Talking about my 4th blog anniversary, my followers (pros and cons), the negative aspects of my personality and what blogging had done for me as a writer.
Sorry your homeschooling experience was socially lacking. I was involved in a lot of good social activities like sports when I was being homeschooled, but now I know what you mean about feeling removed from your peers, because I'm not in college, and everyone else my age is! I'm surprised that even makes a difference, but it does. It's weird.
And internet friends are very different, because in some ways it's less personal, but in other ways I find it's actually more personal. Like, I find it much easier to express my thoughts and even to be more open and honest through writing my communications too.
Congrats on your 4th year of blogging Ivy! I've been blogging for 3 years now and I totally agree that it has affected my writing so positively over the years. :D
Activities outside of the homeschooling sphere has done a lot of good, but there was never much of an opportunity for me to do that. I'm glad you were able to find some though!
Thanks! I might have something bigger planned for next year...I don't know, but I do know that I will still be blogging : )
Congrats of the blogoversary! My blog turned four six months ago too! <3
I can really relate to your experience of not having a peer group growing up who was excepting. I grew up around a lot of homeschoolers, but they were allowed to watch Pixar and Disney and do a lot of things my sister and I were not allowed to do or watch (we never had sleepovers, we weren't allowed to listen to Adventures in Odyssey, we didn't go to Sunday School--my parents were incredibly protective and strict, so we basically had nothing to relate to when it came to other children,) and I became very hard and defense as a teenager. I'm only now--about to turn 21--really learning how to be my extroverted self again and find friends and become normal. So I can really relate to how you feel in that regard.
As to getting blog followers, I've found the best way to get followers is to be a vigilant follower/commenter yourself. Every six months orso I take the time to find blogs that are beautiful and relatable and run by a girl who seems like minded and I start commenting on the posts I love by them. Out of five new blogs I might follow, at least three of the girls might at least comment back on my blog, while one to two become steady mutual followers. So, I've always believed in finding my own followers and being a semi-consistant follower. I don't know if you've ever tried this, but that's my trick for gaining a readership. XD
Thank you so much! I should have a big 5 year anniversary post next year or just put everything in another vlog.
It's great having other people understand the frustration of not having a peer group that you can relate to! My parents weren't as strict as yours, but they were neck deep into the homeschooling lifestyle for a long time. I wasn't allowed to watch a lot of shows on Disney Channel (my mom thought it was detrimental to my already shoddy attitude), but when they realized that Disney Channel wasn't Satan's Network entirely and there was some good content on there (Lizzie McGuire and Even Stevens!!), they loosened up and things actually got better for me, because I was allowed to engage in a regular non-homeschooling activity.
Good advice for getting followers : ) Yet, I'm the type of person where I don't want to 'get followers,' I want people to find and follow me. Make sense? If I find a site that I like, I follow them, no hesitation. I followed you for months before you probably even knew who I was and if people don't follow back, that's fine.
Sorry your homeschooling experience was socially lacking. I was involved in a lot of good social activities like sports when I was being homeschooled, but now I know what you mean about feeling removed from your peers, because I'm not in college, and everyone else my age is! I'm surprised that even makes a difference, but it does. It's weird.
ReplyDeleteAnd internet friends are very different, because in some ways it's less personal, but in other ways I find it's actually more personal. Like, I find it much easier to express my thoughts and even to be more open and honest through writing my communications too.
Congrats on your 4th year of blogging Ivy! I've been blogging for 3 years now and I totally agree that it has affected my writing so positively over the years. :D
Activities outside of the homeschooling sphere has done a lot of good, but there was never much of an opportunity for me to do that. I'm glad you were able to find some though!
DeleteThanks! I might have something bigger planned for next year...I don't know, but I do know that I will still be blogging : )
Congrats of the blogoversary! My blog turned four six months ago too! <3
ReplyDeleteI can really relate to your experience of not having a peer group growing up who was excepting. I grew up around a lot of homeschoolers, but they were allowed to watch Pixar and Disney and do a lot of things my sister and I were not allowed to do or watch (we never had sleepovers, we weren't allowed to listen to Adventures in Odyssey, we didn't go to Sunday School--my parents were incredibly protective and strict, so we basically had nothing to relate to when it came to other children,) and I became very hard and defense as a teenager. I'm only now--about to turn 21--really learning how to be my extroverted self again and find friends and become normal. So I can really relate to how you feel in that regard.
As to getting blog followers, I've found the best way to get followers is to be a vigilant follower/commenter yourself. Every six months orso I take the time to find blogs that are beautiful and relatable and run by a girl who seems like minded and I start commenting on the posts I love by them. Out of five new blogs I might follow, at least three of the girls might at least comment back on my blog, while one to two become steady mutual followers. So, I've always believed in finding my own followers and being a semi-consistant follower. I don't know if you've ever tried this, but that's my trick for gaining a readership. XD
~Jamie
Thank you so much! I should have a big 5 year anniversary post next year or just put everything in another vlog.
DeleteIt's great having other people understand the frustration of not having a peer group that you can relate to! My parents weren't as strict as yours, but they were neck deep into the homeschooling lifestyle for a long time. I wasn't allowed to watch a lot of shows on Disney Channel (my mom thought it was detrimental to my already shoddy attitude), but when they realized that Disney Channel wasn't Satan's Network entirely and there was some good content on there (Lizzie McGuire and Even Stevens!!), they loosened up and things actually got better for me, because I was allowed to engage in a regular non-homeschooling activity.
Good advice for getting followers : ) Yet, I'm the type of person where I don't want to 'get followers,' I want people to find and follow me. Make sense? If I find a site that I like, I follow them, no hesitation. I followed you for months before you probably even knew who I was and if people don't follow back, that's fine.