Indulge me for a moment while I wax self-centeredly. I want to be more than just a “black conservative blogger/writer” or a “Christian blogger/writer.” If I must be either or both (it’s human nature to attach labels), I want to be huge, the biggest black conservative blogger in the blogosphere or the most popular Christian blogger on the web.
I don’t mean simply well-known but influential and sought-after. I’m talking about visitor stats out of this world, endorsement deals, books, TV, radio…
Or something like that.
I’m not satisfied with my current traffic and linkage. Blogging all the time has its rewards, but let’s face facts. Success sometimes depends on who you know and whether or not they like you. I want to be every blogger’s favorite. Irrational, isn’t it? I don’t care. I want everybody to like me and link to all my posts, even if I write something stupid.
Have you noticed that the big bloggers have favorites and link to them all the time? I want to be a favorite. I read those bloggers’ posts. They aren’t any more interesting or special than mine, in my opinion. But I’m biased.
People like me OK, I guess, but not enough to suit me. That’s selfish and short-sighted, isn’t it? For all I know, some of you might be saying the same things about me. I don’t care. Guilty. Envy is not fun. It can be used for good or evil. I try to use it for good.
The mini-pity party is over now. It felt good. Back to reality. I’d like to thank you for suggesting names for my business. I’ve selected a reader’s recommendation, slightly modified. I will make the announcement perhaps as early as Friday, but definitely before next week.
I can identify with most of what you said, La Shawn … give it time, though. All of what you want is within your grasp, methinks. It may not happen as soon as you want it to, but it *will* happen! Just don’t forget all us little folk once you make it to the top
Comment by Sister Toldjah — 02.01.05 @ 6:48 pm
Wait a sec–you mean to tell me with all the links and mentions on other blogs, in addition to all your published columns, you still haven’t hit the big time? I’m sure it’ll happen.
Comment by mj — 02.01.05 @ 6:53 pm
No.
I have a confession: I’m not as ambitious and assertive about these things as I should be. Mostly it’s my own fault, and I seldom whine. I just felt like it today.
Comment by La Shawn — 02.01.05 @ 6:56 pm
I really appreciate your blog site. I pass your page on to people I know that would benefit by your words and the wonderful blog sites you send your readers to. Thank you. I pray too that you become really big!
Comment by marta — 02.01.05 @ 7:05 pm
Thanks, Marta. Comments like yours encourage me to press on. What I do is not in vain.
Comment by La Shawn — 02.01.05 @ 7:07 pm
I have always thought of you as a conservative Christian blogger/writer. I didn’t realize you were also Black. You really ought to get the word out about that.
Comment by Scott Ott — 02.01.05 @ 7:09 pm
My goodness, La Shawn - if you’re not assertive then I’m not really a blonde! I wish I was half as assertive as you are. Don’t be so down on yourself. You’ll do fine!
Comment by Sister Toldjah — 02.01.05 @ 7:09 pm
Funny man Scott Ott from Scrappleface! Wow. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks, Sister. Every once in a while I feel sorry for myself. It usually passes quickly.
Comment by La Shawn — 02.01.05 @ 7:10 pm
La Shawn, hearing discouragement from you would be like hearing the Pope scream, “I’m afraid to die. What if it’s all a sham?”
You give the little guys hope. We all aspire to be just like you - A successful, African American female blogger.
You are liked. And you are read. Patience.
Comment by RightWingDuck — 02.01.05 @ 8:03 pm
Just remember, La Shawn, “You’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and doggonit, people like you!”
But seriously, I have the same ambitions as you and I think you have what it takes to achieve your goals. You’re right, it is who you know when it comes to the kind of stature you want to achieve. Just hang in there. I came into the blogosphere fairly late in the game so you are miles ahead of where I am. But the blogosphere is still young, its significance on recently being widely acknowledged, and so we are all pretty much on the ground floor. There is plenty of room at the top right now and all you need is persistence, patience, and contacts.
I was fortunate enough to get a fairly decent name for my blog and I am working hard at building up a loyal readership (traffic and links) but I know it’ll take lots of time.
