Much has been said about whether people we meet online are “real” friends, the differences between online friends and friends IRL (in real life), and what type of relationship we can have with people we’ve never met.
So I won’t get into a whole thing.
I will say blogging’s been a long and rocky road. In my travels, I’ve met quite a few people. Some great ones. Some grumpy ones. *shrugs* That’s life, online or otherwise.
Mostly, though, I’ve met truly amazing individuals and developed relationships. I have some acquaintances, some pals, and some fellow cheese-and-chocolate-loving friends. Dear friends. The fact we connected through blogging takes nothing from that feeling. You know the feeling. The one where things just click. That says, quite clearly, this is one of your tribe, lady. Break out the wine. Those friendships have moved out of the blogosphere. (They live in the suburbs.)
Before I found blog hops, writing prompts, photo prompts, tags, and the rest of the wonderful ways you connect with other bloggers, I just wrote and connected with my lovely bloggy friends fortuitously. Or because Mars was in retrograde. Who knows?
You’re supposed to have an “online presence”. More importantly, you’re supposed to have loads of followers. I don’t. And I’m good with that. Because I’m here. On Lemon Shark. Where I post about life, the universe, and everything. And Lemon Shark Reef, where my writer-of-flash-fiction side splashes around with words. So, yeah, I’m good.
I could list dozens of reasons I love blogging but the main reason is the friends I’ve made along the way.
Hate to type and run but this blog post is due today so off I go… Cheerio and good day, gentle readers.
I’ve known about The Insecure Writers Support Group for years. I joked I was too insecure to sign up. Also, the old Groucho Marx quip: I wouldn’t want to belong to any group that would have me as a member. Alas, here I am, writing a post for IWSG. (I simply couldn’t resist the question for this month about blogging and friendships.)
IWSG Question of the Month
February Prompt – Blogging is often more than just sharing stories. It’s often the start of special friendships and relationships. Have you made any friends through the blogosphere?
IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group)
This post is part of IWSG , a monthly blog hop/prompt started by Alex J Cavanaugh.
Welcome to the group! It warms my heart to see your post. I know you’ve been one of the gems I’ve found online, and I am thankful for it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you! Yup, I’ve officially joined. Seriously. How many years have I been threatening to do this? Well, here I am. And here you still are. ❤ You were one of the first people I met on here (2012? 2013?) and are officially in the suburbs. I'm so thankful for you, too, my friend.
LikeLike
Yes, writing can be lonely, so making blogging friends is the antidote!
LikeLiked by 2 people
A great antidote for sure, Luccia. And writing can definitely be a lonely business. Especially, I daresay, for introverts but for most writers, I think. So happy to have crossed paths with you early on. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree with everything you have said 💜
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Willow. Always leaving me a purple heart–and it makes me smile every time. ❤
LikeLike
Lol, your always welcome! WordPress safed my life about ten years ago, simply from the support and friendship I have gained from here. I have met some bloggers in person at the Bloggers Bash and they have proved to be the fantastic people they appeared to be. So stay safe and well and keep blogging. 💜💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is a lot of support in the blogosphere, for sure. Glad you were able to get that, lovely. Thanks and stay safe & well, too. ❤
LikeLike
OMG, yes! I actually made a friend (who became a reader) in England through blogging. And my husband and I met with him and one of his friends for coffee (or tea, depending on nationality 🙂 ), during a trip to London several years ago.
We’re both Doctor Who fans. I think that explains that. 🙂
Also, met a screenwriter and his wife while visiting L.A. Again, met through blogging. Really! 🙂
An amazing experience!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Right? It is amazing. The bonds you can form (not to sound cheesy) are truly incredible. I wouldn’t have thought it possible before I started blogging, to be honest.
So cool you got to meet up with blogging friends!
Thanks to the lovely Ruth and her Silver Screenings that we met. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would so love to meet Ruth! I enjoy her film reviews so much!
Maybe someday? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would be awesome. 🙂 We can lure her with a movie marathon and really good chocolate. ?
And, yeah, her reviews are witty, thought-provoking, and always entertaining.
LikeLike
I belong to this worldwide club too, and thank the stars for becoming a blogger!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh… I didn’t know that. I will head on over, lovely lady! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to meet you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome to IWSG! I have a feeling your friend circle is about to expand even further. It’s a great group. Yes, I certainly think we can make meaningful connections with people we might never meet IRL – the bloggers I know are some of the most supportive, intelligent, warmhearted people you could come across.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly, good sir. It seems like a great group. 🙂 Supportive, intelligent, warmhearted people = good people. I agree meaningful connections can be made without having met IRL. It’s odd, being old(ish) as I am, to have that opinion. I never would have thought that before blogging.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Books & Bonsai.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
absolutely. I had no idea when I started mine, that it would develop and provide a scavenger hunt of interesting people I like.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! A scavenger hunt of interesting people. That’s fun.
