Post 100 – Getting Drawn into the Blogging Community

I did not plan to become a blogger.  In fact, I had never read any blogs before I had my own.  At first, I just wrote for the pure pleasure of writing.  I was surprised by how good it felt and was shocked when people actually provided comments.  At first I had ambiguous feelings about people reading my blogs; I wanted them to read them, but I was terrified that they might judge them; find the writing weak or the content banal.

I continued to blog because it felt almost necessary to write.  But I was also encouraged to keep blogging by a small number of faithful readers who were quick to share their feelings about a post and generous with their praise.  For the first several months, I did not spend much time reading other people’s blogs; it was more about the writing.  But as time went on, I started to make time to read other people’s blogs and found it inspiring, interesting and fun.  I learned that people were writing for so many different reasons and about so many different issues.  I felt like a whole new world was opening to me.

But I was still shy about commenting.  I was afraid that I might say the wrong thing; that my comments might by viewed as unwanted advice.  But as I started to get more comments on my blogs, I realized how good it felt to have someone take the time to offer their thoughts, express their appreciation, or engage in a discussion.  So, little by little, I began offering comments myself; my feelings about their posts, the occasional observation or opinion.  Once again, I was surprised by the grace and goodwill of the people writing these blogs.  No one seemed to misconstrue the intent behind my comments; everyone seemed genuinely pleased to receive feedback on their posts.  It was refreshing and welcoming.

Over the last few months, I have found something shift within me.  I am no longer commenting on people’s blogs; I am engaging in discussions, offering support, and expressing appreciation for an insight beautifully articulated or an experience bravely offered.  I have become attached to the people whose blogs I follow and to those who offer comments on mine.  I had one blogging friend who stopped blogging for several months and I missed her terribly; both her blogs and her comments.  So, I feel like I have finally arrived; that I have gradually been drawn into the blogging community.  I now blog for the pleasure of connecting with these people I have “met” through blogs.  I am developing relationships with people of all ages who live in countries all around the world; what a lovely gift!!

Related articles

• What I Learned About Blogging When I Quit Blogging (blogher.com)
• To Blog or Not to Blog? (journalmissionalliving.wordpress.com)
• Playing Nice in the Blogosphere (notthehardestpart.wordpress.com)