Three-Year Blogiversary
Three years ago today, I published my first blog post. It’s been different reflecting back this year than it has been on the previous anniversaries for the blog. Perhaps because I have a serious chunk of time invested in this site now.
One of the oddest things to think about is how I didn’t want to blog, but with encouragement from one of the members of my writing group and research into author websites, I realized that blogging made the most sense for me.
I’ve been looking over some of the stats for my website, namely what posts have been viewed the most over the past year and over the lifespan of the site. The ones that rise to the top surprise me, and in all honesty, I don’t know what it means. I’m not sure I can extrapolate anything from these stats that would help me determine what posts to write in the future. The posts that rise to the top seem so different to me. But it’s still interesting information to see, so I thought I’d share the stats with you.
Top Posts for the Past Year
Here is a list of the top five posts from the past 365 days. Although, I’ve removed any page visits (e.g., Home page/Archives, About) from the list so the lists focus on the posts visited the most.
- The (Submission) Grinder – Submission Tool for Literary Magazines
- Revealing Character
- Poem: Buoyant
- Six Word Flash Fiction
- Writing Conference Part II: Feeling Inspired
Top Posts of All Time
- The (Submission) Grinder – Submission Tool for Literary Magazines
- Cover Letters for Literary Magazines
- National Poetry Month 2018
- Six Word Flash Fiction
- Duotrope – Submission Tool for Literary Magazines
Top Commented on Posts
- Poem: The Island
- Flash Fiction: From the Water’s Edge
- Being a Writer and an Introvert
- Writer’s Block
- Flash Fiction: Impressions
Top Guests Posts/Stories/Poems
- Poem: Sun Drenched by Nikkita C. Miller
- Poem: Careful Planning by Nikkita C. Miller
- Post: Little Red Wagon of Excuses by Christy
- Story: Big Time in the Big City by Margaret Shaw
- Poem: Temptation by Sheryl Lain
As of today, I’ve published 202 posts over the past three years. Not too shabby. And while I know that if I posted several times a week, I’d be able to grow this blog into something more, I feel good about committing to a regular posting schedule and getting out one post a week. I wish my blog had a greater reach and found more writers who could be helped by the writing advice that I put here. But then again, there are many things that I thought or expected that I’d accomplish in my writing life by now. But to be fair, I’ve accomplished so many things I never considered doing when I decided to become a full-time writer.
When I first started reflecting on what I’d accomplished in the past three years, not only on this website but in all aspects of my writing life, I was overwhelmed by how much I’d accomplished. How many challenges I’d taken on that I never would have believed I could do three years ago. And as the pendulum always does, it swung the other way, and now I’m finding myself disappointed in things I have not yet achieved. So I suspect that means it’s time to stop reflecting and move on because nothing can be done about milestones not yet attained. The only thing to be done is to keep working and hope I get there and to be surprised by the next accomplishments that I don’t even know yet to dream about.
Happy blogging anniversary, my friend and here’s to many more posts! 🎉🎉
Thank you, Diana! ❤
You’re welcome, Mandie! I appreciate this space on the internet. 💙
Can you believe it’s been three years already? Time really does fly when one is having fun. 😉
I can totally understand your hesitancy to start a blog. I honestly thought that starting a blog would be a whole lot more complicated than it turned out to be. I thought I’d have to know stuff about coding in order to have a decent looking blog. Then, when I accidently made my first blog, I was like “Oh? Is that it? Is that all it takes?” 😆
When I came up with the idea to start my ambroseandelsie blog, I kept waffling back and forth about doing it. I really wanted to expand the story, but I thought, “In the big scheme of things, will anyone even notice this one small blog?” But it was one of those ideas that just kept nagging at me until I finally gave in.
“How many challenges I’d taken on that I never would have believed I could do three years ago.” It is an awesome thing to reflect on. Who knows what challenges you’ll embrace in the next three years?
Rock on! 😀
Thank you and that’s a funny story about you starting your blog. Hmm that is interesting to think of what the next three years could bring. I have no idea. I don’t even know what to anticipate. I typed up a sheet with dates of when I created different accounts or started different writing projects or groups and included followers, members, etc. that way I can see the growth over time. That way maybe when I think things aren’t progressing, I’ll see that they really are. Or I’ll find out things aren’t progressing. Haha
Either way, putting all of that information down puts it all into an interesting perspective. 😀
Out of the sheer fun of it, I looked up my All Time Stats to see which posts made it into my top five:
And they were….
https://ambroseandelsie.wordpress.com/2016/05/27/and-so-it-beginstagvampiresorderasc/
https://ambroseandelsie.wordpress.com/2016/05/28/elsie-comes-in/
https://ambroseandelsie.wordpress.com/2018/03/13/versatile-blogger-award/
https://ambroseandelsie.wordpress.com/2019/06/20/blogger-recognition-award/
https://ambroseandelsie.wordpress.com/2017/10/12/all-hallows-write-just-for-the-fun-of-it/
That’s interesting. I can see how some of the award and recognition type posts might drive up views from other people participating or being acknowledged. It’s interesting to see different chapters high in views though. Like what was it about those chapters that drew people in? You’d think people would just read from start to finish.
I know! Especially since the other high ranked chapters aren’t consecutive Chapter 1, 2, 3. It’s just all over the board. Not complaining, of course. I just think it’s interesting.