“Social media is not a media. The key is to listen, engage, and build relationships.”
- David Alston
This is not an interview.
It’s a heartfelt post, just like I’d have here, explaining what is special to me about the blogging community. Please read it. And if you’d like, you may answer the question I’ve put at the bottom:
What aspect of the blogging community is the most meaningful to you?
I will hop over! The most meaningful aspect - the relationships I've developed with other writers, like you. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend,
Karen
On my way! Yes, definitely the relationships and all the amazing books I find out about that I wouldn't have even considered looking at!
ReplyDeleteRead your guest post and totally agree with you. The best part of the blogging community is the relationships you make :)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to check it out right now! The blogging community has taught me more about how to write for an audience, because before I was mostly just writing in journals; it sounded good to me so I didn't really think about how it might sound to other people. Now when I write my blog posts I still sound like myself, but I also think how other people might perceive it.
ReplyDeleteJust read your post. What a lovely way to put it and, yes, I agree with so much of what you said. It is true that the only thing we know about a blogger is his/her avatar. After that, it's the words that define her. That's pretty powerful stuff.
ReplyDeleteYou worded it perfectly. I've met so many wonderful people through blogging, able to relate with them because of our common goals. It's been so encouraging and great to see the ups and downs others experience, realizing we are not alone on our journey.
ReplyDeleteOkay, on my way ...
ReplyDeleteAwwwww it's a lovely post!! thank you!! Take care
ReplyDeletex
I read your guest post. Yes, the blogging world is all about common interest, supporting one another and developing friendships. I have learned so much from fellow bloggers and value the friendships made.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend.
Smiles.
Loved your post over there, Theresa. Very well said.
ReplyDeleteOff to it!
ReplyDeleteI love that cover! Online friendships--almost as fun as real-world friendships--are my favorite part! :-)
ReplyDeleteHeading over there :)
ReplyDeleteRead your guest post earlier this morning. It is brilliant Theresa. Great post.
ReplyDeleteOkie doke, I'm off to visit.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post! (=
ReplyDeleteWhere can I get one of your books? Are you epublished?
I love meeting like-minded writers!
ReplyDeleteThe way everyone cares about everyone else. It's so FREAKIN' awesome, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteOff to read your guest post. :-)
That was a great post! I love everything about it. The friendships, the knowledge, the empathy, the inspiration...etc. you name it.
ReplyDeleteOff to read the post... And I really love that cover for Ordinary Angels.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post---every word true. We laugh together and we cry together, through good times and bad. You know? I love meeting my blog buddies in person. That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteHi Theresa .. we don't know each other .. yet we do - we have an affinity with each other and each others' commenters ... it's a great community - and an excellent post you wrote on India's blog ..
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary
Now that I'm back, heading over but I can tell you... It is the honest love we seem to have for each other and compassion for each others struggles that pulls at my heart. :)
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Great guest post. I really thought it was so true. And I too worry sometimes about writer friends who blog and suddenly disappear. Glad I'm not alone in that.
ReplyDeleteI love how the bloggin/writing community is so supportive. Really helps ease the turmoil and struggle of "making it."
ReplyDeleteGoing over now. This blogging/writing world has been so good to me.
ReplyDelete:)
I like the way people who would never otherwise have met, become close through blogging. It's cool.
ReplyDeleteMost meaningful to me: I don't feel alone in this process.
ReplyDeleteGoing to check out your link!
I'll check out the link.
ReplyDeleteWhat's most meaningful is finding people who share my writerly experience and who get me.
It's so great to feel like we've got a supportive community. I love it. :)
ReplyDeletejust went and left a comment, too! Good stuff, Theresa~ :o)
ReplyDeleteI hopped on over and left a comment :)
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned in my comment on India's blog, I love that I find myself genuinely caring about people whom I have never really met. I root for everyone to fulfill their writing dreams and all the other ones they express. And it makes me so happy when someone gets published or gets an agent; it's nice to be part of it.
ReplyDeleteOn my way over now...
ReplyDeleteAnd the relationships I've made with other bloggers is absolutely the most meaningful part of blogging to me.
@ Karen, developing meaningful relationships with writers is the most meaningful aspect for me too.
ReplyDelete@ Jessica, those book recommendations are a bonus!
@ Jaydee, I'm glad so many bloggers feel the same way I do.
@ Neurotic Workaholic, excellent point. I became a much better writer and editor from posting on my blog.
@ Liz, it's amazing how well we connect with people through their words. We don't need physical appearance to size them up.
@ J.L. Jackson, knowing we're not alone in our writing journeys is huge. We're all weathering a similar writing storm.
@ Matthew, thanks for checking out the link.
@ Old Kitty, thanks! I'm glad you liked it.
@ Choices, I'm happy you learned a lot from blogging. I have too. I wonder where I'd be in my writing journey if it weren't for blogging.
@ Talli, thank you! I appreciate it.
@ Christina, thanks!
@ Shannon, I treasure my friendships with people like you.
@ Jess, thanks. Hope you liked it!
ReplyDelete@ Ann, thank you for the compliment. Didn't want to be too mawkish.
@ Nicki, thanks!
@ Jo, thank you. No, I'm not e-published. 100 Stories for Queensland anthology is coming out 05/03. My short story "Daisy" will appear in it. And my story "Allured" will be in an upcoming anthology entitled Fangtales.
@ Vicki, I love meeting like-minded writers too.
@ Robyn, all this caring is freakin' awesome!
@ Laura, you just shortened my guest post by a lot. Friendships, knowledge, empathy, inspiration - that sums it up!
@ Rachel, I love the cover of Ordinary Angels too. I wish it were available in paperback in the US. Frustrating!
@ Her highness, Samantha Vérant, I love meeting blog buddies in person too. I met 3: Ann, Brigid, and Barbara in Dublin last spring.
@ Hilary, you got that dichotomy - we do and don't know each other. Thanks for visiting!
@ Jules, our compassion for one another's struggles is amazing. Great thing to be a part of.
@ Natalie, I wrote a post about disappearing bloggers sometime ago. It also was syndicated on BlogHer. I never had so many comments. Apparently bloggers worry just like us!
@ lbdiamond, I wonder if more people stick with it now that they don't have to agonize in isolation.
ReplyDelete@ Lydia K, you've been such a great help to me.
@ Anita, it is cool to meet people we never would've met otherwise. It exposes me to different cultures in the US and beyond.
@ Aubrie, not feeling alone as a writer is crucial. Thanks for checking the link!
@ Medeia, having people get me is crucial too. Spending most of my thinking time thinking about writing is something only other writers get.
@ Kristine, I love the supportive community too.
@ LTM, thanks for commenting!
@ Lynda, thank you! Much appreciated.
@ Missed Periods, I'm rooting for all my writer friends too. When someone I've watched struggle makes it, it's amazing feeling for me too.
@ Susan, the relationships I have beyond the blog especially, are meaningful to me too.
Hi Theresa,
ReplyDeleteYou did a great post. It's the relationship we develop and as we slowly get to know the person through their words.
@ Nas, thank you. Blogging does create slowly developing relationships.
ReplyDelete"What aspect of the blogging community is the most meaningful to you" - it's always been the connections I make with other writers - but this just took my appreciation to a whole new level. WOW.
ReplyDelete@ Margo, the connections are invaluable. I'm glad the post resonated with you.
ReplyDelete