No, I’m not celebrating the successful opening of my show. I did that last night with a Long Island Iced Tea (a rare and special treat).
Today I am celebrating my one year Blogiversary! Yes, folks, exactly one year ago today I wrote my very first blog post.
This blog started for a number of reasons, but perhaps the most important one was that my dear friend Sue said, “I dare you to start a blog!” I couldn’t pass up a dare. I think Sue still follows me, but she is a very busy woman so I haven’t heard from her for a while. Sue, are you out there? Give me a shout out so I can recognize you! Sue? Sue! Bueller!
Seriously though, this blog was also an attempt to have a virtual writing group with Sue and Sharon, the wonderful women who I wrote with, cried with, shared my book baby with, and did not want to leave behind when we were forced by the injustices of the academic world to uproot our lives and move on. I haven’t completely explained that situation on this blog, as it still hits a nerve, but I have another much neglected blog where I begin to explore the circumstances that brought me to my current life, if anyone is interested. I actually even have a third even more neglected blog, which was supposed to be a place where I propose writing prompts and hoped people would contribute in response. I’m thinking of somehow merging these three blogs together. Does anyone know if that is even possible, and if so how do I do it?
Anyway, I digress. This blogging journey has been interesting, frustrating, exhilarating, intimidating . . . and any other “ings” you can think of. It started out slowly, with weak posts and maybe between 20-30 hits on random days. Sometimes I would post daily, some months I could hardly face the screen. Sometimes I asked myself, “why bother, nobody cares what you have to say”. I’d look at my somewhat abysmal stats and feel lonely and hopeless that this blog would ever become anything worthwhile. It became frustrating because, I admit, part of my hope for this blog was that somehow I could tun it into something profitable. Either I hoped to be discovered and offered the next book contract a la Julie and Julia, or discovered and offered freelance work from numerous sources. Of course, with a truly practical useless plan like that, I couldn’t help but succeed, right? 
I realize that it doesn’t really work that way. I need to put myself out there and market myself if that is what I want to do. But somewhere along the way that desire to make this somehow a financial boost had morphed into something else. (Don’t get me wrong, I would still love to be paid to write, but the blog has taken on a different meaning.) I began to realize that I needed Women Wielding Words because it was time for me to stop talking about wanting to be a writer and actually become a writer.
With that shift, I made the commitment to write daily. With that choice, I joined a community of writers who support and respect each other. I’ve begun to recognize my own skills as a writer, and to reflect on why I write. I’ve value the interaction with other people who seem to be passionate about sharing words, images and stories for the simple joy of having those things to share. The blogosphere is now I community I truly cherish.
And, I admit, I’ve enjoyed watching my numbers grow. Two days ago I hit 100 views in one day for the very first time. Exactly 100 views. Yesterday that even went up a little. Not that the numbers matter, but there is a thrill realizing that my words do not simply go out into an empty void. I am completely content knowing that I have a few readers who come back regularly.
So, as part of my celebration of completing one full year of blogging, I would like to thank all the new friends I have made, and recognize some of my favorite bloggers in the hopes of continuing to make our community grow. I’m going to link you to the most recent posts of my favorites (even though I haven’t read them all yet). I’m sure your will find wonderful things as each person offers food for thought in a variety of ways. I’m listing Blogs, alphabetically. Enjoy!
The Incredible Lightness of Seeing
The odd ramblings of a mind that does not quite fit
Whew! That should keep you busy for a while. Sorry if I missed anyone. I’ll catch you in another post sometime, I promise.
Here’s to another year of growth, exploration, sharing, and writing! Happy blogging everyone!
Mar 05, 2011 @ 12:54:10
I love this post!! Happy 1st birthday to W.W.W and congrats Lisa for developing such a great blog
thank you for all your comments, the link above and writing interesting posts everyday which from my experience isn’t always easy 
you should be really proud, here’s to another year ….
Mar 05, 2011 @ 13:04:48
I love reading your posts. You always bring a smile, a laugh, and a little bit of thought to my day.
Mar 05, 2011 @ 12:58:03
Congrats on the milestone!! I gotta feeling that you going to notice a nice steady increase in your numbers from here on out….. You are on your way! Wishing you a great second year!
Mar 05, 2011 @ 13:04:03
If I do, that’s great. But if I don’t, I’m just glad I have supportive bloggers like you who keep reading me.
Mar 05, 2011 @ 13:01:13
Happy Blogiversary!
An exciting day for all of us to share in your joy for words!
I feel quite honored being ping-backed. May your stats continue to multiply in the coming days, months, and years as readers discover your talent for the written word and the wisdom you share.
Mar 05, 2011 @ 13:03:24
Thanks. If the stats grow, that’s cool, but I really am just enjoying the interconnection of blogs that seems to be forming.
Mar 05, 2011 @ 13:33:25
Happy anniversary and thanks for the shoutout.
