The Importance of Feedback and Comments to Bloggers

So I've been doing this consistently for what, over a year and a half now? Some months have been more prolific than others, and some have been downright torture prepping for tournaments and events. Over that time I've gotten to meet with groups of fellow bloggers who have influenced me over the 5 years or so I've been reading blogs, have shared experiences and just recently have even been able to be a part of a webcast Bloggers Roundtable.

Then I got this email the other day from a reader...

"Tim,

I just wanted to thank you for your blog and the articles relating to mini converting and making your army "your own". You see last night I finally took the plunge and put blade to plastic. It was extremely terrifying and extremely fulfilling. I don't think I would have been up to had I not gotten the nudge from your blog. While it's been small little things so far its already giving my confidence to take on more ambitious parts of my grand scheme. (Urban commando Tau Pathfinders)

I've only been in this hobby for about a year now but already I feel like I've learned so much from you and many others. But I feel like I still have a long ways to go. (My "high" quality painting is many others "table-top" quality)"

Yes, I did ask for permission to share his email, and no, I don't do this for egotistical reasons. I'm sharing this for everyone who blogs, posts on forums, or somehow shares their experience and talent with a multitude of people they don't even know. What you write and share makes a difference to those who read it. The online and blogging community for our hobby is huge both for those who give to it and those who take from it.

I'm also sharing this for those who read their favorite blogs and hardly, if ever, comment on them. What you have to say matter to those of us who are saying something. We don't write just to read our own words, we do it to share with the community. Even the blogs that exist just to log a large project to two, those folks need your feedback. Without feedback, we miss a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to bettering ourselves and our hobby skills. I will preach that til the day I die.

Casey was kind enough to share some of his recent work with me and those are the pictures that you'll find below. He also shared the following with the pictures:

"What you see here is my take on Farsight, it's not the typical paint job but it flows better with my army while still standing out. The Piranha is probably my best work with the engine glow effects. I have plans on adding some techno tribal markings to represent their victories. I've painted a few other things outside my army mostly for kicks since a single color scheme can get old.

There isn't much on the conversion front yet, I've added grenade launchers to the rifles, changed the posing on a carbine, and have krootifying another carbine. I want my conversions to reflect my idea of what my army is. People tend to play Tau without many allies, but fluff wise they are all about their allies. I plan on making my force more integrated with kroot and maybe even vespid strewn throughout the regular ranks. Some Eldar weapons and bling might find their way in as we'll since I plan on using them as allies and I want to tie the two forces together."

Take a look, let him know in the comments if you like what you see, and even what he could do to continue to improve. My only rule is that you be constructive in your comments, I will remove any blatantly destructive criticisms.

Bottom line is that hearing from our readers helps push us to continue blogging. So if you like what your favorite blog has to say and show you, let them know it.

- Tim