Long ago, in a galaxy pretty much right here on earth...I was a baby blogger.
No! Not the kind who blogs about diaper changes and breast milk, but the kind who has fifteen* followers...all of them family members with twisted arms.
But anyhow, this newbie blogger would travel the web like a vagrant with an envious eye perusing all the sites that were better than mine.
It wasn't long before I bumped into Alex J. Cavanaugh and his 1,000,000* followers and ninja recruits. I read his posts for months before I deigned to comment...I assumed he wouldn't notice if I added my thoughts to the fifty he gets per hour.
But I'm not one to ever shut up and I often have to, nay NEED to toss my two cents into every conversation. (My brain could very well explode!) So, I finally commented. Maybe he'd never notice. I didn't care. I'm a perfect judge of character and I knew Mr. Alex J. (for Joyous, maybe?) Cavanaugh was good people and I support good people whether they like me or not.
Then one day, a comment appeared on my blog. The ninja master visited little old me! I was ecstatic. I bragged to my family...who were honestly unimpressed.
But I was impressed. It mattered to me. I was no longer just a lonely little blogger wandering the net wishing someone would yell, "Norm!" when I walked into Sam's...oops, I mean "Elizabeth!" when I inked up the comment box.
And today? I'm not just follower number 1,826*. I'm a ninja minion, ready to don slimming black whenever called upon and TRY to live up to the ninja master's example. From him, we learn; we grow; and we become stronger. Like an army ready to take over the literary world!
Happy Anniversary to the Insecure Writer's Support Group! And a HUGE thanks to Alex for pulling together the hodge podge group of confidence challenged word spinners. He's showing us all how hard work, dedication, and loyalty to friends can lead us all to the best seller list...like him.
And thanks to the co-hosts!
Chemist Ken http://hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com/
SL Hennessey http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/
Michelle Wallace http://www.writer-in-transit.co.za/
Joylene Nowell Butler http://cluculzwriter.blogspot.com/
Want to be a Ninja Groupie? Join the IWSG crew?
*All numbers are of my own delusion. I am responsible with my words, not my math. Sue me.
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| The Man |
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| His Book... That you SHOULD buy! |
Ohhhhh... I want to hug this post! What a wonderful tribute to Alex! He is wonderful. And he's so sincere. He's the type of person that makes everyone feel like his best friend. SO ENTERTAINING, Liz. As always! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI know I probably made him cringe because he hates praise and all...but I couldn't help myself. :)
DeleteHe is awesome. Always amazes me how he comments to so many. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteI think he manages because he is a true believer in the community. And he has to be an incredibly fast reader!
DeleteOMG I had the same feeling when he visited my blog lol
ReplyDeleteHe is just truly amazing... therefore I agree with your math. 1,000,000 indeed! :D
Yay fellow math whiz!!! It was a warm fuzzy moment and it made me believe I could do it too. I don't, but I still carry that hope!
DeleteWay to minion! I was the same way with Alex...lurking before being brave enough to comment on his blog. So glad I did. Happy anniversary, IWSG!
ReplyDeleteIt is a happy anniversary indeed. And what a great day to re-invigorate my blogging spirit!
DeleteHee hee, I was the same when I first went to Alex's blog, but like the superstar he is, he came to visit me at mine, too!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
He is a world wide traveler! Aren't we so lucky?
DeleteI too stalked Alex's blog before I was brave enough to comment. And I remember how excited I was when he visited mine. How weird that our families don't know in what superstar circles we mix!!
ReplyDeleteI know Annalisa. But then, true greatness is rarely recognized in its time.
DeleteIt is amazing how quickly the ISWG took off. Just reminds us of how much insecurity there is in the writing world. Glad you're part of the IWSG!
ReplyDeleteI ALWAYS suffer insecurity. The only difference is the degree of it on any given day!
