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What is Your Blog About?

By 20/04/2018April 23rd, 2018blogging

What is your blog about?What is your blog about? What do you talk about, when you talk about blogging? What’s your niche? Your brand? Why would people read you?

Someone I know and respect asked me these questions last week, and I was stumped. My blog is a bit of everything: author interviews,  my writing life, travel, issues of the day that I feel strongly about. I’ve just let it grow, or not, as it will.

Mostly though, it is about interaction, about all the comments this site receives, and the conversations it generates on social media. I’ve not been very good with responding this year (life has taken its toll), though I always return visits, sooner or later.

Daily (w)rite has been around for ten years, and I haven’t planned on any huge changes to the way I run it.

For those of you who have been visiting this blog for a while, would you suggest I make changes? For anyone reading this post, what is your blog about? Why did you create it? How long has it been around? What are your plans for your blog?


I co-host the monthly We Are the World Blogfest: I’d like to invite you to join, if you haven’t as yet, to post Fvourite Placethe last Friday of each month a snippet of positive news that shows our essential, beautiful humanity.

This monthly event has brought smiles on the faces of a lot of participants and their audiences, and somewhat restored their faith in humanity. Here’s a sampler. Click here to know more. Sign up here and add your bit of cheer to the world on the next installment of April 27!

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Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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63 Comments

  • I recently came across your blog and i find it interesting because it contains a mixture.. I like that part of your blog.
    I always had this urge to write.. something & anything.. So i registered a domain name http://www.mindofmine.co.in. Needless to say I didn’t post anything for 6 months for various reasons. And then my 4 year old daughter was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. Somehow the domain name was a perfect fit to write about what happened to her mind. Guess I found a niche that way and purpose for my own self.
    I’m going to keep coming back here. ❤️

  • Chris Galvin says:

    Like your blog, mine is a bit of everything, and about ten years old too. When I first started it, the topics were writing and poetry, with occasional posts about acceptances and publications. A couple of years in, I decided to concentrate on updates about the book I was writing, and posts about Việt Nam’s cuisine and culture. Now it’s divided between food and occasional posts about writing. Somehow, food is always at the core of my blog. Food and writing.

  • aj vosse says:

    What is my blog about?
    Well, it began more than seven years ago… to supposidly promote my first novel. I was unemployed and it gave me a daily target, post something… so, I’m still doing a daily post… years later! For the fun!
    As my blog developed I added the tagline, open diary of a Saffer (South African) in a different land. It evolved, or devolved, into a vehicle for showing you my fun, through thick and thin.
    I often say, if I can make just one person smile per day my day has been worthwhile.
    These day I occasionally mention my first collection of short stories, The Lucky Thirteen, in the hope that I could become a more widely read storyteller, for an author I am not.
    I like the idea of the Blogfest… I may enter the next one… as you say, to spread positive vibes!!
    Live life, love life, live love!

  • If you’re blog is about what interests you, that’s the best it can be. I write about inspiring beginning writers, especially teens and tweens. I love to talk about writing and working with kids.

  • My blog is about giving people something to think about and equipping them to think for themselves. I created it because everyone can benefit from thinking and developing that skill. My blog has been around since late 2016, but only for the last couple of months have I posted in earnest as I’ve made it a higher priority. My plan is to keep it as a central element of my “brand”, which includes courses, coaching, and an interest network.

  • Ashwini CN says:

    Honestly, I have no answer either when people ask me that question. I write about my experiences and on what I observe around me. It’s as simple as that. But some aren’t convinced. I stopped trying to convince them 🙂

  • Eric says:

    I think the blog should reflect the blogger. Some people are focused by nature; their blogs will reflect that. Others have more eclectic tastes; their blogs will reflect that. My wife and I have been living for the last four years in a small Central Asian republic that you’ve probably never heard of before. At The Untamed Places we try to capture stories from daily life that reveal both the appealing and the appalling reality of this big, broken, and yet still beautiful world in which we live.

  • dweezer19 says:

    I’m sorry for the added challenges you have had recently. Hugs. I think your blog is very diverse but I feel it focuses a lot on bringing attention to creativity and connecting writers.
    My blog has been an evolution. What began as a simple way to share photos and experienc s of life in another country morphed its way into a writing venue for poetry, pieces of my novel (as yet incomplete ?) amusements and expressions of my emotional self. Most of all it is where I share the images that inspire all of these things. Life is such an inspiration, nature such a gift and living so rich that I just eant to somehow freeze the moments. I am so happy to have met you on this path I chose long before birth. ?

