When IRL friends find your online work.

Although it's not a secret that I blog and write online, I don't blab about it either. I guess I've never wanted to be pushy or seem like I'm selling people things or begging for traffic.

But the cat is slowly coming out of the bag. It seems every time I go to church, a friend comes up and mentions she discovered my blog or lens or article. I feel awkward when it happens. WHY? They are normally very congratulatory and pleased (surprised). So why does it feel weird? 

Today a couple approached me about wanting to visit Backermann's Bakery. As soon as he started talking, I knew where he was going. Yep. They searched online for the hours and directions and found my article here at Wizzley.  They were surprised to see my face at the top of the article. I felt sheepish again (although I am pleased that SEO is working for that article). 

Maybe I need a coming out party where I announce that I have an online empire!

Does anyone else have mixed feelings with IRL people "discover" your work?

I am not in the same boat as you, Jimmie, because I am online to promote an existing business, but my suggestion would be to say something to the tune of "this is how I pay my bills" or "this is how I have the privilege to stay home and homeschool."  Whether it is a career, vocation, hobby, or job, what you do online is how you make a living.

Only my closest friends and family know what I do online. I'm quite a private person and I like to keep my online life and 'in real life' pretty separate.

I'm not embarrassed about writing online. I'm on Google plus and have my photo online. So it's all there to find if people look. But I've never liked drawing attention to myself in any way - I'm always at the back of a room rather than in the middle of it. My daughter is the complete opposite which has forced me out of my shell a bit.

I do understand your feelings but you should definitely feel proud too that so many people are finding your work online. It's obviously your time to shine :)

Many of us who make our living online are timid introverts. That's why we hide behind our computers. I think a lot of us just have difficulty believing in ourselves and believing that we deserve to be successful. That's why I'm coming back as an extrovert next time.

Actually, I joke to my friends all the time that I'm coming back as a bitch, because bitches get everything. My SIL gets mad at me for saying that, because it gives women a bad name. I say lighten up and have a good laugh at yourself.

Paula, you are right. I have only in the recent months been able to call myself a "writer." I need to practice saying it and explain it in those words, "this is how I have the privilege to say home and homeschool." I like that! Thanks for that phrase.

Amazingly the two go hand in hand. I write about what we do at home so that we can keep doing it!

Recently my 12 year old daughter "Sprite" and I had a conversation like this:
Sprite: If you didn't have me, you wouldn't have a blog.
Me: Well, it wouldn't be about homeschooling.
Sprite: And it wouldn't be as popular!

Makes me laugh, that kid!

Marie, Thanks for understanding. I'm not embarrassed of what I do. I use the utmost integrity, and I'm proud of my work. I guess I'm embarrassed when people discover it and gush about it to my face. I need to work through the feelings and discover what about it is really making me uncomfortable.

Brenda, Ha! I am an introvert -- a very verbal one, but an introvert. Being around people wears me out. I much prefer words over people. Maybe most of us online writers are the same?

Mostly I've written anonymously and just told people I know that I run an online marketing company. But last Spring when I started publishing Cape Cod tourist info, it all changed. I was having a cup of coffee in a bakery, when I heard a British couple saying, "I think that's Nelle Hoxie." They were very excited. It seems they had printed out several of my blog posts and were following my suggestions. That's how we ended up having coffee in the same spot.

It was very weird for me. But nice.

Jimmie, I'm with you, I'd prefer to stay under the radar, an undercover sort of internet reporter if you will, I'm so shy, I don't like it when others find my work and SHARE it with everyone we know....

It's so well you know 

Jimmie, Thanks for sharing this. I had no idea anyone else felt this way too.

I too feel very private about my online writing. Not sure why because I only write about what I'm interested in, and what I can truly endorse. As you said - integrity, not only in the sense of honesty, but also as being a fully integrated person. I want my online work to only reflect who I am.

Fun that some of you are meeting people who know you from your writing. Autographs?

This is one of the most intriguing aspects of this 'biz' that I come across when friends and family IRL see that I 'write' articles, blogs, post information on websites, etc etc.

The problem is, they don't get it. Some of them think that affiliate marketing is some kind of network marketing scam. I tend to try to explain differences and what it is I do, generally, to no avail.

