This is my IWSG post for July. IWSG is Alex Cavanaugh's brainchild where writers help and support other writers. To read more posts, click here.
When blogger had its hiccup recently
and blog rolls failed to populate, I had a bit of a come to Jesus moment.
For over five years, I’ve ranged
from diligent, to consistent in my posts, but what has never changed is how
much I have treasured every comment received here at Middle Passages. It
is news to no one that our craft can be a lonely one, and the virtual world
makes it less so. Each comment means someone is
reading…ME. Last week, Blogger blew up our reading pages and I had to
click one-by-one through my blog roll to read the bloggers I follow. Pretty quickly, I realized
as hard as it was for me, it would be just as difficult for my followers to find
me. If this thing didn't get fixed fast, well, gosh. Maybe they’d stop coming. The thought made me feel a little
sick. Bereft, even.
And so, the aha. I realized,
as much as I love it, I don’t just write for myself. I want, and crave
readers. During Blogger’s issue, I investigated Feedly and other options, and would probably have ended up subscribing there. But would other folks
have done that? Would it have been important to them to find me?
The idea made me harken back to those pre-Internet days. What if the only
way for folks read my stuff was to keep submitting it to a traditional,
competitive publishing world, knowing that most of it would have returned to me
with a great, big R for rejection (if even that).
That’s when I knew, I’d fail without
a writing community. To all of you out there, I want you to know how
important you are to me.
As much as I missed reading my fellow bloggers during that Blogger hoopla, I realized that I was feeling kind of burned out on social media in general. It was kind of a wake up call for me that I might need to take a small break.
ReplyDeleteMadeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
I will always find you. LOL I think that's from a fairy tale or something. Like you, I managed to find my blogger friends and comment on them. I do miss google reader.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know what was going on with Blogger and thought maybe it was just me doing something wrong. :-) I love my virtual friends who keep me connected to the outside part of writing. It lets my world stretch beyond the page now and then.
ReplyDeleteDeb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
It is amazing how much we come to depend on this community. How wonderful that we can.
ReplyDeleteIt did bring home the importance of this community, didn't it? When Feedly has issues last month, I had to click on the links in my sidebar. Time consuming, but I did it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd always find you.
I go through hermit-like periods where it's hard for me to get out and visit blogs, or I read and lurk, but don't comment. Thanks for the reminder that even saying "Hello" can give a fellow writer a boost. This can be such a lonely business otherwise.
ReplyDeleteMy blogging communications are important to me, too!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was the number of people taking off for the summer to blame for reduced comments on my blog last week ... but maybe it was Blogger going ka-flooey.
Or, maybe some people didn't follow me to my new WordPress site.
I switched to Feedly when I moved to WordPress. I liked the Blogger Blog Roll better ... but WordPress doesn't have anything like that, so I don't have much choice.
Wow. I totally missed that hoopla. But you're right. I don't just write for me (altho it seemed like I did when I first started!), I write to move you, the reader. Comments are confirmation I've succeeded.
ReplyDeleteAnd I would definitely try to find you if you left Blogger. Definitely.
I feel exactly the same way, Liza. I had a heck of few months, but the support from our blogging community made all the difference. Thanks so much for visiting my blog. It meant a lot.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you went through that! I missed the Blogger bugs. Glad all is well. And I absolutely agree with you about this community. It's so nice to be among friends.
ReplyDeleteI missed all the blogger problems as am trying to cut down how often I'm online, but I know what you mean.I love to write something and get comments about it. I don't write for the comments, but sure do appreciate them!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne @ Suzannes-Tribe
x
Don't you love those come to Jesus moments? I felt very frustrated when Blogger blew up my Reading List. I wrote a post about it. Blogging is important to me and had they not fixed it I would have been forced to divert some time into Feedly and transferring my blogs to them.
ReplyDeleteYou aren't going to lose me that easy!
What a lovely post! I'm so glad I found you through Susan Gourley's site. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome post, Liza! I feel exactly like you! I've only been blogging about twenty months, but I've found the blogging world so welcoming and supportive. And joining the IWSG in May has been an amazing and encouraging experience. And I love that what I post in my blog is exactly as I chose to present it. Happy blogging!
ReplyDeleteThe writing community keeps us sane, often keeps us accountable, and keeps us going. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree that the support of the blogging community makes everything worthwhile. I'm so glad that I've gotten to know you, and I also would search high and low to find you again!
ReplyDeleteJulie
I didn't think much about the 'friend' thing, the 'like' buttons until more recently. I had thought those were shallow relationships based on a passing interest. I still wonder if the list of friends ARE friends. My author buddy has a few thousand 'friends' and it takes her a long time each day to check who is doing what. However, I have discovered gems of friends in the blogging and facebook world. I recently joined IWSG and look forward to developing and strong connection with everyone. Thank you
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know that I dedicated something to you on the HERE'S TO YOU post.
ReplyDeleteWow Liza, I didn't know because I wasn't on the computer all last week. What a freaky thing to have happen. I love your post. You are so right about it being wonderful to have others read your work. I feel the same way and always feel terrible when I don't get back to replying to those who take the time to comment on my blog, like you! Thank you for reading me too!
ReplyDelete