  • I don’t think you should change your blog niche. Keeping aside my professional writing experience. I started blogging back in 2010 when I saw a Marathi movie called Natrang. I love reviewing movies and I believe I can do better than others. I also had a plan to make a business out of movie reviews but it didn’t work. So, I dropped the idea. Some of my reviews became Review of the Day on portals like MouthShut dotcom. After a gap of a year or more, on Sarah’s behest I started writing on travel and India Destinations Blog (free one) was up. Today, I have made it into a website cum blog. I believe if you’re not writing to create income out of it you can stick to any niche or category. However, when you are writing professionally you have to keep the content relevant. Of all my years of experience I believe ‘Relevance’ is the key to better growth. If your content is relevant to your audience they will come irrespective of what you write.

  • No reason for you to change! You keep being you on your blog. No need to be someone else just because you can’t describe exactly what you are (or what your blog is). Your readers do not come here because you write about xyz. We come here because you wrote it and we like your writing and what you have to say. Carry on!

  • I’m not a big fan of words like ‘brand’ and ‘niche’—at least not when it comes to blogging. I’ve come across blogs of all types: the writerly ones, the promotion ones, the advertising ones, the product-review ones, the meandering musing ones, the ones that post on a religious schedule, the ones that post whenever the fancy strikes the blogger. And I have to say that pretty much all the friendships I’ve made in the blogosphere—the connections that have come to mean more than just a name or a web address, the people who’ve come to mean so, so much more than a good chunk of ones I know offline, are those with blogs without ‘branding’ or a specific ‘niche’. Blogs with posts that feel, as one reads them, as though one were sitting down with the blogger over a cup of coffee, a glass of wine. Content that feels genuine, as natural and as spontaneous as a chat with a good friend. Those are the blogs I love. Those are the blogs I miss, when I’ve had to be offline.

    Please don’t change the style, or the feel, of your blog. Judging by the comments here, we all love your site and have found, through the years, value and truth here. Your blog is beautiful, D—just like you. Because of you.

  • rationalraj2000 says:

    Yes, good questions to ask oneself and make suitable modifications…

  • Vinitha says:

    I visit your blog every now and then, and I love your blog, Damyanti. I created my blog to share my thoughts on everything I deal with, there is no niche so far. I’m stumbled too when I have to talk about my niche. As long as we are enjoying the whole process of writing and blogging, that’s enough, isn’t it?

  • mcclellanelias says:

    I’ve been reading your stuff for about a year and I don’t think you should change it. While I primarily come here for the writing tips, interviews, and insightful commentary, I also enjoy the things you write that extend beyond, “how to write a book that doesn’t SUKK.” As I get closer and closer to creating my own blog, (or run out of excuses for not doing so) I think a lot about this question. Ideally, my blog will focus on crime fiction, with some actual crime news/features, and (if I can do so tactfully) some social commentary. There will mos def be cat photos. Ultimately, we have to do what makes us happy or what’s the point.

  • macjam47 says:

    Hi, Damyanti. My blog is about books, but sometimes I share articles about blogging and writing, and an occasional post about my family.

  • G.B. Miller says:

    My current blog covers (mostly) my adventures in writing. While I did cover the same stuff in my previous blogs (currently on archival status), with my current one I put a relatively new twist on the stuff that I’ve previously covered.

    Btw, I’m currently in year number twelve with my blogging.

  • Shailaja V says:

    Your blog is about whatever you want it to be. You shouldn’t write because it makes you happy. Everything else is by the way. Keep doing what you’re doing. It appears to be working. 🙂

  • Inderpreet says:

    I think the blog is well balanced. I enjoy reading it.

  • Shalzmojo says:

    My blog is my space to rant and rave to my hearts content. If anyone gets offended – well too bad! They can seriously just take a hike. That is what my attitude towards my blog is. I LOVE it!!!!
    Recently I had participated in a brand collab with Myntra. AFter writing the sponsored post and posting it on my blog, the brand came back to ask me to “re-design” a portion of my blog to suit their alogarithim , I guess – but I refused. Why the hell would I do that? I love my blog the way it is and the brand had checked my blog before asking me to write the article. Needless to say, I removed the brand’s sponsored link from my post though the post is very much there to stay and has garnered a lot of views as well.

