So, I attended BlogHer for the first time this year. All of my self-image fears were for naught and I ended up having a great time in general. Sure, I slept on a slab of granite (my review is coming on Yelp, Empire Hotel, don’t you worry your shabby little head), but all in all, I met a lot of wonderful people, hung out with old school blog friends and we partied like it was 2099. See the photos here.
One thing I did have a hard time with at BlogHer was introducing myself. I really have no idea how to do that anymore. Once upon a time, I was “Tenth Muse” and that’s it. Daniel loves to reference me or introduce me to people like, “OMGYOUGUYS! It’s Tenth Muse!” but let’s not kid ourselves. I was “famous” (air quotes!) on the internet once, but it’s been a long, long time and I hardly ever blog here anymore. In the grand scheme of the blogosphere, no one knows who Tenth Muse is anymore — I’m under no delusion.
Sure, I’m one of the Moxie Girls of Moxie Design Studios, co-author of Blogging with Moxie and that has some cred, but we don’t really blog regularly there unless it’s business updates. So… well, that’s not my blog either. And while we were there as The Moxie Girls, Kathy is now the very popular SafeMama and rockin’ that angle all over the place, which is fantastic. (Seriously, I was so proud — people flocked to her, it was awesome. I loved seeing her face light up when people knew who she was.) It was a conference full of mostly moms and many green bloggers, so she was hot commodity and for the first time… well, I was kind of the sidekick. That was weird for me. I’m usually the extrovert, the talker, the proverbial jazz hands, if you will, but this time, she was the star. And I was happy about it! I’m not bitter, it was just… new.
I have Put Down the Donut, of course, but… well, that’s also an awkward spot. Once upon a time, we were one of the first fitness/weight loss blogs out there. Or at least, one of the most popular. We were nominated for a Bloggie, we were published in national magazines, but due to the volume of work at Moxie, I just wasn’t able to maintain it. And in that downtime, fitness blogging blew up and despite the many requests for us to come back, I have to work much harder now at getting the word out about the Donut. Again, not upset about it… it’s just different.
I find myself with a bit of an identity crisis. When people would ask me, pointedly, “Who do YOU blog for?” or “Whats YOUR blog?” I found myself at a loss for words. Do I mention the Donut, even though no one has heard of it? Do I mention Moxie and hope they know who I am? Do I say Tenth Muse and try not to cringe when they look at me blankly? I’ve been blogging since 2003, yet somehow, I feel like a new blogger.
Now, some might think I’m just being brat, whining about how no one likes me anymore or jealous of the success of others. Anyone who truly knows me would know that’s bullshit. I’ve always said there’s plenty of room for everyone, and I couldn’t be more proud of Kathy or the success of others. I’m just not used to having to work so hard at being noticed. I just am who I am and people respond to that, usually. Some might consider that demanding the spotlight, but it’s just the way it is. I’m amiable, approachable and like to think that people enjoy my company.
I am just not sure how to introduce myself anymore, where on the shelf I fit in this blog library. It’s too complicated to list out 3 identities for people (they check out by the time you get to .com on the first one, anyway, and let’s not even get started on Twitter handles). I have a couple other projects I intend to launch over the next year… which would make 5 domains I could choose from. I don’t want to get rid of this blog, for posts just like this, where I need to hash things out and there’s no specific niche topic. Plus, it’s my first blog and I’m partial to it. Moxie isn’t going away… it’s only growing. The Donut (I hope) will pick up some steam over the next year and then my other two projects are fun outlets that are likely to do fairly well if I play my cards right.
I’ve thought about choosing one domain name, like my name, joellereeder.com or my original domain name I had way, way back before blogging: joellapalooza.com and using that as a hub — a one-stop shop for all things me. It’s a way for me to be decisive, definitive and able to introduce myself as Joelle from xyz.com. One domain, the end. But then I think… is that just adding more confusion? I figured it could just be a simple one-pager, listing all the logos/links to my various homes online. Or, I could just use this domain, tenth-muse.com, for the same thing.
What do you think about this? Does this seem like the way to go when I have 5 irons in the fire and each of them are unique unto themselves? Or is this just adding more domains to the list of GoDaddy renewals?
Or should I just shut the hell up and blog? 
