I was feeling listy. It was either this or “Ten Swear Words I Said Today Before 9 am“- I really was going to go with that one but three of them made me blush, that’s why I’m going with this. And before anyone complains, yes- I feel that blogging for almost three years (*holey cheese!) makes me a certified expert on blogging even if I a) don’t own my own domain b) have yet to make single dollar off my blog (but I have got a lot of free stuff?) c) have a nervous breakdown every time I try and change my blogroll/design.
Feel free to add your own. Or disagree with mine. If you dare… (I love how menacing ellipses are)
Ten Things Every Blogger Should Know
1. “The more work and heart and soul you put into a post, the fewer comments you’ll get”. – Peter. (Who knows a thing or 900 gazillion things about blogging. And writing fiction).
2. Blogging can be extremely social or incredibly lonely and some days it manages to be both at the very same time.
3. For every person who decides to leave you a comment lacking feeling or compassion or even logical argument- there’s some absolutely kick ass person in the blogging world who will send you a custom-made diamond encrusted toothbrush because you said you wanted one for your birthday.
Proof:
I told you. Kick. Ass. Now I just need someone to wash my car with the tears of orphans and get me mink lined seat covers and I’m absolutely set. Exactly 10 months until my birthday. Begin preparations!
4. Blogging solely for comments is like dating solely for sex. Sure it can be fun for a while but it’s ultimately exhausting and leaves you feeling like an empty broken shell. Or you know, you just get tired of doing it.
5. Blogs evolve.
6. If you let it, twitter will take a crowbar to your blog. It’s easy to get caught up in the 140 character limit world where you don’t have to worry about transition sentences and proper punctuation. Where you can tell only the most scandalous line of the story, the most brief explanation of your thoughts. And though I’m a reformed twitter-holic, I still enjoy it. But I have to say, lately I’ve been missing my blog. As much as I miss new episodes of The West Wing.
7. It is possible to fall in love with roughly 800 gazillion people through your blog. Through it, I’ve found some of my favourite writers people – girls who make me laugh, who make me cry, who make me think, who say it exactly how it is. Girls who make me want to dance in the kitchen, who inspire me to be more than I am, girls who always have a kind word to say and a friendly ear to listen .Girls who make prompt me to get more crafty and ones who write in ways that leave me breathless. Girls who get the parts of me no one else gets. And of course, dudes who cheer for the wrong football team- but send excellent (if not late) emails. And dudes who let me bbm them regarding Zac Efron and Ryan Reynolds abs.
8. Linking to some of your favourites will always make you feel incredibly lucky. (You should be reading all of those delights, if you aren’t already.)
9. Short post titles are less annoying. (I have yet to learn this lesson. Proof? See title).
10. A good post should teach you something, cause you to reflect, leave you wanting more or just include a picture of a diamond encrusted toothbrush an awesome song.
* I’ve fallen in love with **Geronimo Stilton. Can you tell?
** It’s perfectly normal to have no idea who this is. Unless you spend your day with 9 year olds- then it’s mandatory knowledge. But in case you were curious about the ‘holey cheese!’ comment, Geronimo is a mouse. He’s also a reporter, but that’s a whole other story.
1) I’ve already started collecting orphans, so the Brandy Birthday Orphan Car Wash is just around the corner, or like 10 months away.
2) YOU are incredible. And I feel so so lucky to have/know/email sporadically to spill my guts in word vomit squealing/adore you.
Bedazzled jackets. And crushes and butterfly clubs. xoxo :) Great list, loverloo.
This is such a great post—good advice for any blogger. You’re adorable!
This is sooo true. Especially what Peter said. I find that if I blog about things that really matter to me, like my music development, less people are interested and don’t comment. It can be emotionally draining if I think too much. Right now I’m not trying to think too much when I blog, I didn’t start blogging for comments so I should not let them affect me so much.
You’re an awesome blogger, girlie..
That first one is so so true.
Basically this whole post is.
(I’m jealous of your toothbrush)
This post was awesome.
I don’t know if I’ve yet introduced myself, but I’m Ashley, and I’ve been lurking for a while.
That toothbrush is awesome.
