So today is my One Year Blog Anniversary… sort of. Today is one year from the day that I did a little sister copy-cat, again, and followed my big brother into the wide world that is blogdom. However, since I didn’t really get serious about blogging until three months ago, it certainly doesn’t feel like a year! In the beginning, I blogged almost exclusively about my kids, which is part of why my blog is titled as it is. I’ve been having a blast with my blog, working hard to post consistently, getting to know new e-friends, and subtly trying to climb the ladder, so to speak. I haven’t begged for links, or joined blogrolls, because I like knowing that if someone links me it is because they chose to, and no other reason. But I’ve still watched my truth laid bear status and my site-meter like a hawk, hoping that I will someday be an exalted reptile or marsupial! This whole blog thing is muy addictive! I must not be alone in my internet compulsions, because a few recent posts I’ve run across testify that I’ve got company!
Joe Carter at Evangelical Outpost has a lot of good words on this subject today. Here’s a tidbit about his feelings on the TTLB eco-system:
But aside from instilling a sense of gratitude, being a Mortal Human has no effect on my life. It hasn’t increased my site traffic. It hasn’t increased my ad revenue. It hasn’t made my blog more popular, or more interesting, or more worthy. In fact, it’s much like getting to the end of a game of Monopoly. You realize the thrill was in the striving and the acquiring and once you have a big pile of (fake) money and nothing to do but collect rents, it’s not so much fun anymore.
My favorite part of the post is the last paragraph, but you need to go read it for yourself!
Last week, Spunky at Spunky Homeschool wrote a Scripture-based and insightful piece on discovering her blogging voice. (Only read it if you’re prepared for the possibility of conviction! )
And finally, for another take on things, here’s advice on how not to write a blog: this post by David W. Boles on his blog Urban Semiotic. He also has a good post on your motive to blog.
Happy Anniversary! I am glad that I discovered your blog, it is a fun and encouraging read!
Comment by Randi — July 13, 2005 @ 7:55 am
I read Joe’s post, and thought it was very good. But those large mammals and mortal humans talking about not caring about stats kind of reminds me of rich people talking about how money’s not important. Yeah, it’s not important IF YOU HAVE LOTS OF IT!!!
My driving need to increase readership hinges mainly on one thing: I feel I have some good stuff to say, and I want as big an audience for it as I can get! Hopefully I can keep in perspective the fact that *everything* I do–or blog–needs to be all to the glory of God, and not me.
Comment by Cindy Swanson — July 13, 2005 @ 10:34 am
Happy Anniversary. Count me as a reader who links to you because I like what you have to share. And just think you’re kind of cool. When I started blogging I read the scripture let another praise you and not your own lips. I have tried hard to follow that line of thinking. It’s not always easy. But my attitude is mostly that if God wants someone to read what I have to say he’ll bring them over. Otherwise, my children are one day going to have a great bit of writing about their momma’s thinking. And that isn’t so bad either.
Spunky
Comment by Spunky — July 13, 2005 @ 12:21 pm