I’ve been writing this blog for six months – I’ve had over 2000 views on my site (an average day for some – but this is huge to me! I value every single view – even though I know some people got to my site searching for other things. To date the most frequently used search term on my blog has been – was Flight a good movie?) I have several followers who check in on my posts and I’m even starting to generate a few comments now and then.
On my six-month anniversary of being a blogger, I want to share some of the interesting things I’ve learned. All of these points should start with – I had no idea . . .
- How much fun blogging would be.
- How addictive it could become – like when will I not want to check my stats 500 times a day?
- That there would be an international audience and how really exciting it would be to have someone from Romania or Greece or France or Peru read one of my posts.
- How time-consuming doing something like a blog could be – writing posts, reading posts, liking and commenting on other posts, responding to comments – it takes a good chunk of time to do this well.
- That writing a blog would stretch me as a writer and cause me to hone skills I either took for granted or never knew I had.
- How much I would enjoy reading other people’s blogs and how much it would teach me about writing and life.
- I would simply love posting a well-thought-out comment on someone else’s blog and thinking about how they might feel reading my words and knowing I gave their writing serious attention.
- The scope of the blog world – that there is something about every single topic imaginable out there – all you have to do is look.
- How inspiring it would be to realize there are so many other people trying to write, caring about the craft, working to hone their skills and get their stuff out into the world.
- That my original motive for starting the blog (a means of sharing my self-publishing journey and eventually promoting my first book) would become a mere sideline to what my blog is really about.
I read somewhere that responsible bloggers should try to leave the internet a better place than they found it. Blogging is about producing a well-thought-out post that gives something of yourself to the people who take the time to check out your blog – something of value. These are the things I am trying to achieve with my blog and every day I read posts by so many great bloggers who are doing the same. I have no idea what the next six months of blogging will bring but I am excited to find out.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” (Winston Churchill)
I present you with this pic of our cutie pie granddaughter, Britney in her Halloween costume. Every time I look at this picture, I can’t help the biggest smile – maybe her little expression will give you a chuckle, too.
disappearinginplainsight 
Sounds like we are in similar places in our blogging journey. I hadn’t realized I’ve been doing this for almost six months, eep! It’s cool to see that your hit and follower numbers mirror my own (I passed the 2,000 views mark just a few weeks ago, and I was pretty excited). I smiled while reading your ten things, because some of them were things I’ve discovered as well.
How great to link up with another blogger at a similar place on the Word Press learning curve. Thanks for checking in and following!
Yes! I agree with everything on your list! Haven’t been here even six months yet, but I can’t imagine life without it any more.
Yup – it sure is fun! And time consuming! And did I say fun?
Very good post and every point you make about blogging could of ‘flitted’ off of my very own fingertips. CONGRATULATIONS on your six month mark. Yay you!
Thanks so much for stopping by and reading and commenting.
Haha #2. I am guilty of this as well.
I was just saying to someone the other day – it will be nice when I say – oh it’s Monday (or fill in any day that suits you) – time to check my stats. As if . . . . LOL
I just joined the WordPress community after self hosting for a while – at first I thought of it as moving backwards but I have been nothing but thrilled at the people I’ve connected with here, including you – your blog is great.
Thank you for the complement – in my opinion, the ability to connect with so many people is the absolute joy of this medium. I get excited just thinking about what might be happening at any given second out in the blog world.
I was SO sure that you were going to tie Britney’s pirate picture with your “navigation” of the blogging world lol. But you right, she can make anyone smile. I am very glad to see how much you enjoy blogging. It is wonderful that you get so much out of something that affords all of your followers so much joy – keep up the excellent work, and here’s to the next six months!
Darn it! I missed the old boat there for sure – shiver me timbers and all of that – a navigation tie-in would have been perfect. Thanks for your kind words – I am enjoying the dialogue with people in the comment section so much more than I thought I would. 🙂
I share your enthusiasm for blogging. It is a pleasure to write and to post – and always a surprise that other people not only choose to read those posts, but some even take the time to comment.
Too true and thank you 🙂
I love this post, thank you for sharing. I felt the same way at first. I started my blog in 2011, but it was not until doing Nanowrimo that I really got into writing regularly in my blog. I think it is a great way to connect and I have found that I am actually reaching people and being able to be inspired by reading other blogs, like yours. Thank you again for sharing, and your little pirate granddaughter is a gem! Love the photo!
Yup – she is a gem for sure. I was hoping my experience with the blog might touch a chord with others. To be insprired and inspiring – what more could we ask for?
This picture is ridiculously adorable. I stared at it for like five minutes. She is so cute.
I wanted to check back in with you and thank you for the kind words you posted about my book. Thank you so much for taking the time to read it, and for the support. I hope to return the favor!
Well – I lack any objectivity when it comes to these granddaughters, so must agree! You are very welcome about the review – I thoroughly enjoyed your book of short stories – the way you tied the first and last story together – it was quite lovely. I will be just waiting to thank you in turn for a review whenever this book of mine becomes available – the process is so much longer than I anticipated.
Lovely…some very good thoughts and learnings that I can definitely agree with. Thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome, Jackie and thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
I’m glad you blog, for my own selfish reasons 🙂 I love reading your posts.
Well – I plan to keep the posts coming. Thank you so much for the kind words.
You are right. It’s fun and addictive. Thanks for liking an article of mine.
You are very welcome!
First of all, adorable picture! I was also surprised by how much I enjoy blogging, and how long it takes, both creating posts and then commenting on other people’s blogs, but I love it. Oh, and one of our top searches right now is “Heidi Umbridge.” Not sure how to take that…it’s like I’ve become part super villain. 😉 Keep up the great work!
Thank you, thank you. Replying to comments is becoming a new pleasure.
10 things you have learned and they ALL apply to me! I think I would also have to add, (1)The friends I found and (2) I thought blogging was just for kids. (I suppose tweeting ended a lot of that.
Glad my list resonated! Definitely not just for kids!
I could not agree more with this list. I was just gushing to my husband last night about how much I enjoy blogging for these very reasons. I can especially identify with the thrill of the international audience! Had my first visit from Singapore yesterday. It is such fun. 🙂
The whole blogging adventure is so much more than I thought it would be and from the various comments that have come in about this post – it seems others have made the same discovery. So glad you stopped by and commented. Thanks.
I can identify with much of whatbyou shared about learning while blogging. And Now it is so much a part of me. Best wishes on your book and future endeavors. Your granddaughter is a cutie pie!!! Thank you for stopping by my blog today.
You are very welcome – as I said in the post – that is one of the added pleasures of the whole blog world – visiting everyone else out there! About the granddaughter – I know – right? Just too cute for words.