Over a year ago I wrote a post called “Why I Blog.” The impetus for the piece was a rude comment left by a reader. The hateful words the man left behind on my site made me pause for a moment while I pondered why I would subject myself to this type of feedback. I concluded by stating I wrote in this medium because I love it. Over two years after starting Naked Girl in a Dress, I find blogging more rewarding than the first day I started this adventure.
In the last seven days I was reminded of another reason I love writing on a blog: the sense of community I feel as part of Studio30 Plus. It has brought about friendships, business partnerships, critique, laughter, inspiration, education, and more. I also feel a great deal of pride belonging to a group of quality writers.
There is often a great deal of laughter.
Eric opening his weekly email to all the members by describing working with an entire team of women like this:
<whispers> Pst! Hey! C’mere! <looks around conspiratorially> I need some help here. Have you seen the Studio30 Plus Staff Page lately? D’ya notice anything strange about it? Maybe play “One Of These Things Doesn’t Belong With The Others?” <lights a cigarette and takes a half step back into the shadows> I may have said too much already. Take a good look at the page, man. I’m surrounded by the Estrogen Brigade! <draws on cigarette, nervousness clearly increasing> Sure, they say I’m a good foil to it, but can I believe them? <grabs you by the collar, pulls you close and stares wildly into your eyes> You know how it is dealing with one! I’ve got eight! Eight! And that doesn’t count the one at home! <quickly looks to the right, cigarette dropping> My god, I knew this was a bad idea. They’re coming! <distant cries of “Cap’n?” can be heard> I’ve got to run!
There is often a great deal of support.
Days ago Eric, our incredibly talented co-leader, also wrote an honest, heartfelt goodbye to his readers. He stated he didn’t feel worthy and was choosing to quit. 63 supportive comments later, he will still have a presence writing on his site. The overwhelming love and support, much of it coming from our writing community, encouraged him to believe in himself again.
There is often a great deal of inspiration.
We are inspired to write by our weekly writing prompts (two offered each week), to share our writing in our Weekly Spotlight, and to be published to our Community Blog. Each person in our community motivates us to be better writers, but members also inspire us to be better parents, look for miracles, embrace the gift of life, love fearlessly, and more.
There are many benefits to being a part of Studio30 Plus.
It’s one more reason I blog.
*Today’s piece was inspired by the Studio30 Plus writing prompt this week: Why I Blog.
I commented on Lance’s blog just recently something very similar to this. I can write anywhere. I don’t need a blog to write. Just my fingers, laptop, paper, brain. That’s it. I blog because I enjoy the company. And I think I said something like, If I could invite a bunch of you guys over to hang out in my living room once a week to write and drink scotch, I wouldn’t need to blog. But now that I think about it, my social awkwardness would probably bore you all to tears. So, I shall blog. So I have an opportunity to carefully craft my thinks before I spew them into the air and scare everyone away. Although I am sure that is bound to happen anyway. Any moment now.
The community and connection with readers was an unexpected surprise for me. I didn’t realize all of the benefits of writing in this medium immediately, but as the connections to others has grown deeper over the years, so too has my love of blogging.
w00t! I get mentioned twice! *happy dance*
Happy dance in Storch castle!
Couldn’t have said it better, and I am overwhelmed by the support, the friendships, the inspiration. I love being able to come to Studio 30 on any given day and be totally blown away, inspired, entertained by the posts shared there. The new friends I’ve made… there are no words to encompass the value in all of you.
I could write essays, carefully shopped out to specific audiences for content. I blog to open my world up beyond the confines of pointed publication. Blogging doesn’t narrow the scope. It widens it to invite the world.
There was a specific moment when I realized the power of blogging. I had enjoyed the sense of accomplishment each time I hit publish and reading comments on my work. But this was that defining moment. I was feeling hopeless, drowning in sorrow. My readers unexpectedly threw me a life ring by flooding the comment section with hope-filled messages. It was a powerful realization of the love and support that existed.
I love being a part of that community. It gives me pause when very accomplished writers such as yourself and Eric give feedback and hope to us little guys.
It makes me a rock star in my head when I am asked to contribute.
It gives me a reason to interact with other writer’s when I don’t feel as accomplished as they are.
I am proud of what you and Eric have built. Thank you.
Thank you for such kind words. This means a lot to me.
Oh, and you are a rock star. 🙂
I can be SO socially awkward. Aimee, you have nothing to worry about. I mean, I’m not the friendless geek of my elementary and high school years. But I’m also strange to take to the movies. When Eric dubbed us the Estrogen Brigade I wanted to CRY I was so happy. That sense of belonging is beyond wonderful. Studio 30 Plus is a really wonderful site, and I honestly don’t see any other sites doing what we’re doing. There are blogging communities for women. There are blogging communities for writers. But noplace else is there a blogging community for bloggers, writer, mommies, nonmommies, daddies, nondaddies (boy does that sound dumb), witty, serious, come as you are people. Viva La Studio!!
Thanks for this comment Jessie. We love having you on the team! It is nice we are all-encompassing in the community with only love of writing tying us all together. Somehow it works.
For some very odd reason – the thought of writing my own “Why I blog” brings me to tears. I may or may not write my piece… hell I probably will do it. I loved how you reached out to other bloggers in your response – you answered in a true Studio 30+ leadership way.
Bravo à toi – toute une inspiration.
Thank you Marie! I wanted to shine a light on the community as a whole as well as individual members. The idea was to show the power each individual contributes to make up the community. I hope it worked in how I wrote this piece!
Thank you for the writing prompt idea!