I hope you have settled upon a business name that you really like and that will serve you well. I’ll probably still refer to you in my blog from time to time as “Barber of the Quill” (as i already have) and your fans as Barberians.
Remember, the Lord has His own timing and His timing is always best. Wait upon Him and you will not be disappointed . . . lean on His understanding. Don’t give-in to any temptations to cut corners (no pun intended) or sacrifice principles in working toward your goals. Honor Him always, and He will honor you.
Comment by PajamaHadin — 02.01.05 @ 8:09 pm
Don’t cha worry, your 15 minutes ain’t even started yet
Comment by Andy — 02.01.05 @ 8:41 pm
Well, since I assume that blending puppies is not an option… just keep on keeping on. You offer a well spoken, reasoned opinion from a usually unique pov. That’s what has gotten you to Human status, and still climbing.
Sending an email or two when you have a hot story/post wouldn’t be bad either, when relevent.
Anyway, folks, for those that care, say an extra prayer for the Pope tonight. I’m afraid he might need them.
Comment by SCSIwuzzy — 02.01.05 @ 9:22 pm
LaShawn: Discouragement is of the devil. Keep your chin up. I think one person, besides my daughter, has read my blog. Writing something worth reading is REALLY HARD.
Comment by Miriam Sawyer — 02.01.05 @ 9:24 pm
La Shawn,
Great, candid post (as if you never were!!). I can certainly understand what you’re going through. I maintained a lowly blog on Angelfire early last year through November.
Now, I’m out on my own with a domain name and an internet whiz helping me get through it all.
You’re definitely going someplace…and I’ll be there to watch you.
Even when you write your first book ripping liberals a new one…I’ll buy it and read it. Then I’ll send you an email congratulating you.
Then we’ll argue why I’m right and you’re wrong!!!
Don’t forget us little people when you’re off on FOX News, CNN or MSNBC analyzing our political landscape.
As always, good luck with whatever life has to offer you.
Comment by Mike M. — 02.01.05 @ 9:37 pm
Dang girl…
If you’re not already “big time”, then how much further away from “the show” are the rest of us…
Be grateful gal… Many of us would trade places in a heart beat…
Comment by RickinVa — 02.01.05 @ 9:53 pm
Please. I would die to have your traffic. On a good day, my site gets 60 hits, and when it comes to getting the attention and/or links from the “big guys” (including here), forget it. Won’t happen. At least not directly. Out of 150 requests for links, 20 responded to me and 5 actually linked.
Comment by Drew — 02.01.05 @ 10:03 pm
See? Scott Ott commented here. That’s a big deal.
Comment by mj — 02.01.05 @ 10:04 pm
La Shawn, I enjoy reading your blog. May you have the longest fifteen minutes of righteous fame in history. Evon
Comment by Evon Bachaus — 02.01.05 @ 10:11 pm
I’m sure we all have these feelings from time to time. I’m nearing two years over at Brainster’s and I still haven’t had an Instalink. I tell ya, I’m ready to start cat-blogging on Fridays!
Comment by Brainster — 02.01.05 @ 10:41 pm
OT, but I thought you’d like to read this, via Lucianne:
Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons yesterday said Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is winning over black voters with urban initiatives, especially criminal-justice reforms, and raising the Republican Party’s profile among blacks nationwide. “He raised the whole party up,” Mr. Simmons told The Washington Times. “He makes every Republican open for discussion” among black voters….
Comment by Sandy P — 02.01.05 @ 11:01 pm
Remember Nebuchadnezzar…..
Hugh McBryde
Comment by Prakk — 02.01.05 @ 11:45 pm
Friend, there is nothing wrong with occasionally sitting back with a bit of whine and getting it out of you. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that you will be in the company of the biggest players in blogdom - your blog is too well done, and too well known for it not to happen.
But…you know…to everything there is a season, and a sign and purpose unto heaven. Meanwhile, I think you should wear that tiara whenever you need a lift and want to feel “blog-pretty.” I would!
And btw, when I said “blog pretty” I didn’t mean about your looks. YOU don’t need a tiara to be pretty - you are what my hubby calls “exceedingly attractive.” He uses that euphemism for “beautiful” because you know…if he calls other women beautiful, he gets an elbow in the rib!
