The Blogger As Writer As Critic As Celebrity (As Delusional Diva)
I’ve been very fortunate to have gained a faithful and respectable number of awesome readers for this tiny blog over the few short months that its been up and running. I am both honored and delighted to see so many people take an interest in what I have to say, and I am honestly having the best time getting to know everyone who has crossed my path because of this blog.
When I first got into the blogging thing, it was never because I cared about getting popular or reaping the material benefits that come with being a successful blogger. This is the truth.
Sure, its nice being able to attend cool, exclusive events and meet people I wouldn’t normally get to meet, but that has never clouded my perception of the fact that, at the end of the day, I’m pretty much an ordinary human being just like most people on this planet.
Sometimes, I like attention. Sometimes, all I want to do is live in a fall-out shelter for the rest of my life. Sometimes, I think I’m doing something special. Sometimes, I think this blog is about as interesting and unique as watching paint dry.
When you’re a blogger you get a taste of both basking in the glow of attention and needing some serious isolation; moments where you think your words are the elixir to all of society’s woes and moments where you just trudge along making posts that are just there to fill some space.
That’s totally fine and absolutely normal.
As bloggers we’re supposed to use our distinct writing voice to set us apart from the pack and familiarize ourselves with our readers. This makes us writers. The more loyal readers we accumulate the more pull we start to have with businesses, companies, and society as a whole and our voice can be used as a kind of public opinion shifter. This makes us critics. When we combine the growing audience with the larger social pull we become both loved and sought after. This makes us celebrities.
Ideally, most bloggers want to reach that final level of blog stardom in which they can both rely on the support of the fans that have been behind them from day one and relish in the glitz and glamour that comes with being someone everyone wants to impress. For a blogger to get to this point requires lots of hard work and patience. Getting there (or wanting to get there) is nothing to be ashamed of.
In fact, I’d say its something to aspire to.
But, if you are blogger (or if you’re thinking of becoming one) please take this short and humble word to heart: Careful.
If you have the good fortune of becoming a big-time blogger with a huge fan base and that everyone in Kuwait wants to impress DO NOT delude yourself into thinking that you are the Kuwaiti, social equivalent of Mariah Carey.
Don’t think you can threaten people with your blog.
Don’t think you can throw fits because you didn’t get your way.
Don’t think you can get away with something another “lesser” blogger can’t.
Don’t think that everyone’s waiting at your beck and call.
Don’t think your blog is too big for some things (or people) and not others.
Don’t delude yourself into thinking that no one’s ever going to call you out.
Because, at some point, someone will.
All my love! (Picture credit)
Golden post ! Really what you wrote up there is something really and must every single blogger or blogger wanna be have it in his/her mind
Also i say that each blogger must be humble , a blogger is not a king dont try to be like this…
Agreed 100%! Unfortunately there a couple of bloggers in Kuwait who have fooled themselves into thinking that they really are royalty and that they have the right to act like it. Hell, even if THEY WERE really kings and queens that still doesn’t give them an excuse.
Like you said, remaining humble and connecting with your readers is key. It’s the only way to make sure you don’t lose the fan base you worked so hard to build.
Very well said u spoke my mind unfortunately some bloggers think they belive they are kings/ queens and they forget their main asset readers and their readers trust.
Even some new bloggers who just started for a couple of months act as if they r way above all people while in fact they r just copying posts for other websites and blackmailing some businesses for ads
Blackmail? Whoa! I can’t believe anyone would resort to that level just to make a little extra cash! That’s a sad and scary indication of the way that the blogosphere seems to be going from bad to worst.
I think its this commercialization that has made some bloggers a little full of themselves and made they new bloggers think that this what the true measure of success is in the blogging world. Like you said, a lot of them don’t realize that none of that commercial stuff even matters or is going to last without the support of THE PEOPLE.
Pingback: Update: The Chili’s Needle Fiasco From Hell « owlolive
honestly my approach or to be more specific REASON to blog is to share entertainment with people, I’m not a writer per se nor am I a blogger in the classical sense, but am I Royalty ? you can bet your e7m on it!
LOL seriously though I like your modesty, and many bloggers in Kuwait are in fact modest normal people as well, these are the ones that make love the blog sphere and they are the inspiration that’s keeping me online and blogging, otherwise I could just lurk and keep my lurking to myself
Well, as long as you’re keeping the interest and the direction of the blog personal and specific to you, then a blogger has the right to post anything they want (whether or not its writing).
And I know that there are definitely plenty of super modest and down to earth bloggers out there who have been doing this thing for YEARS and are more than happy to embrace new bloggers and make them feel welcomed in the blogosphere. Those people are, by all means, made of awesomeness.
But, unfortunately, there are also a number of ‘big-time’ bloggers in Kuwait who have let the popularity go to their heads a little and have deluded themselves into thinking that they’re Lady Gaga (or something).
Pingback: So Some Kuwait Blogs May Suck, But Let’s Not Get Carried Away Here. « owlolive