Your post resonated with me in so many ways. Well, except for the being a famous blogger part. I never had a problem introducing myself to people or rambling on about who I am. I am not used to having to work hard at making friends. I find myself in uncharted territory, wondering who the fuck I am and perhaps that insecurity is showing through. Am I a mom blogger? A fitness blogger turned flabby? Running blogger? A wannabee writer? Nobody? Probably, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes. If I put myself out there as a runner, people look at me like, “Yeah, right, you ran a marathon.” I just wrote about my thoughts and what I gleaned from the conference on my blog: http://www.lauralohr.com/wordpress/?p=2007, if interested. Now that I have, “Reclaimed the Passion,” I am wondering which direction to go first? I have settled on writing a business plan of sorts, to try to sift through it all—if I can just get off Twitter.
I go through this too, and I’m a NEW(ish) blogger. I’ve got my main site, a review/recommendation site, I’m starting my marketing site, and I’m starting a new site with my husband (once his art show is over fingers crossed).
Right now it’s easy–I’ve only got RambleRamble, so that’s what I go with. But in a few months? Sheesh I don’t even know.
So I’ve got no advice, just…I feel your pain in an itsy bitsy way.
Thank you both!! I’m so glad to know I’m not alone in this. And Laura, remember it’s “famous” with the air quotes. haha! a.k.a. “big fish, little pond”. Now it’s a HUGE DAMN OCEAN and I feel a little like brine shrimp. Or maybe, like, a cuttlefish.
My long term plans include an aggregator site for all my stuff, so I support that idea. Or maybe I haven’t come up with a better one…
If it helps, identity crisis is exactly what’s going on metaphysically/astrologically right now. BIG TIME. So I’d say you’re in perfect alignment. Now’s the time to let those identities fall away and make room for the new one. The one that brings it all together. Or perhaps the others have run their course, you can let them go and more forward.
I can always count on you to be my hippie guide. xo You’ve always known how to read me that way.
I like the idea of a one-stop Joelle shop, as it were
The nice thing about doing things that way is that you can identify yourself by WHO you are, not by WHAT you’re working / blogging on. If I’ve learned anything blogging all these years, it’s that URLs come and go. YOU are the only constant, so if you want to maintain your “street cred” no matter what projects you’ve got going on, it makes the most sense to identify yourself as THE Joelle, instead of half of Moxie / Donut blogger / Tenth Muse / etc.
(… says the girl who doesn’t even know what name to comment under because I have two separate online identities and 3 separate websites. Clearly I’m talking out my ass here
THE Joelle. Maybe that should be my domain name…
Yep, I’m in the same boat as you. I have my food blog, my photoblog and Swank so I never know the best way to identify myself since all those sites are very separate. My only constant is that I use my Emiline220 handle for all the social networking sites, but that probably makes things more complicated since it’s not really related to any of my sites! I bought emilycarlin.com last year, and my plan (if I ever get the time) has always been to make it a central hub for everything, sort of a portfolio type site with examples of my design work and photos and links to everything else. I agree with what Theresa said that it should be about branding your name and not a specific URL. Once people can see all the sites you have, then they can choose where to follow you depending on their interests (weight loss, web design, etc.).
I want to make that French toast your comment is pimping. Mmm…
I think you should just shut up and blog. LOL!!
I still read and have been since 2003-ish. In fact, if you or Theresa ever crossed paths with me, I’d be like, “NO F’in WAY!! It’s Joelle from Tenth Muse!! Let’s go find a Cool Jazz Place…” and “Theresa!! Where’s that Hunka-Hunka Zoom-Lens of yours?” 
What I think it is, that we are getting older (we both are the same age) and the dynamics are a bit different. I also find myself a bit more conservative in dealing with people and for me, risk-taking is kept to a minimum. Why is that? Maybe it’s just a metamorphosis that some people go through or maybe I’m just talking out of my ass based on my own reality, who knows?
The “Blogging Community” has matured somewhat and no longer requires a definition of what a “Blog” is. Since you are one of the earlier and more popular blogs when things started out, it’s almost like you are a musician of some kind that had a few “hits” but hasn’t done much lately. I think you need to shake things up and refresh your voice somewhat. But you already know this and I’m just being Capt. Obvious and trying to lend moral support.
In Billy Joel’s “The Entertainer,” there is a lyric that goes: “…But if I go cold, I won’t get sold I get put in the back in the discount rack Like another can of beans…”
I think that’s what you are going through. Tenth-Muse is always been your “Home” and I think it should stay. Maybe use it as your new hub instead of something else?
Yes! Yes yes and also yes! I’m so happy I’m not just talking out of my OWN ass here.
