[Editor's Note: Today I have my very first guest post, I know! So exciting! And to make it even more sweet it comes from one of my very favourite bloggers Twindaddy. I stumbled on to StuphBlog not long after I signed up on WordPress and since then I have been hooked. Stuphblog has everything, romance, action, hilarity and raw emotion. I feel honoured and privileged to have Twindaddy as my guest. Please make him feel welcome, and then go check out his blog, it's seriously overflowing with awesomeness]
Hello. Allow myself to introduce myself. My name is Twindaddy. One of the Empire’s finest.
This is how I think I look.
This is how I actually look.
I recently put out an open call for guest bloggers on my site. I did this for a variety of reasons. I had just traded guest posts with another blogger and found the exchange fascinating. I gained new followers out of the deal and the other blogger did as well. So mainly, I wanted to share the blogger love. I wanted to expose the blogs I follow, and those that follow me, to other bloggers so that everyone could gain new readership. A larger audience. After all, blogging is much more fun when people are actually reading what you’re writing and interacting with you in the comments. At least, it is for me.
Steph answered my call and asked that we both post on each other’s blog and I was surely happy to oblige. Steph’s post was fun and hilarious. It’s my time to return the favor, so here I am. The land down under.
The first of what has become a series of guest posts on my blog since I put out my open call was a piece entitled The People We Meet, written by wordsmith extraordinaire Polysyllabic Profundities. Her words got me thinking about my own blogging journey, and how it has had many unexpected benefits for me.
I started blogging way, way (Way, way, way…nope, keep going. Ah, there you are.) back in 2007. It wasn’t a serious endeavor, but something to merely add content to a website I was running for my brother’s fantasy football league. I think I may have posted 10 or 11 posts total on that blog. Then in late 2010, I created a self-hosted blog. Not as a creative outlet, but as a way to see if I could actually host my own website. I did host my own site and what I found during the two months that I actually ran it is that I enjoyed writing. I began to develop a need to let all of my pent-up creativity out. This was something I had never recognized about myself before. I had a need to create and now I knew it. So when my internet service provider shut down my self-hosted website (because evidently hosting your own site without paying them extra for it is against the rules or something), I migrated my blog to WordPress.
Nothing much really happened on my blog over the next year or so. My stats were fairly…let’s be honest, they sucked. I was only getting a handful of views per day. I eventually realized (I think I read it somewhere) that in order for bloggers to find me I needed to go out and find them first. So I started reading and commenting on other blogs. Slowly but surely I began to collect readers. People began following my blog. It felt incredible that I was creating something that people actually enjoyed.
But something unexpected happened. Some of my followers began becoming friends. I came to care for a great many of them and they came to care for me. Or at least they care enough to make me feel like they care for me. Many of these friendships have crossed beyond the realm of the blogosphere into Facebook, Twitter, and even Google. I trade emails, instant messages, tweets, Facebook comments, and direct messages with a great number of these blogging friends. Great friends such as Elyse, Polysyllabic Profundities, Nicole Marie, Madam Weebles, Vyvacious Eats, Brother Jon, Becca, La La, Society Red, The Mercenary Researcher, Jen and Tonic, GingerSnaap, 1jaded1, and even his Magnificence™ himself, Le Clown.
About a month ago, I published a post detailing all of my life’s troubles. Afterwards, a surprising thing happened. Supportive comments. In droves. They came flooding in. That post quickly became the most commented post on my blog. It felt amazing that people I know only through written words cared enough to take time out of their day to offer words of encouragement. I certainly didn’t expect the outpouring of support I received and really only wrote the post to vent my troubles.
Blogging has since become a much larger part of my life. I log in frequently to answer comments from friends and to see if they have posted new content. I have begun trying to promote new bloggers so that they can achieve the same things I have through blogging. That is why I have accepted so many invites to guest blog and so many requests to have guest bloggers. I want every blogger to have the same rewarding experience through blogging which I have had.
I still use my blog as a creative outlet for those times when I need to express my feelings or share a story, but it has become more, so much more, than just a tool. It is a community. It is a circle of friends. It is a way of life.
Other articles written by Twindaddy
Wow! I seen people guest-blogging for someone, but as in the blogger pointing at me and saying “join the army.” Wait no, wrong line. And saying, “invite someone to guest post on your blog.” I thought it was only for “well-known” hotshot bloggers.
I got something from this well-written post. Thanks!
Awesome! Thanks for reading!
That’s so awesome how you are building communities within the blogosphere and are continually introducing new people to other blogs.
Its really fun!
It really has been fun!
Woohoo!
*sniff sniff*
You are so stinkin’ cute, daddio!
Stinkin? You certainly have a way with words.
Shaddup!
See? See??
What? What??
Oy vey.
I didn’t know you spoke Yiddish! WOW!
