Authors, Blogger Bash, Blogging, Fun Stuff, Indie Author, Inspirational, Social Media, Writing

Why I Love the #BloggersBash and Why You Should Attend

shelleywilson72

On a beautiful sunny day in June, Westminster was invaded by a gaggle of bloggers (or should that be a brace of bloggers??).

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A room full of introverts shrugged off their fears and embraced the nature of the Bloggers Bash with fun, frolics, and cake-a-plenty!

As I stuffed my face with a full English breakfast in my hotel on Sunday morning, I noticed an influx of blog posts from attendees and the nominees/winners of awards arriving in my notifications. Fast work guys! I loved reading their thoughts on the event and the positive moments they took from the day. Bloggers from across the globe got involved with live streaming, and posts of gratitude. Suzanne from Global Housesitter scooped the runner-up prize for Best Newcomer Blog, and she posted her thoughts HERE.

The lovely Ellen Best won the prize for her ‘Connections’ story submitted for the short story competition which you can read HERE.

The beautiful and bubbly Ritu, from But I Smile Anyway grabbed the coveted prize of Best Overall Blog and summed up the entire event perfectly in her post which you can read HERE.

(Images: Ellen Best receiving her award from Hugh. Ritu from But I Smile Anyway).

Please pop over to Twitter and follow the hashtag #BloggersBash2017 where you can catch up on some of the wonderful posts and photographs as well as watch the videos from the day.

There was a common theme amongst the first time bashers, and this was a sensation I could relate to as I’d felt the same way the previous year. It was a feeling of nervousness, fear, and uncertainty. Giving in to these emotions can prevent even the more robust of us to pull out of coming to such an event, cancel at the last minute, or never pluck up the courage to book a ticket in the first place.

As bloggers, it can feel much safer interacting with the world from behind the laptop. So, I thought I’d dedicate my Bloggers Bash post to all the reasons why you should attend this event in the future, and why it’s so important to me on a personal and professional level.

I’ll start by sharing the text message my mum sent me on the morning of the Bash. It said ‘Morning, good luck for today and enjoy being with your friends.’ It made me smile because at no point did mum think about the fact that most of the ‘friends’ she referred to I’d never met in person! It might seem very odd to think of your fellow bloggers as friends, but when my dad had a bad accident in December, I was inundated with messages of support from the blogging community. When I’ve struggled with my depression, I get random tweets and private Facebook messages of concern and love. I’ve celebrated births, weddings, and birthdays and I’ve offered my thoughts and prayers to anyone who is grieving or in pain. It’s what friends do – they support one another.

Upon arrival at the Bash, I flung myself at several attendees as if we had known each other for years – we have, but this was the first time we’d met in the flesh. On a professional level, my fellow bloggers support my writing, they bought my books, voted for me in the awards, and offered advice if and when I needed it. We are colleagues and comrades even if our desks are miles and miles apart rather than in the same office block.

(Images: L-R Top to Bottom: Ruth (Image & Word) Willow (Willowdot21) & Ritu. Lucy (Blonde Write More) and Allie (Allie Potts Writes). Icy (Icy Sedgwick) & Melanie (Melanie Roussel). Eloise De Sousa, Graeme Cumming, Donna (Jot to Jot). Hugh (Hugh’s Views & News) with Suzie (Suzie Speaks). Noelle Granger (Sayling Away) and moi!

On a personal level, the Bloggers Bash gives me the opportunity to embrace in some me time. As a single mum to three teenagers, I rarely get any time to concentrate on my interests, so I save up and book the entire weekend in London as if it’s a mini holiday. I do the tourist bit on Friday, attend the Bash on Saturday, and then enjoy a leisurely trip home on Sunday. Perfect!

Travel and history are two of my favourite things and so heading to the capital and immersing myself in art, theatre, or historical sites is time well spent. Think of all the blog post ideas! I do all of this solo which might fill you with dread, but I can highly recommend taking control of your life and pushing the boundaries. No-one bats an eye when you eat alone in a restaurant or wander around a tourist site alone. In fact, everyone is more interested in their phones to notice you at all!

So, if you are thinking about attending the next Bloggers Bash on 19th May 2018 but worrying about being alone, or fitting in, please don’t. Everyone is feeling the same way, we are all a little bit nervous – yes, even Sacha! You will know about 90% of the people in the room because you interact with them daily. They are your friends! Book your ticket, book a mini holiday like I do if you feel inspired, but book. You won’t regret it.

To find out who the Bloggers Bash 2017 winners were read Sacha’s post HERE.

I’d like to finish with a HUGE thank you to everyone that voted for me in the Most Inspirational Blogger category, I was delighted to scoop second place as you can see in this hilarious photograph (stolen from the very beautiful, Eloise De Sousa!)

Me winning!

Thanks for visiting my blog, I hope you enjoyed this post. Want more? Connect with me here:  Twitter @ShelleyWilson72, Instagram or check out my Facebook pages http://www.facebook.com/FantasyAuthorSLWilson and http://www.facebook.com/MotivateMeBlog. You can also find me on Pinterest

Published by shelleywilson72

Hello, I'm Shelley, an English multi-genre author. I write young adult/middle-grade supernatural and fantasy fiction and motivational adult self-help. I'm a proud mum of three and live in the West Midlands, UK. I love travelling in my VW camper, reading about Tudor and Viking history, and obsessing over to-do lists!

