1 Year Blogiversary: Part 2 — Comments Are Like Crack

To celebrate this blog's one year blogiversary on Thursday, I'm writing a history of my blog broken up into several posts. Part 1: A Bumbling Beginning can be found here.

Comments Are Like Crack

AKA when my self-esteem-rose-and-fell-based-on-the-number-of-comments-my-blog-had-and-I-whored-my-blog-shamelessly-on-meme-after-meme

As any blogger knows, getting your first comments from strangers is a total rush and you immediately want more, more, more. It is very much like having a crack addiction (not that I know that first-hand, I'm just guessing). As soon as I started getting a few comments, I wanted more and wanted them now. I began obsessively visiting other blogs in the hopes that they would come to visit my blog too. I had trouble sleeping as I thought up ideas for posts. I compulsively checked for comments every five minutes, and my housekeeping went to hell in a hand basket (although Mr. Jenners would argue that this was always the case). Like any addict, all I thought about was blogging, comments, comments and comments.

I joined SITS and other comment support groups and began expanding my blog roll exponentially. My collection of followers started to grow—and my self-esteem went up and down with each addition or subtraction. If I got a new follower, I would have a good day. If I lost a follower, I would be whiny and miserable. It was pathetic and sad. Knowing what I know now, here is some advice for newbie bloggers:

Advice for Newbie Bloggers: Don't worry about how many readers you have or don't have. Focus on your content and building relationships with like-minded bloggers.

Advice for Newbie Bloggers: You are not legally required to post awards you may be given from other bloggers or follow the rules associated with said awards. Although getting an award can be nice, blog awards are a little like chain letters. Keeping up with them can take a lot of time and often make for boring posts (in my opinion). I tend to skip over any blog award post unless I'm mentioned.

Advice for Newbie Bloggers: You do not have to participate in every meme you come across. Just do the ones you really enjoy and fit your style. For me, I've always enjoyed doing Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.

Advice for Newbie Bloggers: The best way to grow your blog is to leave thoughtful comments on other people's blogs and to participate in a handful of memes and visit the other participants. Also be sure to respond to anyone who visits your blog by repaying the visit if possible.

Very soon after starting this blog, I realized that I "needed" to have another blog to write about reading and books—a passion of mine. I wanted a separate blog for that stuff because I knew it would probably take on life of its own (and it did). It was shortly after this blog began that I started Find Your Next Book Here. I mean, why not have two blogs and get twice as many comments?

My blogging obsession was in full swing, and I entered what I consider to be My Golden Age of Blogging. However, the downside to blogging was about to be experienced. Stay tuned for Part 3 of my blogging saga—Blogging Brightly Leads To Burnout.