The universe has delivered several signs to me the past few weeks pertaining to blogging.
1. Dreams about running. Every night. Not therapeutic, exercisey running. The kind where I am barefoot and running to something because I am late and the way just keeps getting longer.
2. Malware attacked my files and this site and Agoura Hills Mom were down for a week. I was so pissed I wanted to blog about it, but I couldn’t! Instead I spent countless hours investigating the problem and I learned a lot about how much I hate hackers. Also, that the friendly colleagues on the internet can be counted on to come forward and help you figure it out inexpensively.
3. I had a very fruitful consultation with a writing coach and that means another blog might be in the works, one that doesn’t leave the reader with the impression that I only write about products and services. That one was painful.
4. I registered for the Women Create Media workshop a long time ago not really knowing what it was about, because it’s being produced by a colleague I respect. Come to realize it’s about transitioning from blogging into other media. Like books.
5. I’ve been in CT for the last week while the blog shutdown was on. I had to take time away from my vacation to deal with it, which was annoying. While my blog is important, it’s not that important. Something I can only say now that it works again…
6. When I get back I will go straight to BlogHer ’11, which means straight into the hustle and bustle of blogger networking. Two years ago when I attend the conference I looked forward to it helping me clarify my path. It only made it worse. (This year at BlogHer I will help raise some more money to benefit needy families through Help a Mother Out. That’s a good enough expectation. Anything more will just be gravy.)
7. The drama in the blogging community, to which I pay attention because it is my job, has gotten me down. I really liked it when we were all friends and nobody was looking sideways at each other, wary of ulterior motives.
So what does it all mean? The drama helps to clarify what kind of person I am. The content signs help to clarify what I want to write. The time taken away from my vacation with my family? Well…that one is pretty obvious.
“Write well, do what you love, and raise well-adjusted children.“
I guess that is becoming a mantra. Next time I’ll tell you about all the new-agey metaphysical signs I am getting from my therapy team of physical therapist/healer and massage therapist/energy reader.
drama in mommyblogs? wow. i’m glad i stick to something peaceful. like politics. hang in there! i look forward to being able to do conventions, etc, in the future. i hope you have fun despite everything.
ZMOG! I feel the exact same way you do about being privy to all the blogger gossip and nastiness. Well, you probably see it a lot more than I do, but I get the occasional “tip” now and again that I would rather not know. I once told someone that I hate blogging a little more each day… which is the number one reason that I left my own site go to rubbish for months on end. (Number two was that I found out my mom has my site bookmarked and that just stifled a whole lot of creative venting…)
Of course, that’s not true at all. I love blogging and I’m ready to get back to it! Best of luck with your new project— whatever it may be.
I’m glad that Sarah could help you…and the gossip, well I usually know it, I just transmit it via phone. Good luck with your endeavors. I’m totally not stressed about BlogHer this year. And 90% of those bloggers out there are smoke and mirrors….