People!
I know there are some people who have discovered this newly fledged blog (which I am LOVING doing, by the way) because WordPress tells me so. People from all over the world. But no one is ever commenting! I don’t know if this is something that I am doing wrong myself (am I forbidding; overly pretentious? leave each review too CLOSED), or is there something which is disabling comments… some technical thing I am rubbish at solving (this man is a serious luddite).
In any case, I am desperate to converse! Not just to wax alone.
Neilx
JE VOUS EN PRIE
The Black Narcissus 
I’m reading.. but I HATE to annoy !!! That’s why I asked about an email I can jot over to you.. before I post! willow200@aol.com
@Neil…Drew has told me the same thin g about his blog! He says he writes every day & no one responds. I LOVE your tidbits on here…Keep Them Coming! I may just blog one day soon myself.
I enjoy reading yours so much- don’t stop…! I really look forward to your thought provoking blog… just don’t often have anything intelligent to add….
Darling Neil, you are not alone!!! I read every one of these avidly and the reason I haven’t commented much are for the following reasons:
1. I keep forgetting my password to this blog (fellow techno-luddite) so sometimes when I’m about to comment I am thwarted at that moment when the little boxes pop up (hence switch to your fb) BUT this is just a small reason the others are this –
2. Your writing is so incredibly beautiful, each posting totally centred in a unique and differentiated perception of the perfume. It is an embodied response and carries a lifetime of passion, knowledge for perfumes and life stories with it. There is much to dwell in and muse on in the reading of them. There is something of an unfolding about these descriptions of scent – they are working with a sense that not many are used to using adequately or finding words for. This is different from reading other things – the language of chatter (that relates to aural perception) or description of concrete objects / landscapes that relate easily to the visual. Most people can respond in language that meets these – but not easily find a language with which to discuss smell. Hence for me, unless I am very centred in the scent, I feel that to respond instantly would be something akin to a gobbling-up of what you have written without much savouring – a quick tear of the rose from the stem, not caring that the petals fly all over and the flower is lost…that or a clunky noise, where I rattle a language back at you in response to the poetry that inevitably carries visual or metaphorical associations not really centred in smell – something that does not actually meet you on the bridge for exchange, rather forces a clunky change of track for other readers and takes the posting off to a world not of scent.
3. Because your postings hold so much, I wish to sit within them, and find breath – they open up a space that is beautiful and full of possibilities – why would I rush to answer when there is so much to listen to feel / sense through them?
4. I don’t know many of the perfumes, but your writing offers a frame for perception and sensing of their qualities, so that when I do have a chance to smell them I have something to relate to. Like the Shalimar – although I did know this and had some words for it, your writing opened up another way of viewing it which helped me articulate more when I did next smell it. But this takes time. Some of these perfumes I may not smell for years – but your writing on them opens up a desire to try and find them, and when I do, I will answer you on these in a language that I hope meets yours…
These are just my reasons – hope that helps. Keep writing – it’ll all come back to you like a longshore drift – and there will be many bottles on your shoreline before you know it. Or perhaps just one or two. But they will be precious. Love you and your writing. xxxxx
Was just responding to this idea about lack of commentors and then in the midst of an anecdote about luddites, me and my fat fingers managed to press the wrong key on the keyboard and all was lost!
To recap…
The more you comment on other blogs, the more exposure your blog will(may?) get and other people will pop over to your blog. Often a “thank you for dropping by” comment will get a blog relationship started. I do know that bloggers who get lots of comments, comment an awful lot on other blogs – usually a blog of a similar ilk. It can be a full time job maintaining a blog and its readership which is the main problem with the whole thing; you need to spend a lot of time in front of the computer to network with other bloggers. Most of us don’t have the time (or inclination). I don’t think it has anything to do with your writing – this is beautiful, my dear!
As a fellow luddite, I am no expert and do not receive that many comments – I don’t comment an awful lot on other blogs either. See how it works?! I do get a huge following which I can see in my stats, but these are not regular commentors. The blog ettiquette also requires you to reply to the comments made on your blog, thus encouraging further discourse between you and your readers. It is exhausting. I struggle to post a one or two blog posts a month never mind replying to every comment I may get. I do not have the time and I imagine neither do you. I used to write almost daily when I was at home when the kids were babies (this was how it all started as an on-line diary) but work commitments and domestic drudgery now keep me occupied and there is little time to indulge in bloggy world.
Anyway, your name cropped up in a my Japanese lesson the other day. I described myself as a luddite and tried to explain in Japanese without giving a lecture on the Industrial Revolution and once I’d explained that you are also a luddite, she completely understood lol!
Speaking as another who loves your writing, I would reiterate what Nina has said in such a well considered and thoughtful way. But I would also comment that there might be something in your suggestion that the posts are a little closed, perhaps include the odd question if it fits, but I can imagine that this may feel unnatural and clunky so don’t do it for the sake of it. Rest assured that if people are following your blog they are appreciating it. I enjoy reading it enormously, but often do so on my Blackberry on the train and find it tricky to post a comment through that means.
If you really want dialogue then perhaps you do need to open things up a little, but it could well compromise the poetry of it all. And it is certainly true to say that most people don’t have the vocabulary for it, myself included much of the time. Just try things and see what happens.
No-one wants to sound inane and ill-considered and in contrast to your writing on this subject, many of us will.
…and see? you don’t answer….
I was embarrassed by all the effusive comments! But at least the ball seems to be rolling again…Thanks for replying!