I’m full of surprises.
Reblogged this on Stuphblog and commented:
Good morning, Stuph Mafia™!! Today I traveled down under. Right by the Coral Reefs and into the heart of the Land of Kangaroos itself. Please head on over to check out my post, and then click follow after reading. Steph is a wonderful blogger and you’ll love reading her stuph™.
I’m actually blushing a little
You shouldn’t be. You are a wonderful blogger and an even more wonderful mommy. Unshitty™, I dare say.
Did you hear that people? I’m officially UNSHITTY!
You forgot the ™… You hafta do it right or it’ll be revoked
How do you do that? (Google being unhelpful)
Hold down the Alt button, and then hit 0153 on the number pad. Make sure the Numlock is on.
hmmmm, no Alt on a MAC? I think I’ll just take my technically challenged hat and leave now…
You have a tough exoskeleton and such a soft and squishy centre! By the way we spell centre that way here, and a powerpoint is where you plug in your laptop charger. An outlet is a cheap chain store warehouse – just saying. ..
Ha! One of those I knew. The rest is welcome information.
Oh and thongs go on your feet – that’s also quite a useful bit of info
That is certainly a relief to Mr. Happy. He was worried for a moment.
I’ve been blogging in one form of another for years too, I think it was December 2001 I opened a livejournal account and I was there for about 9 or 10 years before I tired of the format and deleted the account. I’d dabbled in wordpress before but could never really get a handle on its features so never really got into it, until recently.
What you say about going out and finding people is 100% on the money and that is something I am actively doing now, and I have found some great blogs (yours included) and I have gained a few followers.
I am still a doubter with regards my own blog and writing style, in the past my posts have been… well depressing and woe is me, and there will be some of that on my blog but no -where near as much as the livejournal account, where my doubt lies now is writing style, I like the humour in your writing, that is one of the appeals to me, its not over the top humour which gets tiring, it is just the right amount, imo.
Thank you! My style used to be more angry and involved many rants, but as I came to follow new bloggers I really liked what they did with humor so my style gradually changed and now my site has evolved into more of a humor site more than anything else.
If you want, check out http://clownonfire.wordpress.com and http://thecheekydiva.com/ . Those are the two sites that influenced me the most and inspired me to change me writing style and tailer it more to humor. I found that reading humor is much more fun than reading angry, bitching posts about…whatever is upsetting me at the moment.
Thanks, Ill check those two blogs out as soon as I can. I agree, whilst the angry post has a place it should be rare, a funny post or even a serious post with humour is much better (coming from a person who posted a rather depressing post lmao).
Yeah, I have done my fair share of sappy this week, but sometimes that’s a good thing. It can’t always be fun and games, sadly.
I’m happy to be considered a friend. Thank you. Blogging communities are good for that..it’s nice to know there are other people out there like us. Great post!
Dearest La La,
Yes, I consider you a friend. If I didn’t I surely wouldn’t bitch to you about my problems.
Same here, brother. Same here.
Good!
Well done, TwinDaddy. Thanks for the shoutout and thanks for being my bloggin’ buddy. It is a wonderful thing when two faceless souls can become friends!
It is! Who knew you could find so many wonderful people just by blogging?
Very well said, and thank you for the kind words. Blogging really is about developing relationships and true friendships and I am glad to consider you one of my friends!
Likewise!
Twindaddy, I too, count you amongst my friends ~ and I’m jealous at the amount of content that flows from your brain to your keyboard! Keep writing ~
This is actually quite unusual. I used to sit around banging my head against my monitor frantically searching for something to write. At the moment it’s all coming to me quite easily. I hope it stays that way.
How are you? Are things going okay?
We’re getting back to normal. My FIL is out of the hospital and then me, my husband and son all got sick again…me & my son have been home for a week and I’m getting seriously crazy. I’ve got to get caught up on all the stuff I’ve just let lag and then I hope to be back into the blogging world.
You hit the nail on the head when you noted that it’s about the involvement not just the writing. I’ve got to find my balance for that –
So how’s it in your world? Did you move yet?
I moved a couple of weeks ago, we’re all settled in. My wifey started a new job this past Monday and she’s been fully released by her doctor, so things are finally coming together.
Sorry to hear about all the sickness. Take care of your self and come back when you’re ready, but hurry up!! Haha. I miss you!!
I miss you all too ~ I’ve been reading here and there.
Yeah for WORKING – I hope the job works out for your wife and YEAH for a full doc’s release. Helps with the stress factor.
Regarding the amount of stuff in the brain – I do have a lot in there; but I don’t always feel like I can write it in my blog b/c I’m not anonymous and I know some of what I want to write about and/or is troubling me would/could create problems with friends and whatnot. So some of what I want to write about I cannot, and some of what I think to write about, I find to be too trite or has been said ‘more betterly’ by someone else. It’s a conundrum at times what to put out an what to hold in.
