Once, on a very romantic date in a tiny bistro, I accidentally leaned forward too far and smooshed my boobs into my mashed potatoes. I am not kidding. And because I am not kidding, these are the sorts of things I write about. I’m a single-ish 30-something woman living in San Francisco. I am divorced and I have two cats and a BLOG, plus sometimes I knit so how sexy am I? WAY.
Blogging is my hobby, because no one has offered to pay me a million dollars to write it. Yet. I am holding my breath, though. And while no one has offered me a million dollars to “work” either, I do have a job.
I actually work for BlogHer — the online community for women, which has upwards of 14,000 members (check it: www.blogher.org) — managing their awesome blogging conferences all over the country. In fact, last July, we held the world’s largest blogging conference in Chicago. The last few months were (thus) pretty insanely busy for me, and detracted from my personal blogging. I hate when life intervenes. Blogging is totally more fun.
I started blogging initially about my weight-loss efforts and weight-related issues, because, as one of those women people, I seem to have a few of them. HOO BOY.
But I discovered after just a few weeks that having a “theme” or “purpose” was way too limiting. So I started writing about my life in general. It’s easier, there’s more material, and it’s more honest. Plus it allows the weight-related issues to be put into context.
I mostly write humorous stuff, but have discovered I’ve had the greatest readership and response when I’ve veered toward the serious, such as when I wrote about my divorce.
I started this blog in January of 2005.
I spiked somewhere between 1K and 2K uniques a day. But that was like, a hundred years ago. Now it ebbs and flows with the frequency of my entries. Also, I used to get mean commenters, and then there would be “Comment Wars” and that was pretty crazy. That’s all died down, though.
I JUST joined BlogHerAds this month (9/07), and have zero idea of what, if any, sort of income this may generate, but I’ve heard good things. So we’ll see.
Well I for one would certainly like to read more of my stuff. My family also seems to enjoy it, and/or prefer it to having to actually call and speak to me. “She posted today. Guess she’s still alive.” Otherwise, I suspect I appeal to the sorts of people who are like me: I trip and fall and spill. A LOT. I’m chubby and trying to lose weight pretty much all the time. I’m very sarcastic. I use literary references. I drink. I think Arrested Development was the best show on television. Plus, um, other stuff.
This changes regularly. In a good, “on” period, I may take all day to write a blog post — hacking away at it in spare moments until I’m happy with it. I find that adding photos or drawings takes forever, in which case those entries take days. Sadly, in busier times, I post maybe twice a week. And a piece of my soul dies.
Think of all you’d be missing if you didn’t! My life, it’s a non-stop party.
I’m not entirely sure that I’m the poster girl for blog success (“Hey OJ, what advice do you have for other former sports heroes who are trying to stage a “sting operation?”), but I can say with surety that three things help a lot. 1. Write in a style that feels comfortable. Writing is no fun (for you or the reader) if it’s forced. 2. Post regularly. If you can’t write every day, stick to something of a schedule. Readers love fresh content. 3. Marry Heather Armstrong.
This blog can be visited at http://shewalks.blogspot.com
Congrats on all your votes so far.
wow! i had no idea. um, yay?
of course, if i am counting right, and i have 95 votes and 90 *positive* votes, does that mean i got 5 thumbs down? because, i mean, i know you can’t please all the people all the time, but I’D REALLY LIKE TO TRY!
Yup, right now you have 91 positive votes…others are getting jealous
I think Arrested Development was an amazing band.
Love your blog!
Thank you, Bob!
Kristy is proof that you don’t need a penis to have a good blog. At least not one that is attached to you.
Thanks, Dan. Far too few positive comments include the concept of detachable penises. You are a visionary.
oh yeah, this blog is WONDERFUL. kristy is funny and urbane and quirky at the same time. i’ll definitely be checking her out more often.
You had me at Arrested Development…going to read you now.
Kristy rocks. It’s as simple as that. Hers is one of my favorite blogs ever.
