Haha! It didn't really take nine paragraphs to hook me. I've just been recently burned by something that started out pretty great then halfway through the first page it was like a child took over the writing... Just the author totally threw in the towel or something.
That was such a great line, I knew then I wouldn't see a similar display from you ;)
As for navigating Steemit, it can be a hassle, and a lot of the Discord activity (ours included) is there to sort of shortcut the process. Steemit is a place you only succeed by followership, but it's set up so that it's ridiculously hard to engage people on more than the most passing level.
Joining a place like the Isle lets you share your work and yourself enough that people actually want to follow your blog. And not just because they hope you'll follow back, but because they truly have found content they enjoy. Which means fewer "dead followers" and more engaged upvoters ;)
Any time you feel ready to stop by, give me a holler in the Pub or tell Thunder God I sent you and you'll be warmly welcomed.