I was going to leave a comment whining about how long it takes to get an email reply out of you too- but really? I’m just happy to get one. Whenever.
I TOTALLY want that toothbrush! And Yes, it does seem like the ones you TRY the hardest on, get the least amount of responses. WHY is that????
that’s some serious linky love right there. there’s a handful on there that i’ve never checked out… and im always looking for some new gems to add to my reader. if you like them, i will too.
xo
Yay for link love! There’s a few in there I haven’t read yet, I’m excited!
Also, filling out a customs form with “One bedazzled toothbrush” at the post office was an enjoyable experience. It also happened to be the day that I mailed my catering contract with SEVENTEEN one cent stamps.
My post office hates to see me coming.
That is the best linky love I’ve ever gotten! Thank you!
And PSH, I totally know Geronimo. I used to work at an education childrens toy and book store. For 3 years. No big deal.
Thank you so much Brandy!! Talk about high compliments, my goodness! You’re amazing- thank you =)
What a great and amazing list! I think i needed this today.
*ding ding ding* you definitely hit #2 right on the head.
and like jamie said, I’m TOTALLY jealous of your blinged-out toothbrush.
That toothbrush is awesome!! LOL! I completely agree with the first one… it’s so strange how that happens! :)
Fun (and informative) list! I see my work day becoming less and less productive as I check out the blogs you’ve linked to :)
Happy it’s almost the weekend!
p.s. I happen to like your long post titles. Brevity isn’t my strong suit either.
i just found your blog but i love this list, and your toothbrush, and i could also see myself falling for a reporter mouse if the mood was right.
thanks for all the links to check out :)
That toothbrush is incredible.
Also I referred to an inanimate object as “cockface” before 7:30 this morning.
I agree, the toothbrush is a beauty! Now, are you going to actually use it?! I think you should.
I have been reading your blog for a bit now. Due to my laziness I haven’t commented in a while because I have a hard time keeping up with all the blogs—Google Reader count was 1000 the other day! I love your spot on the web you have here and I will continue to read and comment again. :)
I adore you.
And every blogger should know you’re an authority on all things blogging. Probs.
i think this is a fabulous list o blogging rules. and um a diamond encrusted toothbrush?! i’m slightly jealous. *cough cough* my birthday is in six months *cough cough*
oh and also, you’re fabulous and i love reading your blog every time you post. :)
I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but you have the greatest blog ever! This list is so true and really thoughtful! I also think whoever gave you the diamond covered toothbrush is a wicked friend!
SPARKLY TOOTHBRUSH!
Ah. Want!
Also? you already know that the love is massively mutual between us.
LOVE FEST.
Blogs do evolve. I used to write only about cooking for two years and burnt the hell out. I was starting to resent it so backed off. Now, I am probably going to pick up again and I am excited once again to write about food, but so glad I took the detour. It is a process.
Okay, that diamond-encrusted toothbrush just made my morning SO much better!
And it gave me a gift idea for a friend…
This list is a pile of smarts and wisdom, because I’ve experienced it all in my two years of blogging on various sites. Thank you for making it seem like more fun than it does when we’re staring angrily at the computer screen, waiting for people to recognize brilliance and comment things like, “Oh! That’s brilliant!”
Wonderful!
I would say that we also have fallen in love with Geronimo Stilton, but my 7 year old just honestly doesn’t get the jokes.
My younger brother reads Geronimo, so… yeah I know that mouse. LOL!
Love, love, love this list. It never ceases to amaze me how blogging brings us all together and how incredible people truly are.
Damn, occasionally I do spend my day with 9 year olds. Now I have to go find out more about this Geronimo Stilton character.
This comment will seem totally lame, I know, but who is the author of the Geronimo Stilton books? To me it looks like it is Geronimo Stilton. When my son asked about this, he asked if a mouse wrote the books and for half a second it made sense in my head until I finally realized mice can’t write books so probably if the author is named Geronimo Stilton, he named the mouse after him. Duh! But anyway, I do know who the mouse is and those books are awesome!
[...] except for Brandy. Our toothbrushes were separated at blinging**. ** do people still say blinging? I kind of hope [...]
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[...] 4. You’ve ever wrote a post titled “Things Every Blogger Should Know“. [...]