I’m torn between branding joellapalooza.com (joellereeder.com is so boring and people are drawn to a catchy domain name. Plus, no one can ever spell my name… might as well make it fun) and just making this, tenth-muse.com, a hub… an aggregate like GW was talking about. I’ve always been tenth-muse.com, it’s my original home — we go way back.
So, like… still Tenth Muse (but with a new design because this one makes me want to pluck out my eyes now. I love it, but I’m SO tired of it), but maybe pulling in the content from my other sites chronologically and uniquely, so you can tell where they’re coming from. I want it in-line, though. *puts on my code thinking cap* Not sure how to do this, but I WILL FIGURE IT OUT. lol
Thanks you guys. This is why I keep this blog… because of you. I don’t write for myself, totally… I’m not a big “journaler” (if I wanted to talk to myself, I’d just open my mouth and do it). I write because I like the interaction and I appreciate your support. Gold stars for the lot of you. xoxo
+1 for the French Toast. Save me some.
I still think you should keep “Tenth-Muse” and possibly brand it as “Tenth-Muse Media, LLC” if you decided to go on a commercial pursuit.
As far as a hub, what is the “Tenth” in “Tenth-Muse?” Think about it…it could be the 10 online “Faces” of Joelle…lot’s of possibilities. Eh, Joellapalooza is kinda 90′s, at least to me. If you are going to be a hub, you want a domain name people can type from memory without having to Google or Bookmark it. I’d honestly keep the Tenth-Muse going.
Why don’t you just start out with a new template and go from there? Even draw something out and scan it in. You could post it and your loyal readers could provide input. I also agree with getting rid of the black coat theme. It is summer after all AND almost fall!!
I know! Get a “pro” domain like joellereeder.com and feed it one or two categories from here and your Moxie blog updates, that way you have your fun sassy blog (where you can Tell Someone), and the semi-pro/family friendly “business card site” blog PLUS it all updates on auto with EE so you won’t be double-blogging….
Joelle – I’m shocked to learn this was your first trip to BlogHer! I’m glad you had fun. I’ve ALWAYS, always wanted to go. One of these years, I’ll make it! While all of y’all were partying your asses off at BlogHer, I was at my 20th high school reunion. I felt a lot of anxiety about attending it – mostly the typical worries about how I look and what I’ve accomplished over the past few years – but I’m so glad I went. It was a total blast, and everyone was super cool. I hope you felt that way at BlogHer, too – it’s so hard to convince ourselves of our own AWESOMENESS, even if other people shove it down our throats in our blog comments all the livelong day.
I know what you mean about not knowing where you fit with the other bloggers – I feel that way a lot whenever I attend pretty much any blogging event, and tell people I’ve been blogging for ten years, and they’ve never heard of my blog! It was so different a few years ago. I’m so thankful you’ve all resurrected The Donut! And glad you’re writing here semi-regularly, too! We all need more Joelle in our lives.
interesting conundrum. i like the idea of joellapolooza! it’s fun and catchy, and you can link everything you do through there. very nice.
next year will be my first blogher, and this brings up a great point…how in the world DOES one introduce themselves?
Time to delurk again (does anyone say or do that anymore?)
I’ve been following you since 2003…back when you and Kathy were working w/a bigger team of gals for web designs…back whenI was still single and baby free, trying to get my feet wet w/blogging…back when I was obsessed w/1 blog having different skins (and hence why I hired one of your girls).
I always admired you and looked up to you, Y, Kathy, Mikey, etc…and wished I could be thaaaat kind of blogger. The one that just draws attention w/o trying. That one that’s just so eloquent and flowy w/writing. The one that just doesn’t run out of things to say and can turn the most mundane topic into something so vastly interesting! Obviously, I never did become thaaaaaaat blogger, but I digress…
I’m shocked to hear that this was your first BlogHer and that people didn’t know you or you had to work hard at it! I would have had my jaw to the floor and been star struck if I ever ran into you (or Kathy or Y or Mikey). I’ve never been to BlogHer, but am thinking of attending next year. I wanted to go this year since it’s right across the Hudson, but I’m all kinds of pregnant and just can’t deal w/the city and heat/humidity…and I digress again.
Anyway – i would stick w/tenth-muse.com and make it your hub like what was already mentioned. It’s like your own personal brand
Then again, I don’t know if you should listen to me, I went from “Filipina Princess” to “Beanie’s Mama” to “BZMomma” with 3 different domains/URLs in a matter of 4 years…lol