They think you sit at home all day in front of a computer, pretty much hiding behind a monitor and keyboard saying whatever you feel. They fail to realize the sacrifice serious bloggers make by either supplementing income with day jobs or scrimping, saving and such. And the reason they do what they do is because they love what they do. They’re extremely passionate about it, highly driven to succeed. And not succeed in a monetary sense, although that is a nice perk. If you’re able to become an authority in your niche, you are a success.

But you have those who are in it for whatever, so they just throw anything up and call it a blog, making the rest of us look just as bad. Just because you have a blogspot doesn’t mean you’re a blogger. Heck, just because you have a domain name doesn’t mean you’re a blogger.

If you’re dedicated and passionate about what you’re posting, you rise above that level of just posting anything for the sake of posting. It takes on a life of its own and becomes something more to you. You do it because it’s now a part of you and who you are so you have to be more professional with it because it’s a reflection of you, and you really have to keep up appearances in this game. Otherwise, you’re just someone with a computer running off at the mouth and no one will take you seriously (i.e. no $$$, or no serious $$$).

But for the serious blogger, it’s really not even about the $$$. Is it?

What’s sad is that non-bloggers and old media types aren’t the only ones trying to discredit/discourage bloggers, it’s other bloggers, too! Not quite sure why because there’s enough to go around. Believe it or not: no two blogs are alike…even if they have same or similar content. Firstly, you shouldn’t steal, but you’re bound to have the same basic info because everyone is pretty much trying to outdo everyone else and if you think publicists, artists and such only send info exclusively to you, you’re an idiot! They don’t care about you. What they care about is ensuring their name is out there, and right now, the best method is via blogs. Secondly, each blog has its own unique style. So you may read about the same celebrity on numerous blogs, but the style will be different. For example, you may have a blog who’s pretty much just straight-forward with the info: Celeb did something on this day at this place. ConcreteLoop is that sort of blog. We pretty much just give you the info, and you share your thoughts on it. But you have someone like Crunk + Disorderly who puts their thoughts in the content (also hilarious, by the way), and it reads altogether differently. It’s not like there’s beef between the two blogs because they represent two different areas of black entertainment blogs. The problem arises when one blog tries to flip and reverse its style to match another’s. You not only alienate readers you already have. You also run the risk of losing the readers you gained because they thought you were gonna be like that other blog when they realize you’re truly not.

In other words, just do what works for you and stick with it. Consistency is key in this business. And yes, it is a business. But businesses can do good and do well (DGADW). That means it’s okay to link to other blogs and it won’t hurt you to use your webspace for a good cause. In fact, you may attract a new crowd to your site that may have never even heard of it. So that’s sorta quid pro quo, I guess. After all, we’re really all in this together.

For the most part, old media turns its nose up at us so it really doesn’t help if we’re at it. Unfortunately, most haven’t realized that old media is dead and they’re still clinging on to it for dear life. Blogs have taken over. It should have been an indication when magazines, newspapers and the like threw up companion sites, but who would’ve thought it? Now their print formats are defunct, and many are relying on web versions. It was recently announced Portfolio.com would be such a case. The magazine, launched in April ‘07, closed in April. But the site will now be run by American City Business Journals. The site has over 2M monthly visitors.

Looks like someone understands the power of the web, blogs, etc.

Post Title Download: Amos Lee - “Listen” from Last Days at the Lodge

I started a new job at a non-profit. It’s so perfect for me that they offered me the position during the interview! I’m able to work with kids and serve as a positive male influence/Big Brother to someone who truly needs it. It’s interesting that I’m now getting paid to do something I used to do for free. What a blessing! Plus, I’m also able to devote time to writing.

Speaking of which, I resigned from my position at Clutch to focus on personal projects. N-Retrospekt launched earlier this month, and at least two other J. Dakar sites are scheduled for release within a year.

And I’m moving in less than a month. Although I’ve been in this apartment for just shy of a year, it’s time to move on to bigger and better things: 3BR/3BA bigger and better. Plus, I’m gearing up for the Essence Music Festival.

What have you been up to?

Post Title Download: Birdman - “What Happened to That Boy” (ft. Clipse) from Birdman

This meme is based on the seven deadly sins. I’m not tagging anyone, but if you do it, please leave a link in the comments so I’ll know to check your responses.

Lust

• Have you ever caught yourself staring at the chest/crotch of a member of your gender of choice during a normal conversation? Yes.
• What is your favorite body part on a person of your gender of choice? Breasts.
• Have you ever been made a proposition by a prostitute? No.
• Have you ever had to get tested for an STD or pregnancy? No.
• Is love at first sight really lust? Yes.

Gluttony

• What is your overpriced yuppie beverage of choice? Nothing, now that I no longer buy bottled water.
• Meat eaters are…: Disgusting. (j/k)…People, too.
• What is the greatest amount of alcohol you’ve had in one sitting/outing/event? Nearly a bottle of Smirnoff before I stopped drinking.
• Have you ever used a professional diet company? No.
• Do you prefer sweets, salty foods or spicy foods? Salty.

Greed

• What’s your guilty pleasure store? Best Buy.
• If you had $1 million, what would you do with it? Pay off my debt, donate to charity and invest the rest.
• Would you rather be rich or famous? Neither, money nor fame is everything.
• Have you ever stolen anything? Define stolen.
• How many mp3s are on your hard drive? 6193.

Sloth

• What is one thing you’re supposed to do daily that you haven’t done in a long time? Empty my inboxes.
• What is the latest you’ve ever woken up? 6 p.m.
• Who have you been meaning to contact, but haven’t? College friends.
• What is the last lame excuse you made? “I have to study.”
• How many times did you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock today? None.

Wrath

• Who did you last get angry with? Myself.
• What is your weapon of choice? My mind.
• Would you hit a member of the opposite sex? No.
• How about of the same sex? If need be.
• Do you keep grudges, or can you let them go easily? I can let ‘em go, but I never forget.

Envy

• What item (or person) of your friends would you most want to have for yourself? Nothing comes to mind.
• Who would you want to go on Trading Spaces with? No one.
• If you could be anyone else in the world, who would you be? My other self.
• Have you ever been cheated on? No, not that I’m aware.
• Have you ever cheated? No; I’m a gentleman.

Pride

• What is one thing you have done that you’re most proud of? I received the single-most dollar amount of scholarships in the history of my high school.
• What’s one thing you’ve done that your parents are most proud of? Growing and maturing into young man that I am.
• What thing would you like to accomplish in your life? Do good and do well.
• Have you ever cheated on something to get a higher score? I plead the fifth.
• What did you do today that you’re proud of? I worked out and wrote a bit before breakfast.

Post Title Download: Nina Simone - “Sinner Man” from Universal Masters Collection

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