I didn't make time for blogging much this past year. Along with neglecting my own blog, I never visited anyone else's. But I never forgot about you. In fact, I hold fond memories.
I started this blog in the summer of 2010. My first posts were as bad as my first queries and my first pages. Okay, okay, my first entire manuscripts. Even my first critiques were lousy--I had NO idea what I was doing.
Thankfully I met Erica a few months later and she agreed to partner up with me. I thank God for her regularly.
Back then, and for three years, she and I were inseparable, virtually speaking. We emailed each other bi-hourly. We blogged daily. We met all of you and kept up to date with your writing and your lives by visiting you at least weekly.
Now, we go a week without so much as a "hi, hope you're well" email. And, well, this blog has gotten more than a little dusty. Ooh, pardon that spider web. Let me get that out of your way. There, that's better. Can you read the rest of this post now? Good. Onward.
For a couple of years we blog hopped and passed around awards, got involved with campaigns and challenges and contests. We interviewed you and posted weekly recipes. We hosted contests and gave out free books. I changed the look of this blog monthly. What better way to procrastinate from revisions and grading?
Ah, the ol' days. It's funny how many of you have been reminiscing about those days lately too. (Check out this post byLTM at That's Write.) It must be that time, the time when we look back and see where we've been and how far we've come.
Not much has changed for me, writing wise. (Except that I never stopped writing. I've written four complete manuscripts (*in four years). And, per feedback and critiques from others, I've improved some. Phew.) So what got me thinking about all of this? Last night, a non-writing friend stopped over and asked how writers get the word out about their books. I started explaining about this blog and the blogosphere and how authors help one another out. I started talking about that first year blogging and the nostalgia set in. Hence, this post.
This past week, I visited a few of you and I'm so excited about where you're all at. I think I'll spend some posts over the next couple of weeks strolling down memory lane and highlighting a few success stories and "Where are they now?" posts.
Cheers to you all!
~Christy
*added to clarify that I didn't write them all this past year!
It's so good to hear from you! I missed you ladies so much. The same has happened to me, a lot less blogging and a lot more writing. But I'm ready to jump back in this year and get in touch with all my blogging buddies. Congrats on writing four manuscripts, that's fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI think we all go through times when we need to cut back in the blogging. And in general, people are cutting back on blogging to get more writing done. Me too. I'm glad you're back. Missed you. And awesome how much writing you got done.
ReplyDeleteHey welcome back! Yep it's tougher and tougher keeping up with blogging. There's just so many other things to do, yet when I do make time for blogging, I'm always glad I did.
ReplyDeleteI also miss "the good old days" of blogging ala 2010. So many of the folks I met that year stopped blogging. I'm now on a quest to get back into community again, and that starts with being a regular visitor. So, hello! I think I was so deeply grieving my "lost" writer friends it has been emotionally hard to reach out, even to nice folks like you two, who have visited me quite a few times.
ReplyDeleteI don't miss all the heartache so many of us were struggling with back in those days, but I DO miss you, everybody and how close we all were.
ReplyDeleteIt was a special time. I'm so glad I know you all~ <3
Hi, writer compatriots! I'm cutting back just a bit from blogging as frequently too--but I still love to blog! And, hey, thanks for stopping by mine yesterday to comment on my cover reveal.
ReplyDeleteYep, I started my blog in 2010 as well! It's crazy how the time has flown. I remember those days when I blogged several times a week and participated in every blog hop available. Now it's more like one post a month :) But yes, the writing continues, I also have four books under my belt. What a marathon this writing life is!
ReplyDeleteI could have written nearly the same post. It's funny, I think a lot of us went through the same blog-bog at the same time. :)
ReplyDeleteThe lovely thing abut blogs (and the virtual world in general) is that you can use it anyway you want. Welcome back! I hope you find help, hugs, and happiness in the blogosphere. :)
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel. I am new to blogging and I can see why a break every now and again can be helpful.
ReplyDeleteYay! You've been missed. I remember the days when I used to stop in here at least once a week to get the latest buzz. Ah, memories. It seems like the blogosphere was such a different place only 3 years go, eh?
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