Thursday Thirteen #22

*singing*: Happy Blogiversary to Me,
Happy Blogiversary to Me!

I started blogging on June 7, 2006, and lo and behold, this Thursday Thirteen falls smack-dab on my one-year Blogiversary: June 7, 2007! So without further ado, here are...

Thirteen Things About My Year of Blogging

EDITED to add: I'd like to introduce a new blogger friend of mine, Dorothy, who blogs at Scrungy's Creator. She is a novelist and a super-nice lady, and she is doing her first Thursday Thirteen this week! WOO HOO! Please go by her blog and say hi!

1. First off, my first blog post. It was a short post about the Ballicai (otherwise known as cats). Hubby and I had only two Ballicai then: my how things have changed! Today, we have four indoor kitties.

2. I've had five different blog templates, I believe. My first blog template was one of those which came with the first version of Blogger -- I think it was called Rounders. Then I switched to a template called Tropical Dream until I realized that the graphics weren't displaying fully in Internet Explorer (I use Firefox). Then I switched to a template called Chinese Flower, but I had problems with the sidebar not loading properly. Next was a template called Pink and Green Flowers, which I liked a lot and kept for quite a while until the unremitting pink started wearing on my nerves. Now I've got this green, sunflowery template, which I reckon I'll keep until I get sick of green. Can y'all tell I like flowers *grin*?

3. I've changed my picture in my profile several times, too. I like the one I use now the best, the one of me with my beautiful white cuddlecat, Marilyn MonREOW.

4. When I first started blogging, my traffic was flatter than a flitter, and you could pretty much see the dustbunnies multiplying on the blog. Most of my early posts had "0 comments, 0 comments, 0 comments." I kept at blogging, though, because I enjoyed it, even if it mostly felt like I was talking to myself. Things started to change, though. My first blogger friend was Wylie Kinson. We started blogging around the same time, and we became mutual fans of each other and of each other's writing. Slowly but surely, as our friendship grew and we connected with other writers online, both our blogs enjoyed an increase in traffic. I still don't have tons of traffic by any measure, but what matters to me is that I have a cherished group of regular readers, and I appreciate each one of you.

5. Because of this blog, I've connected with three fabulous critique partners: Wylie, Sophisticated Writer, and Bunnygirl. You gals ROCK -- I appreciate you being there for me, and I appreciate your wit and your kindness, your valuable feedback and support. Each of you embodies the best of the "writers helping writers" spirit -- as do you other writers who read here, which brings me to...

6. Because of this blog, I've become a part of a wonderful community of writers, the likes of which I would certainly have never experienced otherwise.

7. I don't know how many of you writer friends who read here know this, but I'm a cat blogger, too. Or should I say, the Ballicai blog, with my help! Chairman Mao, Brainball, and Dora blog here, and Marilyn MonREOW blogs here. Cat blogging is a whole different world of its own within the bigger blogosphere, and I find it delightful.

Now, I'll do a recap of some of the best writing-related posts I've done on TN Text Wrestling, to my mind at least:

8. Marketabily. What is a marketable novel, as perceived by agents and/or publishers?

9. Wannabe Writer. In which I reach through the computer monitor and shake by the throat people who use the term "wannabe" in a derogatory way.

10. Novels: the Undiscovered Country. Writing as a process of discovery -- not only of self but of deep human truths.

11. Sticking With It. Hanging in there when the writing gets tough and it's tough to keep writing.

12. Perspective. We writers and creative-types ROCK, and don't any of you forget it -- if anybody has flung poo at you as a writer, then buck up and wash it off!

13. Writing and Personal Struggle. Personal struggle as fuel for the creative process.


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!