Monday, January 7, 2019

The Little Blog

Once upon a time there was a tiny, Little Blog. With it's mini, 22 line posts, the Little Blog was a virtual nobody in the vast world wide web filled with hundreds of voices. Still, the Little Blog felt important in it's obscure corner and delighted in any and all visitors who happened upon it's small space. The Little Blog's best-est thing of all, were the few and far between comments that some sweet visitors would leave. Every time those 22 line posts would go out, the Little Blog would wait breathlessly, hoping against hope that someone would take the time to enter their thoughts in the comment box.

Days and weeks and months went by. The Little Blog faithfully trotted out it's tiny posts and relished it's trickle of visitors. As time went by, the Little Blog settled comfortably into it's position, slowly but surely accumulating friends and acquaintances along the way.

Years passed, and the Little Blog grew up bit by bit. Gradually things changed for the tiny Little Blog.  Where there had once been 22 lines, there were now pictures and lengthy posts. Where once there was only stark simplicity, there were now blog headers and sidebars and subscribe buttons. In place of a trickle of visitors, there was now a nice little crowd. In the comments the Little Blog began to recognize the regulars, those that faithfully followed along who encouraged and strengthened the Little Blog.

Over time, the Little Blog gathered courage and expanded it's voice. Sometimes it provided space for a series of posts and there would be lengthy discussions and questions in the comment section. Other times the Little Blog became a place to promote someone's book with a review and a giveaway involved. These times were perhaps the Little Blog's favorite, when the visitors would drop by in a flood and the comments would stack up in an impressive pile. The Little Blog sometimes puzzled over this phenomenon. It would almost have appeared that the visitors only left comments in order to receive a prize, but the Little Blog didn't want to be so judgemental as to assume that.

The Little Blog took great pride in the faithfulness of it's work. Sometimes the words would slow and there were even a few spells of silence but always the steady stream of posts would reappear and the faithful little crowd of visitors along with them.

Then, one day the Little Blog was startled to realize that the words had slowed considerably. In fact, when the Little Blog took the time to take careful stock, it became apparent that the flow of blog posts in it's corner seemed to have stopped completely. What could have happened, the Little Blog wondered? Day after day, the Little Blog missed it's visitors more intensely. Some days there would be stirrings and the Little Blog would perk up expectantly, only to see the words that had been typed disappear abruptly with one flick of a button marked 'delete'. Other times there would be rows upon rows of words relegated to the position of 'draft', and there they would sit to waste their days away; the Little Blog really could not understand it at all.

Months passed and the Little Blog had all but resigned itself to it's fate. After all these years and all the growing it had done -- the friends it had made and the niche it had carved; it seemed a shame to the Little Blog, a real, crying shame.

And then, lo! One day out of the silence a post appeared. The Little Blog waited quietly, hardly daring to hope that these words would escape 'delete' and 'draft'. But patience prevailed and the words were sent out and the Little Blog breathed a long sigh of relief. The sight of the subject caused the Little Blog some bewilderment. Why anyone would choose to wax eloquent about a little old blog seemed a strange twist of reason to the simple Little Blog. Then again, if that was what it took to open the wells and restart the steady stream, the Little Blog would hardly take it upon itself to stand in the way. And with that, the Little Blog sat back expectantly to await the return of it's visitors and to relish the anticipation of at least a few comments.

28 comments:

  1. Bethany I always wait with expectation for your latest post. I must confess though the part in your post about people commenting only for a chance to win a prize I've been guilty of judging them. I guess because I often read comment left on others blogs and it's usually the same small group of people. People who I can tell have invested in the blog author's life. But when there's a giveaway all of a sudden, 60 comments from people who have never taken the time to comment. I know it's terrible to judge these people.
    Also your whole blog post makes me think that if blogs could express themselves like The Little Blog(☺) they would probably say the things you mentioned. I know I've often wondered why anyone would read my blog. I don't feel I have anything worthwhile to say yet I have a few faithful followers who encourage me.
    So I write when I can and I want to encourage you to keep writing.

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    1. You are one of those faithful, encouraging commenters!! ❤

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  2. Welcome back! I noticed your absence. :) I will enjoy reading your thoughts again.

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    1. Thank you! I'm not promising this will open the floodgates but I'm trying...