Well, I wouldn’t let any of that stop you. Writing can be theraputic. At least, for me it is. You could always create an anonymous WP account and post on another blog, or even mine (hint, hint). And just because something has been said before doesn’t mean it doesn’t bear saying again. Especially by somebody as talented as you are.
That’s my two (large) cents, anyhow.
It is – I’ve divulged (to me) some very personal things – and those posts I would not put on FB for people to read but I don’t mind others that follow me reading it b/c they probably don’t know me in real life (and my Mom reads my blog – which can be awkward).
Really, I could write about something and post it on your space?
Absolutely! You are certainly welcome to post there any time you like. I would love to have you over.
Why thank you – maybe I’ll try to work on something this weekend. This could be interesting.
I’m sure it will be. I’ll send you an invite.
Can it be a singing telegram invite? I’ve always wanted one of those….
Um, I can put some lyrics in the email, but I can’t promise you’ll hear the melodious sound of my dashing singing voice.
Come on, push the boundaries!
Oh, I do. But in this case I’m not sure I can do it all in one email.
I can accept that
Whew.
Thank you on so many levels. So glad I found your blog.
I am, too! When’s your next post coming, dammit?? Lol.
Twindaddy,
Thanks for guest blogging on Steph’s blog, she’s good people, and I like where she is going with her blog. You should know though, TD, that I only like you because you are pretty, and not because of the shout out.
Le Clown
Le Clown,
It’s the armor, right? Clowns love the armor.
Twindaddy
TD,
Clowns like shiny stuff indeed.
Le Clown
Le Clown,
I’ll keep waxing it then.
Twindaddy
This was great, Twindaddy! We love you! And cheers to you for jumping on the guest blogging bandwagon, Steph. I’m so excited to be doing a few guest posts myself this weekend…and I think I’m going to throw a few invites out there myself!
Woohoo!!!
Vey uplifiting tale, my friend! Keep building those lifesaving realtionships, you hear?
I plan to!!
Blogging has been an extreme pleasure. I switched over to WordPress from my own self hosted website and I love the sense of community here. To me blogging is so much better than Twitter, Facebook, and every other social network platform. It feels very personal and in many respects I get to know and understand other bloggers far better than I get to know people through any other medium.
Agreed. It seems people are more willing to share here. I know I am.
It is quite the nice little community here, isn’t it? As I said in my very first post, I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into when I started blogging in August of last year, but I definitely wasn’t expecting to find so many fascinating people, so many wonderful writers, and creative artists, and just generally lovely people. I feel like I’ve already started to develop some of that friendship aspect your talking about – and that, in a way, is every bit as exciting as getting to share my stories and silliness with my faithful readers.
It really is a pretty indescribable feeling, isn’t it?
Yes, exactly. An unexpected bonus. Not only do I get to use this outlet for the random thoughts of my mind, but I get to meet and interact with some amazing people. I mean, where else would I get to meet a storm trooper?
Alder….oh…nevermind.
Hah!
Sounds like a quality blogging experience!
I concur!! Like a doctor.
This is a wonderful post, Twindaddy. As a new blogger it’s encouraging to read of the path you’ve taken. I think Stuphblog is becoming a really creative hub- I’m reading some incredibly varied, cool posts here, and yet it all fits together beautifully.
We’re a melting pot, but a fun one. Thanks!!
We all need a community to help us along. Glad you have found yours.
Thank you!
My favorite thing about blogging is the friends that I am making on this journey. It’s truly amazing to know that there are SO MANY other people out that get you in a way that you never thought possible. People like you and even stranger, people completely different from you who just…get it. Happy blogging!
Thanks, Quirky!!
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I didn’t know that you’ve been blogging for six years. WOW! Wish I’d found you sooner. Either way, I’m glad we met when we did. You are the best, awesomest, amazingest (this is a word now), man (sexy stormtrooper). Lots of non-naked hugs.
And now some naked ones
Naked Blog Goddess, you always make me smile.
“A community, a circle of friends, a way of life”.
Well said TD, thanks for including me in that circle. Now I know why you write like such a seasoned blogger, because you are one! Steph, you couldn’t have found a better first guest-blogger; great combination!
Red
Thanks, Red!!
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I knew you were in love with me.
Haha! I wish I weren’t so transparent.
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Great post Twindaddy. I’m still new to blogging but I can relate to a lot of what you are saying about the community aspects. I started my blog because “every writer needs a blog”, I started it to support my books, but it’s really taken on a life of it’s own, I’ve met and become friends with so many cool people
Thanks for sharing your story!
Rohan.
Mine, too, has taken on a life of it’s own and I’ve just kinda gone with the flow. It’s been a fun ride.
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