Four years ago, someone took a chance on me. I'd only been blogging for a few months when I heard that BlogHer was looking for volunteer contributing editors for a new site they were launching. I rushed to their current homepage, noticed that people already claimed the topic I most wanted (feminism and gender), and saw that travel and recreation was still open. Well, I love traveling and do it a lot. I had just blogged a trip to France. I left a message with links to three posts (this was before I had any idea what HTML was, not that I'm an expert at it now), and hoped for the best.
Not long after, I heard from Lisa Stone, one of BlogHer's founders. She said that she "loved" my blog and offered me the gig. I was thrilled! (Re-reading her email today, which I just looked at again, brings tears to my eyes. Yeah, I still have an email from January 2006 in my inbox.) My first post - Introduction to Travel and Recreation appeared on January 22, 2006. I hoped for many things, but was not sure what to expect.
Four years later, I still write for BlogHer, although on feminism, not travel. It offered me a platform when I was just exploring writing. It offered me a platform when I sent out proposals for a travelogue I was writing about unusual things to see and do New York City. It offered me a platform when my book, Off the Beaten (Subway) Track, was published 2.5 years later. It offered me a platform to meet and be inspired by other women.
Sure, it hasn't been all champagne and roses. When I realized that my four year anniversary was coming up, I compared it to my marriage: sometimes I wanted to scream and stomp around with selfish, delusional indignity, but overall my life is richer, happier, and better in every way because I have it. (Husband was slightly offended by this analogy, but I stand by it.) I'm so lucky.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Aw, sweetest post ever :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Suzanne, it's been a great ride!
I'm so glad for BlogHer, because we got to meet and spend some time together each year. It has been just tremendous knowing you. It makes me a little misty.
ReplyDeletePS It's obvious to me that you adore Husband.
Oh Suzanne, I'm so glad you kept my fan mail. Part of the joy of my work at BlogHer is to feel like I've gotten a chance to play Lorne Michaels. Um, not that I do a great gig as a Canadian man. But he created Saturday Night Live and found a way to find and unleash and pay some of the most amazing comics and writers I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteYou have incredible talent, just like so many of the amazing women who write on BlogHer.com.
What can I say? Still reading you. Still. A. Fan.
xo Lisa
I love this little love fest! Thanks ladies. A million times over. I am honored to be in your company.
ReplyDelete(And Suebob, I am still amazed and uber grateful that I did not scare you away at BlogHer 2006. I think part of my adoration Husband during that trip involved yelling at him as he drove us to dinner. Which is cracking me up now, but was not so cool at the time.)
so glad you did & so glad i found/met you!
ReplyDeletestill trying to work out blogher '10 for myself, but happy 4 years!