:: Vote For Thing One...

So. Do you know what? My blog is one of the leaders in the People's Choice section of the  Sydney Writer's Centre 'Best Australian Blogs 2011' Competition.  OMG. Now. I don't like to ask you for ANYTHING. But...!  Here is the thing.  When you write a blog like mine, you don't do it for money or fame. You do it for love. Yes.

When your blog has a big readership, like mine, or is a daily stop off for people, like mine, it gets pushed up to the BIG BLOG category.  BIG BLOGS get less comments and more hits. People consider them popular and a good resource and they know lots of people are quietly popping in and out for their daily update, thus it tends not to be AS necessary to comment much.  It's easier to get lost in the crowd and not comment.  It's sort of like the blog is A THING, not A PERSON.

Even though a lot of big blogs are written from kitchen tables or in front of the telly late at night.  By a person.  BIG BLOGS are still often considered beyond the person. Weird, huh?  A BIG BLOG like mine would attract maybe 5 or 6 comments for each 1000 visitors.  I am totally used to that.  It is fine. Honest. I am used to my blog being A THING. I call it Thing One.  Thing One likes to be helpful and visited often, a bit like me.

BIG BLOGS like Thing One usually have advertising and other commercial arrangements tied to them to help offset the time that is put into said blog, and to help make up for the lack of feedback (proportionately).  I don't do that. I think it diminishes Thing One to plug stuff and have lots of giveaways.  I am not saying that it diminishes other people's blogs, it's just not right for mine. I want you to know that the stuff I talk about is the stuff I really love (and not the stuff I have been paid to love or asked to love by someone networky!)

Yes, you are right, I do sell books because people read this blog and want to buy my books, but I don't make a lot of money like that. Ask any author.  And I do get lots of people visiting my shop because they read this book, but I don't make a lot of money like that either. Usually those people are up for a chat and a cuddle and a bit of an inspiration transfusion.  I like to do that, and it's a pretty great job, isn't it?! I do it because I really love it.  And I love teaching people and inspiring craftiness. And I love writing stuff. I am used to living on beans and soup so that I CAN do the teachy/chatty/cuddly/inspiry/writey/crafty job I want to do. That is what I have chosen.

So what?  Well.  I am telling you all this because I don't want to ask you to comment. I don't want you to ever feel obligated to do anything extra special or out of your way if you read my blog. Um.   Except for this one thing.   Please vote for me!  Please vote for Thing One.  The prize is a great course at The Sydney Writer's Centre!  I really want to write a NON-CRAFTY book one day, a sort of novel or a collection of short pieces of writing.  I need all the help I can get.  Can you help me?  Maybe I stand a chance of winning a prize if YOU vote. Maybe they will teach me to stop making up words? And write longer sentences? And not begin blog posts with the word So. Maybe.

You know, I really don't mind about the non-commenty, lurky stuff.  Honestly.  I love my lurkers. I am LUCKY that you read. (I see you popping up on my Stats and I know you are there! Hello!)   BUT, just this once could you try not to be quite so shy or busy and click over to fill out the form and vote for me?!  If you like my blog?! If you don't, please do not vote for me!  That would be wrong, but if you do like my blog, please vote. Maybe?! Yes?!

xx Pip