Saturday, August 18, 2012

ONE Isn't A Lonely Number






I'm getting ready to participate in GUTGAA (http://deanabarnhart.blogspot.com/2012/07/sign-up-time-for-gearing-up-to-get.html) and I've begun to visit the bloggers who will be participating.  I've come across many lovely blogs, but I can tell when I come across a newbie blogger.  A few things will give them away.  They will only blog maybe once a week. They have six maybe seven followers...the faithful friends who show their support and the fledgling attempt to make their mark in the social media arena.





And they think they are alone.  Those new bloggers might not realize the world of connections, friendships, and camaraderie to be had in this wonderful writing community.  I remember those first few days back in December 2011 when I began my own blog and wondered what I had gotten myself into.  I thought I was by myself in this.  But I was wrong.

I concentrated on uplifting blogs and the word spread.  What started out as one lonely number in this big ol' blogosphere has turned into a readership of over 250 followers from 22 different countries,  over 95,000 page hits to date, and an array of wonderful friendships to last a lifetime.  I have discovered that ONE isn't a lonely number...especially when it is combined with many other ONES to create the power of WE and THAT is a lovely number indeed!

Now, if I can just find ONE day to do some cleaning...







26 comments:

  1. Oh the tell tale signs of a newbie. Did you read my post and say to yourself, "Poor, poor thing?" I draw inspiration from this post. How do you come up with so much information? Where does it all come from? I read your post and think: She's going on a bear hunt. She's gonna catch a big one. She's not scared! My hero!

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  2. Hi Pam! Lol...how do I come up with so much information? Do you mean for me to be able to post daily? I'm not sure...I daydream a lot and I observe people. I am very empathetic and I read a lot. I think if my posts will help lift MY spirits, then it might lift others as well...I can only try...;~)

    You are too kind and I don't see myself as anyone's hero...lol...

    Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  3. Hi, Donna :) Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm excited about GUTGAA, too and especially about all the new writer buddies and blogs I know I'll find through the hop!

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    1. Hi A.K. and welcome to my blog! It amazes me how many wonderful blogs I have come across this past year, but it also makes me thinkg of ALL the others I have missed! ;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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    2. I know! Every time I turn around, there's another blog I can't believe I missed!! :)

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  4. You need a maid to do your cleaning.

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    1. What? Are YOU applying for the job, Janet? Lol...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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    2. Yes, I am. I'll wash your dishes but I don't do floors.

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  5. This is an encouraging post. It's amazing to see those with so many followers. I look forward to following your posts and checking out others that are involved with GUTGAA.

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    1. Hi S.T. and welcome to my blog! Yes, I glance at the number of followers some people have and think to myself...how in the WORLD did they get that many? Then I read their posts and then I say to myself...oh, THAT'S how...by writing incredible posts! ;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  6. Hi Donna. It's nice to meet you and thanks so much for the lovely hello on my blog the other day. I love meeting other writers. You are right. We all thought we were alone at first.

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    1. Hi Brinda, and welcome to my blog! I can't even really tell you WHAT possessed me to start a blog...maybe I read somewhere it would help with my author platform...but I certainly didn't know what I was doing. Today, 250+ followers later, I am so deeply touched by the people who think my posts are worth reading and faithfully following daily. WHERE would I be without my readers? Still sitting on the edge of that cliff, I imagine!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  7. You're so observant, Donna. I almost forgot those beginning days of blogging, but you nailed the newbie signs perfectly. Everybody starts out at one - one post, one follower, and one comment. It isn't lonely for long....

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    1. Hi Genevieve! Thank you for your kind words. It's like when I take a new student through their first class. I may be a Fourth Degree Black Belt and been doing this for twelve years, but I will never forget what it was like to be a newbie in martial arts. The difference between my returning to my next class and never returning at all was the direct result of the empathy I felt from my instructors. They knew I was nervous and they helped me to realize that I was stepping into a world of love and support...with the chance of making life long friendships and when you think about it...this writing community does the same thing for all our newbie writers...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  8. Nice to meet you! Looking forward to GUTGAA.

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    1. Hi Alexia and welcome to my blog! I see you enjoy writing MG and YA fantasy...I am working on a YA fantasy that an agent is waiting to look at if I ever get the time to finish it! ;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  9. No, one isn't necessarily a lonely number, but writing that number one blog post sure was scary, wasn't it? Fun post, and that sounds like an interesting blog hop.

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    1. Hi Susan! I know what you mean about those first blog nerves. Fortunately for me, I had such a wonderful time participating in Tara Lazar's PiBoIdMo event that I wanted to tell the world about it and everything just kept rolling right along from there...;-)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  10. The hardest part about blogging, I think, is figuring out what to write. I'm still not 100% what direction to take it. I haven't commited to it in the past, but now that I have a couple followers (and a few views whenever I post! yay) I'm planning on posting more. I guess its it see as you go type thing.

    (sorry about the deleted comment. I had far too many typos-- it's getting late!=)

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    1. Hi Stacey and welcome to my blog! Fortunately for me, I've not had a problem with figuring out what to post...I knew all of my posts were going to be inspiring, informative, and entertaining so that gave me a wide range to topics to choose from...;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  11. I wonder if there is such a thing as TOO many blogs? I don't think so...lol...

    Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  12. Wow have you been successful! I think I need some lessons from you! And when you're done cleaning at your place, feel free to come over and do mine... one day for cleaning...hahahah :)

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    1. Hi Susanna! Thank you for your kind words, but I'm sure your numbers would blow MINE out of the water! I'm a semi-newbie and you are a well established author with a huge fan base...I should BE so lucky...;~)...one day though, one day...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  13. Starting a new blog is a pain. At first it's just you talking to yourself. I suppose I should be used to it, since authors tend to talk to themselves a lot. ;)

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    1. Hi Anna! Lol...I couldn't agree with you more! ;~)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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