Have a good night.
Comment by The Anchoress — 02.02.05 @ 12:38 am
I’ll tell ya what…you link me, I’ll link you. How’s that sound?
Comment by Jeremy — 02.02.05 @ 1:33 am
Wow, what an honest diatribe! Thank you for the soul-bearing, LaShawn.
I ALREADY think you are the penultimate black, conservative female, even slightly ahead of Star Parker. Don’t get too puffy about that remark, though. I live in Montana, which is mighty short of blacks, male or female, let alone conservative ones.
Comment by Dave Rye — 02.02.05 @ 5:46 am
Perhaps a gladiator type ordeal is in order? LaShawn and Hugh Hewitt in the ring, chained tigers around the edges? =)
Comment by Rey — 02.02.05 @ 8:40 am
La Shawn, I just heard Bill Bennett say that you’re going to be on his radio program tomorrow. Congratulations! I’ll be listening. Evon
Comment by Evon Bachaus — 02.02.05 @ 8:51 am
I am?
Comment by La Shawn — 02.02.05 @ 8:55 am
I SO want you to succeed! I pray for you to succeed. However, (and I know that you know) it’s God first. Not that I set direction and goal, but that I listen carefully and do what is “at hand”, letting the outcome be determined by God, as I can not.
This attitude takes away much of the pressure to reach the goal.
Comment by Dan — 02.02.05 @ 9:41 am
LaShawn, well I just added you to my blogroll, which was long overdue. You’ve got a great thing going right now. As for becoming perhaps a Michelle Malkin type figure, luck and tenacity will play a roll. You seem to have the tenacity, you just need the luck.
I wonder what will happen with the big blogs and how many there really can be. Unless your blog provides you income upon which to live, you really can’t match the output of some of the biggest blogs. I would expect to see more group blogs and some consolidation as time goes by. Columnists and professional writers have a huge advantage over bloggers with 8-5 jobs.
Keep it up.
Comment by SteveL — 02.02.05 @ 9:56 am
La Shawn, I can see it now. When you get the Best Blogger Award, you’ll go to the stage and proclaim emphatically like Sally Field. “They like me, they really like me!”
You’ve got my vote. You are provocative in your arguments.
Comment by PJLR — 02.02.05 @ 10:12 am
La Shawn:
I love the honesty of this post. It’s great! I relate to it. In MY view, you are a success - However, I completely can understand where you are coming from, in terms of your dreams, your personal goals, and the success that you want to achieve.
I am sure you are not looking for advice … or maybe you are? I would just say this: You are a driven intelligent ambitious woman. (Many people are ambitious, and yet they hide their ambition … maybe they’re embarrassed by it, or maybe they are falsely humble … who knows why.) I think it’s wonderful and inspirational that you openly state what you want, what you see for yourself. I think such openness of yours can ONLY lead to success. People who become successful are not “lucky”, although luck may have SOME things to do with it.
One of my mentors said to me once: “People who become successful don’t just know the right people, they aren’t lucky, they aren’t in the right place at the right time. People who become successful are FANATICS about success.”
heh heh I kind of like that.
You already have humility and grace. You really do. Your ambition will serve you well, and I cannot imagine that you will not, someday, reach your goals.
It’s just so hard when the success doesn’t come WHEN you want it, right??
You rock, La Shawn. I read you every day.
Comment by red — 02.02.05 @ 10:24 am
First of all, I appreciate your honesty. I believe you already have more influence than you are probably aware of. I see your site on lots of blogrolls so I know that people are linking to you.
As far as further opportunities to write are concerned, I believe it will come. You are too talented a writer to just be blogging. Someone will connect with you soon. I’m certain of it. And once that happens, your traffic will likely take off.
Just keep doing what you’re doing and remember that we do it for the glory of God. Leave everything to Him to work out in His time.
Comment by Daddypundit — 02.02.05 @ 10:38 am
I feel like I am getting more than my monies worth with your very reasonable $5 Subscription signup using the Icon on the right pane of your blog, La Shawn.
