First Anniversary of My Blog

It’s been a year since I started putting my thoughts and photos on the internet.

.

Not all of the significant people in my life read my blog, but some do. My husband reads it because it helps him keep track of my thoughts and activities. (He might even claim that he only knows what’s happening around here because of my blog.) I think my adult children read it just to protect their own interests. Some of my friends read it, including friends from my youth. A few of my relatives follow my blog, and it has opened up more communication between us. One cousin tells me that her friends read it. Two of my favorite (famous) writers dropped by and made comments, which thrilled me. Some of my most faithful readers started out as strangers; now they are friends.

.

The posts that got the most attention were probably the two about the raccoons in the house. (See here and here.) People also liked my birthday list, where I mentioned 62 things I’ve done in 62 years. Cat lovers particularly like my cat stories. My SCBWI writer friends love it when I write about our conferences. My church friends like my descriptions and photos of church activities.

.

.

I’m particularly proud of the writing in certain posts . . . the “Where I’m From” post . . . the thoughts about each of my family members that I’ve written on their birthdays (Husband, Daughter, Son #1, and Son #2) . . . the story about the death of our friend Ed Pugh . . . this year’s Christmas post . . . my review of 2009 . . .

.

Often, I feel like the topic chooses me instead of the other way around. Whatever is claiming my attention that week seems to insist upon being recorded.

.

Even as a retired person, I’m a busy person, so I don’t write as often as I’d like. I try to let no more than a week go by without making a post.

.

Although I spend a lot of my time writing, I mostly write novels. While plodding through draft after draft of a novel, I get discouraged. But blog writing provides validation. In the past, I often told the non-writing people in my life that I am a writer, but I’m not sure they believed me. Now I regularly hear “You are such a good writer!” That encouragement keeps me going. I love knowing that people are actually reading and appreciating the words I write.

.

Because of the counter I have on my blog, I know I have lots of readers, but few people comment. Please don’t be shy. I’d love to hear what you think, even if you sign in as “Anonymous.”

.

I hope to entertain and touch you with my writing for years to come. Thank you so much for reading my blog!