    I would just say, stick to your guts. If you go about people pleasing, you will never get anywhere D!!!

  • Mine is simply a recreational blog which was originally set up for my children and later on grandchildren enjoyment. Surprisingly I found others around the world were interested in the stories and poems and through those contacts I’ve been introduced to professionals like yourself and have learned from these contacts.

  • dgkaye says:

    I guess I’m a bit like you D, my blog is a bit about everything, my life, writing tips, memoir bytes, life, books, social injustices – shall I continue? Lol. I don’t plan on changing anytime soon and I don’t think you should either. If it aint broken, no need to fix. 🙂

  • Rajlakshmi says:

    No don’t change. This is medium where you can express anything without worrying too much about blog brand or things like that. Even I struggle with this question. I don’t have a niche which gives me the freedom to write about anything ?

  • hilarymb says:

    Hi Damyanti – I’ve been waiting for others to comment – and yes do not please change = I love coming here and finding different things … communicated happily to us. I enjoy teh #WeAreTheWorldBlog fest … it is a great idea. Mine seems to be educating me – yet educating and entertaining you … I need a tag line of some sort … but that will come at some stage – cheers Hilary

  • cleemckenzie says:

    I’m sort of in that boat of “my blog’s a lot about me and what’s going on in my life or others I care about”. Unfortunately, that translates into not well-branded.

    I enjoy my visits here, so I can’t see a reason for switching your blog up or down or sideways.

  • I think this blog showcases who you are… don’t see any pressing need for change.

    As for my blog, darned if I know what it is 😀 It is a long standing uh… ummm… sambhar of posts 😀

  • I don’t feel your blog needs any changes. It’s reflective of who you are and that’s what we like as your readers. I don’t particularly have a niche and I keep hearing that I should have one. But I have decided to be me which is not restrained, at least, at the moment 🙂

  • Lata Sunil says:

    Damyanti, I like your blog as it is, no changes needed. A little bit of everything related to writing and some kindness. Its a bit like mine too as I am not planning for my blog to go in a certain direction or plan to grow further. I like it as a place to put down my thoughts, my stories, and bookish love. 🙂

  • Geethica says:

    Many times I also get numb when someone meeting for the first time asks me the same question. Because my blog is also a mixture of my feelings. Some of parenting, motivation, branding and many more

  • Alison Juste says:

    Hmm, I wonder about that from time to time. If my blog’s too ‘boring’ because I focus on writing (except not really, because I wrote about life but it IS writing so it’s a category on its own), if I should incorporate other things, but… if I start blogging about anything and everything, I think it’ll distract me from the original goal I had in mind: updates about my writing (which are so incredibly rare as it is). Then again, my blog is just a hatchling, and it might develop as I develop. Only time will tell. 🙂
    But this is your blog! If you can maintain a variety of topics, why not! I always love reading about other things, not *just* writing, especially when it’s about different cultures and travel.

  • ACountryBoy says:

    I’m all over the place with my blog. Don’t know if that’s good or bad. Only been doing it for a month. I like writing about my life, the past mostly. Sometimes it’s too heavy so then I switch over to lighter things like jokes and antidotes. I’m terribly unpredictable..

  • Tony says:

    That’s the same comments I get when I say “I have a blog!” so I get it 100%

  • pjlazos says:

    I love your blog’s combination of writing advice, featured authors, positivity, and activism. I wouldn’t change it, Damyanti, unless, of course, your bored. I’ve learned a lot, especially about Indian culture, from reading your blog.
    My blog’s environmentally themed, but it also provides me an outlet for my writing. The tagline sums it up: Where Eco Meets Life.
    Have a beautiful day!

  • talkchatter says:

    Only change your blog if you want to. Blogging for me has never really had one purpose. I blog a range of things (albeit not very regularly) and never mind if it does not get likes or comments.

  • ccyager says:

    Don’t change a thing, Damyanti! The beauty of blogging, as I see it, is how unique a blog can be to the individual keeping it. When I began Anatomy of Perceval, my goal was to never talk about myself but to focus on my experience writing the Perceval series of novels, of writing fiction and nonfiction, writing related subjects, and the occasional book or movie review. Over the years, almost by necessity, I’ve had to write a little about myself when health issues forced me to take a hiatus from the blog. At my Gina Hunter blog, Eyes on Life, my goal was to write about my reaction to whatever caught my attention, with my inspiration being Andy Rooney on the American TV newsmagazine “60 Minutes.” I don’t think I’ve been as successful with the Hunter blog as I’ve been with the Perceval blog. But each is unique and I’m happy with them the way they are. I’d love more followers and more commenters too!

