I used to be embarrassed for people who talked about the “friends” they connected with on the internet. Because nobody makes real friends online.
What can I say? I was wrong.
I’m back home from Blissdom, where I had an amazing weekend connecting with 750 other bloggers.
I went to several sessions that were very good:
Jon Acuff‘s keynote to kick things off was pitch-perfect. (Plus, he gave us all copies of Quitter, which I’ve been dying to read!)
Jeff Goins’s session on Falling Back in Love with Writing was amazing. He challenged us all to write something “dangerous” and publish it. You can read my submission here.
Tsh encouraged me to blog “for the love of the game.”
But Blissdom isn’t just about the workshops. It’s about the relationships. With friends brought together by the internet.
I used to be a doubter, but now I’m a believer.
I had the privilege of rooming with Alison, Andrea, and Virginia, 3 incredible women that I’m now fortunate to know in real life. We met on twitter.
I rode down to Nashville with Hayley, and 3 hours each way was just not long enough to talk. We met through our blogs.
And I was blessed to meet the 3D versions of so many of you whom I’ve gotten to know through your blogs, or mine.
I didn’t come home from Blissdom with an 8-point guide to building a better blog. I don’t have a ton of actionable takeaways.
But I do know these relationships we’re building on the internet are real. These communities are valuable. This whole blogging thing is worthwhile, and I’m blessed to be a part of it.
Thanks for being a part of it, too.
If you haven’t ever left a comment before, would you take a few seconds to say a quick hello?
photo credit: Meagan White Photography
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Well I know that getting to meet you “IRL” as they say let me know that you are just as charming and pretty there as you are here on your site!
I came home with equal parts mush-brain and clarity. Some actionables but more than anything a sense that we each have to walk our own path in this blogging adventure.. pretty much like life!
Maddie
Same to you, Maddie–I’m so glad we got to meet!
hello – I’m Allison from NJ. I’m a pretty new subscriber – looking forward to getting to know you.
Some of my greatest friendships have started out through blogs or Twitter. We live in a very different age! I’m glad you had a good Blissdom experience and so happy we could meet. I’m looking forward to many more conversations in the future!
Yes, me too!
Good morning!! I’ve been reading your blog for about 3 months! I love it and am happy I stumbled upon it. A friend on FB shared one of your blogs & that’s how I found you!
I’m a pretty new subscriber as well. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorites so when I saw your blog title on another site, I just had to visit. I am glad I did. While I’ve been blogging since 2008 on my other sites, I have yet to attend a conference. Maybe some day…
Annie, thanks for reading. It’s great to have fellow P&P fans! I never thought I’d ever attend a blogging conference, but here I am writing about it. So maybe someday…
The 3D people – it’s huge. Hugging, meeting, listening to them – seeing the sparkle in their eyes and from that moment on being able to HEAR their voices as I read then – there’s nothing like it.
Yes, and I’m so glad I got to meet the 3D you
Hello! I came home and my husband asked if I’m going to be addicted to blogging now. I agree, so many take aways. People I’ve met. Things I’ve learned. However realistically I know I have such little time. Though we didn’t meet in Nashville, I look forward to following your blog.
Thanks, Ellen. I wish we had gotten to meet! 750 people is a nice size in some ways, but I’m sad that there were so many people I wanted to meet, and didn’t.
My husband still thinks they are all make believe, but in my heart I know they are what dreams are made of
Ha!
Hi, Anne! I think that I’ve commented before, but I’m not the world’s best commenter, so I thought I would say hello.
I started reading Quitter and couldn’t keep going, because it was challenging me to much to get off my rear and get going on living the life I want to live. Sad I know! Its a really great book though.
When Jon tweeted to turn to pages 82-85ish if we were doing a Monday morning reverse superman, I popped it open and had a hard time putting it back down! I’ll start it soon, and from the beginning
My DH laughs a bit when I talk about my Internet friends, but just because I haven’t physically met them does not make them less important!
And the irony of your picture and title are not lost today… Although, you could have been a Daydream Believer.
You’re right, and yet….I still want to meet the 3D you someday!
I’m not a new reader or commenter, but I have been rather lackluster in popping my head outside my Google Reader so far this year so I wanted to make sure and come say hi
I love the friends I’ve made online, so much that I’ve cut the phrase “real life” out of my vocabulary. I don’t have much interest (or any) in the professionalization of blogging (conferences, #s of followers, SEO, ads, all that jazz), but I am so grateful for the relationships it provides
I’m a new blogger, and I do feel like it is a bit strange when I hear people say that they make true friends online. I can’t wait to experience it though!
Congratulations on your blog! Wishing for some wonderful internet friends to come your way
How neat for you! I haven’t met anyone in real life from the blog world, but I FEEL like I know several people just from reading their blogs. This blog thing is definitely cool!
I learned this two years ago when I started to vlog with a tiny community. Since then, I’ve grown pretty close to a few of these bloggers/vloggers and love having them in my life. It’s amazing to me that these relationships were fostered online and have had great moments where everyone was 3D.
Yes, and that Totes Awesome group seems so tight-knit! I didn’t realize you all had met online.
It was so great to sit and chat with you at Blissdom. Thanks for being such an encouragement to me that day and online since that day. Blessings to you, Anne!
Kelli, that table was such a blessing. I’m so glad we connected–I’m looking forward to keeping up with you and your book and your Tanzania trip!
Perfect recap! I loved getting to know you…and am looking forward to next year!
I loved getting to know you, too! We’ll see about next year….
One reason I was sad to miss this year was meeting new blog friends.
Would have loved to have met you, Anne. Are you going to Allume Social?
I would love to meet you in person too! I’m thinking about Allume–are you going?
Happy I got to meet you at Blissdom.
It really was an affirmation to meet real live bloggers in person. I learned a lot.
PS I’m following you on facebook and twitter @TinaLaneBlogs.
I always forget if I’ve left a comment of not because I read posts in my feedly account on my phone but I come back to comment later if I like it. Sometimes, the two get confused.
Sorry for that brain frizzle.
I agree, it’s all about the relationships IRL that you make and I was skeptical as well but I met really great people. You included.
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