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  3. Hi!
    Here's a message just to say hello (from one who seldom, if ever leaves a public comment for the world to see). And just to say, please don't ever feel you need to justify or apologize for any periods of absence between posts. I get it. And so I'd imagine many others do too. I liken it to calling a good friend who you haven't talked to for a while. You can just call when the mood strikes you, and pick up right where you left off, even if you might not speak to her again for a while.

    Emily
    (I wonder if this comment will make it past being a draft? 😉)

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    1. I'm so glad your comment didn't stay a draft! ☺ I've been far too determined to not be that blogger who blogs sporadically because I don't enjoy those blogs as much.... thank you for giving me permission to just "call when the mood strikes" 😙

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  4. Hahaha! Welcome back, Little Blog! :)

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  5. I, for one, am glad that you're back. Yes, we're a military family in Hawaii, so our lifestyles are very different, but you're my one "blog friend" from our home state of Ohio. I enjoy reading anything that you write. Thank you for writing the little blog, and I must tell you that I did read and enjoy the book that you gave away by Dorcas Smucker. Thank you for all that you do:-) I hope you and your family have a blessed New Year!

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  6. I hardly ever comment but I'm always an eager reader. Love you!!

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  7. I am one of those silent readers, too. Although I usually do not comment, I have always enjoyed your posts and will be glad if you continue. H. L.

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  8. Welcome back Bethany! I much enjoyed reading about 'Life from the Perspective of a Blog' :).

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  9. Welcome back! I missed you!

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  10. I've been wondering where you are!☺

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  11. I'm always so glad to see your name in my inbox!!

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  12. Selfishly hoping that this will be the beginning of one of those great blog series that I look forward to each winter.

    Glad to have you back, Bethany.
    Gina

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    1. Brace yourself for a disappointment, I'm afraid! Unless you have some inspiring suggestion for me....

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  13. It's good to hear from you again, Bethany! Please keep writing!

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  14. OH Bethany! I am SO happy to see the little blog popped up again! I've checked for new posts almost every day since we have been back. And yes write when the mood strikes. Love the pictures you post and how is the little toy your son played with there for a while. Loved reading that post!:) Tina

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    1. And you, my dear, do not know how much your emails did for my heart! ❤

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  15. I’m another silent reader, without adding comments. Missed your letters. Appreciate the honesty you leave as an example to your readers.

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  16. Silent reader here most of the time as well!😊 but your posts have been encouraging to me many a time! Blessings as you continue to write n inspire us on here!!

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  17. And here's another.
    Could I share my perspective on non-commenters? I confess to feeling a frustration whenever a blogger puts a guilt trip on readers for not blogging. It's kinda like being told I shouldn't read books, because I am not an author. Why don't I comment more?
    1. I didn't realize, until more recently, that it was expected. I always treated blog posts more like magazine articles (something to read), than personal correspondence (requiring a reply).
    2. I am a busy homeschool mom of a big bunch. My online time is limited and I would rather spend it reading the select few blogs that I consider worthwhile than awkwardly typing out a comment that...
    3. I have a hard time expressing my thoughts about and really get nervous seeing published.
    4. A giveaway seems different because it only takes a few words...and it gets lost in the any other short comments, so no-one is really paying attention to what I say.

    So, please don't be discouraged by the lack of comments. You are one of those inspirations in this busy mom's life.

    And I will of course sign off anonymously ��

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    1. Thank you for sharing your perspective...and making me smile... 😁 I get what you're saying and I really didn't mean to be putting anyone on a guilt trip. I do find the interaction with readers to be one of the most fulfilling things about blogging so thanks for bravely coming out with your side of the story.

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  18. I do tend to comment more on a blog when the blogger responds back to comments.

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  19. :) Your friend, my blog, knows how you feel Little Blog. :D

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  20. Howdy! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog.
    Is it tough to set up your own blog? I'm not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick.
    I'm thinking about creating my own but I'm not sure where to start.
    Do you have any tips or suggestions? Appreciate it

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Two words about comments:
#1. If you leave a comment and it seems to disappear, that's because all comments go straight to my email and I publish them later.
#2. I know putting a comment out there for the world to see is scary but just know this -- if you leave a comment, you make my day!