Blogtacular 2014
I’ve spent the last week trying to find a way to sum up Blogtacular. I’ve sat in front of the blank screen writing various thoughts about what it was like, how much I enjoyed it, how much I loved hugging so many people I’ve known online for so long, but the words just don’t want to come. It was amazing, awesome, hard work, stressful and wonderful in equal measures. Its strange to see a dream come together, having so long lived in our heads, to see it all happen was a bit of a blur! The day changed both the way I see my work and the way I see the world of blogging – all for the better. I have to admit that I didn't expect that. Being one of the organisers, I'd seen the presentations beforehand and had a good idea of what was going to be said, but still was blown away by the amount of creativity, thought and passion of both speakers and attendees in every session I was able to sit in on.
It wasn't until I was there, amongst so many people "like me" that I really realised how much I’d felt like an outsider in many blogging circles. To stand in a group of people who “got it”, well the feeling couldn’t have been any better. As we closed on Saturday night, the fear, worry and sleepless nights Kat and I had gone through over the last year seemed very worth it to be able to stand with so many like-minded folk who believe in the power and potential of creativity, blogging and online connection as much as we do.
And in the week that has followed, one thing has stuck with me more than anything else…a quote from Anne Ditmeyer of Pret a Voyager that I have printed out and hung on my wall (and my computer desktop, and phone screen and in my day planner, ahem).
In the last week, it has formed a guiding statement as I re-look at my work, think about the future and plan what comes next. First up? Planning Blogtacular 2015.
If you want to read more about the weekend, check out our Blogtacular Pinterest Board or the official photos of the day (thanks Will Ireland and Mollie Makes). If you want to see what you were missing, check out the tickets to the virtual conference.
On a personal note, thank you to everyone who supported us, through buying tickets, sponsoring, speaking or just cheering us on. Thank you the Raddisson Blu Portman for the incredible accommodation for Team Blogtacular (it was AMAZING - easily the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in!). Thank you to Amanda from Kitschycoo for being awesome and working your bad ass off. And thanks to Kat for having a dream and never taking no for an answer.
