your budget, each of you can do one of the above to help me hear your voices and feel your support. 

I can't guarantee that blogging won't die a natural death in the next ten years (or sooner). But I can guarantee that as long as My Urban Kvetch exists, it will continue to be a place for the kinds of stories that have caught your interest, and provide interesting commentary on social and pop culture trends, often with the same Jewish flavor that you keep coming back for. As always, I welcome your suggestions, feedback and participation in the conversation. 

Thank you for reading and for your continued support.

Comments

[halfsours]

Why do you say blogging is dying? I thought the idea is journalism is dying a quick death from bloggers and agrigators?

[ck at Jewlicious]

Yeah, I hear ya. Sometimes blogging seems like a thankless task. But know that you are part of a community that appreciates your bon mots and efforts. And your ability to generate beer money. Check your mail.

[Aliza Hausman]

Hey, Esther. Thank you so much for this post. I got my first "tip" from a blog reader thanks to your clever idea about a donation button on the blog. I'm definitely going to pay it forward as soon as I can.

[EstherK]

I didn't say blogging was dying. Other people did. And keep saying it on Twitter all the time. I'm actually disagreeing with them.

Thanks, everyone.

[Jack]

Blogging isn't dead...yet. Don't expect it to be for a long time.

[Chris M]

Times are tough Esther, hate to see you close up shop on your blog which I've enjoyed reading over the years but as it says The Book of Proverbs "What's going to be, is going to be"...

Good luck whatever new paths come your way.