I am a relative newbie to this blogging lark…I fell into it basically by accident, through my own curiosity, and just like Alice in Wonderland, I discovered a whole new world!
“In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
But it seems that it is not all light, love and roses amoungst the blogging community…
It is a bit like going back to my student days at an all girls school…which isn’t surprising as I have also figured out the online blogging world seems to consist mainly of women.
For example, there are the “in” groups…..the bloggers who have “made it” and have formed their own tight knit gangs.
There are the “try hards” who do everything in their power to try and get into an “in” group…sucking up wherever they can just to get an edge…morphing into something they are not just to get noticed.
I have come across the “show offs”…”look at me, I have thousands of readers and I only have done one post”…you get the drift!
There are the rebels, who blog to shock…they write raw, sometimes very powerful, posts…and by doing so, end up in their own “in” group.
And it seems blogging attracts the narcissist personalities who are everywhere…comment on every single post they can find…stamping their opinion and making everything about themselves.
There always seems to be a tinge of desperation around the forums…”why did she get invited to that event and I didn’t”…”why did her blog get an award and mine didn’t”…”why is her blog getting all the attention”…etc etc etc.
Where do I fit? Well, to be honest, nowhere in particular! I never was in the popular group at school…but neither did I want to be.
Don’t get me wrong…I am very glad I have discovered the blogging community….I have found some gorgeous new friends, both through doing online courses, and by following other blogs.
Some I talk directly to daily, others I interact with online…I have a mentor group that I can turn to for help, advice and encouragement.
What worries me the most about it all is how quickly the blogging community can turn on itself…the keyboard warriors come out in force when a blogger dares to write something that they don’t agree with.
I am all up for robust debate…everyone is entitled to their own opinion…but I just can’t condone nastiness…and women can be so damn nasty when they want to be.
“I don’t think…” then you shouldn’t talk, said the Hatter.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Before anyone gets up in arms that I might be referring to them…I am not. This is a general observation from my 14 or so months being down the rabbit hole!
I blog every day…yes, every day…and I love it…but I was getting a little frustrated…I didn’t want to be sucked into the blogging vortex.
“Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
And then the obvious was pointed out to me…I am not writing for the blogging community…I am writing for my friends, my family, my tribe!
I came across the term “personality blogger” in one of my groups, and that is exactly what I am….I write as me…I am Zinc Moon…Zincy for short!
Although I don’t want to be stuck in a niche, I am glad I have finally found a descriptor for the type of blogger I am…just in case anyone asks!
So I am not going to get caught up in this smokes and mirrors community…like when I was at school, I am going to keep doing what I love, and see where it takes me!
To finish off, I think one last quote from Alice in Wonderland would be appropriate…
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”
“I don’t much care where –”
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Image created using Photofunia
Sarah Doxey Cox
I too have found so many of the things that you have found Sarah (Zincy), but like you I am trying to just keep doing what I do, write what I write, and like Alice, just see where it takes me, although admittedly there have been times I have felt myself being sucked into the vortex. Great post and well done you for blogging every single day!!
Lisa Scott
Love you, Zincy! You summed it up so beautifully <3
That Summer Feeling
What a wonderful post Sarah. Sometimes the whole ‘popularity’ scene makes me want to leave blogging all together, but when I turn away from that, when I just post to my one imaginary friend (who is a hybrid of my most wonderful friends) then it feels right and I get the unexpected bonuses that come with blogging. I too have made wonderful blogging friends (such as yourself) but I need to remind myself that this is my hobby, and I should only focus on what and who lifts me up emotionally. If I find that another blogger drains me, with try hardness, competitive bragging, negative comments or overbearing opinions then it’s time to click away.
Clare Davis Etheridge
‘Personality blogger’, I like it, maybe I can be one of those too. I would like to nominate a new group – the trundling along, observing and waving politely to those who pass and offer a cuppa to those who visit. Some of your descriptions made laugh though! They are so true!! Great post.
Sonia Stackhouse
I love the personality blogger title hun – that is very you! I tend to live in a bubble when it comes to blogging… I dont actually see a lot of the bad stuff that I read about, and to be honest, I dont really want to know. I blog because I love blogging and I love the way it has connected me to some incredible souls that I would never had the chance to meet otherwise and has presented me with some life changing opportunities. Keep doing exactly what you are doing.. you do it very well Sarah and you are ALL heart chick and that heart will not let you down! xx
Lisa Berson
Yep, the blogging community is all that & then some! At the moment I am trying to get back to basics and remember why I started blogging in the first place…love that blogging group, it is rather special to have people who get you xx