I have been reading Kiki since she was a Best Of on craigslist and have been hooked. I started cursing her when she had to be all busy and stuff with the conference, but luckily I stuck around. Love ya! And if you ever come to Minneapolis, let’s have a drink!
*smooch*
i love she walks. kristy is intelligent and witty, which makes for laugh out loud posts. i’m hooked on her blog!
Kristy is da bomb! Do people still say that? I laugh hysterically when reading her blog (so I can’t read it at work, my co-workers will have the ammo they have been searching for to have me committed to an insane asylum). Keep it coming, and I hope you win, you deserve to.
Ciao,
Tuttipazzi (completely crazy in Italian)
Kristy is self-absorbed and cannot handle criticism of any kind and she calls herself a writer? a wannabe writer? Grow a spine, Kristy. Get over yourself already. You’re the new stale *bleh*
Hrm.
I’m never quite sure how to handle negative comments. I don’t like receiving them, because they are almost always very personal.
But this is hurtful to read. I’ll be posting about this.
hey frank…you seem to be quite the douchebag. why are you even reading she walks? stick to dr. seuss and penthouse, fucktard.
I found Frankly’s comment interesting. While I haven’t been reading Kristy long, I find her fresh and very funny. I’ve yet to see her react poorly to criticism, though many of the great writers of our time have done just that. Hemingway was renowned for being abusive to would-be critics and negative feedback was rumored to send Fitzgerald on a binge. So why would reacting poorly to critics make her “stale?”
I also found your criticism to be vague and more snarky than editorial. It seemed more like a middle school put-down than a writer’s comment. If you want to be taken seriously, I would advise you to be focused and specific in your comments, not insulting.
So for those of you who can’t understand why someone, ANYONE!?!? *gasp* would even dare leave a negative comment for poor sweet kind Kristy, let me fill ya in on a few things…namely, FIRST OF ALL, her blog is on the worldwide FREAKIN internet so who gives a rat’s arse if it’s a “personal” blog comprised of “personal” thoughts based on “personal” experiences…it’s still being posted out here in cyberworld so get a clue, buy a vowel, if Kristy really wanted to write about “persona” stuff and not be criticized in any way, then crikey, boot up Publisher, craft a newsletter, start a mailing list and just send the “personal” stuff only to those deemed worthy. DO NOT accuse someone of hiding behind an anonymous name as being less than stellar because, oh wait, I guess you conveniently forgot, you immediately erase anything negative on your blog, so the way I see it, fair’s fair. Since you don’t have any control over the content in here, I just found a loophole that gives me an opportunity to say that not everyone thinks your writing is superlative, nor your lifestyle choices wise, nor your recent post about negativity in blogs relevant.
If you’re gonna be online, grow a spine. Otherwise, scram, g’on, get outta here, go *pout* and *whine* somewhere else…
Want cheese and crackers w/that? Oh wait, that’s food, of COURSE you do!
*bleh*
frank obviously has a little penis which makes him angry. angry enough to lash out at a stranger who writes for herself, not him. angry enough that he can’t simply say he isn’t a fan of kristy’s topics or writing style, but instead has to resort to immature remarks.
although i will admit that his little tirade sort of worked because i am rather interested in reading his blog now. unless, like me, he doesn’t write.
blog on kristy. ignore little pricks like frank.
Wow, frank is really smart. He found a “loophole.” Genius, that boy. Whatever. Trolls are trolls and this one is really acting up, whatever his petty motivation.
As for Kristy’s blog, it’s a great read. And here’s the deal Kristy, unlike anonymous commenters who don’t deserve to be discussed anymore (because that’s what they want really – attention), you offer your readers insight into your life in a funny and honest way, exposing yourself – your desires, your motivations, and yes, even your mistakes – with great candor. This unfortunately exposes you to people who will take advantage, people who will attack, and people who don’t understand why every other person in the world doesn’t see things the way they do.
As for relevance, you have a large daily readership and scored an interview here, while frank’s presence on the web apparently consists of two poorly written comments (perhaps he should check out the blog of unnecessary quotation marks).
BLEH… Brilliant, Lovable, Entertaining, Hilarious… Yes, Kristy is Definitely the new BLEH.