Thank you and keep up the very good and ‘original’ work.
Comment by Jim R — 02.02.05 @ 10:39 am
LaShawn,
Though we don’t always agree and sometimes I read a post with my eyes rolling..LOL…I keep coming back…I guess you are addictive…Seriously though, we do agree on a fair amount of issues.
I would suggest that you send an email blast or set up some sort of yahoogroup/chat forum to let folks know when you are putting up a particularly juicy/informative post. Have you thought in that direction? Maybe it will drive up your traffic.
Comment by Tiffany in Minneapolis — 02.02.05 @ 10:54 am
I don’t mean not to join the “hurray” crowd, I found your confession a bit off-putting. Not because of its honesty. But because of what your stated goal was. By coincidence, I had just seen a clever quote on celebrities:
A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.
There’s nothing wrong with just wanting to be liked a lot by a lot of people or wanting to be majorly influential.
But given that we live in a world where a lot of people put all their energies into being big and famous, but forget to do other more important things, I just hope it never gets to be your case. I’m just too saturated with the millions of examples we have of that.
Comment by Alessandra — 02.02.05 @ 11:25 am
Can we cut a deal here?
You can be everyone’s favorite, but can I be your favorite? That way I get second-hand favoritism from everybody and you don’t have to worry about my big, scary blogging skills.
Comment by Jimmie — 02.02.05 @ 11:54 am
Vanity
I have even more respect for La Shawn Barber. She puts her vanity right out in front of her readers….
Trackback by The American Mind — 02.02.05 @ 12:45 pm
Hey. Dream small, achieve small things. Dream big, achieve big things.
Comment by Gary — 02.02.05 @ 12:55 pm
LaShawn,
Love your blog, love your pov on everything you choose to write about. At the risk of provoking another one of your rants about how this is your blog and you’ll say what you want, when you want, and about whatever you wan(which I understand)…Please, please, please quit talking about blogging and blog already! Keep up the good work!
Comment by Cyndee — 02.02.05 @ 2:29 pm
Write your heart out and let ambition take care of itself. Who would want to be famous if they were not good? Work on being your best.
Comment by Joseph Marshall — 02.02.05 @ 3:47 pm
The Blogosphere 2/2/05
Well I am going to try and go around the blogosphere and see what bloggers have to say: LaShawn Barber feels that her work is going unappreciated. Well she is wrong, I love reading her blog - keep up the…
Trackback by The Political Teen — 02.02.05 @ 10:06 pm
If what you say is true, perhaps you’d like to leave the way you came in? Go read the other deserving blogs and stop wasting your time with this one. Must you be told this? Good grief. - Admin
Comment by Ryne McClaren — 02.03.05 @ 1:31 pm
Wow, LaShawn. If you’re having problems like this, what hope is there for us aspiring bloggers?
Seriously, you’re a daily stop for me. I rue the day you decide to stop blogging. Please don’t make me rue.
Comment by Robbie — 02.03.05 @ 10:37 pm
I get about 100 hits a day, and about 95 of them are from people Googling “Britney Spears Naked.” Seriously. Even though 99% of my posts are about news, politics, religion, etc. So I would kill to have your stats. And yet you still want to be better, as do I. Mutually beneficial solution? You should go out of your way to find, read, and link the unknown blogs–like mine. If Glenn Reynolds links to it, odds are every other major blogger has also already linked it. There is no need for me to read your blog because I already read the same thing posted by ten other bloggers. Sure, I don’t get your unique individual interpretation. But then I don’t care–I don’t read blogs to hear the witty commentary; I read blogs to see what news stories people are buzzing about so I can make up my own mind. Where individual unique commentary comes into play is analysis of issues and stories that AREN’T everywhere else. Find the stuff no one has found. Post links to it. Report on it. THEN people will seek you out to read what you have to say. That’s the secret to making a name for yourself–provide a good product that isn’t available elsewhere.
Comment by Gullyborg — 02.07.05 @ 2:40 pm
I got blogrolled. No to be confused with bogrolled.
OK.
Trackback by A planet where apes evolved from MAN?!? — 02.09.05 @ 1:38 pm