Delete(My dad was a chemist and his name was Ken...that makes you special ;)
You made me smile, Elizabeth. This group is amazing and so are all those I've come to meet. You among them. Congratulations to Alex, for his great idea, and to you too for being part of it. Dragon hugs. :)
ReplyDeleteA dragon smile? Wow. Bet that lights up the sky!! Hugs back to you. I count you as one of my blessings every day. You're a good man, erm, dragon.
DeleteElizabeth, thanks! And I can see that I will be laughing all day today. Finding YOU was such a joy and I'm grateful we met. Thanks for being part of the awesome Ninja Army and IWSG.
ReplyDeleteI'm part of the Ninja army. Squee! Is there a button for that?
DeleteI also was nervous about commenting on Alex's blog in the beginning. What a fantastic post and a perfect way to celebrate the anniversary and our Ninja. :)
ReplyDeleteHard to believe, right? Cause once you know Alex, you forget he's the shiz and just see him as a friend.
DeleteThis post just highlights why Alex is so wonderful. I'm with Morgan...want to hug the post!! :)
ReplyDeleteYou ladies could print it out and then give it a hug...might look a little less odd than screen hugging.
DeleteHa, I totally felt that way when Alex commented on my blog, too! Alex is truly an inspiration for all of us. Great post, Elizabeth!!
ReplyDeleteI think it's one of the best posts I've ever written :)
DeleteHaha! I felt that way when someone with 200 followers commented on my page! I still remember feeling all giddy when Cherie and A.G. Howard commented on my blog. BTW - LOVE your new photo!! So pretty. :)
ReplyDeleteAnita tagged me in the blog on fire award and I didn't even know any other bloggers to pass the award on to. I was that isolated. I believe you were my first liker after that award, so you hold a special place in my heart Ashley!
DeleteI also was impressed when Alex first came over to my blog but I'm so glad he stayed. Glad you were brave enough to go to your family, I'm certain mine don't even recall my blog's name or that I even have one. The excitement about my cover reveal went straight over their heads. *Sigh* This is why I so need delightful buddies like you Liz. Congrats on two years of IWSG Alex and to many more.
ReplyDeleteWe definitely need each other! You guys have saved my sanity more than once and I can always count on you for a smile!!
DeleteI've got you on my calendar for the cover reveal...it's still on, right? I have been way out of the loop lately!
Ah!!! I can totally see you jumping around after getting an Alex comment! I was more than a little shocked when I got my first (I mean he has SOOOOO many followers!), but he's a rock star.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, like a boss, he makes the n00bs feel like we were brushed with awesome sauce.
That he does. (And this is a secret, but I once sat for at least twenty minutes to see if he had my book cover on his scrolling side bar and when I spotted little old me, I think I happy danced bigger than when I got my publishing contract!)
DeleteAlex is amazing, and so is IWSG. So glad he's helped so many people!
ReplyDeleteIt's like he understands us and our natures.
DeleteI remember my first Alex comment...I may have squealed!!
ReplyDeleteI know you did. I have my spy's report to prove it!
DeleteAh, I was reading blogs for a long time before I had the nerve to comment on anything. I still remember my first comment. Sigh, how young I was.
ReplyDeleteI sweated those first few comments too! I was afraid I'd look like an idiot among all the worldly writers.
DeleteI'm still waiting for the call to don my ninja gear for a "real" mission. I've got those soft shoes and everything. Shoes are the secret to everything, ya know? :)
ReplyDeleteGreat IWSG post!
Kim Lajevardi
(This Writer's Growing)
Oh man, how did I forget about the shoes? You're so right, definitely need the proper (and cute!) shoes.
DeleteSo, so, sweet. It seems as though Alex has an army of thousands of troops behind him. Yet he takes the time to acknowledge all of them.
ReplyDeleteAmazing, right? I barely get my teeth brushed in a day and he gets all that done!
DeleteHe has certainly left his legacy on the writer-blogging world! (And I love his book covers)
ReplyDeleteA legacy is the perfect world. I love the covers too. Excellent reads also.
