When I put up the post asking where all the first-generation Nigerian bloggers went to, I think I got more information than I bargained for. And I loved it. A lot of people said that bloggers don’t blog from the heart anymore. That’s really sad.
When I started writing nine years ago on Nigerian websites like Nigerian Village Square and Nigerians In America, I really did not have a plan. I was just glad that I could share my thoughts – no matter how outlandish – with other people. And the responses I got for each write-up was ah-may-zeen! I got e-mails from women who said they were encouraged by my words, and I got e-mails from men who had fallen head over heels in love with me *squeals* and of course, I got e-mails from people who said I was straight up stupid. I thanked them all the same.
One thing I know for sure was that I cherished every single e-mail, and I looked forward to constructive criticisms. If I did not construct my sentence well, or if I used the wrong punctuation, or if I did a bad job at conveying my message, or if I even had an entirely wrong idea about the issue I was writing about, I wanted to know. It made me a better writer. It really did.
I remember the people that would send me e-mails and leave comments on the sites and tell me that I was clearly an old hag (not their exact words), that I was a bitter thirty-something year old woman because I had no husband and I was too crazy and extreme for any man to love me, and that I should stop doing that nonsense (writing) and go and get married and have children before my eggs dried up. That was nine years ago, and I still haven’t clocked 30. Go figure.
I never did tell them my age, and because I was anonymous, they did not know what I looked like, so they could only judge me by my words. That was when I found out that the bitterness of a single woman starts at age 30. Apparently, 30 is the abominable age of not being married. If you are 30 and single, you have a legitimate reason to commit suicide because I mean, what else are you living for?
Then I discovered blogging in 2006, and I took it and ran with it. I just loved the idea of being able to write as much as I wanted and post it on my own space for everyone who cared to read. It was never about money, business, or fame. And I knew nothing about Google Analytics, SEO, page views, and unique visits. Seven years later, a lot has changed (as I now know what these terms mean, and I smile when the numbers go up), but I hope a lot has remained the same.
Verastic is no longer just a space I come and have fun with. She’s still my baby, but she’s now also my business. She’s still a baby business, but she’s a business all the same. I have not lost my love for blogging; if anything, I love it more now than I did before. In the past seven years, I have grown chronologically and in many other ways, too. And my blog has also grown. For example, I no longer blog in text speak, and each time I see the text speak in my really old posts, I cringe. But I don’t edit them because that would be tampering with history. I don’t even edit the typos. In real life, you cannot edit your past as you see fit (although I wish we could).
If there is no change, then it means there is no growth. I have not learned everything, and I don’t think I ever will. I think there’s new information about new media every second. I may have changed the way my blog looks, and I may have added ads and sponsored posts, but through it all, I hope the message has remained the same.
It’s very tempting to join the bandwagon and decide that I’m going to start writing about celebrity gossip, or that I’m going to start giving news, or that I’m going to start posting every pair of shoes I find, but that is not me at all. This has never been, isn’t now, and never will be a site where you come for breaking news or celebrity gossip or fashion updates. Because I’m trying so hard to remain myself, I turn down so many things for this blog: press releases, new songs from artists known and unknown, celebrity photo shoots, and more. When I do blog about certain things, like current events or celebrities, it’s because I genuinely have an opinion on the issue.
Here’s what I hope you get from my blog: I’m not as young as I used to be (as I am now of marriageable age), but I am still a kid at heart. I have an active imagination, and I want you to know it. I’m very playful, and I have been sometimes criticized to play too much, but it’s all I know to do.
There aren’t enough words to tell you how much I love this community I have here with you. Each time you leave me a comment, you add a laugh wrinkle to my face (which I try to scrub off with Apricot scrub). I feel like my blog attracts people like me, people who don’t take life too seriously and are quick to laugh at everything.
