Field Notes: BlogHer ’14
I laughed, I cried, it was better than Cats. I’d spend a weekend at BlogHer again and again!
Automatticians, the people who build WordPress.com, participate in events and projects around the world every day. Periodically, they report back on the exciting things they do when not in front of a computer. Today, Michelle Weber — one of a group of Automatticians offering real-life happiness engineering at BlogHer ’14 — reports back from the popular women bloggers conference.
BlogHer is an amazing organization created to support and lift up women bloggers. They’re home to blogging communities close to our hearts, like NaBloPoMo, and their conferences are among my favorite blogging events to attend.
Meeting the bloggers who take WordPress and infuse it with their words and images is rewarding, educational, and just fun. This year’s annual conference was no exception — the WordPress booth included a Happiness Bar for on-the-spot troubleshooting, ample hangout space, and, of course, a comfy couch for much-needed conference breaks and blogging tête-à-têtes.
This year, we also added a series of mini-workshops on the topics bloggers most often ask us about — domains, plugins, social media, copyright, and the different flavors of WordPress — along with mini-panels with some of the outstanding bloggers selected as BlogHer’s 2014 Voices of the Year.
Being at BlogHer isn’t just standing behind a counter talking about widgets. There was great discussion. There were hugs. There were selfies. There was a little crying, and a lot of laughing. After three days doing everything from having in-depth conversations on how to find your blogging voice to helping a new blogger learn to highlight text and create a hyperlink, I was a little tired and a little hoarse — but also full of ideas to take back to work, inspired to do some blogging of my own, and richer in friendship than I was three days before. What more could a blogger ask for?
Thanks to the Voices of the Year-winning bloggers behind Butterfly Confessions, C is for Crocodile, Girl Boner, Naptime Writing, The Life of Kylie, Hacker. Ninja. Hooker. Spy., Baddest Mother Ever, The Waiting, and Jamie Krug: Author for taking the time to sit down with me, and for everyone else who came by to get help, talk WordPress, or just say hello. I hope I see y’all in 2015!
WordPress.com News 
This looks like it was a lot of fun!
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Hi Michelle
I’m a member of a writing group, and a couple of other members in the US attended the recent BlogHer 14 and had a really great time. Do you ever hold any events like this in the UK?
Feeling a little unloved…
With all good wishes
Dee
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I’m not sure if BlogHer holds events in the UK, but there are WordCamps — community-organized WordPress conferences for bloggers, developers, and designers — all over the world. You can see the schedule here: http://central.wordcamp.org/schedule/
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Thank you Michelle, I’ll take a look at the schedule. Dee
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It was great meeting you and the booth was magnetic for me–even if you weren’t giving away chocolate. 😉
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Ditto! So glad we got to connect.
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Thank you for keeping WordPress going so things like this event can happen.
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I hope to meet some Automatticians at a future BlogHer conferences. So fascinated by what you all do!
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You know, there are men who blog too.
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We know, and many of them were at BlogHer as well 🙂
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Hi WordPress. Any events that us male as well as female bloggers can attend in the UK it would be great to meet you face to face. The Foureyed Poet
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Hi, Malctg. BlogHer events are open to all bloggers, as are WordCamps — there are several WordCamps in the UK. You can see the WordCamp schedule here: http://central.wordcamp.org/schedule/
WordCamps are a great way to meet other bloggers in your community, including local Automatticians.
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It doesn’t mention in the post where the BlogHer ’14 was held. It would be great to have an international one, there are so many bloggers who are from all over the world who would love to attend….me included….I’m in Malaysia.
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Ah, sorry! It was in San Jose, California, US. I don’t think BlogHer does non-US events; their website would have more details. There has been a WordCamp Malaysia in the past, but I’m not sure if/when another is planned.
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Okay thanks for the update….will keep checking for the next one closer to me.
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I heart WordPress!
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We heart you, too 🙂
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Oh, a happiness nook, I love it!
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Come to Sydney! 🙂
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WordCamp Sydney is at the end of September!
http://2014.sydney.wordcamp.org/
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Woo! Thank you! 😄
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Seems like a lot of fun!!
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Oh so wish I knew about this sooner. Would have LOVED to be there.
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Ah, glad you all had a good time. If only I could have flown across the pond, I would have. Thank you, as well, for encouraging us all in our writing pursuits, big or small ( and for telling us that no matter who we are we can achieve, and be VOTY winners too)
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Can you tell me if it is possible to attend training of some sort for wordpress? Feeling so lost
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We actually have an online course, Blogging 101, starting on September 1 — we’ll post more details here and open sign-up in a week or so.
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Looks like lots of fun! It think it would be great if there’s one in the Asia region too 😉
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