WFMW Lore

I have lost so many brain cells from wallpaper glue that I'm scraping the bottom of the blogging barrel.  Not a creative thought in my head.  So, I'll answer a question posted by Jennifer at Snapshot recently.  She asked me if I would post the story behind Works-For-Me Wednesday.  She said,

You should post the history of WFMW. I've only been around a few months, but it would be interesting to know the "lore." Now that you have 100 + posters, you might as well have an official legend.

Alrighty...lore.  Must come up with lore.  Something brilliant, creative, profound.  Something about my deep love for seeing mothers share information and joining hearts and minds across the blogosphere, yadda yadda yadda.

OR, I could tell you the real story.

When I was packing for our Disney trip in March, I had a brainstorm on a clever way to pack the kids' clothes.  Hmmmm, I thought, I should blog about this.  Because I was in a bit of a blogging dry spell, I thought I'd turn it into a weekly "column", in which I shared a shortcut each week.  Friends, I am ALL about the shortcuts.  I have tons of them.  And yes, I realize this doesn't speak volumes about my character.

So, I wrote my little blurb about the packing tip, explained I'd be sharing a tip like that weekly, and even named the feature Works-For-Me Wednesday.  In the instant before I hit the "publish" button I had a brainstorm:  I wonder if anyone else would be interested in sharing tips like this?  Hmmm...maybe I could offer to link to them.  So as a complete afterthought, I included this paragraph:

Now, here's where I hope you'll consider playing along.  I would LOVE to see some of my fellow Moms Of The Blog World join in and do your own "Works-For-Me Wednesday".  If you let me know you're participating, I'll link to you.  Think how much we could all learn from each other if we share our own little ideas!.  IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EARTH-SHATTERING.  Just simple, affordable and designed to make the tiniest difference in your day.

For the first several weeks I went in and cut and paste each link by hand.  My Wednesdays quickly became the Day of Being Stuck At the Computer, until Carol at She Lives e-mailed me to insist I try Mr. Linky.  She even walked me through it via phone.  Twice.  That was a real turning point.

And thus Works-For-Me Wednesday was born.  Told you it wasn't all that exciting.

Other bloggers frequently ask me whether I'd recommend starting their own weekly column.  I always tell them to go for it, with the warning that as many seem to "flop" as succeed.  I have no idea what makes one fly.  Some other good ones are GiBee's Tuesday Toss-Up, Jules' Everyday Things (Friday),  Faith's Treasure Tuesday, and the ever-present Thursday Thirteen.  And honestly?  I would discourage any blogger from basing her content entirely on those weekly memes.  Branch out!  Pick one or two each week and then do different ones the next week. 

That's my lore and I'm stickin' to it.

Comments

[Pass the Torch]

Thanks for sharing the history!

[peach]

I think the next step is to collect all these awesome tips into e-books by category and use the funds from it to help a worthy cause for women. Who knows what could happen? I think it was the brainstorm of the century!

[Shannon in Arizona]

Thanks! I always wondered too. WFMW is what I use to "lure" people to your site...they think the idea is clever.

[Sarah]

I wondered how all this started! I think I actually have one for this week:)

And I haven't forgotten your sweet offer--I've been behind in replying to emails from trying to get ahead in my regular life, so I can spend the next week at the hospital with Addie! But THANK YOU! I'm so excited about getting them, and OF COURSE I'll be sending you some pictures of her in your handiwork! Thank you, Shannon:)

[Trish]

Thanks for sharing that. I have always wondered how that happened.

I agree about branching out, I dont do one or 2 memes every week. I do a couple or non. CWO has a meme for qoutes. I really enjoy looking at everyones blogs for this sort of stuff.

[mom2fur]

I'm sure glad Carol helped you with Mr. Linky! I think this whole WFMW thing is going to grow...and grow...and grow. Which makes me glad we now put that little thing next to our names telling us what our hints are about!

[Nikkie]

Thanks for sharing the story! I really love WFMW, all the great tips I've learned from others, all the sharing! It really is great!

[Faith]

Ahhh - where it all began! You are a smart cookie!!!

[Susanne]

The best ideas just all of a sudden flash into our brains, don't they. Good for you that you went with the idea and didn't just toss it by the wayside.

[Kelli]

Ranks right up there with Post-It notes, in my book :)

If Blogger doesn't eat my WFMW again *this* week, I may just pay Mr. Linky a visit!

[LadyBug Crossing]

I stumbled over here from someplace else. I am so glad I did. Your site is terrific and your kitchen - cluttered or not - is great, BTW!

I'll definitely be back!
LBC

[Paulette1958]

Thanks Shannon, because honestly after the tour I was going to email you as well and ask bout how to join in, with the wfmw as well. Do you have to put that little banner on your site everytime you do it or does it always stay on your site? Those are the only things I get confused about, trying to get them on my site.
Thanks for the info.

[GiBee]

Gulp!!! Does this mean I have to keep doing Tuesday Toss Up now??? 'Cause I have so many other things to talk about!

[Jennifer, Snapshot]

So, you've only been at it for 3 months? Wow!

Asked and answered. What other mysteries of the universe can I pose? Hmmm. I don't know, but now I know where to go to ask.

I do agree with you about not using a meme or starter for each topic. I really love the WFMW little community (and the tips, and the ability to share my knowledge with people because I'm really a know it all at heart). I want to start some of the CWO Tuesdays, and I occasionally post a Thursday 13, because like the list format, but that one sort of exhausts me for some reason. . . .

[Carol]

So, I'm quickly approaching the WFMW road block. I'm certain that I've already posted everything that works for me that doesn't already work for everyone else on the planet with a scrap of common sense.

If you ever want to offer WFMW Block Stoppers, I will be your biggest fan. Not that I'm not already, of course.