Some of them even cannot believe that some people can and do make a living through using their writing, marketing, skills and otherwise. They certainly do not believe that I can do it. My partner loves me dearly, but she doesn't quite see the whole picture either.

But at the end of the day, I do this for two reasons. Because I enjoy doing it for me, and it earns me an ever growing income separate to all else I do financially. Which I endeavor to make a primary income in the not too distant future.

Some of the plans I have for the internet will also show its a great avenue for us extroverts too

I do this because I want to and I am not fussed if others in my life agree with it or not.

This is why you have so many similar and reliable understanding people who do the same right here on Wizzley, same as you.

Be proud of all your successes and be even prouder of your mistakes online.

A lot of my main online businesses are secret including private websites, but the ones that are out there with my face plastered on them are for others to find and sort of brand and promote a range of different things and I've had a few people say that's the dull sounding artist guy on YouTube and I've said cheers for that!

When I first worked online it did feel weird to say that I worked online and then you have the awkward thing to try and explain what you do when they always ask what you do. But now I like to say I work for myself creating websites and writing and then get asked to code a website with complicated html or CSS and I know not a lot about coding which does annoy slightly as creating websites is far easier now than it ever was!...just plug in a theme and your done with content of course!

I had a kid come up to me and ask for my autograph and a head sketch of spiderman which was weird because at the present I have no comic books or anything in proper print yet!

Jimmie: 26. Feb 2012, 14:41

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Paula, you are right. I have only in the recent months been able to call myself a "writer." I need to practice saying it and explain it in those words, "this is how I have the privilege to say home and homeschool." I like that! Thanks for that phrase.

Amazingly the two go hand in hand. I write about what we do at home so that we can keep doing it!

Recently my 12 year old daughter "Sprite" and I had a conversation like this:
Sprite: If you didn't have me, you wouldn't have a blog.
Me: Well, it wouldn't be about homeschooling.
Sprite: And it wouldn't be as popular!

Makes me laugh, that kid!

Well, it is obvious to me from your writing how much love and effort goes into your homeschooling.  And if I were to guess, then I would say that many people who homeschool have to figure out how to afford to do it.  It truly is a privilege and if other people appreciate your ideas and articles, that is really all that they need to know.  But it is a profession. 

Well I've just had the wonderful experience of one of my closest IRL friends joining Wizzley too!  I'm really chuffed to have him here. :D

That's neat, Jo. It's wonderful to have an IRL friend to "talk shop" with, isn't it? (That was a real perk to attending a blog retreat recently. They all speak my language!)

I've tried to tell friends about various sites, but no one has taken the bait.

Kangaroo_Jase: 27. Feb 2012, 02:29

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This is why you have so many similar and reliable understanding people who do the same right here on Wizzley, same as you.

Be proud of all your successes and be even prouder of your mistakes online.

Thanks, Jase, for these encouraging words!

Your very welcome Jimmie.

This kind of goes along with what is being discussed..... I have a question........

How long should you be doing this before you can tell someone that you are an online writer...free lance author  etc...  What am I?  LOL...  I have been doing this since Oct 2011 and still don't feel like I have earned the right to say that I am a ....___________.  Fill in the blank.

I would love some input from any of you guys since you have earned that right and are very good at what you do.

Fill-in the blanks with "Angel" until you feel like you've earned the right to call yourself whatever you feel like you've earned the right to call yourself.

(I normally charge $3.50 for such a piece of brilliant advice. However, this one's on the house!)  

Chefkeem - I enjoy you so much!  You are so funny.  Thank you for your advice and so glad you didn't charge me.  It would have eaten up all that I have earned since October!  

Unfortunately, there's more where that one came from. Any future problems? Just shoot, Angel.   (Wears a sign: "Hit me!")

The only people I tell in my offline life that I am a writer is when I am required to declare my occupation on some official form - mainly because "writer" only has 6 letters and they just look at this and think "huh?" and then dont say any more.

My closest family know what I do, but apart from my Husband, they dont really "get it".

I have a couple of friends who regard me as a writer - but then I am writing a musical with them.

There's others I spend a lot of time with each year as we rehearse a show, but no way would I tell most of them because they would really not "get it" either.

I guess for all my directness and honesty online, I am quite a private person offline - that's Geminis for you - a dual personality.