In November of 2009, I took my first tentative steps into the blogosphere as an unpublished writer with one story scheduled to appear online the following January. I'd attended a writer's conference where blogging was encouraged as a way for writers to create a web presence and start building a following.
They failed to mention what blogging really is: participating in a freakin' awesome community of writers! But that's okay. I learned it soon enough.
If we were to revisit my 1-year anniversary post from November 2010, we'd see that I managed by that point to have 5 short stories published, 25 others out on submission, 156 blog followers, and 8,000 blog hits. I also joined Twitter as a way to keep my reader(s) up to date on the latest writing-related news.
In the past 12 months, however, my stats have grown by leaps and bounds—in no small part thanks to Write1Sub1 and various BlogFests.
> Published: 18 short stories (not including reprints) with 9 more accepted for publication, as well as some microfiction and haiku
> Current Submissions: 47
> Published: 18 short stories (not including reprints) with 9 more accepted for publication, as well as some microfiction and haiku
> Current Submissions: 47
> Current W1S1 Word Count: 132,000
> Blog Followers: 360
> Blog Hits: 39,000
I also created a Facebook "writer" page as a way to post updates longer than 140 characters and graphics for my published tales. (Honestly, I have almost as much fun putting those graphics together as I do writing the stories.)
What's next? More weekly posts, more published work, more friendships forged with fellow writers—that much I can promise. But I also thought it might be time to take things up a notch.
So I've hired a publicist. His name is Unit X11-76. Yep, he's a robot.
Thank YOU for a great year, my readers and fellow writers. Onward and upward!
27 comments:
congrats on your 2 year annivers- I mean blogiversary :)
Enjoyed the wee robot publicist. The end is a little apologetic don't you think? "...because nobody else will." And the same goes for the "in ten years time". What that says to me is that I should put a note in my diary to read you in ten years once you've gotten good. I think you should have a wee look at this again but it's a good idea.
MS: Gracias! It's been a great couple years.
Jim: Thanks for checking it out. At this stage of the game, I guess I haven't graduated from self-effacing humor!
That's so cute. But I agree with Jim, you should toot your own horn. But still be funny. Yikes, that's tricky.
It's been a really great year or two, I wonder what next year will bring.
Love your publicist! I need one, too. Perhaps Darth Vader or Vlad the Impaler, you know one with BITE!
You can always edit out the "in 10 years time" and "because no one else will." The idea is brilliant. End with "because I have been programmed to recognize talent." People usually take you on how you present yourself. If you do not believe in you, why should they? Confidence is catching.
Only success in your future, Roland
Congratulations! You are a huge short story author success, Milo.
And I completely forgot that my two year anniversary was November 9...
Deborah: Dare I hope for a book deal next year? Dream big, right?
Roland: That appears to be the consensus so far...Also, that I should include the web address to my blog @ YouTube with the video. Maybe I'll go back and tweak it a bit, then re-post.
Alex: You are an incredible blogger -- over 1,000 followers in only 2 years? Way to go, dude.
Jim, Deborah, Roland: I took your advice and edited those two lines; I also added my web address to the YouTube tagline. The current version is now embedded above. Thanks!
Congratulations, Milo :)
I love your robot!
Happy Blogiversary! Let's hope for many more ...
Congratulations. And where did you find such a beautiful publicist?
Lydia + Simon: Gracias!
Martin: Truth be told, he found me...
Happy 2 years.
I've been blogging since August of 2005, and it has REALLY changed. Nearly all of those who followed my old blog no longer do it anymore.
And I suspect that it will continue to be like that. I've taken 2 big sabbaticals from blogging, and it's an easy thing to stop doing once you even pause for a little bit.
So congrats to you for keep on keepin' on!
Happy Blogiversary! Two years is a long time. Thanks for posting your stats - it is very encouraging to see what you have accomplished.
I'm trying to watch your PR video, but my cat really hates it for some reason and freaks out when I turn it on. I'll give it a look when she's gone prowling.
Jay: Thank you, sir; many of my early readers have gone the way of the dodo bird, but a few have stayed with me for the longish haul -- and for that I am grateful.
Jennifer: Holy cow, that's hilarious; I should add some sort of content warning for cats... =]
Congrats, Milo! You're absolutely right about blogging opening a writer up to a whole amazing community. I've met some great people through writing my blog, reading others' blogs and, of course, through W1S1. :)
Congrats Milo and well deserved. Yay!!! Where do you access all those stats BTW?
Ah I've just found those stats on my blog
Madeleine: The best thing about the stats is finding out where your audience resides. Apparently, I'm fairly popular in Poland. Go figure!
Good stuff, Milo! Way to go! I've been thinking about doing my own Write1Sub1 challenge, since 2011's almost over already, and I was submitting something to Misfit Magazine and saw your story up there and read it--delightfully dark! Two years down; I, for one, am looking forward to the next two years from you.
Here we go!
Thanks, Devin. We'll be starting up Write1Sub1 2012 in January, but you're welcome to climb aboard anytime. I plan to drop from the insane weekly challenge to the monthly version so I'll have more time to focus on my novel-length projects. Even so, this year has been incredible: 45 new stories in 45 weeks with 14 accepted and 31 still making the rounds. Onward and upward!
You've had a killer year, Milo! So much fun watching you on this journey. Keep going keep going keep going. :)
Hey, I'm just hoping to catch up with you one of these days. Thanks for the support!
Thanks Milo for your comment on my last post.
I just added a Star Trek Limerick at the end of it that I thought you might enjoy.
Star Trek? Nice! Heading over...
Almost missed it, but great! Now your blog is ripe, and there's nowhere to go but up.
Thanks; I hope so too!
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