So, it seems that following on the heels of all of blogdom's My Top Posts of 2009 and My Goals for 2010 posts, we are all getting a little heads-up on amazing bloggers to watch in the coming year. (My Google Reader is crying out for mercy as we speak!)
First, Jade Craven compiled this list for ProBlogger, and yesterday Sherri of Serene Journey followed up with her own list of 30 (hi sweet friends Rachel, Mandi, and Jamie AND fellow Simple Mom columnist Lisa! I'm so proud of you ladies!).
Anyway, since the beginning of the month, I've been thinking back on my four years at SortaCrunchy, and I've been wanting to tell you about the women who were mentors and role models to me as I began this journey. None of these will be a surprise to you - all three are all well-known, widely-read writers who have been blogging for much longer than I have been. But each of them (most likely unknowingly) had a profound impact on shaping who I wanted to be in my own space here.
1. Michelle Mitton: Scribbit
Michelle was the first "big-time" blogger I read, back before I even knew there was such a thing as a Big-Timer. She was always (and is to this day!) completely approachable. I used to email her to ask her technical/logistical questions, and she never failed to respond with a friendly and helpful answer.
From Michelle I learned two things:
a) Consider your blog your mini-magazine. How can you meet your readers' needs in what you publish? How can you create a blogging schedule that readers can look forward to and depend on? Now clearly, my blogging schedule is nothing like Michelle's, but she was the first blogger who took the time to teach and mentor fledglings in how to make a blog readable. I consider her standards to be the gold standard.
b) The power of comment response! Most recently it was AllisonO who made a little fuss over my comment response practices (and again - I don't always get around to it!), but others have mentioned it to me before. I learned directly from Michelle how meaningful it is to readers when a writer takes just a moment to send a response - even one sentence - acknowledging the time and effort it took to leave a comment. If you've ever appreciated anything I've said in response to a comment from you, you can thank Michelle!
2. Gretchen: Lifenut
Oh, my lovely, lovely friend Gretchen. I love her so. Gretchen is an incredible mama to seven gorgeous children who provide her with much to write about, and she is also mama to four souls who were born directly into the hands of the Lord.
The first thing I ever read from Gretchen was back in the summer of 2007 in the midst of her third pregnancy loss. I was captivated and heartbroken by the way she described the beginnings of this loss in In Media Res, and then she wrote in In the room, while I waited:
Well, then. My final act as your mother. I really wish I was checking the box denoting my preference for morning or afternoon kindergarten. I wish I was giving you permission to go to the museum on the school bus, and yes (check!) I would like to volunteer to chaperone. I’d love to go along on something like that, to watch your face and shoo you and your friends away from the drinking fountain because there is still so much to see.
It’s just not here.
Oh. I'm in tears all over again reading. I've been reading faithfully ever since because Gretchen is gifted, y'all. Gifted. Her way with words ignites firecrackers of delight within me. That woman can turn a phrase like no one else. And - and! - she has a lovely vision for photography (check out more on Snap Cake - her photo blog).
What I've learned from Gretchen:
a) It's okay to be raw. She writes with such transparency and vulnerability and courage. About the pregnancy losses, sure. But about other things, too. It's a lovely and admirable thing to communicate your thoughts in a way that is unvarnished truth while at the same time delicately and perfectly crafted prose. She never misses the mark here.
b) Be bold. Some time ago, Gretchen wrote an article for Mile High Mamas on blogging. Her advice to fellow bloggers was simple - be bold. That word of wisdom settled down inside me and took root. Those two words inspired me to express my opinions on Babywise, to reveal to you the dream my friend Laura and I share, and even to let you in on our family planning practices.
There's something very liberating about taking that advice to heart. When I wonder, "should I really write this?" I remember be bold. And then (for better or worse), I hit publish.
Everyone knows Stephanie. She's an extrovert after my own heart. She contributes so much to the blogging community. She is generous, funny, and profound. She has tons of loyal readers and she still takes time to do comment response and to stop by and comment on the blogs of her readers. We share a common passion for natural living, and she has take the time to create the babywearing blogroll which is a simple way to connect with other like-minded mamas in the vastness of the blogging world.
The number one thing I've learned from Stephanie is this: you are not defined by your blog, or your blog's title. Eventually even precious baby Ivy will be too big to be worn in a baby carrier, but I don't forsee Stephanie shutting down Adventures in Babywearing when that day comes. And before Ivy was born, she had already found a wonderful balance between sharing about a topic about which she is passionate and sharing her heart and what her days look like in everyday time.
That inspires me and gives me hope that even if I up and go completely soggy on all of you, I can lean heavily on the sorta and lots of grace from you all and everything will probably work out just fine.
* * * * *
To these ladies I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude. Thank you for being exactly who you are.
To all of you - unspeakable gratitude for joining me here. I look forward to diving into your questions soon! I hope your day is gorgeous, wherever you are.