I have big dreams that are so wide I can’t see their end. I will get rich and famous, and my blog will get me there. But I do not want to compromise my authenticity. I want to have a unique voice; when you stumble upon a post somewhere with no name, I want you to read it and suspect that I may have written it because you recognize my voice. Now, this paragraph sounds like Jesus saying that His sheep should recognize His voice, but trust me, I do not walk on water (as if you need to be convinced).
So I want to know what you really, really, REALLY think of me. And please don’t tell me what you think I want to hear, as lying or sugar coating will do me no good. Do you think I still blog from the heart? My heart, that is.
Hello Vera,
I guess i have been a part of your extraordinary journey, especially through facebook. I appreciate your originality and thought provoking write ups, especially about the fundamental motivations of relationships. I am starting a blog myself and I have realized already that I need to have diverse content to move up the statistics, but like you I want to do it my own way & not join the bandwagon.
I think you have become better at getting it right, but I also think you hit home harder when you said it straight from the heart & had those spelling mistakes. My advise is that you shouldn’t loose yourself in the crowd, you have a great future and don’t worry the world will finally adapt to you & hug you tightly, if you remain consistent. I appreciate you a lot.
“Better at getting it right…”
Hmmm. Very interesting. Thank you so much, Ifeanyi. Your words are very encouraging, you have no idea how much. I love that you mentioned my write-ups on relationships. I have not done one in soooo long. My friend, Funmie keeps bugging. I’m gonna try and work on one right now. Those write-ups are what eventually led me to blogging about everyday living, so I don’t know why/how I abandoned them. My roots!I wish you all the best on your new blog. You will find blogging to be challenging, exciting, and rewarding 😀
I almost did a double take when I saw the title of this blog post. Why you may ask? Well, just a couple of days ago I was just thinking that your older blog posts were kinda more interesting than they are now. I don’t know… your write ups used to be more intimate and from the heart than they are now. Granted, I just discovered your blog sometime towards the end of 2012 (just last year) and believe me, I spent hours reading your old posts and the stories that you told and your style of writing really endeared me to you (or your blog person). I know you have grown in all areas over the years and your writings are sure to grow with you. But girl, your older stories really hit home to me and they felt as if you were really writing from your heart without any form of restrictions whatsoever. Could it be because you were anonymous then?? I have to say though, some of your recent posts have left me in awe (for instance, your post about panties, with a real picture of your real panties, hanging on your hangers on your window). That left me thinking, you are one crazy woman, lol, in a good way though. You really have clout (I don’t know if this makes any sense). I don’t know what I’m trying to say here. I just know that something is missing somewhere. But I still enjoy your blog all the same.
Anonymous,
Thanks a lot for your honest comment. Really, really appreciate it. Thank you for reading my blog; glad you have been enjoying it. There are more than 1000 posts, so feel free to enjoy. Lol. Per the underwear post, yes, yes, I remember that one. I’ve been told several times that I’m one crazy person. Haha. Now that I have a better camera, I’m looking forward to taking even more panty pictures 😀
Well, as someone who has read for a long time but never really commented, I would say that there is a difference between the way you write now and the way you used to write. But that’s to be expected, really. That time/phase of your life was perhaps more exciting and more adventurous. Also, because you are no longer anonymous, there is a restriction on what you can put out there about other people without stepping on toes and egos.
However, now is now and I don’t think there is anything wrong with the present being different from the past. Just go with the flow of life and the blog. Remain true to yourself and you will always still be blogging from the heart. Even when you post celeb stories, you still have a way of making it more interesting and pointing out absurdities so it’s all good.
Stay blessed.
Manny, thank you!! I like what you said, “Now is now …” makes perfect sense. And reading your comment, I was nodding in agreement about no longer being anonymous and not being able to write about certain people in certain ways. Something about your comment did depress me though, “That time/phase of your life was perhaps more exciting and more adventurous.” Cheeeeeiiiiii!! Manny, so you’re calling me old? Loool.
