I never thought we would get here, but somehow, over the last three and a half years, this little blog has made 9,000 friends along the way! As always, thank you so much for sticking around and having so much faith in me, even during the (many) times I disappear for extended blog siestas!
That number, besides being absolutely mind-shattering, also generates a considerable amount of… apprehension? Throwing blogs out into the blogosphere without much thought has traditionally been my modus operandi. Don’t get me wrong, I do put a bit of brainwork into composing my posts, just not into how many people are actually reading.
Not unsurprisingly, my ‘throwing’ has stalled to some degree. When 9,000 people are reading your words (okay, more like 10% of that number), it makes for a tough time pressing the ‘publish’ button!
It’s like… stage fright.
But let’s not get into all that right now, instead, I thought I’d highlight some other bloggers, in particular, my top commenters – because you guys deserve an award for investing so much time and energy into not only encouraging me but also genuinely making me laugh.
I would much rather celebrate the friends I’ve made here, as opposed to bragging about a milestone that really shouldn’t matter in the first place, but which still makes me super excited. No use lying about it and acting ingenuine – this should be a word, why is this not a word?? Disingenuous just doesn’t do it for me…
Please note, I think the list WordPress gives me is not quite correct, so I apologise to those of you who I know leave lots of comments, but for some reason didn’t show up with a number!
1. Mum
This spot goes to my mum, but unfortunately half her comments are posted anonymously. You may come across her one day, like a ghost, leaving little pieces of gold as ‘Someone’ (I can guarantee she will be in this comment section at some point, keep an eye out).
2. Today’s Perfect Moment
The theme today seems to be ‘positive blogs’ all round, and Anthony’s blog is no different. His tagline for Today’s Perfect Moment reads: “Using a little bit of perfection found by sifting through the day to brighten my mood and hopefully yours.” As I usually say to you Anthony, thank you!
2. Floating Gold
One of my dearest blogging friends, I can’t even remember a time when Goldie wasn’t around (how long has it been, 2 years now?) Goldie runs an anonymous blog, so no one really has any clue what gender he/she/they really is. The mystery just makes her blog all the more alluring!
3. Abitsa
Tom Austin blogs about ‘ pretty well anything and everything’. I think the name of his blog is very fitting! He’s also always hanging around, offering advice, finding hilarious grammar mistakes and pointing me in the right direction. Danke!!
4. Sonia Bellhouse
Sonia is a pretty impressive woman, so I think it’s wonderful that she takes the time out of her day to come and visit my blog. She’s actually had some work published by Serenity Press (an anthology called Writing the Dream). We do have one thing in common, we are both from a city with the same name, just different spelling!
4. The Sanguine Woods
I sometimes feel like Mick A. Quinn is way too cool to be hanging around my blog. If you check out his about page, you’ll see he mentions the words ‘literary’ and ‘blog in the same sentence. Yes, his blog is cooler than mine (or is the word cooler itself not good enough to describe his blog?? What about… voguish, cultured or recherché??)
5. Dead Deer
Another blog with a recherché collection of articles and an interesting blog title to boot. Tagline: “The stupid thoughts that spin through my head as I spin the pedals”. Thanks so much for all of your lovely comments! P.s how many of my top commenters ride bicycles??
6. A Dude Abikes
I’m surprised Andrew McKenna isn’t higher up on my list. He is always leaving kind, thoughtful and funny comments. Interesting story, Andrew has had an article written about his crazy amount of bicycle riding (as I said, lots of bike riders here!) You can read the article here: Can a regular guy pedal 10,000 miles in two years? This dude did.
7. A Crack in the Pavement
A fellow cat parent and writer, Bryan Fagan also blogs with an eclectic flair. Case in point, his latest blog post is called Spontaneous Friday, in which he talks about a common enemy to us all – cheeseburgers, and then offers up a tasty picture for us all to drool over and dream about – because you know, diet.
8. The Land Manatee
Sean D. Layton is a starving writer compatriot and I love, love, LOVE the name he came up with for his blog! And if you decided to check his blog out, stop by his about page first, where you can read all about the story behind the name (if you are as curious as I am!)
Thanks a million, you adorable literary fiends! There are also so many more of you, and to those of you who have even left just the one comment, like or follow – you’ve all helped me get through some really shitty times. Never underestimate the power of kindness, aka. spreading the love by leaving snippets of sunshine on other people’s blogs! Ahhhh… the feels.
I’ll try and think of something more exciting to do when I reach 10,000 subscribers (end of the year??) Perhaps I’ll do a giveaway of those books I haven’t yet published? Seriously, I could throw in an adynaton right now, but I’m trying my best to avoid clichés, even if depressively apt!
Here’s to achieving our dreams by year’s end!
#LongLiveTheStarbucksCup
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