  • Spencer says:

    Truthfully speaking, I have not been around this blog for a while but seeing the success you have I wouldn’t drastically change anything. Why change your successful actions? Unless you know doing something different is better then in that instance I would seriously consider change.

    I use my blog to publish short stories (humorous fiction). I enjoy entertaining people and making them laugh. I feel through my writing I sufficiently achieve that.

  • BAEast says:

    Mine’s changed. Started out reviewing nothing but indie fiction. But guess what? hours go into reviewing books and yield minimal readers. On the other hand, people really tune in when you spend about 10 minutes on a list of some kind. So I’ve really gotten more into social commentary and ironic observation, peppered with literary and writing-centered posts.

  • I have followed you a long time and am quite comfortable in your blog. It is as you say focused primarily on communication, sharing ideas. And that’s something I love about it. I will say when I first arrived years ago I thought (because of the title) it would be about writing.

  • Shilpa Garg says:

    What is your blog about?… is a difficult question for me too. And still dont have clarity, for I believe, it’s about everything and anything. Wonder if it’s a good strategy considering when everyone is talking about niche and focus. I really admire your way of reciprocating. Thanks for the inspiration, Damyanti!

  • simonfalk28 says:

    I agree with your first two paragraphs after the italicized one with the questions. It is how I find you, and I like what I read. Do I want you to change it, no. Having said that I most like it when you do interviews. They are always give me something shiny to dazzle me, or meaty to chew over.
    My blog is eclectic too, although it is still mainly framed by poetry, tends to only post when I’m inspired and, is decidedly amateur. Thanks for being here and being you.

  • good post. First I want to address the comment: what a toxic soul that said that to you. Sick person that has to berate everyone to feel better about themselves (wonder if was my sister… she’s like that). I received a nasty comment and just didn’t approve the message to be posted and moved on. I am sorry someone did that to you.

    For me, I blog author interviews, occasionally on faith, mostly articles on forensics and what’s new. They are for the writers that want to know who is a good author, what I’ve read recently (which varies a lot), and longer articles on the how to’s for crime scenes to autopsies. I also write a bit about where I am in the editing process of some work. I don’t post my stuff (any longer) because I seem to be in a constant state of editing.

    FOR YOU- don’t change your blog. Your variety is great!

  • My blog for the last year has been about mostly my own growth as a person as well as in general writing stuff, podcasting stuff, and motivational stuff. I fixed my teeth last year and do write a bit about that. My last entry until tonight dealt with what my teeth taught me about people. Tonight I’m writing about the paradox of motivation, which is an idea that came about because of Colleen Doran’s Patreon topic. I will be doing more podcast centric and writing stuff in the weeks to come.

  • Birgit says:

    I love blogging and would say one can write about anything one wishes to write about, or show or join. I don’t think you need to change a thing unless you feel the need to. I started writing about my card making, then I found Alex Cavanaugh and posted about 5 questions but made my answers comical for the most part. From there, I ventured towards the A to Z, which I am doing now and I talk a lot about movies. I want to get back to my card making which has taken a hit especially since January…which sucked!

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      I hope you do get back to card making– I long for something to do with my hands, and I used to love browsing through your posts for ideas :). Alex and AZ have been an integral part of my blogging journey as well, as have you because I think we’ve been visiting each other for a few years now!

  • Your blog is just fine the way it is. I wouldn’t change a thing. ♥

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      That’s such a kind thing to say– this is what I write for, the validation of friends 😉

  • sparks1524 says:

    I spent my Navy career as a photojournalist. The questions you raise are common to journalism when working out a story’s point. Most bloggers ramble and their entries are far too long. Even if your blog is like mine–a bit of this and that as I explore life and the world–each entry is targeted to a very narrow topic and never more than 3 types pages long (with spaces between the paragraphs).

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Yes, each entry is very targeted for me, too, because I write a post when I find I need to say something.
      The interviews and guest posts are for when I want someone else, who often knows far, far better than me, to speak on a topic that fascinates me a lot.

      A photojournalist in the Navy? That is an intriguing career!

