A Letter To The First Commenter On My Blog

Red Circle Days

Dear Diane,

I imagine it was just a regular day for you as you held your coffee mug and surfed the internet for a quick morning read. Maybe you were running late and after reading some of the blogs you normally follow, you had a few minutes to spare before you absolutely had to be on your way. It is possible you saw my Gravatar on one of those blogs and something compelled you to click on it or maybe you just happened to search through the WordPress Topics regarding 9/11 that day when my newly birthed blog lit up your screen.

Truth be told, my blog didn’t consist of much that would light up a screen back then. I hadn’t a clue what I was doing. I had no idea about the rules of blogging. I didn’t even include an image in the post. I gave no thought to length, unaware of the rule/myth that blog posts should not be longer than 500 words. Apparently, that’s the magic number when you lose a reader’s interest. That original post was exactly 475 words. Maybe that’s why it held your interest to the very end.

Regardless of length or lack of images, zero tags and no categories, you not only found my blog, but read my first post from beginning to end. I was thrilled to find one person had visited my blog and read my post. If I’m being completely honest I was over the moon, but that feeling was quickly replaced by sheer and utter exhilaration when I received a notification that someone had commented on my blog post!

You wrote: “I love your style… your kind of writing is the kind I want to curl up on the sofa with!”

Twenty words on your computer screen as your fingers flew across the keyboard and you hit enter. Twenty words that travelled across the United States, floated over an ocean, and arrived on an island to appear on my laptop screen. Twenty words that encouraged me to keep writing. Twenty words which validated me as a writer. Twenty words that changed my life.

Since then, you have been a loyal follower, avid reader, and have continued to share your words of praise and encouragement with me.

“This was the kind of excellent writing that produces a raspy sob that catches in your throat so unexpectedly! An awesome reminder about perspective and pain.”

“Your writing makes me want to spend the day in your archives wandering around wondering what else I’ve missed.”

“Pure art. When you get me to cry, you have won the prize. You write so beautifully. This will be one I come back and re-read when I am not rushing off to work!!! I love your last sentence about hugs! “

“My heart is full. My eyes too. A grand story.”

To any blogger, especially one just getting started, comments are that prize in the cracker jack box, the song on your iPod you keep going back to, the unexpected card in a red envelope when you open your mailbox. They put a smile on our face, warm our heart, and motivate us to keep pounding that keyboard and sharing our thoughts. One thing I know for sure is your comments have been all these things to me and so much more.

For this, I thank you.

Sincerely,

Little Miss Wordy (Leah Vidal)

If you’re a blogger, I invite you to revisit your first blog post and write a letter to your first commenter. 

Let them know what that first comment has meant to you!

If you’re not a blogger, I invite you to leave a comment on someone’s blog. 

You never know how twenty words might change their life!

79 thoughts on “A Letter To The First Commenter On My Blog”

  2. THIS IS SO AWESOME! I have to admit I was almost scared to click…that maybe it was a bad comment. (You just never know these days!) I love how much difference that ONE PERSON stopping to leave a message changes your day. I feel that way every time I read a comment on my blog. And I truly love the people that have been following and supporting me from the beginning. I will be sharing your post on my Facebook blog page tomorrow! #1000Speak

  4. Leah,
    I just read your story again, in My Other Ex! Sooo great. Still my favorite! I wrote a review on Amazon and my blog today! Just wanted to come back here on my favorite post of yours (BIG GRIN) to post it!
    xoxo
    ci

  12. It’s a big day in the blogging world when you find your audience. You, Little Miss Wordy, took it 10 steps past that. Great writing withers on the screen without great ideas. Bravo. Have a wonderful day.

      1. You’re welcome. I’d be flattered if you took a moment or two to check out my words and ideas on markbialczak.com. Loved your Big Apple photos, by the way.

  14. A lovely idea to revisit the first blog and contact the first person who left a comment. I love reading the comments on my blog as people share from the heart and I have some wonderful followers. You’ve reminded me of how grateful I am for them all!