LikeLike
You don’t need a ton of followers. Just a core group that supports you no matter what.
Welcome to the IWSG!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly my feelings about followers and numbers. It’s never been a concern of mine because I do have that core, supportive group. It’s wonderful.
It took me a bit to finally do it, but I joined. Saw the prompt yesterday, signed up, quickly typed this, and posted. I guess that’s one way to do it. Thanks, Alex!
LikeLike
“I could list dozens of reasons I love blogging but the main reason is the friends I’ve made along the way.” Nice, Sarah.
I won’t be blogging at all if not for the friends. I’d be holed up in my cave. Lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear that, lady. Tucked away in my writer’s cave, scribbling in a notebook… Ah, the good old days B.C. (before computers).
Thank you, Diana, for being such a supportive, understanding, and caring friend. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
From one cave writer to another. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, the “online presence” thing. That is not why I started blogging, but it is why I’m on Facebook. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, yes. The dreaded online presence. Bah. Social media and I have a love/hate relationship. I should probably be on Facebook but…I just…I can’t. 😉
LikeLike
This is perfect – love the way you say this because I feel the same way. Happy blogging 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Barbara. 🙂 So grateful to have met you (and so early on in my blogging journey).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here, Sarah! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m totally with you on your reply. I just replied on another blogpost on this topic. I’m glad you said IRL in real life, as opposed to real life friends and online friends. My gawd, friends are friends no matter how we meet them. How many find their soulmates online. so why not good friendships? I can honestly say that other than my one best friend who had the audacity to move to the UK on me 23 years ago, yet we’re still inseperable, my closest and dearest friends are the ones I met online! We gravitate to like-minded people. We’re writers, we can read through words. What is also so refreshing to me is that my ‘online’ friends actually enjoy reading books. Ya, I had to shake my head when I began publishing books at the astounding fact I’d never realized – nobody in my ‘real world’ reads books!
Great post girlfriend! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed. Friends are friends no matter how we meet them. And the blogosphere opens up so much more of the world (accessible from our writer’s caves). 🙂 We’re definitely likely to find like-minded people here. Speaking of which, I’m grateful to have met you, lovely lady. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well ditto right back at you my friend. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sarah, nicely done. It is nice to find that connection with your blogging friends. I have had the chance, pre-COVID19, to meet three bloggers in person. It was indeed a treat, with my wife joining me for two of the visits. She enjoyed them as well.
I was chagrined when I had to cancel a trip to California to meet a blogging friend and see the sites. Sadly, he died suddenly about three months later, so it left a hole. The only way we found out was his wife posted a final piece on his blog. I hope she saw the responses as to what her husband meant to the community.
Take care and be safe. Keith
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so sorry to hear about your friend. Lovely that blogging both formed your connection and served as a way to communicate the loss and honor him. Glad you were able to meet some other blogger friends. Thanks, Keith. Take good care. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sarah, many thanks. I have to ask, what are Hulk tendencies? Keith
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! 😂 No one’s ever asked that and my bio’s been the same for years. I’m referring to the mild-mannered, nerdy Bruce Banner and his slightly less, er, nicely-behaved alter ego, The Hulk.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sarah, so if you start turning green, we need to leave the room? We used to watch the TV show in the 1970s when Bill Bixby played Bruce and Lou Ferrigno played the Hulk. Lou’s previous claim to fame is he often finished second to Arnold Schwarznegger in the the Mr. Olympia competition. I have not seen the latest movies about the Hulk. Keith
LikeLike
I’d advise leaving the room if I should start turning green. (Actually, that’s not a bad idea in general.) 😉
LikeLike
I’ll have cheese and chocolate with you any time, my friend. And I’ll bring the red wine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Any time, my suburban friend. 🧀🍷 Cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I started blogging because somebody told me you had to if you were a writer and wanted some exposure. Now, I never talk about my books, but thoroughly enjoy talking about other people’s books and reading what other bloggers have to say about all kinds of things. For me, it’s not about numbers and statistics, but about the people, and I’m also with Debby, not many people around me are big readers, so I found much to share online, Thanks, Brenda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Way back when, that’s why I started, too. At a writer’s conference, an agent told me the same. Geez…in 2012 or 2013 maybe? Agreed. It’s not about numbers (for me, at least). I never even look at them. (Actually, as I’ve said on here before, I don’t even know how to find my statistics.) Interesting how many of us don’t have big readers around us IRL. Hmm…
LikeLike
Hear, hear! I didn’t expect to meet so many interesting and inspiring people online (I’m looking at you, Sarah), but it happened all the same. I’m a better person for it, I hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t have computers and cell phones and such until I was *mumbles* years old so this concept is strange. Alas, we find amazing, beautiful people who write about old movies and we just click with them. 😉 Cheers to the Silver Screenings in my suburban neighborhood. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person