The other day I landed on a blog post and as I scrolled down to add a comment, I saw that there were already 41 comments. That set me back on my heels. What else could I possibly add to the conversation?
Funny how a number can spark self-doubt. It’s like joining a big group of people at a party that have already been talking for a while. But when I collect myself, I come back to the styles of comments that I’ve noticed and admired as I navigate the blogosphere.
Encouragement: It seems some bloggers are natural encouragers of others. They are very good at picking up a thread in a post and using it as a kernel of praise to help the author know what was impactful.
Related stories: When a commenter tells the author how a post affected them and/or relates a story from their own experience, it seems to extend the thread into something bigger. I think is one of my favorite styles because I can see how something landed for others.
Questions: There are several bloggers that are masters of asking questions in comments that push the envelope of the idea presented. Whether they agree, disagree, or just want to investigate a concept, they know how to use a question artfully.
Big picture comments: There seems to be a knack for taking a topic and seeing its place in the big picture. Many of these types of comments are philosophical and point back to some foundational thinkers or writers. I really enjoy these because of how they expand an idea.
Quips: Have you seen the commenters who clearly have the art of taking a topic and making a clever quip about it? It could be a pun, a movie allusion, or something familiar enough that the joke lands. Amazing talent.
I often pause before leaving a comment. It feels like it’s a gift to be able to weigh in on the ideas and writing that someone else has presented. Regardless of what vein my comment will be in, I find it helpful to pause briefly to listen before my fingers fly. It’s like taking a deep breath when standing at that big group of a party just to make sure I’ve listened enough before jumping in.
After all, comments are often how we find our people. Just like in-person relationships, different people bring out different types of comments. But an element of trust and vulnerability is built when we bring the same to the comments we leave, no matter how many there are.
I’ve posted a companion piece on my blog: The Ultimate Reader.
Please check out these other items of interest:
More about Wynne Leon and the personal journey to become a single mom, writer and speaker
Workshop about cultivating resilience through creativity that I delivered with Dr. Vicki Atkinson
Speaking and workshops on how to use creativity to spark innovation, problem-solving and strong teams
Podcast about the how and why of creativity
Resources for corporate creativity
Corporate needs assessment for cultivating team creativity
Individual survey for stoking the creative fire
You can find me on Instagram and Twitter @wynneleon