* to connect with other women. initially i was looking for women that i thought were Like Me…in other words: single, mid-thirties, looking for Mr. Right, trying to figure out what the heck it is that i want to do with my life. as i went looking for the Like Me’s, i found that there are a ton of women out there like me that don’t meet any of those criteria i had in my head. they’re funny and smart and even though they might not be right where i am in life, they’ve been there or they’re smart enough to figure out what it’s like to be here…or they’re really good at faking it!

* to rant and rave or say whatever i want. in person, i’m really bad at telling people what i’m feeling or thinking. i always feel like no one is interested in what’s on my mind and i have trouble maintaining eye contact and focusing on what i’m saying. but in a blog, i figure if someone doesn’t want to read what’s going on in my life, they can just move on to something else. it’s purely their choice to keep reading or not, and that frees me to say whatever is on my mind and in my heart at that moment.

* to get other people’s thoughts and insight on what goes on in my world. when i was engaged not long ago, i would often read through the boards on a popular wedding website and sometimes post questions of my own, on anything from invitation ideas to the big issues my fiance and i were fighting about. i found that it was really helpful to get someone else’s perspective on a situation or idea, as i often over-complicate things and/or can’t see the forest for the trees (maybe those are the same thing, i’m not sure!).

one thing i’ve noticed about my blogging is that i crave it more when things aren’t going well for me in one way or another. and while it’s important for me to blog during those times, i also need to write when i’m feeling good…either to talk about and be thankful for the things that are going well, or to take the opportunity to work on other things that maybe aren’t as urgent the rest of the time. i have to teach myself to be aware of that. having a regular list of blogs that i read helps remind me of that, too.

I enjoy reading your blog. Cannot remember how I found you but the point is, I did. Thanks.

-For the outlet: I can talk about stuff on the blog that I can’t/won’t/am not ready to discuss IRL.

-For the writing: Starting in 5th grade, I was quite the budding little writer. Once I got serious with WH, all of my cute teenage angst dried up and so did my writing. It made me sad to think that I wasn’t writing anymore. Good or bad, it’s a major part of my life that was constantly on hold until blogging.

-For the community: I’ve noticed that most of my friends IRL are friends of opportunity. We may have some stage and age commonalities, but blogging seemed like a really attractive way to connect with people that I have more in common with, personality wise. Also? I was jealous of other bloggers. Their comments, their commenters, their sense of community. Who can witness that for too long without wanting it for themselves?

Sure, I’d love, LOVE to join the ranks of Dooce and Pioneer Woman. If it happens, great. I can’t filter who I am or what I’m about, though, to garner traffic. In reality, if you look at either blog, I kind of think that’s why they’re so big. They are authentic. If I get there someday, great, and I’m not above tweaking things to increase my traffic, but I’m not tweaking “me” to get big.

I read up some of the live blog sessions and I think they were great! I especially like the naked blogging, which leads me to your question. I blog because I enjoy the interaction of the community and it’s a way for me to get to better know and understand myself. I can write about issues and sometimes seeing things in print makes it easier to see it in a different light…the same can be said when a reader is able to point out a different point of view I had previously overlooked.

I don’t know about the ‘large’ following, it’s kind of nice to have ‘close’ group of people I follow and vice versa.
~K

Speaking of which, if you’d like to donate, I have a sponsor’s page for fellow bloggers!

But my blog has completely added another dimension to my running and I have found such a great community here online!

Well, I blog because it helps me learn about myself, have others give insight and opinions on things that matter to them or that resonates in their person.

My goals: I want a loyal, following not necessarily a big one because I don’t believe this will be what I primarily do but something I use as an addition besides, I like to feel a kinship with the people who come to see me as well as with the people I read (which is why I typically stay away from the mainstream blogs).

When it comes to events, what are you talking about exactly? Did you want to have events linking several blogs together on one topic, having guest blog series? I love blog carnivals maybe something utilizing that concept on a smaller scale?

I like people who use images but they can be distracting if it isn’t done tastefully, people can go overboard. I tend to be more about the concept/content more than what the pictures they used…but that’s just me.