82 thoughts on “Why I Love the #BloggersBash and Why You Should Attend”

  1. A brilliant post Shelley, and I can’t echo your sentiments enough!
    The first time is nerve-wracking, but once you are there, embraced by all for being you, it is a wonderful event!
    Congrats on your award, and thank you for the mention!!!! ❤

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  2. Excellent, Shelley – I’d love a line to say who all the people in the pics are! I recognise Lucy and Suzie, and Noelle, of course…. and Ritu from blog comments… 🙂

    So pleased you had such a good day, hope this has given you a real boost xx

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  7. What a fab post! Loved seeing everyone and what I loved was that there was no feeling of competition or negativity. Everyone was out to help each other succeed and when people asked questions about issues they were having lots dived in with answers and help.

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  9. Great post Shelley, and thanks for including those of us who were on the other side of the world wishing we were there with you! It must be daunting walking into a room full of loggers you know in some ways but actually haven’t met in person. You summed it up beautifully! Congrats to you for your well deserved award.

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  10. How very dare you! Making my eyes leak at 8.30 in the morning… if I had known, had some prior warning I wouldn’t have put my anti wrinkle, filler, plumper , age hiding cream on. I definitely would have given the elixia of elixia eye serum a miss… I would have waited until after I read this post. I
    was so pleased to find myself beside you and behind Ritu you shored me up errected virtual scaffolding and gave me back my confidence ( which most people think is strong and always in place) I actually am stunned by the kindness and open camaraderie which filled the room. I think I made lifetime friends that day. P.s. thank you for sharing my story it was/is with pride and honour that I can call you my actual friend… opposed to virtual one. A brilliant day and this post sums it up beautifully.

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    1. Thanks, Marje. It was so lovely to finally meet you (I’ll try not to hug you so tightly next time haha) 😉 I really hope the event continues to grow and if we can show new bloggers that it’s a safe, fun environment then hopefully we can attract a wider audience. x

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  14. Shelley, it was wonderful meeting you and this post really resonated with me because, as you know, I was one of the people that feared coming to meet you all. I’m so happy I didn’t cancel this time as I have met the most incredible group of friends and made new friends from this event. Looking forward to seeing you again next year. 💗

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  16. Totally agree, Shelley! It’s strange how everyone clicks right from the start, but most of us have already spent years building up relationships via our blogs, so it’s just a natural progression. Its wonderful to see the progression and development of shy bloggers into competent confident ones from one Bash to the next. I don’t think any stranger peering through the door of the venue would have believed it was a room full of introverts! 🤣

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  17. Wonderful post Shelley, highlighting the blogging world. Thanks for including me. It reminds me of a modern version of having penpals. I did have one or two in my teenage years. Look forward to sharing more with you 🌻

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  18. Really lovely post and thank you for finding a photo of me I don’t hate! 😆 And congrats on award! It was great meeting you and everyone – being such a newbie to blogging I thought I’d be in the fringes but you were all so welcoming! See you next year!

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  20. Reblogged this on Lance Greenfield and commented:
    Great summary of a wonderful day. It was also my second Bloggers Bash and I’ll definitely be back for more next year.

    I agree with Shelley; it is initially quite nerve-racking for first-timers, but the atmosphere is so warm and friendly and everybody is very welcoming, you soon get swept along and become part of it all. You leave with a full heart and wishing that the day could be longer so that you could get the chance to speak with absolutely everyone.

    Brilliant day! If you haven’t been to an ABBA event before now, come along next year and make it even more brillianter with your added presence!

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      1. Great to see you too Shelley.
        I see you use a footer with links as Susie was advising. May I re-use your and adapt it for my own use please?
        I am certainly going be using Pinterest for more than looking for suitable images from now on.

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  22. It truly was great to meet so many people face to face, although I still haven’t quite gotten used to the fact that everyone is a living and breathing person and not just some stationary avatar that occasionally pops up in the corner of my screen. Loved meeting you.

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  23. Great post, Shelley. I know I was having second thoughts in the days before the Bash thinking I might be the wee lost soul sitting alone in a corner but everyone is so welcoming – and no one seems like a stranger.

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  25. Oops cut off myself! You captured why we do it.peefectly. like a great wedding it’s a wonderful occasion even if we don’t get the chance to catch up with everyone but then there’s next year!!

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  28. Hi Shelley! Love reading about the live event. Congratulations on your second place finish! You’re amazing and bring goodness to so many (including me!) I hope I get to meet all my Blogger friends who bring passion, insight, and humor to my world every day. But until then, I feel lucky to be among the group of fans you can call your own.

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    1. Thank you so much for your lovely words, Angela. The blogging community is so supportive whether that’s online or face-to-face and we are all lucky to be a part of each other’s corner of the world xxx

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  29. I couldn’t agree more, Shelley and thanks for the wonderful summary and encouragement! I have to rely on my blogging friends to handle the Bash memories until I get home on the 28th! So mine will be a late, late, tag on!

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  30. You summed it up so very nicely, Shelley. Not just the Bash, but about travelling alone to London as well. Thank you so much for coming to the event. It was lovely to see you again and many congratulations on getting 2nd place in the most inspirational blogger category. I’ll be in touch soon with your badge which you can display on your blog. Look out for the video which I’ll be putting together soon. 😀

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  31. What a wonderful post! So full of positive energy (like the Bash itself, I’m seeing).
    Congratulations, Shelley! ❤ Well-deserved. You are an inspiration. I am so glad you had a wonderful time at the Bash (and around London)! Love the photos. Thank you for sharing this. 🙂

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  33. Brilliant post, Shelley (apologies for not getting to it sooner!). It really does make such a difference to actually meet each other, and I thoroughly enjoyed our chat together – even if I did dig a hole for myself! Look forward to seeing you again

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