Thursday 1 September 2016

Meeting Blogging Friends

The online writing community is generally very friendly on social media like blogs, Facebook and Twitter, with many of us interacting over several years. But there is something special about meeting up in real life, especially when you feel you already know the person to some degree through blog posts and such like.

Patsy with a copy of The Highland Lass!
Today, I was delighted to meet up with the lovely Patsy Collins for the first time (and her lovely husband Gary) who are touring around parts of Scotland, including my own area. We recognised each other right away from the photos on our blogs and were soon chatting over coffee like old friends, which in a way we are even if it's only been in cyberspace until now.

Patsy and me
It really emphasises how connected our world is these days and how valuable it is to have so many writing colleagues online who quickly become friends. Of course we all start off with something in common through our shared love of our craft, but I generally find that the people I like in the virtual world turn out to be the kind of friends I would happily meet up with in real life too.

The same happened at the RNA Conference in London last year when I met another blogging friend, Wendy Clarke, for the first time. We already 'knew' each other well enough from social media to make our first real meeting a pleasure.

So thanks for taking time to get together today, Patsy, and I look forward to your next visit to Scotland!

Rosemary

14 comments:

Patsy said...

It was lovely to meet you too, Rosemary.

Some people claim it's not possible to be friends with people you've never met. I don't agree with that at all - but it is nice to actually meet.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thanks, Patsy - really enjoyed our wee chat and I hope you and Gary enjoy the rest of your travels.

Teresa Ashby said...

How lovely that you two got to meet up xx

suzy doodling said...

Lovely, and I agree that you do feel like you're chatting to a special friend when you meet up.xx 😊

Julia Thorley said...

Of course you got along! Perhaps this is why people fall in love with penfriends and marry prisoners they've been writing to on Death Row!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

It was indeed, Teresa - I love meeting up with bloggers I like online!

It's the same at the RNA conferences, Suzy, where suddenly many of us are friends!

I can imagine that must happen after intense personal communication over a number of years in such situations, Julia!

Joanna said...

How lovely for you both to meet, Rosemary, and what a fantastic picture of you together. I have only meet a few writers from cyberspace in 'real life' and it's such a joy every time. xxx

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Rosemary and Patsy - how lovely to have met up ... I too a few years ago met Gary and Patys - having a good snack up at Beachy Head: not the same as Scotland. It does amaze me how one just slots in and chats away ...

That will make your comments and blog reading more fun - I always enjoy their trips out with the van! Cheers to you both - Hilary

Carolb said...

Lovely picture, and good that you had the opportunity to meet in person, Rosemary and Patsy.

It's wonderful to finally meet people that you've known online for years. :)

Wendy's Writing said...

It's been an absolute pleasure to meet the both of you, Rosemary :)

Rae Cowie said...

Such a heart warming post, Rosemary and lovely you were able to meet up with Patsy, however briefly.

Maria said...

Great picture of the two of you, really lovely that you got together.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Oh dear - I seem to have forgotten to reply to some comments again. Sorry!

Thanks, Joanna - it's great to meet people in real life and I do hope we get to meet one day!

Hi Hilary - many thanks for your comment. Glad to hear you've met Patsy and Gary too!

Thanks, carol - hope we get to meet up sometime!

Aw, thank you, Wendy - you too!

Thanks, Rae - it's surprising how those I've met are just as I imagined!

Thank you, Maria!

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