Armchair BEA - Nurturing Relationships

Thursday, May 26, 2011


Design credit: Sarah of Puss Reboots

Today the good folks at Armchair BEA have started a discussion about nurturing relationships through book blogging. I hadn't planned on posting today, mostly because I'm avoiding writing a review for Starcrossed, but also because I am lazy. This topic really got me thinking, though.

For me, blogging is all about the relationships. Every day I get excited about scrolling through my Google Reader feed for the latest updates from my bloggy friends. I'm a few weeks away from hitting that 6 month mark, and already I can count a bunch of you faithful readers among my friends.

It's kind of amazing when you write a review and an author personally thanks you. It's super cool to send out a tweet and have people respond. It's even better when popular, established, and admired bloggers take you under their wing and pump you full of confidence. If I didn't have these relationships, and the promise of more of them, I wouldn't come back here to write everyday.

Relationships take work. They need to be cultivated. I'm really looking forward to the end of school so I can devote more time to getting to know my followers and all of the stupendous folks I follow. I realize that currently I am a big fat slacker when it comes to commenting, and I promise it will get better.

When you do make those connections, though, people can really surprise you. They lend you books they think you'd like, leave you comments that make your entire week, send you emails of support, thank you for your review, and sometimes even give you free stuff! Which means, of course, that you should do things like that in return. Relationships are a two-way street, and if you're not giving, you're not getting, or at least not for long.

I got a big "get" recently that I want to point out. Small Review did a post last week about how to add a signature to your blog, and because I love all things awkwardly Paint created, I squeed a bit over her example signature.

So you know what she did? SHE MADE ME ONE. And linked to it in her comment back to me.
Logan, It’s totally understandable that you’d covet it. :) But fear not, I’ve made you one now HERE. That blob on the left is a hat (with a feather) and the blob on the right is a magical wand. The dots are magical sparkles. Get ready for skyrocketing follower numbers and droves of onlookers.

(and, no, I don’t actually expect you to use it!)

Of course, not using it was so NOT an option. This is what comes from good relationship cultivation. People make you awesome things. So without further ado, I now debut the magical Small Review created signature just for me. It's okay. You can be jealous.

8 comments:

Missie, The Unread Reader said...

LOL!

Smalls cracks me up. Now I want a signature from her with my very own blob.

And you didn't really link me, did you? Gawd! You're awesome!

Unknown said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one that loves scrolling through my Google Reader. hahahahah I love the signature! So funny. Great post, thanks.

Here is my post on book blogging relationships!

Catherine Stine said...

Yes, I'm with you on this. I've been running around really busy, busy, busy the ast few days, and today I finally had time to post. I missed the blog community during my buzzing around, so I needed to check back in. Have a great holiday weekend!

Rubita said...

I feel the same way! I've loved getting to know people through blogging, and I'm awful about commenting, which is made even worse by the fact that I love getting them. I try to do things like set goals for myself: I'll leave five comments before I go to bed tonight, etc. So far it hasn't worked. Bad me!

Small Review said...

Oh Logan, my bosom friend! You are not under my wing, you are the wind beneath my wings (cue Bette Midler. Oh gosh, I'm a super nerd). I can't stop grinning. You are the awesomest!

Bex said...

Aw, great post. :) Love the signature!

My Nurturing Relationships post can be found here!

Rebecca @ kindle fever

Kimberly Sabatini said...

I love meeting new people and creating real relationships. You are at the top of my list. :o) Love the new signature!!!!

Aylee said...

Oh. My. Gosh. That signature. No words. Brilliant.

Post a Comment

I love to hear from my readers, so please don't hesitate to comment. Good or bad, inspired reflection or spontaneous babble - I love them all!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
 
Blog Design by Use Your Imagination Designs all images from the Poet's Keepsakes kit by Lorie Davison
Related Posts with Thumbnails