Mar 05, 2011 @ 13:54:22
Happy Blogiversary!
Yo are right when you say …” stop talking about wanting to be a writer and actually become a writer.” Good luck with your journey, stay positive
and we will all be here celebrating next year and 1000 views per day!
I’m a natural chatterbox not a natural writer! LOL
If you are in the right circle the blogging community can be so supportive. Thanks for the mention!
Knd regards.
PiP
Mar 05, 2011 @ 14:26:07
Woo-hoo! Nicely done! Is that foil wrapping paper at the beginning of article? If so, awesome! That stuff is such a pain to wrap gifts.
So, I’m not the only one to have a few blogs. I hadn’t been on (2) of mine for quite some time, so I ended deleting the other day. It was time to do some spring cleaning.
I’m so grateful our blog paths have crossed, and thanks for the mention! I will put my “why” blog on my list of things to blog. I have to think about the why- and to make it an interesting read.
As for combining your blogs, there is the export/import feature.CHECK ON THE WP board first…Go to the blog you want to move, go into tools and hit export. You then save that file to your computer and then go into the main blog , and go to import and pull that file. (kind of like inserting media/photos into a blog post). Our company blog moved, and I had to do this. Everything transferred over no problem, including the photos inserted into posts. However, if you are using a different theme template, the original post may look a little funny depending on margins and such.
BUT check first as I was using a new blog that had no other content present. I have feeling this is the tool you can use?
I’ll be checking in other blogs very soon!
Sandi
http://www.ahhsome.wordpress.com
Mar 05, 2011 @ 15:08:18
Congratulations on your first anniversary, and even more than that, congrats on your commitment to write daily, post daily. I really look forward to checking out your other two blogs, as well.
And thanks so very much for including my blog in the list above. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate that!
I’m wishing you all the best the blogosphere has to offer!
Again, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Hugs from Haiti,
Kathy
Mar 05, 2011 @ 16:10:53
Happy Blogiversary…. you have really nice blog. Love it
Mar 05, 2011 @ 17:31:24
Thank you, and thanks for visiting. I’ll be by soon.
Mar 05, 2011 @ 16:18:36
Wow! Congrats on a year of blogging and thanks for listing me as a favorite. I’m honored. Keep it up!
Mar 05, 2011 @ 17:30:44
You too. I love your work.
Mar 05, 2011 @ 18:53:04
Happy Anniversary! You best get this blog a box of chocolates! I so enjoy reading your posts and am thankful to count you as a blogging buddy! Keep it up!
Mar 06, 2011 @ 11:57:24
I ate some chocolate at least.
And someone told me that ginger ale has the same affect on your emotions as chocolate (with fewer calories), so now I am toasting myself with a yummy can of Ginger Ale.
Mar 06, 2011 @ 10:46:13
Happy Blogiversary!! And thank you for including me on the celebration!
You are a very special writer, and I second Tori–I so enjoy reading your blogs! Even when I can’t leave a comment (or answer e-mails…good god), I’m still reading. 
I think I’m going to really start using the “like” button as a sort of calling-card to let my favorite writers know that I’ve been there, lol.
It’s so wonderful that you’ve hit a year already!
And I love that you’ve had a couple of days of over 100 hits–that IS a big deal!! 
Happy birthday, blog!
Mar 06, 2011 @ 11:56:01
Thanks Amanda, I’ve been doing the like button thing more often lately. Don’t feel any pressure to respond as I know how busy you are.
Mar 06, 2011 @ 12:47:52
Congratulations, Lisa! One whole year–and, yes, I agree that even for me blogging has been interesting, frustrating, exhilarating (100 views–woohoo), and intimidating. But you have been so successful and very prolific (how do yo do it by the way?). So keep up the great work–I look forward to reading your blog. It helps to know that there are soulmates in blogging. Thanks for the listing, too.
Mar 06, 2011 @ 14:04:57
Since I started Post a Day, writing a post in the morning has become a habit. When I can’t do it, my whole day gets thrown off. On the days that I have multiple postings, something usually happens that I want to get down quickly, otherwise I wait until the next morning to post. As for me being “successful” I don’t know that I am in terms of numbers, but I feel successful because I can finally say I am a writer. I spend more time now responding to my blogging buddies and less time searching for new blogs to follow.
Mar 07, 2011 @ 14:17:34
Thanks for listing me. I have also been finding worthwhile blogs through your recommendations. I really don’t know what is good in hits. I just follow my heart when writing. I began my blog in December based on a thankful theme. A few times I’ve gotten over a 100 hits per day.
Mar 07, 2011 @ 14:37:11
I am trying to focus on following my heart when I write, but I admit that they days when I pour my hear into a post to have only a few people read it are painful. For me, it’s not really the numbers, but knowing that somebody is reading.