Planet Simon’s Weekly Orbit – Blog Date 21-2019

Posted on by Simon in Blog, Weekly Orbit

Planet Simon – Me and the World

Hi there bloggies!

I’ve been quiet these last couple of weeks and I’ve been thoughtful. That’s why this post is out on a Wednesday rather than the usual Monday, I wanted to ping something out becasue if I’m honest – I have no idea what the hell I’m doing!

I got thinking about the Planet Simon brand, the content and the message I’m trying to communicate and audience and I can’t escape the feeling that there’s a big issue with it all.

So the first thing I did was look at the home page of Planet Simon, what does it say? Is it a Sci-Fi Blog, yes but No, Is it a site about writing, digital art, creativity or some kind of weird philosophy? Yes…. and no. This then fed into a bigger issue – me. We’ve been told to write or blog about our passion and sure why not becasue that’s a clear message and your brand is then you and your passion. But I don’t know what my passion really is. I could say that creating stories and taking others people to other places with word and art is the thing and sure you wouldn’t be wrong but Planet Simon doesn’t actually convey that!

So I’ve been in discussion with a few people and it’s surprising that I’m not alone here. There’s a few things seem to be cropping up:

This is what’s cropping up


1) What we feel we need to say or do changes, identifying that change and finding traction can be a struggle.

2) What is our message?

3) Who is our audience? Will the audience we’ve built up be connected with that change?

4) Valuable content – one of the things I’ve been thinking is that what I post needs to have value, so for example if I put up on Pinterest or share it in some other way would others see value and want to invest their time looking at the content?

5) How my of me personally needs to be in here? If your message demands that you need to be more personal for the reader then fine but what if not – is it even necessary and as someone said to me – unless you’re Kim Kardashian or Tom Hardy – who cares?

My goal isn’t in sight…


For me and I think for many our goal is to make an impact on the world with the passion that we feel, I think most of us know that this is hard work and any success is to be celebrated we all invest time to create or post stuff for others to see to connect with the world so that readers invest time in reading – to be that change we want to be in the world.

When you have that you have value, when you have value people listen which created more value and so on….

While no doubt (I hope some of you) will say that there is value in my content and that’s always good to hear, I have to ask if it really is valuable, if it really is worthy?

I’m ok guys, I’m not going anywhere but I’m realising I need to work out what I have to do, I have some ideas but this place, this temple of me as it were needs to be much, much better than it is.

Have you guys got any thoughts???

So… I don’t know what’s going to happen now. I need to re-group and re-think once again what it is I’m going to do with Planet Simon, it might become something else, I’m not sure. Yet.

I’m going to have to think about it and take a break to do it, but then I might be back next week with new ideas. Who knows?

But if any of you have thoughts on this – I don’t mind if they’re challenging I would love to hear them.

I need to say thank you to Sam who has helped me a lot this week to try and work out a few of these things out. She’s been very helpful.

I’ll be about answering your comments and reading posts and stuff like that, I’m always grateful for your visits and your kind words. I hope to be back real soon!

Keep smiling and writing!

Simon’s Space

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Published by Simon

My name is Simon and I create stories and art and pictures. Things just come to me, ideas and expressions and that what my blogs are about. My spaces to express and reach out to the world.

59 thoughts on “Planet Simon’s Weekly Orbit – Blog Date 21-2019”

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  3. Late, as usual. But I’ll throw this into the mix…..
    I know who Simon is and I know of the many things Simon does on his blog…..
    But I had to google ‘Tom Hardy’ and the response was ‘Oh yeah….Him’
    Actually there are so many things going on at Planet Simon…just like there are on Planet Earth
    Keep on keeping on being Simon I say

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. That’s ok I’m always late too lol.

      Thanks as always for your good words Roger, Simon is going to continue. I need to work out some more about what that is and how I come across on here.

