`
In my 19 months as a blogger, I’ve learned a few things. Like, don’t get caught up in a world of proper pseudonyms because you most likely have more than one friend whose name would become Mrs. Pea. (Leaving you no choice but to refer to the other one as Mrs. Pee, a much more unfortunate moniker.)
Other things I’ve learned:
* Sometimes, like yesterday, it’s really, really nice to have a network of well-wishing and advice-doling friends and almost strangers on your side. It’s nice to know that someone who doesn’t have to be nice to you or who isn’t related to you thinks you’re normal - and sometimes funny. It’s often the motivation to finally let Miss Dub cry it out a bit without worrying about her physical and emotional safety. (For the record, I’m doing it as I type. Thank goodness for this distraction because I’m on the verge of crying it out myself.)
Other things I’ve learned:
* Sometimes, like yesterday, it’s really, really nice to have a network of well-wishing and advice-doling friends and almost strangers on your side. It’s nice to know that someone who doesn’t have to be nice to you or who isn’t related to you thinks you’re normal - and sometimes funny. It’s often the motivation to finally let Miss Dub cry it out a bit without worrying about her physical and emotional safety. (For the record, I’m doing it as I type. Thank goodness for this distraction because I’m on the verge of crying it out myself.)
* Other times, it’s really, really scary to put your thoughts, emotions and opinions online for public perusal. Debate is fun, but being berated, mocked or belittled by some anonymous commentor can be deflating. Even worse if it’s between readers because it makes me look complicit. It’s a slippery slope to start deleting comments, though I’ve done it for sure. And don’t get me started about comment spam. Is that really your best marketing plan?
* Watch what you say. Sometimes what sounds innocent to you can totally offend someone you love. Then again, it can be constraining to try and please everyone you vaguely know. (And there’s just something weird about having to censor yourself on your own blog.) The best approach is a little balance – a little restraint here or a little clarification there. And when you still draw ire, apologize. Blogs are not worth burning bridges.
* You never know what will strike a chord. Often my most random musings get the most comments, while what I consider to be really hot topics draw a lukewarm response. People like me when I’m funny, people like me when I’m being a mom, but mostly you like it when I’m being honest. And that’s when my blog serves as therapy so we all win.
* Bloggers aren’t as magical as they appear online. It’s the ol’ online dating scheme – you can self-edit to the point of perfection. Granted, there is a disproportionate amount of creative bloggers than people since it serves as a free artistic outlet. So you’ll find more painters, sewers, writers and crafters per capita. However, that painter only showcases his best works. That sewer failed to show you her last project that turned out terrible. Et cetera. But everyone is human. Everyone leaves the dishes dirty sometimes. Everyone doesn’t look that good in every photo. And if someone seems too good to be true, they’re probably not sharing their whole self … and that’s OK. Blogs can make us feel good because we share the person we want to be, not necessarily who we really are. And if we inspire someone else in the process, even better.
* HTML is confusing, but you can figure it out. Sort of. And sort of is usually good enough for us small-time bloggers.
* Two great sources for royalty-free images are Getty Images and Rubberball. And not just because the latter features BYU’s own Asian Eddie in every other pic. Also, a good way to give credit is to link the actual photo to the site. Doesn't detract from the blog content, but gives credit where credit is due.
* Blogger will shut down on you when you most need it. Count on it.
* It’s much easier to write in a blog than in your journal because someone actually reads it. Plus, it’s a much better balanced view of yourself because it's not just a travelogue or personal history – it has little snippets of your current personality, activites and photos; something posterity can read and say, “So that was my Great Grammie Dub.” Instead of, “Wow, her life sucked.”
Wait, what’s that sound? Is Miss Dub all cried out? Have we made it through the first magical crying it out session? Is there hope? Did it only take 25 minutes? And while it felt like an hour, blogging through her tears kept it from seeming like an eternity.
Because while blogging can be a love/hate relationship – pressure to post, nothing to say, spending way too much time on the computer – it can also be an amazing outlet, a great way to meet other people in your same shoes (preferably cute flats) and something to do when your baby is clinging to her crib for dear life.
What have you learned from blogging?
