Freshly Pressed? Holy cow!
This morning a colleague stopped by my desk, beaming with enthusiasm. “I loved your blog post about Charlie Sheen!” he said. He’s become an avid reader—and I’m flattered.
But today I asked him if he’d mind keeping my blog to himself. “I gladly share it with my friends,” I said. “But I write it for myself. I don’t want the whole office reading it.”
It’s not that I have anything to hide. (I took down that one errant post about the masochistic torture that is bra-shopping.) It’s just that my blog is, well, personal … and work is work.
My colleague laughed at the idea of my expecting privacy on the Internet, but he understood my request.
So how ironic that this afternoon I should receive an email from WordPress:
Congrats! Your post was just promoted to Freshly Pressed on WordPress.com. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, Erica at WordPress!
Within just a few hours, more than 1,200 people had read that post. (But don’t worry … I won’t get a big head. Only 30 people actually “liked” it.)
Still, today’s milestone got me thinking.
I’ll spare you the self-analysis about why I’d rather share my thoughts with 1,200 strangers than with 20 colleagues.
I’d much rather wallow in a bit of shameless self-promotion.
So, in case you’re new to HeatherBlog, here are my favorite topics:
Ethics
Humor
Paris (the city, not Hilton)
Photography
Technology
Travel
Weird news
Writing
Anyway … if ever you’ve wondered whether blogging is a waste of time, I can answer with a resounding “NO!”
For me, blogging has been a wonderful way of recording the things that most struck me on a given day. Most of my posts have been mundane. But a few still serve as touchstones that I return to, again and again. And as the commercials say … that’s “priceless.”
Thanks again to WordPress—and thanks to you for reading! It’s truly an honor to be Freshly Pressed.
PS: I really am honored. But for what it’s worth, my husband says, “Please stop encouraging her.” Ha.
Filed under: Attempted humor, Minnesota, On this day in history, Psychology, Random thoughts, Technology, Writing | 13 Comments
Tags: Freshly Pressed, heather munro blog, humor, Photography, postaday2011, Psychology, WordPress, writing
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed! This happened to me in November, and it was a little crazy. My amount was “only” 932 hits, but it gave some good traction for my blog and you’ll notice that it keeps you at the top of certain lists – like the tag lists that WordPress has.
Congrats right back at ya! It has indeed been a little crazy, but it’s not forever — so that makes it fun. I’m looking forward to the weekend so I can go through my list of “commenters” and read some of their blogs, too. There’s so much interesting stuff out there …
Well, thanks for your comment, and keep writing!
Congrats! I agree that your co worker should have kept it to themselves. I write for me and for others but not to share and brag. Erica is sweet. I am honored to know you and glad I get to read your blog too. Keep on keeping on.
I totally feel you on sharing your thoughts with a larger but less-known audience than with a handful of known people. Something about feeling like you’re not being scrutinized or dissected on such a personal level. Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Well, congratulations on being FP! You’ve described almost exactly how I felt when it happened to me a week or two ago. And your Stats look unnervingly like mine too… Funny, isn’t it, how it’s much easier to deal with hundreds – even thousands – of people you haven’t met reading about your life, than to think that friends and colleagues are reading it. I was so excited when I was FP and was bursting to tell all my friends and family – then realised that only about three of them actually knew I wrote a blog at all!
Enjoy your moment of fame – and I hope life returns to normal soon. Just with a few more readers.
HA! Most of my family doesn’t know that I blog, either. And I kinda like it that way.
Thanks for kind words, dancingbeastie!
I can so relate to that “Site Stats” picture. (I too experienced the euphoria and confusion of being Freshly Pressed.) The worst part is when two weeks pass and the big tall bar disappears. There should be a support group for that. Anyway, congrats! Also, as a fellow Heather I love your blog name.
We’re two birds of a feather, Heather! “Euphoria and confusion” describes my state of mind exactly. And I laughed out loud at your suggestion that there should be a support group for the formerly Freshly Pressed. If there isn’t one already, we should definitely start one! Anyway, thanks for your comment. Rock on!
Hi! I’m actually new to WordPress, but I looove reading the FreshlyPressed blogs!! I think it’s funny that you wrote a post about being Freshly Pressed!! I love your writing style and your sense of humor! Keep bloggin
Thanks so much, beckyspringer — and right back at ya!
I agree, I’d rather have strangers read my blog than people I know. It’s embarrasing to get an email from aunty about my short ribs on my blog. On the other hand – it’s liberating to write about something I love. Congrats for getting FP!
WOW! This is truly awesome! Congratulations! (I also loved the Charlie blog!)
CONGRA!!