  16. Truly great post … I’m one of those that love to get comments – likes means really nothing in the end, because you can “like” from “reader” without even opening or read the post. Don’t take me wrong I like to get likes … but the comments and the written connections is so important.
    I see some bloggers with 200 likes or more, but not one comment … and it’s day after day. I will now go back … and see how gave me my first comment. Wonderful idea.

    1. Thank you. In my opinion, comments go one step further than likes in that the commenter was moved enough to say something to the author and possibly wants to discuss the topic further. The fact that author and reader have that line of communication no matter where the two are located is simply amazing. I appreciate your comment!

  17. This is unique. Really, it is! I love when people find different ways to connect to the people around. Like you did! I am lucky to have found your blog and it was of course through Daine’s blog. She is an awesome blogger truly. Her pictures adds more flare to her writing’s vintage weaves.
    Nice!!!!

    1. Thank you. Connecting with others is so easy out here. It’s a truly wonderful community. I love Diane’s blog as well. Her posts are always so heartfelt. I appreciate you stopping by and sharing your thoughts with me.

    2. I feel blessed by the weaving of each other! All the friends that take the time to follow me and read my more than 500 word posts! 🙂
      Leah, you have made me go backwards to thank my first commentor and it has been interesting trying to figure out how for weeks and weeks I went with no one even seeing my blog to 1000 followers! Crazy!
      Thank you for being in my life!
      xoxo

  18. This is magnificent and a great share… one of my first to comment was a woman in Turkey, I’m in South Africa and blog photos of birds and wildlife… she reblogged my post, I’m sure you know what that feels like, from there my blog got a certain momentum and I have thanked her in posts, articles and everywhere I can, as she was my push to continue, my excitement and she has commented on every post I’ve made, all 498 of them…

    1. Thank you. I love to hear about bloggers who recognize they continue to do what they love because of their followers’ support. Comments, shares, reblogs are the ultimate compliment. I’m glad you’ve taken the time to thank that woman in Turkey. 🙂

  19. This is touching. Wow! It is inspirational because I have thought to myself time to time how blessed I felt when I received my first “Like” and comment from a fellow blogger who has become a dear friend and supporter in so many ways 2 years ago. My how time flies. It’s good to be encouraged. It also is a gift in return to let others know just how much they mean to you. God bless you for sharing this Leah!

    1. The bloggerhood is a great place, full of some talented and amazing people who seem so quick to reach out and support one another. It was definitely more than I ever expected it to be and comments like yours confirm that it is definitely something I want to remain a part of as long as I can. Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to comment. May God bless you too!

  21. Aw, man! I’m tearing up over here. That was so beautiful. You nailed it. The comments that people leave mean the world to a blogger. They encourage you to keep going and they make you feel heard and understood. This was awesome. I think I will go back and revisit that first comment. 🙂 –Lisa

  27. It took quite a while to build up a following and even today most new followers are by word of mouth. About my fourth of fifth post I did a cartoon about clocks. An editor of a clock and watch collector magazine jewelry trade contacted me and asked permission to use it. I am in Miami, Florida and he is on the other side of the world in Brisbane, Australia ! It was such a thrill and I wound up sending a dozen or so in the next few weeks for the publication.

    1. What a great accomplishment for you! Do you share them on your blog? I would love to take a look! One of things that has blown my mind from the start is the fact that my words have travelled to places across the globe that I never have. Amazing!

  28. So true about the comments but I appreciate likes to. I guess for a lot of people, it’s a matter of time. But being acknowledged either way is kind of special. 😉
    Happy Week, G

    1. I love them all! The likes, the follows, the comments, etc. all speak directly to my heart! Even just looking at the stats and seeing people around the world are taking the time to read my writing whether they take the extra step to like, etc. or not is special to me. Thank you so much for your comment!

