This post first appeared on TDG on May 26, 2011. I still think about this all the time, mostly because people often identify me as a blogger (which inevitably leads to the what's your blog? question), and as a result of the rise of social media, where I proudly list my URL and new posts. So people read. I know that. And I'm almost ok with it. Almost.
When I first started this blog, it coincided with the launch of my webstore. Not a coincidence though; I had been advised to try to create buzz about my new venture utilizing blogs. It was the beginning of review blogging and a time when bloggers actually responded to small businesses looking for reviews in exchange for nothing more than a sample and sometimes a giveaway item.
Being a writer at heart, the natural progression was to start a blog myself at that time. I had a good reason (my store), lots of opinions to share (cuz everyone cares), and I was staying home with my new baby leaving plenty of time to stir up the creative juices.
What I couldn't anticipate on that day in April of 2007 (wow was I green) was that four years later, not only would I still be blogging on this platform, but I'd be considered a "blogger". That I would have parlayed my experience in the blogosphere into a day job. That people would be reading.
That people I KNEW would be reading.
And the worlds collide.
I didn't talk much about my blog to my "real-life" people very much for the first few years. I mean, they may have known I had one, but I never publicized it outside of that crazy underbelly world of blogosphere. I had my fellow blog people, and my real-life people. And I was good with that.
Lately though, as I move forward and meet people and stuff, Google has become a better friend. I've gotten so good at manipulating it that I can find out the most basic to totally random stuff about people with almost no information. And I know that the opposite is true too.
But mostly, I come up with Facebook pages, blank Twitter streams, maybe some weird article or random resume. Not fair! I put a lot of stuff here. While there's a hugely gigantic part of me that is reserved for my IRL friends (you know, the personal stuff I don't talk about here), there's lots of stuff here! Stuff about how I parent, my opinions, my style of doing things - just... stuff.
So when my worlds collide, when someone I sort of know says "OMG, I read in your blog that blahblahblah..." it makes me a little nervous. Takes me totally out of my comfort zone. Weird, right? I mean I singlehandedly am responsible for putting it here! But you know, it's not because there is so much stuff here, but mainly because there's so much stuff NOT here. I'm often surprised when I meet a blogger I read regularly. I'm typically struck either by the fact that they're edgier than they put out there, or they're a little more reserved IRL than they portray publicly.
It goes with the territory. I know that. But if you want to know me, I mean, really know me? Call me, let's get a drink. :)
I would love to get a drink with you!
Posted by: Erin | February 07, 2012 at 10:17 AM
Wow it's an amazing blog you have, like a fantasy magic World, really lovely taste you have.
Posted by: Ewal | July 25, 2012 at 09:40 PM