I’ve kept blogs for a few years, now, but this marks the first year I’ve been with WordPress. I have to say, it’s been the most rewarding blogging experience I’ve had, yet. Not that Blogger didn’t make me feel welcome, but it didn’t exactly allow for the free and lush exchange of ideas that WP has done.
A year into starting this writing blog, I’ve accumulated a bit over 4200 hits, 81 followers, and 886 comments (though about half of those are my replies). There are many professionals who likely say I should thus consider this a failure, because my hits and followers haven’t grown exponentially over the time I’ve been posting. My blog doesn’t do or say or inform about anything unique, aside from it being uniquely my own.
But, it’s been a place where I’ve stretched my writing boundaries with the 100-word and five sentence fiction challenges, and the annual rush of yet another NaNoWriMo. I found a welcoming audience for not just my fan fiction stories, but my original ones, as well. It’s also been the place where I’ve gotten to know so many new, wonderful writer friends for the first time, and gotten to know a few old mates a bit better. And, it’s been the place where I’ve laughed and been driven to deeper thought, where I’ve learned about others and myself equally as much.
So, I think I’ll keep doing this little experiment. I might not be the most popular blog around here, but then, I’ve never been the most popular anywhere. And I might not be the most talented, but I’ve never been ashamed to share a stage with folks of greater talent.
Here’s to another year full of new faces, new places, and new ideas. I hope you’ll join me.
-
- January’s clothes
-
- February’s kitty
-
- March’s matcha
-
- April’s Doctor Who scarf
-
- May’s flowers
-
- June’s adventures
-
- July’s heat
-
- August’s glow
-
- September’s wilds
-
- October’s travels
-
- November’s endeavor
-
- December’s relaxation
Im happy to have found your blog 🙂 your writing inspires me to keep at it! Congrats on a year and remember your blog is awesome and yours! X
I’m so thrilled that we found each other’s blogs, Mayumi. I really enjoy your insightful, heartfelt comments on my blog and on Limebird. Your posts here are fun to read and I love how you use examples from your stories to discuss the ongoing debates of the should’s and should not’s in writing.
As I am sure you know, I’m not one to fret that much over blog stats. Whether or not that’s a mistake remains to be seen. But I know that if I started writing with my stats in mind, then my posts are going to be contrived and insincere. Not to mention I’ll lose interest in posting. Right now, I’m enjoying the fact anyone is reading me at all and coming back to read me again. That’s a huge leap for me, so I’m satisfied for the moment.
And I think you summed up your experience perfectly: “My blog doesn’t do or say or inform about anything unique, aside from it being uniquely my own.”
Looking forward to the next year of blogging with you. 🙂
Thanks, Jenny! I’m glad to have found so many other folks on WordPress, too. They’re all inspiring me to do better. 🙂
Thank you, Kate! I definitely feel the same way about your blog, especially since it’s more about the experience of writing – and living! – than trying to sell anything.
I don’t get as obsessed with statistics as others might say I should, for the reasons you mention.
I hope I can continue to entertain readers more in the coming year. 🙂
I’m glad you find happiness within your blog, without having to measure yourself to others. Writing shows us who we really are. Happy new year, hope to read what you write in 2013!
Thanks for stopping by, Oscar. And, thanks for the kind words. It’s taken me a long time to learn it doesn’t do me much good to compare myself to others; I can only be as good as I can be.
I hope you’ll be able to read work from me in 2013, too!
I, for one, love stopping by your works, as you never fail to bring a smile to my face. Even if I can’t keep up as much as I like, I try t learn as much as I can from you and your experience.
Looking forward to a great 2013!
Thanks, Shade! I look forward to reading more from you in 2013, too! 😀