      How’s Roger doing?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. That’s the spirit Simon, progressive is ever working things out, ‘wot’s wot’ and constant evaluation. Your blog is a wealth of activity, keep on keeping on.
        I’ve set my sights on making a 4 volume fantasy. ‘The Precipice Dominions’ series:
        Volume One ‘Of Patchwork Warriors’ underwent a slight re-edit and whole new cover which I created on Canva and was pleased with. That’s back out on Kindle
        Volume Two ‘Our Skirmisher of Lace, Steel and Fire’ was finished but a friend of my son created a cover for me which was so damn good I had to re-work some bits to do justice to the work! Final careful edit and that comes out at the end of June….
        Also on Kindle.
        And Volume Three has a sort of start, Volume Four has an end…..the bits in between are the tricky parts…..
        And one day I need to work out widgets, plugins and stuff like that to smarten up my blog..
        All good fun!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Sounds like you’re all go Roger – I need to find your work on Kindle so I can actually read it. I hope it all proves a success and if you need help with Widgets and stuff I’ll be happy to advise.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. After all these years mid-60s and I get into my full writing stride….Has to be down to WP! 😄
        I’ll be contact sometime in the near future over Widgets and ‘stuff’……espcially ‘stuff’….I just cannot connect with the WP guides 🤔…..They assume the reader already know something about the business 😄

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Thanks Simon.
        Hope your week-end is going well
        Writing plans….The great antidote to exaspiration caused by the Brexit farce!🙄

        Liked by 1 person

      9. Very true Simon…..Obviously none of The Minions are members of the Conservative Party otherwise at least one of them would have been standing…..And would have raised the level of the debate…..

        Liked by 1 person

      11. They would have sorted Brexit out!
        I mean when you think about it, the recent year in British politics has been just like a Minions scene, only not as funny.

        Liked by 1 person

      13. Shakespeare would had enough material for at least four plays, the whole thing is tailor-made for Kafka, who knows what Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams would have made of it.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Pingback: Planet Simon’s Weekly Orbit – Blog Date 22-2019 – Planet Simon

  5. No matter what you decide, I will keep reading! I’ve been quiet too, aside from the weekly post, because work and the new commute are just about killing me right now, but I’m trying to engage whenever I can:-)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. I’ve been slow in contacting my friends mostly because I haven’t been able to spend a ton of time here.
        I was happy for your email ❤️

        Liked by 1 person

  8. I’m glad if I helped in some way Simon, I think we all go through this at some stage, I’m thinking about a different look & feel or even direction for my own at the moment too. It’s ok to do that because your blog is exactly that.. Your Blog & As we develop as people in life it’s no surprise that our blog may alter a little too 😊 you better not go altogether!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I think you’re right we do all go through this and I think at the moment I need to tidy it re-align what I do what what I want it to be. How I want it to look and feel for you great readers.
      I’m not going altogether… How could I do that and leave great people like you behind?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. 😊 why thank you kind sir!! There’s no harm in having a re-align every now & again 👍 I still love your blog & your writing even though I’m a little slap dash in actually getting around to reading it. I’m like that with everyone’s fab posts there’s that many to read it’s so hard to read them all 😫 😀 have a great bank holiday weekend ☀️ 🌞

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Well that’s the other thing I struggle with, time to read everyone’s posts that I would like to. Keeping up is quite hard. But thank you for your kind words, they’re appreciated.

        You have a great bank holiday weekend too – what will you be doing?

        Liked by 1 person

  9. When I see your blog I think that’s definitely the impression I get and that’s no bad thing at all. As you say there’s no wrong way to blog, I think it’s just what kind of message you’re trying to give.

    I’ve no idea what I’m going to do yet… I’m not sure. Maybe it’s just that I’m running out of steam or having a block or just going crazy lol

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. No there isn’t a specific message. When I talk about message what I mean is you’re saying what you want to say, in your case you’re saying isn’t specific to your blog just each individual post or act of creation. That’s totally fine that you and you’re comfortable with it and that makes you the great and glorious you that is enjoyed by myself and so many. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  10. yes I see many struggling with this but I started my blog essentially for me, as a writing outlet! I’ve paid good money to get rid of ads so I’m losing not making money. I don’t think of my ‘target’ audience as such.

    I have tried to expand my writing skills but don’t feel obliged to respond to many prompts as others do. Been there done that. I have deleted hundreds of followers eg businesses and people who have never interacted. Deleted quite a few posts that seemed pointless and loads of comments.
    I love discussion in the comments but if it’s off topic I usually delete it later … no offence to the person I chatted with but does it need to be there forever?

