Oyez! Oyez!

The first full week of 2014 is over. It’s time to take stock, reassess, readjust, and all that other stuff. It’s time to take a long, hard look at my beloved ‘Clockwatching…’ and see just what we can do to make it a better place to hang out, for everyone who makes use of it.

Image: smallbusinessbc.ca

Writing this blog is one of my very favourite things in life, but the start of a new year is a good time to think about whether it’s become too stale and/or boring for those kind people – i.e. you – who like to drop in here from time to time. Out of all the blogs in all the world, I’m honoured that you’d wander into mine; of course, I’d also like to entice you to stay, by offering you all manner of wonders and making this online journal of mine a fun, interesting and enjoyable place to be. To that end, I would very much like to ask for the assistance of my kind, generous and wonderful readers (hi, Mum!) in order to determine the future direction of this ‘ere blog. Can you spare a few moments to give a girl a helping hand?

Mainly, I’m worried that blogging every day, as I have done (with the exception of Sundays, ‘Acts of God’, illness, and holiday periods) since August of 2012 is a bit much. Not for me – words are at the core of my being – but for you, gentle reader. For everyone who enjoys reading these little excursions into the deepest recesses of my brain every day, I’m sure there are ten who roll their eyes and say: ‘Not again. Doesn’t that woman have anything better to do?‘ when another blog-notification pings into their inbox. (Answer: Not really.)

So.

Question One: Should I continue to update ‘Clockwatching…’ on a daily basis? If yes, wonderful. If not, how often would you prefer me to post?

a) thrice weekly

b) twice weekly

c) weekly

d) never

Image: blogs.edweek.org

The second thing that keeps your intrepid correspondent awake at night – and goodness knows, I need my beauty sleep – has to do with the content of my posts. As anyone who drops in regularly here will be aware, I like to read, and I like to write. I like to (sometimes) get on soapboxes about such things as women’s issues, feminism, equality, politics (albeit rarely), environmentalism, consumerism, and a whole lot of other ‘isms’. Mostly, though, I write about the written word, my journey as an aspiring author, and the love I have for books – both reading and writing them.

Is this the kind of thing you want to read, though?

Nobody wants to write a blog which doesn’t engage its readers. Nobody wants to feel like a reader is bored, because – essentially – that means the reader is entirely within their rights to click away, toward something which interests them. I’d like to think that I’m giving my readers something worth reading, as well as something they enjoy, and would like to see more of. But if I am not, I would very much like to know.

Question Two: Are you, as a reader of ‘Clockwatching…’, happy with the blog’s content?

a) Yes

b) No

c) Artichokes?

d) Sometimes

If you have any suggestions for future topics – the only caveat being that they are suitable for a general readership, in terms of age-appropriateness – I’d certainly be interested to hear ’em. If you’ve always wanted to know my take on the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow, or why exactly God gave rock and roll to us, or why everyone keeps using the word ‘inconceivable’, now’s your chance to let me know. I’d really love to know the issues that interest the readers of this wee blog. If y’all would rather I wittered on about the nocturnal habits of the aardvark, do let me know. I’ll do my best to accommodate any reasonable request, and even some of the unreasonable ones.

I also have a certain ‘rhythm’ going in terms of the type of post I put up; every Wednesday is a Write-In, every Saturday is a book review, most Mondays are a disjointed babble because my brain isn’t quite switched on yet, certain Fridays are devoted to flash fiction, and so on – does that suit everyone? I, personally, enjoy my Book Review Saturdays, but if they make everyone else grind their teeth in frustration then – of course – I’d like to know. If you’d prefer me not to post my Wednesday Write-In stories to the blog, I’d like to know, too.

Question Three: Should I keep Wednesday Write-In and Book Review Saturday?

a) Yes to Wednesday, No to Saturday

b) No to Wednesday, Yes to Saturday

c) Yes to both

d) No to both

e) Where did I leave my dentures?

I have no idea what’s going on here.
Image: theweek.co.uk

Right.

I think that’s about all the pressing issues I have with relation to the blog. I’d like to take another opportunity to thank all those who do read and comment regularly, and who give me vital feedback – whether it’s in person, over the phone, via my personal Facebook page, or via the blog, here – on how I’m doing. I hope you won’t mind my asking for a little extra help in my effort to make this blog the best it can be.

I’m looking forward to hearing your ideas, and to diving into 2014 with no small amount of enthusiasm.

And the appropriate water safety equipment, of course.

