I began going blog wild with Life by Chocolate on 3/5/09. Warmhearted thanks to all of my bloggy friends throughout the world for your cheer and support, for enjoying my posts or keeping quiet if you didn't. You've helped teach me some very important life lessons. Here's just some of the things I've learned over the past year in the blogosphere:
1) Size matters. {It’s annoying as hell to try to read small font.}
2) Substance matters most of all.
3) Creative endeavors don’t pay the rent.
4) One nice comment goes a long way to lifting one's spirits.
5) You can throw rudeness into the garbage, and it's not recyclable.
6) You can attract a following without giving away brownies and Bibles at the airport.
(Thank goodness! I could never give brownies away.)
7) There are some very cool, talented people all over the world. That’s you.
8) There are forms of chocolate called curly wurlys and twiglets. That's what I'm told, anyway. I'm still awaiting the proof, Uber Grumpy, my friend.
9) A snog is a kiss.
10) A prat is a fool.
11) Those English are much better with English than we are. (See 9 and 10 above.)
12) Thus, I've deduced that ‘Tis better to snog a prat than be pratted by a snog. Maybe.
13) Actually, ‘Tis better to never have been snogged by a prat or pratted by a snog.
14) Nah, snogging's all good, even with prats. Sometimes. Maybe.
15) No matter what, Life by Chocolate strives to make it all better!
16) You fill this one in with a valuable lesson you've learned in the blogosphere.
My dear friend Sarah (Writer in the Making) tagged me to answer where I'll be in 10 years. My answer: blogging, publishing, blogging some more, and eating lots of chocolate served to me by a gorgeous man or two. The setting is a small, glorious island that I own, or at least dropped by for a day trip. (Note: I could be talking about Alcatraz, but that's not the point. There really isn't one, except please keep following. I appreciate it.)
Chocolate kisses,
Rawkn Robyn
I know I've only been following a short time, but I've enjoyed it. Congratulations on the milestone.
ReplyDeleteI'm with TS, I'm a bit of a newbie, but congrats!
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, I too have learned so much since I began blogging. The only thing I already knew were the British terms and that's only because I love Brit pop and read many interviews with Brit bands growing up. :)
Best of luck to you as you enter into a new year of blogging. Here's to many more milestones to come.
Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing
it's a lot of hard work at least on the brain part, but how true we do this for love (#3). great effort to reach one year and lots more to come!
ReplyDeleteAh, I see what you added. Hmm...
ReplyDeleteI guess one thing I've learned in my time blogging is to do what you want and not worry what others think. It generally produces better results for it.
Also that I love captcha. The word it gave me was "Maniter" which out loud sounds like a Ukrainian version of an 80's pop song.
I've learnt that blogging sets me free! I love writing and I love having readers. I also like reading what others have written.
ReplyDelete#16 That if I had not taken the time to browse the Blogosphere...I would never have found YOU.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anni!
Mazel tov on reaching this milestone!!!!!! What a great list you have! It is soooo true about the kind remarks from readers. Love them! Yes, you are right you will get a following, a true following without begging, gimmicks and brownies...brownies doyou have any brownies? I'd love one!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!!!!! You are awesome!!
ReplyDeleteI've learned that you can actually feel like you know someone and experience snippets of their life just by how they put words together and the stories they tell. Your blog is like that. I read it and think: I wish she was my family! It's a blessing and a gift!!!
Congratulations! I wish you many more blog years.
ReplyDeleteMy baking inspiration mainly comes from the blogosphere. And I have learned that you can't please all of the people all of the time, just like in real life :)
Happy Blogoversary Ms Robyn ♥
ReplyDeleteHere's a Brownie with a Snog from this Prat!
16) Hitting someones "Follow" button is like having unprotected sex... you never know if your going to get a.. "follower" from "doing it" =)
I just LOVE "following" :) ...I'm just saying :D
(((H)))
Aion
Aion, your comments take the cake. I mean brownie. Thank you! Great point for #16! Plus you really don't know if it's going to be worth it. A brownie (well, a corner of one. I can't give up a whole brownie, even for you) and snog back to you!
ReplyDeleteGood points, DDG. Thanks.
IS How true that is! Very well stated. I was thinking of your post about your daughters yesterday. It was like we were all together, and I was in LMAO mode with you. Wish I was your family too. Hugs to you.
Lisa Marie, a smidgen of a brownie to you. Sorry, I already gave Aion a corner, and giving up more of any form of chocolate is something I don't do well. Not well at all. Big hugs and thanks for your comments, though.
Thanks Blase. You're a good one! xo
Ca88, so true. That's why we're all here. Thanks.
TS, thanks. You just gave me a new word with it's definition. I don't know either, so I'll go with the Ukranian version of an 80's pop song. Sounds, ah, interesting.
Thanks Sarah and Ally. I ALWAYS enjoy your writing.
Chocolate snogs,
Robyn
First off congrats!
ReplyDeleteThe biggest lesson I've learned is that it's not about the number of followers. You can have 500 followers who never leave a comment, or 10 who leave them every day, and those 10 make it all worthwhile.
#16 My efforts at blogging are about as productive as my efforts at golf.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I have made a lot more friends blogging.
BTW - Some of my best friends are Brits. They tell me that snogging is just a little bit more than a kiss... like maybe even rounding first base on the way to second?
Happy Blogoversery!!!
Happy blogoversary. So much s-innuendo on this post I don't know where to start. Snogguliscious!
ReplyDeleteOh, you couldn't have been more spot on with #4! A comment means so much more than any non-blogger could ever think it does!! Congrats Robyn, and I hope that you'll be celebrating many many blogoversaries in years to come!(and eating lots and lots of chocolate served by 2 HOT MEN..ahem, got carried away there ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary Robyn! As your newest follower it's clear to me that it was the best decision I've made all year! You are awesome and I love your style! Great points you got up there but I got one more. #16 Write because you love writing and want to share your thoughts and stories, not because you feel obligated to post something. People can always tell if your heart is in what you posted or if you were just mailing one in. Great job! Thanks again for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteCongrats and many more (pretty please!)
:)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! Nice job, and keep it coming - I love your happy blog.
Right, challenge on. Tell me where to send 'em and I'll post some Curly-wurlys and Twiglets.
Although I have to confess Twiglets aren't chocolate; they're a savoury snack that taste of Marmite. And if you don't know what Marmite is see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlsBem2JOl0
You have been warned...
I think Realization #3 is the one I've learned most clearly. I hate to say it, but sometimes blogging can be in the pain in the ass as it gets in the way of your life, and distracts you from your work and your family time and your friends. And it really does not pay the rent.
ReplyDeleteUnless you make it into a book, I guess...
Congratulations and happy anniversary! Hope the dream of blogging for ten more years does happen for you!
Michael.
uTube & iShare
Kristy, it is about quality vs quantity. Thanks for the reminder, as I was beginning to plan a trip to the airport.
ReplyDeleteIT, sounds like a snog is a kiss with benefits. Those Brits seem to do everything right.
Snoggulicious back to you, Copyboy.
Thanks for getting carried away with me, Sarah. Perhaps I'll shoot for 4 gorgeous men. You know, for the 2 of us.
Togoette, thanks for the wonderful sentiment.
Uber, I don't suppose I'd enjoy eating marmite nearly as much as chocolate. Sorry I lied in #2, all.
Send any links through the email on my profile page. Thanks for always cheering me on, too.
Michael, great to see you! Thanks for dropping by and for your support. Yes, it does take persistent doses of time and energy to maintain a blog. We've gotta see it as a labor of love.
Chocolate snogs,
Robyn