    I’m into poetry and photography and that’s clear if you visit. Simon we’ve had some great discussions, you are a deep man. But I’m not into space or sci-fi … I love your minnon jokes and miss them. Our love our interactions but I tend to read and comment on poetry and photography which align with my interests.

    Not even suggesting you try that, altho I’d be thrilled if you did 🙂

    Guess I’m trying to say is just be you … post what interests you, what you like and those interested will visit and comment and those who don’t are probably reading cooking blogs 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for replying Kate, I’ve found this subject has touched a number of people and I’m going to try and expand on it.
      What I think is great is that despite the fact that you don’t shar many of my interests we can still be good friends and it’s appreciated as I do enjoy your posts 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. Agree totally Si, I totally appreciate our chats and love some of your posts even if the bulk don’t interest me … WP offers a diverse range of bloggers and that’s what I enjoy 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I enjoy that too 🙂
        I’m hoping that through this kind of thought process I’ll be doing some more stuff that maybe you’ll enjoy more.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. I can soooo relate to this. My original purpose for blogging was to have a platform for my writing and to connect with other writers. And now I sometimes feel like my blog is a jumble of a whole lot of other stuff. I enjoy it and of course I’m so glad to have made friends like you, but what on earth am I actually doing with my blog? I’ve thought about trying to clean it up – deleting old and unrelated posts and starting to blog in a more orderly fashion. At this point I’d be loathe to start over again and trying to regain all my followers. On the other hand, doesn’t it seem like it’s always the faithful few who always comment and engage? There’s a whole lot of people I never actually hear from. What are your thoughts on that?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I’m with you totally in this Meg, you feel like you’re growing your content base when you’re adding more material to your blog but then it reaches a point where is suddenly not what you intended and it’s lost its identity.

      I’m finding many of the bloggers that follow now aren’t often interacting. I’m trying to keep up with ground old and new and it’s hard work. So yeah.. I’m with you.

      I don’t think I could start this again but I have to give it new life and maybe even a new identity.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

      1. Exactly. I feel the same – my blog needs an overhaul and then it needs to be focused on one (maybe two..) things! Well at least we can compare notes, Simon!

        Liked by 1 person

  12. When I started blogging I was told to share about 25% about my personal life. But after blogging for 5 years, I would say that it depends on the blog purpose. I don’t have problems to talk about me since I made many friends here, and we exchanged a lot of private information. But that happens more in the comments. My blog purpose is not my person but the message. I do like to share observations in my day or some special happenings but I don’t put my person in the center of my blog and use personal information rather as examples. I do like to share Some things are simply private and I don’t want to bother everyone with my daily little stuff… lol.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. I don’t think it’s a pellet bothering (as you call it) others with your personal stuff I think it can often dilute the message of your blog or its purpose. So I get where you’re at.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Exactly, it always depends what you want to convey and then the personal experiences are even important to share. I just don’t think that everybody is interested to know what I ate this morning and what I am planning on eating on the weekend… unless my blog is about food, diet, or health… lol!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. That reminds me that writing is therapy as well. Many start blogging because of that. Also by writing we drift deeper into the matter and that is where we often find the answer. That again leads me to the general conclusion that nothing we do is in vain… hehe 💁‍♀️Perhaps I degressed here … lol!

        Liked by 1 person

  13. This was an immensely valuable post, to me. I’ve been through this many times in my 3-year jaunt through the blogosphere, and seen many a veteran with experience far beyond go through the same. Sometimes we have to stop, reflect, and ask ourselves, “Is Tom Being Tom?” Or, in your case, is Simon being Simon? And, as you pointed out, does it really matter?

    (for the record, you are far more interesting than any Kardashian)

    ((or even, to be honest, any Cardassian 😉 ))

    I think you put together a valuable list for anybody out there hoping to do this with any regularity, and it’s a list all of us should revisit from time to time.

    Ever upward, Planet Si!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Hi Tom, I’m pleased that this was valuable and it’s interesting you’re not the only one feeling this too. It’s interesting how many of us are facing similar dilemmas and it’s going to challenging to solve it. Thanks for your encouragement, it’s appreciated 😀

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

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