  29. Reblogged this on The One Thing I know For Sure and commented:
    At the risk of tooting my own horn. And the need for a good affirmation every once in a while. I just had to share this idea that Leah had! For us all to go and thank our commentors! They are the ones that keep us going. I totally am blown away by this recognition! But I thought it was such a stellar idea. As one of her followers said… they’d trade one great comment for 100 LIKEs. It really does make a difference. You never know. At the risk of breaking the 500 word rule which I probably do everytime 😉 Here is my sweet friend’s wonderful blog of the day! Oh yeah did I mention it was about me? ;D

  30. Great post! I agree so much, it was something else to get a first comment on my blog, a first follower on twitter, etc. I really like how friendly most bloggers are and it has been fun in this short time so far.

    1. Welcome to the bloggerhood! I think I’ve seen you over at Bloppy Bloggers. It all seems a bit daunting and overwhelming at first, but the excitement of that first like, the first comment, etc. fuels your fire! Enjoy it all!

  31. Having written magazine humor articles for years, which require 1000 to 1800 words per article, I almost feel as if I’m just getting warmed up at 500. Obviously, this is a rule I’ll have to keep in mind. I know every time I notice a regular follower absent, even though I continue to follow and comment on their blog, I always wonder what was the reason. I guess all one can do is keep plunking away.

    1. Ha ha! I am Little Miss Wordy so I’m right there with you! 😉 I don’t think the rule (if it really is a rule) should apply to all pieces. Some need to be longer to work. I understand what you mean about absent followers. I wonder too. Then again, I tend to wonder and worry when someone I follow suddenly stops posting. Funny how interconnected we all are out here. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts and sharing your own with me. Do you share some of those magazine articles on your own blog?

    1. Thank you. That first comment started it all for me just a little over a year ago. The fact that she continues to follow my writing and continues to comment warms my heart. I truly write for the interaction I get from blogging. It’s a great group of people out here!

  33. I have been blogging for over two years and almost always break the 500 word rule, I didn’t know it existed….oh well to each is own. 🙂 The point for me is to have fun and connect with others. Glad to have found your wonderful blog.

    1. I break the 500 word rule quite a bit myself. I’m not sure if that’s really a rule or a myth. I’ve seen it mentioned on numerous occasions, but truth be told I have no idea where it originated. Besides, I’m a firm believer that there should be no hard set rules when it comes to writing or one runs the risk of losing their voice which is what readers are drawn to in the first place. Glad you found me! Thank you for your comment and hope to see you back again!

    1. It always amazes me that people keeping come back for more. I’m loving your reviews! Keep them coming. I love reading books that have been recommended by someone whose opinion I trust, and I devour books so always need to have a few lined up!

  35. The supportive, kind and considerate comments I have gotten have really made blogging fun. It is one thing to have a thought, but when someone else read my words and said something else, I was amazed. I don’t know who it was who left the first comment at my blog. I don’t remember the moment, but I remember thinking, this can’t be right. Someone agrees with me? I love each and every comment I get. Even from some crazy people, who I think are looking to stalk me. I love them all, and am grateful that anyone would take the time.

    1. I’m so glad you’re back to blogging. I see I have a lot of catching up to do! You’re right. When someone takes the time to comment because something I wrote stirred something within them, it is mind boggling. Thanks for visiting and commenting!

    1. I totally agree. Likes are good because it means someone liked my post enough to click that like button, but to take the time to comment means my words touched a part of them that compelled them to share their thoughts too. Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment.

  37. Wow. When I started reading this. It caught my interest cuz it was written by one of my favorite writers and cuz…well, my name is Diane. Lol. 🙂
    But I never dreamt you were actually writing about “me” even up until I came to my blog’s name! You always write me to tears because your writing touches a part of my soul that I am sure others can relate to!
    You really did have me at “HELLO” from your very first post! And all the ones that have followed.
    But today my friend, you will never know just how much I needed the kind of affirmation you have today.
    Leah, you have given me a gift that money could never buy.
    Thank you my friend.

      1. I remember finfing you in the beginning. But not being the very first! Obviously I called it as I saw it. Look at you now! 🙂
        I never comment unless I am truly moved so you’ve gotta know I’ve seen true talent in the making!
        Thank you!

      1. Thank you! I hope you do! I enjoyed taking a step back and remembering when I first started this blog. My excitement over comments is still there, but nothing compares to that first one!

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