  • franklparker says:

    I agree with the other commenters – don’t you dare change anything! As for my blog, that’s also a bit of a mish-mash of re-blogs of things I like, interviews, history (especially Irish history) and politics.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks, Frank. That’s nice of you to say, and I do enjoy your blog, as well, especially when you host some of my favourite writers!

  • Glad to know I’m not the only one feeling introspective about blogging this week! Seems like a good blog represents the real you–with all your varied interests. I say, if it ain’t broke… My blog, I’ve decided, is an outlet for me as me–not as my various other roles (wife, mother, employee). My blog has also been a good space to do a deeper dive into activities I’d be doing anyways, even with out a blog, including reading, writing, and talking with authors.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      My blog began as a place for me to practice writing, but has outlived that purpose, because I prefer to fill notebooks with my stuff now, and have had a few things published–very few journals accept previously pubbed stuff, even if it appears on the writer’s blog.

      So the blog is a mishmash of writing advice from professionals, travel, reading, and the causes I believe in. I dunno if it is broke or not– but right now, I’m thinking I’ll let it remain for a while, unless a change is forced upon me 🙂

  • Jennie says:

    I like your blog, and all that you write. I stick to teaching and children on my blog, sometimes stories about me that fit in. Keep writing and I’ll keep reading!

  • datmama4 says:

    I like your blog. I never know what direction it will take, but it’s always interesting. My personal blog (on WP) can cover anything from what’s on my mind, social issues, family, or my faith. My editing blog tends to cover editing- and publishing-related topics. It has my personality, but it’s still a business-ish blog.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks for the kind words, Lynda. My blog is a cross between a writing and a personal blog, I guess. I like both of yours– the editing blog has useful info, and the personal blog often has moving/ entertaining posts.

  • Simon says:

    Like you I struggle to work out sometimes what my blog is about, it’s better these days since I’ve become more selective in what I post. 🙂

  • Your blog is about you and that is what matters.
    Through all the connections I’ve made, I’m now the go-to guy for movie reviews and the IWSG. And that’s cool with me.

  • My blog is a hodgpodg of topics, from book reviews, to personal reflections on spirituality, music, and other creative stuff, to writing tips, indie author promotions and much more. I blog, to engage with other people, and give people a taste of my writing style.

  • Teresa Grabs says:

    I had someone tell me yesterday, that I should commit suicide because my writing was that horrible. People are going to comment…good or bad. I can’t speak to your first question, because I just came across your blog recently. However, I can respond to your second question.

    My blog is not about anything really…it is where I set my stories free into the mean world we live in. I write the type of stories I like to read, and they are not for everyone. Aliens, spooky things, and magic seem to pop up when I am not expecting it, but the way I think about it is like this…every piece of paper has a story it wants told and I only write what it tells me. I paint the same way.

    I have no plans for my blog except to keep doing what I’m doing. My blog doesn’t come with a road map that I must stick to. I don’t think life should either.

    The problem with letting things be the way they want to be, is that it seems to encourage doubt. Doubt placed there by others with their “You need to do…” speech (like SEO, keywords, scheduled releases, etc.), and placed there my ourselves because we wonder if we are the master of the blog, or is it our master. In my case, I am happy to say that my blog is my master (although my son would disagree).

    The only thing I have planned for the future is (if I ever get enough money) is to move to a domain of my own.

    The question to ask, though, is whether you are still happy?

    As for me….ABSOLUTELY!

    Since you’ve been around for 10 years, I don’t think I need to wish you luck, so I will say, BE HAPPY!

  • Hi, our blog is called Charda Suuraj, (chardasuuraj.com). The name is in my mother tongue, Punjabi and it means Rising Sun. The goal of our blog is to raise cultural awareness about Pakistan and reduce the stigma associated with it. We want to do this by portraying snippets from our lives (what we do, see and love) as well as share traditional recipes and remedies. We also want to promote Pakistani Authors. Basically we are a Pakistan Lifestyle Blog. We post five days a week. We are fairly new as it has been less than three months since we started. We keep everything on our blog in English and we also review foreign media and entertainment so that we can more easily access our audience. (which is foreigners).

  • cath says:

    I like not being quite sure what you’ll blog about next. Is it such a bad thing to have a broader approach? I know niche and brand are ‘hot’ now, but maybe it’s good to be bucking trends. I vote you keep telling us about the things that interest you, belonging in a niche could be inhibiting.

  • Jack Eason says:

    If people are so clueless about why we blog, God help them!