DeleteLOL! I had that experience the other day--where Alex stopped into my blog FIRST. I was like, DUDE, this guy totally rocks, and was all kinds of flattered for the rest of the day. It's great to feel like you belong, eh?
ReplyDeleteCrystal!! (That's my "yay, glad you stopped by" shout.)
DeleteYes, he definitely makes this web world feel like a community.
An excellent post to celebrate the second IWSG anniversary.
ReplyDeleteThanks Heather. I think it was very fitting.
DeleteYour experiences are very similar to mine about getting a comment from the Ninja Captain and I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks the ninja outfits are slimming... :)
ReplyDeleteI think we all agree- Alex and slimming black rocks :)
DeleteSince I am a suckee commenter, I was very happy to see you mentioned at The Blog, so I wanted to come over and she what was up.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I knew it would be brill, but you did an awesome sauce job of sending blog luv to the Carolinas:)
We probably met through IWSG, so LOOK! It's a literary adoption agency, too:)
Firstly, you are never a suckee commenter. You give me comment envy all the time!
DeleteSecond, come on over? Ah geesh, I'm feeling all blushy.
Literary adoption agency!! Love it!! See cyber bro, you are the brill one in the family.
we are simply brill together :-)
DeleteI don't think I'll EVER live up to his example.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post, Elizabeth. :)
Me neither, which makes me all the more in awed.
DeleteWhat a nice tribute to Alex, Elizabeth! He truly is spectacular and watches out for us like a mother goose. Can't wait for the website.
ReplyDeleteM.L. Swift, Writer
I can't either. I'm absolutely certain it will be amazing!
DeleteFantastic post! Love the IWSG! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's the best therapy on the net!
DeleteElizabeth, if I wasn't already a follower, I'd joined 50 more times. You are a star... and Alex knew/knows it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, wonderful, wonderful post.
My son offered to do that (follow fifty times)...back in the days of my fifteen followers. Me a star? Hehe. I am more than spacey on some days.
DeleteLOL! This hit the nail on the head for most of us and our introduction to blogging with the Ninja Captain. I wanted to throw up when I commented on his blog for the first time. Couldn't believe it when he wrote me back and was SO humble and down to earth. Alex is definitely my blogging superhero!
ReplyDeleteAmen to that Jaybird! His humility is so rare and I've watched how MANY people he helps, just quietly going about doing the right thing. That's a rare thing.
Deletelol.. what a great tribute to IWSG!And the blogosphere wouldnt be the same without you! ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks Pk. It'd be a lonely place without you for certain!
DeleteYour numbers aren't too far off, Elizabeth. Or maybe I'm just a tad delusional too.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend from another proud Ninja Army member.
xoRobyn
I thought my numbers were pretty darned accurate! Hope you have great weekend too!
DeleteThis is a great tribute to Alex and the IWSG! It is truly amazing how much he does notice!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Nicely done! I see you were highlighted over at the Captain's place. I think your training period is over and you are officially a member, not a trainee. ;D
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you! I love your post~
Oh good grief, has it taken me this long to arrive here? Yes it has. Hopefully, the wait was worth it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I satirise this whole IWSG thing. And yes, heaven forbid, I satirise the ninja dude. Yet, beyond this, your post resonates with the real interaction, the positive interaction.
After over 6 1/2 years of having a blog, I've decided to get more followers and thus I'm going to create one million and one new blogs and have them follow my original blog! Yay!
Well done on the second birthday of this group. Well done to you, Elizabeth. And yep, nice one, Alex, even if you still haven't supplied me with a clone!
See you later, eh.
Gary :)
What a wonderful tribute to Alex. Being a somewhat newbie author, I also hopped around and around and finally took the plunge and joined first the A to Z challenge and now the IWSG. Alex is everywhere. I don't know how he finds the time to write and visit so many blogs. He's remarkable!!
ReplyDelete