I know you are going to be famous. Your blog is easy and interesting and fun. I like it here so much that I make sure to check atleast twice a week.
Awwww. Thank you, Timi!! Thanks for constantly reading and thank you for believing in me. God bless you 🙂
Whether u blog from d heart or not oh, i dont care. I never ever get tired of reading ur posts however long or short they may be, they always brighten my day. Keep at this biko, It’d surely take u places in Jesus name, Amen
Amen! And that was a thunderous and resounding Amen, of course. Thanks a lot, Dalu. Appreciate your love and support 🙂
I have followed you from way back in the days and started commenting recently. For me the difference started when you lost stopped being anonymous. You still have good content and I am still a crazy follower because you make my day often times but I miss the days when it was just the ‘eye’
Dunno if I make sense sef, I love you all the same because you haven’t deviated much. You are just more aware that there’s a face to the blog now. .
Sykik, thank you soooo much! And yes, you are making all the sense in the world. Perhaps, losing my anonymity has unconsciously affected the kind of things I write. And let me also confess, I also consider Igwe when I’m writing. He says I shouldn’t, but I still do. I’ll try to shake off the jitters and just write.
with us! I like all those kain things! To be honest, its really hard to remain true to self in this blogging business but if you can do it, then it will be worth it. Everyone cannot be a gossip blogger. Anyhow sha, I’m waiting for a day i will see yourLoved you then…love you more now! I like that you’re no longer anonymous and that you’re sharing your life and stories with us! I like all those kain things! To be honest, its really hard to remain true to self in this blogging business but if you can do it, then it will be worth it. Everyone cannot be a gossip blogger. Anyhow sha, I’m waiting for a day i will see your comment in my compound (blog, youtube). I’m watching you. lol comment in my compound (blog, youtube). I’m watching you. lol
What?!?!?! I have never commented on your blog or videos??? Are you sure? Cheiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!! I am sorry, my sweerat! Must rectify with immediate effect. It’s sounds really weird. And yeah, girl, staying true to your self is not easy in the Blog World. There are so many ways to deviate and only one way to be true. Thanks a lot for the love. Love you right back *kisses*
okay, considering I joined the fan club a little late, I don’t really have much to say but if your way of writing has really changed, as they said, then it’s to be expected. Time has changed and so has many things. You have to write in accordance with the era. For what it’s worth, I think you are one of the best bloggers with a unique perspective to every story. Unlike some, at least you don’t spread rumours and falsehoods.
Lol. Thank you, Tokunbo! 🙂
May God bless my hustle oh. Abi no be dem dey talk am? Thanks a lot for joining the fan club. I don’t think I will ever get used to having a fan club. Whatever the case may be, thank you very much. *HUG*
I happen to visit your blog twice last year(2012) when checking out other bloggers and this year Myne mentioned your proposal on her blog too. So since then, i do check your blog everyweek jus to see what other intresting topics you discuss.
Yes, i think you write from the heart and thats very important. Do continue doing the good work.
Awwww. Thank you so much, Aisha!! And thank you to Myne, too for mentioning me on her blog. Thanks for the encouragement; I really, really appreciate it,
I want more communication with you.
I got to know you this year, but I guess I did read one of your posts a while ago about how Nigerians don’t say “Thank you”. I saw it through google search.
I love the way you write. I believe you still write from the heart. Why? Because I easily pour out my heart on your blog despite being a public personality and not hiding under anonymous. There is a way you touch me that no other blogger has. You’ve made me laugh and cry.
Just keep being the Vera I love. You will be very successful beyond your wildest dreams.
God bless you.
Matse, you need to stop coming here and making me cry! Lol. Thank you, Matse. Thank you for your kind words. I truly, truly appreciate your openness here, and to think that it all happens because of the way I make you feel? This is gold. Thank you, Matse. It means everything to me to know that I still write from the heart. It’s very easy to get caught up and forget why it all started in the first place.