Please feel free to comment! All feedback very, very gratefully received.

 

My First Blogiversary

Today is my blog’s first birthday!

Happy blogiversary to me!
Image: fiftieswedding.com

My first blog post was only a couple of sentences long, and I remember how terrified I was as I wrote and posted it. It felt like my head had become a theme park and I was offering free entry, with popcorn and super-sized sugary drinks on demand. As it turned out, of course, nobody but the WordPress bot actually ever read my first post, but my feelings didn’t care about that.

I can’t believe I’ve been writing my blog for a year. In one way, it’s become such a part of my everyday routine that it feels like I’ve been blogging forever, but in another way I’m mystified as to where the last year has gone.

So, what have I learned in a year?

Writing a daily blog is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I love it, and it gets me going in the morning like no cup of coffee ever could (particularly since I’m doing my best to give up caffeine, for real this time), but I’m not going to lie. Several times during the past year I’ve been reduced to tears at the thought of writing a new post, and I’ve had to really draw on all my reserves of strength, inspiration and improvisation to deliver the goods – but then, that’s a good thing. Isn’t it?

Conquering fear is fantastic. I really was afraid of writing a blog. I would have started one years ago, except I was terrified to do it. Starting this one felt a lot like jumping into the void and – against all expectation – learning how to fly, very quickly. It has given me so much satisfaction to look back over my year’s worth of blog posts, remembering how scared I was when I started out, and how I’ve overcome that fear.

I’m a lot less weird than I always thought I was. It’s great to know that other people think the same way I do about things as varied as books and mental health issues, or authors and writing techniques, or family and life. Having said that, it’s slightly bittersweet to think that perhaps all your little quirks aren’t as unique as you’d like to think. So it goes.

People are wonderful. If I’d thought I’d ‘meet’ so many wonderful folks through the medium of this blog, I really would have started to write it years ago. I’ve been buoyed up by positivity, support, friendship and fellow-feeling more times than I can remember over the past year, and I am so grateful to all my wonderful followers for that. It has been incredible to make contact with so many other bloggers, writers, thinkers, artists, and fellow human beings over the past twelve months. I started this blog thinking that (perhaps) my mother would read it once in a while, when she had nothing better to do; now I have over 200 followers and nearly 14,000 hits. My mind still can’t process that, really.

I really, really love writing. It would have been a bit of a ‘whoops’ moment if I hadn’t discovered this during the course of writing the blog, wouldn’t it? Luckily, though, that’s exactly what I found. Writing brings me more satisfaction than anything else I’ve ever done, and I’m privileged to live in a world where I have the opportunity to ‘publish’ my words in this way. Being completely honest, I had hoped to have achieved more, in terms of writing, over the past year than I actually have. However I think, all in all, I haven’t done too badly.

And the best part about having a blog? I can relive every moment of my journey, in ‘real time.’

Writing ‘Clockwatching…’ has been the best thing I could’ve done for my writing. This blog has compelled me to be disciplined, and strict with my routine. It has given me a sharp appreciation for deadlines. It has allowed me to see that I can provide ‘copy’ at short notice, not only once but repeatedly. It has shown me that I am capable of wringing inspiration out of my brain even when it feels drier than a camel’s backside. It has allowed me to take part in competitions and writing groups which have been a huge source of inspiration and feedback. It has opened my eyes to the sheer amount of writing blogs in existence, and I have benefited from every blog I’ve read and followed. It has made me realise, so clearly, that writers are all struggling toward the same goal and that we are all pulling for the same team, and that the success of one writer brings the rest of us up, just a fraction.

Go Team Go!
Image: zazzle.com

This past year has, in so many ways, been the most satisfying and successful one of my life. I am hopeful, as I enter my second year of blogging, that this feeling of accomplishment will travel with me, and that I’ll soon have something concrete – in terms of my writing career – to show for all the work I’ve put in. No matter what the future holds, I wanted to say something to all of you who’ve been following my blog and who’ve told me that reading it has become part of your daily life: Thank You.

To all my wonderful friends, both ‘real life’ and ‘virtual’, who have supported me every step of the way, I am so grateful for your help and encouragement. To everyone who has read this blog, thank you. To everyone who has taken the time to comment and critique and help me on my way, thank you. To everyone who has contacted me to let me know how much they enjoy reading this blog, thank you. To my family (particularly my husband), thank you, and I love you.

Here’s to a second glorious year!

 

Image: bizetiquettes.com