What a loser that Frankly geek is.
frankly –
just to be clear:
- if you’re going to criticize my writing, have at it. i do not think my writing is superlative. i think it’s inconsistent, but i do think i have a definitive voice. my hope is that by blogging i will get better.
- if you’re going to insult me or my life, i’d ask that you’d at least be willing to engage in a discussion, rather than throw accusations and assumptions at me. otherwise you’re just being mean. which, granted, you’re allowed to be. but i’m allowed to not like it, and to feel hurt because of it.
- i almost NEVER delete negative comments. usually i keep ‘em up and respond to them, clarifying where i can, defending when i feel the need.
- i don’t think i’m whining or pouting. i didn’t like your comment, don’t like the way they make me feel, and so i am writing about that.
- spineless, no. if i were spineless, i wouldn’t post in the first place. mean comments can (and often do) hurt me. but i post anyway, because i’m not afraid of being hurt.
- a fat joke? REALLY?
ok, I’m going to get in on this one. The whole thing about blogs is it lets people- either those we specifically choose or anyone and everyone- take a peek at what we’re writing. Now, we do that because in some measure we want the attention. OK- America (that’s where I’m from) has long had a Hollywood complex and been fascinated with what other people are doing. This is partly what makes blogs popular. That and you don’t have to be famous, beautiful and/or rich to get noticed doing it, nor do you have to do something illegal. SO- whatever anyone wants to blog about is fine with me. AND- I choose what and who I keep up with and read. So, constructive negative criticism is something to learn from. Personal attacks are basically juvenile- just don’t read it and don’t vote (duh) for Kristy if you don’t like her stuff.
I will say this: your blog is not the thing that brought me to this voting site. But, I followed the link (prepared- are you ready?) to not like it because of- I don’t even remember why. I read it- I found not all the posts to be to my personal tastes BUT- here’s something that was clear: You’re funny- hilarious, in fact; you have a large appreciative audience; you’re very candid about yourself; you are a skilled writer who holds our attention, for the most part.
SO- my conclusion- you’re doing ‘GOOD’! Cheers!
Yay, 700th vote.
Don’t listen to the hater. I love your blog
I Love She Walks.. I send friends to it. It’s funny because it IS a real persons story. I’m a technical writer by profession, but I do not read blogs to comment on comma splices and the ending of sentences in prepositions. I read blogs that make me feel like I am not alone. My professional life can be very isolating and by nature, I’m a loner so if I dont’ work against I can feel very much alone. Kiki’s blog reminds me that while 3000 miles separates us we are quite close.
I read and it makes me laugh out loud happy. There is no shame in providing 2 or 10 or 2000 anonymous readers with a few moments of happy.
There is, or at least should be a good bit of shame in attacking someone anonymously and being a friggin’ arsehole about it. You don’t like it? Dont’ read it. The end.
Keep living and writing about Kiki.
Much love from my coast to yours.
JC
Personally I think Frank is hilarious.
When someone makes that big an ass of themselves all over the internet (kind of like all the 13 year olds on Myspace…And check it out, same immaturity too! Hm..) I think it’s funny.
And pitiful.
I can get not liking her, (even though I totally do) but being such a sad little person who obviously has pretty much endless time on his hands who has so little to do that the only form of entertainment he can scrounge up is bashing a blogger who
1. shouldn’t/soon to be doesn’t care, and
2. Has never said anything uncompletelyfuckingjustafiably mean to like…Anything before…AND
3. Is hilarious. Oh and
4. DIDN’T ASK YOU TO READ HER STUFF AND THEN POOP ALL OVER IT ANYWAY.
So, that is why I feel sad for Frank.
But no matter Frank, your opinions are totally valid. And so are everyone else who has commented’s. And so are mine.
(Mine being that you are a sad, sad little asshole.)
Fin.
^Samantha
Love Kristy. Love the blog. Will personally feed all of those who are disrespectful in the future to my roving pack of cannibalistic homos. We only eat the soft parts.
Um. Jester?
I like, love you.
heh.
JC
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