April 3, 2007 12:43 AM
Mommy Blogs
Remember the article I was supposed to do for the Christian Science Monitor? It’s in today’s edition: Moms help moms through blogs.
To those of you who sent me such great comments, thank you so much. I was limited to 800 words and could actually include very little. But I appreciate everything you wrote and will save it for the future – who knows when I will write on this again?
To those of you visiting from CSM, welcome – and just in case this blogging thing is new to you, I will show you around my site:
A blog is different from a website in the same way a movie is different from a photo. A blogger can write on her blog whenever the spirit moves her. The most recent entries appear on the main page and past entries are archived in two ways – by date and by category. If you want to see everything I wrote in January 2006, click on Archives above. If you want to see everything I’ve written on preschoolers, click on Categories.
You can also use my personal Google in the right sidebar to search for specific topics. And you can click on blogroll at the top to see all the blogs that link to me – clicking on them will take you to a slew of MommyBlogs, each one unique in format, style, content, and tone.
There is a wealth of information here – over 1600 articles and 6400 comments. Obviously, I’m a devoted Mommy Blogger.
I began MommyLife in January 2005 as a way of connecting more intimately with my readers. I had several books in print and had published 700 articles. But I was tired of waiting a year or two for the process of getting my ideas through the contracting, writing and publishing process and into the hands of readers. Ditto articles which could take weeks or months to make it into print. And all with little chance of feedback from readers.
I found what I was looking for and more! How empowering for a writer to be able to respond on a dime to news events – without waiting for even an op-ed editor to say yes and fit something in (with all due respect to Josh Burek, opinion page editor at CSM who gave the green light in response to my query about today’s Mommy blog piece – thanks, Josh!) And how fulfilling for a communicator to know that at any hour day or night there are at least a dozen – and sometimes many, many more reading at MommyLife!
Then there’s the stimulation factor which comes from readers’ comments and questions.
Oh, and by the way, I have I said yet that I love blogging? Although I’ve published two books since I began MommyLife – with two more due out in June – if I had to choose between books and blogging, I’d choose blogging any day.
Please feel free to leave comments or questions or just a hello from wherever you are. It might take a little while for your comment to show up as I am flying home today from a writers conference in California to my mommy-deprived family in Virginia.
Thanks for visiting. And if I were just a little bit more southern, I’d say Y’all come back soon!
Posted in Blogging | Permalink
Comments
That was a great article, Barbara!
Posted by: Mel | April 3, 2007 12:57 AM
Well written! And thank you, Barbara, for your daily contributions to my blogging life!
Posted by: Lisa | April 3, 2007 8:42 AM
Tee hee! I liked the article for obvious reasons! What a riot to be in it! I also liked the quote about "over the fence" as I think that hits the nail on the head for us SAHM's. Thanks Barbara, keep writing, I'll keep reading and buying your books!
Posted by: Imajackson | April 3, 2007 1:01 PM
I loved the last line! Very clever.
Posted by: Becky Miller | April 3, 2007 1:44 PM
I work for a good news website and found your article in the Christian Science Monitor. I work at home, don't watch TV and of course spent a lot of time on the internet. And I have made some friends almost to my surprise. Nice article.
Posted by: Ruth | April 3, 2007 4:47 PM
I just found your blog from your article in CSM. I can't wait to explore your site. Finding a new mommy blogger is one of the high lights of my day.
Congratulations on your success. I look forward to getting to know you better.
Posted by: Katherine | April 3, 2007 6:01 PM
Hello from Ottawa, Canada. :)
I too came via the article in CSM. I think you nailed a lot of good points. Funny,I hesitate to call myself a mommy blogger and lump myself into that particular group. The mommy thing is only a part of what I do, and only a fraction (okay, sometimes a big fraction) of the things I write about.
Anyway, I wanted to say that the "backfence" metaphor is particularly apt. It defines blogging so well. And as a parent it's good to have that backfence available 24/7, even though it's only a virtual one.
Posted by: andrea from the fishbowl | April 4, 2007 11:17 AM
Barbara, I loved taking your classes, again, at Mount Hermon. Your tips on office organization hit home. I'm working this afternoon on getting stuff in order. And thanks for reminding me that I need to figure out why I write. Hmmm . . . working on that one. Have a blessed Easter. (I've never blogged before so I'm not sure if this will go anywhere when I hit the button. One can hope.) P.S. I'm the soup book gal.
Posted by: leslie | April 4, 2007 8:12 PM
There are so many blogs out there about mommies, for mommies and by mommies. I'm glad you are lending your voice.
Posted by: Ebony | September 13, 2007 3:49 PM
