Nov 19, 2012 |
We all do it. Some do it better than most.
That would be me.
I articulate things you haven’t even considered. I am the expert when it comes to Foot-in-Mouth Syndrome.
No. I won’t give you specific examples. How could you even ask such a thing? Why add fuel to the fire, that should be my motto.
Should be.
I don’t intentionally do it. I just seem to have a low threshold filter when it comes to words. Don’t believe me? Ply me with coffee and cookies and get me talking. About anything. Anything. I can mumble my own monologue with a finesse not yet witnessed by others. The Guardian has flown the coup. I can crash right through those roadblocks with ease.
You know those dreams people talk about when you’re standing naked in front of a room full of people? Never had it. Nope. Not me. I dream about not being quiet. I’ve had nightmares of nonstop gibbering in the most ridiculous of places: telling my life story to the Grocery Store Clerk. Being brutally honest when someone asks, “How are you?”
But wait… there’s more!
I’m the person who, when I ask “How are you?” jumps ahead to the requisite “That’s nice” before hearing your response. Until you’re brutally honest with your answer and I realize I wasn’t paying attention.
Stutter Central: How may I offend you today?
I don’t mean to do it. I really don’t. The majority of the time, I’m a very good listener. But “majority of the time” is so not the same as “all of the time”. Trust me on this one. And with this new “honesty” onset for the Blog, my thoughts spill out of my head more often than they used to.
I’m afraid for you… very afraid.
Can I be insulting? Do birds fly? Am I glad for the ability to edit? Like gold attracts a Leprechaun!
The written word is my friend. The spoken word, notsomuch.
Which may be just one of the reasons I’m such a prolific writer.
You’ll thank me for it later.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Aug 21, 2012 |
I don’t have as many blog followers as I strive for. It makes it a little hard to get sponsors for giveaways and such. But I keep at it. And little by little, great things are coming my way.
Nearly every day, I can count on comments from a core group of supporters. And nearly every day, I can count on spam comments urging me to sign up for the Quick and Easy Way to get followers. “Over 1,000 followers each day!” “It really works!” These spam messages tell me I’m not doing as well as I could be in my ratings. That I’m hard to find on google. That they know the answer.
But here’s the thing. Their answer is wrong. For me, anyway. Because followers isn’t the same as followers. And having a thousand readers because I filled out some form isn’t the same as having two hundred readers because they like what I write.
So here’s my promise to you: I won’t ever compromise just for ratings. Of course I’d love to write That Post that garners attention. That brings sponsors to my page and readers to my doorstep. But I refuse to join a club or write fluff to get me there. I write, because it’s what I do best. I write because without words, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.
I’d rather be rated on my merit than on some sign-up program. Sure, I don’t show up on google immediately. I’m okay with that. And so far my giveaway participants don’t number in the hundreds. But isn’t the lower competition better for you?
And if my authentic writing gives me a small group of authentic readers, I’d rather that than sell out to a large system that doesn’t really care. I’m not saying I’d turn my back on advertising and sponsorships. Heck, no! I’m saying, I want those companies to have faith in me. I want them to say, yeah. I know what I’m doing. And I want my ratings to improve authentically.
This is where you come in: If you like reading Frankly, My Dear…, would you tell your family and friends? A lot of great things are starting to happen and you don’t want them to miss out, do you?
- The Unemployment Cookbook (2nd Edition)
- Holiday-themed Giveaways, and plenty of them!
- Updates on my writing projects
- Shared stories from other bloggers
Did I mention corporate sponsorships? I’m hoping to partner again with Aroma Housewares for another Rice Cooker. I’m currently reviewing Scharffen Berger’s new Artisan chocolate bars.
And yes, other companies are noticing me. Thanks to your responses so far, I’m getting noticed.
So it’s not like winning the Lottery all at once. It’s more like earning it, one drop in the bucket at a time.
And I’m okay with that. Because that’s how This (Real) Girl rolls.
Share the word, would ya? Thanks.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
