I was watching the finale of Season 7, The Next Food Network Star, last night (Jeff Mauro, the Sandwich King, won, in case you missed it), and something that was announced grabbed my attention.
Premiering on Aug. 27 will be a new show starring The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, who has penned an immensely popular cookbook, memoir, and children’s book. She’s billed as a sassy, spoiled city girl turned rancher’s wife and home-schooling mom of four; her show will spotlight home cooking and life on the ranch.
What’s amazing to me is that Ree is a blogger. But not just any blogger.
She gets more than 20 million page views per month and received the Weblog of the Year award for 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Talk about a following!
Seriously, I can hardly fathom having that many people devouring my words on a regular basis. How does she ever keep up with the comments?!?
When I started this blog (shortly after returning from a Writer’s Digest Editor’s Intensive in October, 2009), I did so with a great deal of trepidation. I’ve written practically all my life, but the idea of putting my thoughts and words “out there” for all the world to see kinda gave me the heebie jeebies (yes, that’s a word — look it up!). The last thing I wanted or needed was having a bunch of strangers creeping on me.
Over time, however, it became apparent that the people reading my blogs were, in many cases, very much like me. As I read their thoughts and words in return, and as we commented on each other’s posts, I began to feel a kinship with them. I prayed for them, looked forward to learning more about them, and began to hope that somewhere along the line, maybe we’d actually meet in person.
That hasn’t happened, yet. But it’s okay. You don’t have to see friends every day to remain connected.
I’m thankful for every single one of my readers — whether they leave comments or not, whether I know them personally or not. They make me smile, or laugh out loud; they give me new ways of looking at things and advice when I ask for it.
Writing can be a lonely task. Knowing there are others traversing a similar path makes the journey more pleasant.
So go ahead and leave a comment. How can we connect if I don’t know who’s reading and what you’re thinking?
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
I feel exactly the same way, Debbie. It’s like a neighborhood, friends you may not see in person but they’re freinds nevertheless! Love your blog and keep it up.
Thank you, my friend! I never dreamed blogging would be such a fun way of reading others’ ideas and making interesting connections. I’m humbled you enjoy my efforts — that motivates me to keep on keeping on!
The best part about blogging for me is the connections.I like Ree’s blog very much but she doesn’t keep up with the comments…it’s a different world. Not bad and where many blogger hope to end up…but for me, right now, I just enjoy the connection.
So thanks,
I think I’m on the same page as you are, Katybeth. I’ve checked out Ree’s blog, too, and she’s got these tons of visitors who read and comment, but she rarely replies to them. Makes you wonder if she even bothers to read them, or has time to!
I’ve never heard of Ree Drummond, but with that many readers and comments, I’m sure the interaction aspect is lost. In one way, it would be a nice affirmation to have that many people want to read what you have to write. But on the other side of that thin line, I’ve seen ‘big time’ bloggers who need an ego check. I’d rather remain a small fish in the big pond.
I agree, Janna! I’ve seen plenty of blogs win the Fresh Pressed notification and suddenly garner hundreds of comments, only to have those readers drop off like flies a few days later. I’d hate the thought of having to hire an assistant, just to keep up with blogging comments.
Debbie,
I believe it’s all about making meaningul connections and engaging others in our journeys. I love your blog and look forward to your posts as I know I will always be informed, entertained and enlightened 🙂 I agree with everyone else, interaction is the key and it’s not all about the numbers.Quality,not quantity and you got it ,girlfriend!
Shucks, Kathy, you’ve gone and made me blush! I love that those of us who know each other and those of us who don’t are able to connect in real, meaningful ways online. We can’t help but look over our blog’s statistics (must be the writer in us, wondering if we’re being heard and understood!); but having a solid group of regular readers I can share with means more to me than merely spitting in the wind. Thanks for letting me know you agree!
I think you just summed up the essence of why we blog! Blogging has a hold on us. We miss it when we walk away from it for too long. And I could never quite figure out why I wasn’t comfortable with family and certain friends reading my blog. It’s because the “strangers” who find me online tend to share something in common with me that I haven’t found with those in “real life.”
You’re so right, Terri! It’s probably the same reason why people on airplanes share personal stuff with seatmates, stuff they don’t tell their close friends and family. It’s nonthreatening.
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Thanks for the mention, Kathy!
Putting our words out there for others to see makes us vulnerable…at times I wish there was an unpublish button, I feel like I’m walking around naked…no that would be WAY more horrible!
I’m right there with you! Stuff on the Internet, in particular, has no shelf-life, yet we humans tend to change our opinions regularly. I think one aspect of blogging that I enjoy so much is getting to know others in a deeper, more meaningful way through their words.
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