Remember that Knock-Knock joke?
Knock-knock,
Who is there?
Orange.
Orange who?
Orange you glad it’s not banana?
I haven’t been blogging for long, only several months. I started blogging in response to all the recommendations I had received regarding developing my ‘author platform’. Every time I hear that term, I imagine building a raised deck out in my backyard, somewhere to worship to the literary success gods. I know that isn’t what they are really talking about, but I like the idea of a raised platform, a kind of a look-out tower for potential book buyers. Maybe when I see a book-buyer, while up in my platform, I could pop them with a tranquilizer gun, hack their Amazon account on their phone (which invariably will be on their person somewhere), and order a book for them – that’s one way of doing a platform.
When I began blogging, it was really, really nerve-wracking. Instantly publishing my blatherings to the internet, for anyone to look at and read, made me so nervous. At first, writing a post once a week, seemed like such a major undertaking, coming up with something pithy. The comments I received were encouraging, thoughtful and supportive and I pressed on.
I went on Twitter and started an account as well, but honestly I don’t really get Twitter. A majority of the things twitted or tweeted seem like half-thoughts, I don’t understand them. It’s almost like coming into a disjointed conversation half-way through. ‘What does it all mean?’ I say to myself. I still don’t have an answer.
The blogging thing though, makes total sense to me. I post stuff, if people like it, they ‘Like’ it. If they have something even cleverer to say, which they usually do, they leave a comment. How cool is that? Then a really interesting started to happen. I was happy to see comments from people. Their comments made me chuckle, they added something to my little post and I became enchanted with the Blogging Universe. It’s a huge universe with unbelievably interesting people from all over the world.
I have become involved in commenting marathons, which have veered off onto tangents which have absolutely nothing to do with the original post. I have looked at photos of gardens from around the world, listened and commiserated with people telling of their bad days. I have read tips on writing, on self-publishing and all aspects of being an author. I have enjoyed posts on opinions, lists, memories and brilliant poetry. I have admired adorable pet photos and read the incredible things bloggers’ children are doing and saying. I know there is so much more out there to learn, to read, to enjoy and admire.
Now, I am doing the A to Z Challenge, and I haven’t missed a letter yet. I am on the downhill slope, tomorrow is ‘P’. The posts are getting a little harder to come up with, but doing this seems to have been an exercise in expanding the creative process. My husband says ‘Orange you glad’ is stretching a bit, but I think it is funny and silly and kind of stupid, and it cracks me up!!!! You are probably thinking – it’s funny if you’re a five-year old.
Thanks to Wikipedia for the photo.