No followers

Published on by The Small Hall

I started The Small Hall blog in late March this year. I began without any great desire to share my life with the digital world, for me it was more about the process. I wanted to learn about setting up a blog, and I liked the idea of making a commitment to writing a few paragraphs each week. I knew I didn’t want to create an on-line diary, and therefore  it would be best if I focused on a particular subject.

I  live with a cyclist, I spend almost every weekend cycling, our flat is full of bikes, and I eat with cycling in mind, so cycling was the natural subject choice for me, and more specifically, cycling from a woman’s point of view. Having said that, I’m not an authority on the subject, but I decided that I would share my experiences and observations.

The Small Hall blog is now 10 weeks old, and I believe this is my fourteenth post, and I have exactly zero followers!

I have found that having no followers is in fact quite liberating, it makes me less self-conscious about my writing, however, thinking about my initial objective for starting a blog, it also feels like failure. I’ve been writing my blog anonymously, out of fear that someone I know may read it and  think it’s a bit naff, and therefore I’d rather they didn’t know it was me, but of course followers would be proof to me that somebody, somewhere was reading.

It’s a little like having an imaginary friend, as a child I had my invisible friend Paul, who I used to talk to on long car journeys. Now I have an imaginary blog follower, I haven’t given her a name, she is female and loves beautiful things, she doesn’t want to wear cycling clothes made feminine with a flash of pink. She cycles to keep fit, she finds it addictive, meditative and energising too…in short she’s a little like me.

When I’m cycling I find myself composing blog posts in my mind, communicating to my imaginary follower, a kindred spirit who inspires me to look in more detail at everything around me. Writing a blog has made me more self-critical and aware, but also encourages me to see the best in everything.

The picture above is me as seen by the Mechanic ( my anonymous husband ).

13 thoughts on “No followers”

    1. Thank you, I’ve always cycled, but mainly as a commute, it has only been the last three years that I’ve cycled to cycle if you know what I mean. I find it the best way to escape a stressful week, and to relax, but at the same time it’s addictive and energising.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  4. It’s now September 2016 and I know you’ve now got one follower because it’s me 🙂 And I’m guessing you’ve got a few others too. I think it’s great to share riding stories because while we all enjoy cycling, everyone has different experiences and likes different things; people ride in different landscapes and conditions. I find it fascinating. So, I’m looking forward to reading your posts and seeing your photos. Best wishes, Gail.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. I too am a self-conscious blogger, worried about someone who knows me reading my posts. I’m also constantly composing posts whilst cycling (and not) and often failing to put my ideas into practice, but I’m always trying to improve on that.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Ok…you got me. I’m feeling the guilt as a fellow cyclist (of too many years to count), so I will follow you. Consider reciprocating the favour as that is how the game of kudosphere and friendship works 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment