On Monday 26th July 2010, I wrote my first ever blog post - a post which, sadly, received no comments.
I'd been reading some blogs by my favourite authors, and decided I'd like to have a go. If nothing else, I thought, at least I'd have a record of my journey towards my Man Booker-winning novel in 2030...
And today, I am writing my 500th post.
I've been pretty active, writing-wise, in those five years and three months - I've had three books published, with another on the way next year. I've written a novel which I'm currently submitting, and I'm writing some short stories for a new collection.
But most of all, I've met lots of wonderful writers, many of whom I call friends.
I've been writing for a very long time (my first two short stories were published 21 years ago, which makes me sound very old, even though I'm not!) and in those days prior to the internet, writing was a lonely business. Indeed, authors were remote and awe-inducing because you couldn't just phone them up for a chat, or read about their daily lives - connections on Facebook and Twitter mean you now can. How brilliant is that!
As a thank you for reading my blog - new and old alike - I'm giving away two copies of each of my books. Cat and The Dreamer is an ebook, but the others are available in paperback too. Just comment with the book and format you'd like - I'll choose winners at random next Friday, 23rd October.
Congratulations on your 500th post, Annalisa.
ReplyDeleteThree books published, another on the way, some short stories for a new collection - I think you've done very well.
Have a great weekend!
(I'd love a copy of Our Beautiful Child - ebook format.)
I'm not as prolific as some of my blogger friends, but I am (finally) content with the speed of my writing. I wouldn't be able to go faster, that's for sure :-)
DeleteThanks for entering my comp!
Congrats on your achievement. Greetings and best wishes always!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Blogoratti :-)
DeleteCongratulations! Youve done so much in 5 years. (Cat and the Dreamer or Our Beautiful Childwould be fantastic. Ebook.) ~Miriam
ReplyDeleteThanks Miriam :-)
DeleteHi Annalisa - well done ... and you've achieved, continue to achieve and will achieve ... and 500 blog posts is pretty amazing ...
ReplyDeleteI'd love That Sadie Thing, or Our Beautiful Child in book format ... much prefer to read paper!
Cheers and have an excellent weekend - Hilary
Thanks for entering, Hilary. 500 posts isn't bad, especially as I've slowed my pace recently.
DeleteCongrats, Annalisa. 500 posts in 5 years ain't bad at all; my blog is just approaching 4 years, with roughly half as many posts as yours. I can't wait to read that Man Booker-winning novel by the way. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've slowed down on my blogging a lot over the past couple of years, but I started in a big whirlwind of 3 or 4 times a week. They soon mount up! I can't wait to have a Man Booker winning idea!
Deletecongrats on 500 and I'm glad I met you via blog world. I'm a huge fan of your books and writing. Onward to that Man Booker prize. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Joanne. I'm really glad I met you too. Wordsplash Flash is one of my favourite books to dip into - it shares a shelf with Margaret Atwood :-)
DeleteExcellent! Keep going, keep writing! :)
ReplyDeleteI will, Madeline :-)
DeleteCongratulations! That's awesome. Next stop: 1000 posts! Put me in for the draw for Our Beautiful Child. Have a terrific weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine :-) And thanks for entering the giveaway :-)
DeleteThe only one I haven't read is Our Beautiful Child. So nice to see you reaching a fine blogging milestone. I don't even keep track of my blog posts anymore, but I am making time to blog again. There's just something about writing - we can't not do it. There's something else about blogging, because I really miss it when life takes me by storm and I don't have time to keep up with it. Best to you and have a wonderful weekend :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise I was so close to this milestone until I was writing my last couple of posts. It felt like something I had to celebrate. In my first post, I worried I'd give up after a few weeks :-)
DeleteWhat would we do without our blogs? I started mine nine years ago and I'm approaching 1200 posts. Unlike you, I'm unable to write more than a few hundred words per story - my mind constantly flits from one tale to another! The one exception was a seven-parter called The Stranger which I wrote in 2007 It was 4000 words or so.I wanted to stop, but my commenters urged me on!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm sure you will go from strength to strength - Man Booker awaits you as do we all!
The Stranger
1200 posts is very impressive. Flash fiction definitely suits you, Keith - you always tell a great tale :-)
DeleteCongratulations, Annalisa! You have indeed been working hard. You have accomplished so much. Can I enter the draw for A Beautiful Child (e-book). Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly can, Murees, and thank you :-)
DeleteCongratulations on 500! Forward to 1000!
ReplyDeleteThanks John. Yes, definitely going for the 1000 now :-)
DeleteCongratulations, Annalisa, on all your achievements, so far! (Smiles).
ReplyDeleteThanks Jacqueline :-)
DeleteCongratulations and Happy Posting! It sounds like we both started and stayed blogging for the same reasons. :)
ReplyDeleteThe community feel has made blogging so easy to stick to over the years :-)
DeleteCongratulations on your 500th post!
ReplyDeleteI don't think my first post got any comments either, but my second post did. From my sister. Woo hoo! Gotta love your sister for commenting on your new blog!
Those early supporters are so important. My first commenter was on my third post and was actually a blogger I didn't know. Sadly, she hasn't blogged for a long time.
DeleteHow nice of you to share your work with us, Annalisa.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra.
Delete500 and counting! Early blog posts are disappointing from the standpoint of getting comments. I need to go back and see if I had anyone visiting my blog when I first started.
ReplyDeleteMine took a few months to get visitors, because that's when I really got into visiting other blogs. It's interesting to go back and look at old posts.
DeleteWow, congratulations. When I look back at my early foray into blogging I sort of cringe! Not sure when I exactly got my first comment, but like your commentator, I don't think they blog anymore. Please enter me for the draw for That Sadie Thing, I've read the other two books and they were great. Thanks, Annalisa and here's to the next 500!
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame when you get friendly with people on their blog, and then they just vanish. Thanks for entering the competition :-)
DeleteCongratulations on a fruitful writing life. A long history. Isn't it sad when you first start blogging and no one reads your posts? I'm glad things improve over time. I started blogging in 2007 and must look to see how many posts I'm up to now!
ReplyDeleteEspecially when those early posts are the ones that really need attention. Well done on your eight years of blogging!
DeleteHas it really been that long? Dang. I remember reading about each of your announcements for all three of those. You're the kinda of writer I look at and think, she's amazing. So much done, where as in a similar time span I only have a bunch of first drafts. And then I get all inspired and think I really, really need to get back in the habit of daily writing and not so much all the stuff I'm reading on the Internet.
ReplyDeleteKudus to you Annalisa for a great run that I'm sure will continue.
As for your giveaway - Sadie please if I'm selected.
Yes, Gwen, really that long! Thank you for the compliments. I look at other writers and think exactly the same! Thanks for entering the giveaway :-)
DeleteBlogging often starts slow but look where you are now! Congrats girl!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sheena-kay, it does take a while to build up the network of blogs. I wouldn't have got as far as I have without reading about other people. I definitely wouldn't have tried self-publishing!
DeleteWoot! 500 posts and 21 year published. That's beyond epic. I'm at 20 years published (if you count small literary magazines), but I have no idea how many posts I've done. Half of mine have been for other people's blogs.
ReplyDeleteHere, have some cheese to celebrate. Oh heck, have a TON of cheese. =)
My 21 years is counting the small stuff, so you should too. Congrats, doesn't it feel good? And you'll know all about snail mail, dejecting return of post rejections, kissing the envelope before you send it... Just me? I hope not ;-)
DeleteCongratulations on this milestone! Your blog is just a little bit older than mine - I started at the very end of 2010. It's been an amazing five years. :)
ReplyDeleteDon't add me to the contest as I already have all three books. Congrats again!
And I'm so glad you started blogging - I've loved following your path t publication :-)
DeleteCongrats! I enjoy having you as part of my writers life :)
ReplyDeleteHi Annalisa,
ReplyDeleteFigures I finally get here a few days late and at almost three in the morning! Hearty congrats for reaching the 500 post milestone!
Thank you for sharing a blog with us. The blogging community is such a force for the good.
With that, have a nice weekend.
Gary :)
You got your comment on your first post :)
ReplyDelete