Writing (and Blogging) Is About Relationships

by Marcus on June 21, 2007

craver.JPGEverything is about relationships really. Liz Strauss once asked me why I blog. I blog because each reader can respond in comments or via email. And those comment and email relationships often turn into a moment like this picture. When I meet someone I’ve gotten to know online and give him or her a big bear hug.

I can’t remember if Craver got a bear hug or just this sort of manlier side hug that you see in the picture. But it was super cool to meet him in person.

You see, everything is about relationships. Writing. Editing. Blogging. Business. Law. Education. Medicine.

But it’s so easy to forget. It’s so easy to focus on the bottom line of my monthly budget or the title I want to have or the responsibilities I want or the products I want to produce or the resume I want to build.

People can get caught up in that kind of thinking with blogging and writing, too. I talk to wonderful people who have thousands of visitors to their blog every week or every day. People who have thousands of subscribers to their newsletter. It’s easy to look at a little tiny google analytics report and think. Hmm. Nobody likes me.

Don’t get caught in the self-pity trap of measuring your worth in dollars and traffic.

You see, every unique user on my site is a person I know. A real person with a real life. And I know them because of this stupid thing I’m doing on my blog. Wow. What a gift!

I love you all. Someday, I hope to give you a bear hug too. Even if certain of you will never let me photograph the moment.

(L.L., I have a hilarious picture of us in front of the NYC library, but so far I’ve restrained myself from posting it to honor your wishes. I don’t know how much longer I can resist.)

  • I admire a man who uses the phraseology "super cool." You're right about the relationship thing. That's what it's about.

    Please, please post the picture of L.L.!
  • BTW, what's with the tie?
  • Bear hug? As I recall, I went to give you a man hug and there was some kind of miscommunication and you tried to do some kind of judo throw, there was a bit of a scuffle, words were said, furniture was broken and the cops had to pull us apart. The photo was taken by Officer Friendly who said we had to shake hands, make up and play nice or he was going to take us downtown to cool off overnight.

    Well, that's how I remember it.
  • I heartily agree. After all, we were created to be in relationship. Besides, what are riches and titles and responsibilities worth if you are all alone in the world?
  • Mary, um, I didn't get the "casual Friday" memo when I went to visit Craver at MI6. (It's okay to reveal where you work, right Craver?) As for L.L.'s pic, I need the okay from her. Don't want to betray anyone's trust, you know. (L.L. are you reading this?)

    Craver, that video is about the funniest thing I have ever seen.

    Spagettipie, they are worth nothing. That's what I love about that strange parable the shrewd manager. Ethics aside, the guy understands that riches and titles and responsibilities are all tools that we use to build relationships with others. That's it. That's what it's all about.
  • I have been trying to keep my workplace a secret, but hopefully, nobody knows what MI6 means, eh?

    There was a special je ne sais quoi about not knowing what LL looks like. I was always curious, but she went off and spoiled everything by including a portrait from her desk in an article she wrote.
  • ROTFL!
  • Craver, you are such a jokester - I totally fell for that and went straight to the link to see LL's photo!

    Marcus - yes, it is all about relationships. What I find the most interesting is represented in that old hymn about "the tie that binds" - we really can "know" one another even if we never meet until heaven.

    Although, I must admit that I'm jealous of you and Craver getting to meet - now Craver, that's another matter, I get to see at him and Mrs Craver and the little (well, not so little any more) Cravers every week.
  • Yeah, reading. And chuckling.
  • Susan, do you work at MI6, too? You're M aren't you!

    L.L. and I will just continue to go about our normal lives editing normal sentences and educating normal children while you two save the world. Somebody has to be normal, I guess.
  • It is nice and fun to get to know others through blogging. It's definitely a kind of fellowship for me and I like the personal interactions as well as learning from others I personally want both, and I think most do, though some are content just to gather and share information (those must be the high powered intellects).
  • It was great to find this article! I'm presenting at the Internet Ministry Confence in September, and this is the topic of my presentation. Even for corporate (and especially for ministry) bloggers, it's all about the relationships.

    Regards,

    Rich
    BlogRodent
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