Beginning the Year with Thanks
January 4, 2008 by Lillie
I’m not sure whether to thank or blame Lisa Gates at Design Your Writing Life for A Gratitude “MeMe” for “YouYou.”
On one hand, this post has taken more time and effort to compile than any other single post I’ve ever written. Lisa said it would be a challenge to do it manually, but I didn’t realize what a challenge until I spent hours at a time for several days copying and pasting from WordPress into a spreadsheet to compile the list. In fact, I intended to post this before the end of the year, but it’s taken this long to put the post together.
On the other hand, what a treat is has been to review a year’s worth of comments, remember great conversations, and think of commenters who have become good friends.
In the past year, 324 commenters have left more than a thousand comments on 230 posts. I have replied to every one, bringing the total number of comments to more than 2000. In addition to replying, I always visit the blog of every commenter who includes a link and end up subscribing to many of the blogs I visit.
More than the numbers impressed me as I went back through every comment in the last year. Some were short comments agreeing with something I said. Others were longer discourses that advanced the conversation by answering a question, providing more information, or sharing new insights. A few were lengthy explanations of why I was wrong, but all were respectful and thoughtful. I am awed and humbled by the amazing conversations we’ve had. Thank you to each commenter for your contributions to this blog in 2007. I look forward to your continued participation in the coming year.
About a third of the commenters left multiple comments. While I appreciate each comment, there are a few individuals who have to be singled out for being so much a part of this blog.
Top Contributors (50+ comments):
Mihaela (Mig) Lica, Pamil Visions’ E-Writings (60 comments)
Laura, Writing Thoughts (57 comments)
Yvonne Russell, Grow Your Writing Business (54 comments)
Jeanne Dininni, Writer’s Notes (51 comments)
Major Contributors (20 to 40 comments):
Matt Keegan, The Article Writer
Helen Ginger, Straight from Hel
Joanna Young, Confident Writing
Outstanding Contributors (10 to 20 comments):
Jack J Ammann Jr aka Mr. Lillie, Jack Ammann
Robert Hruzek, Middle Zone Musings
Lisa Vella, Getting it Write for You
Michi, Content Done Better
Thomma Lyn, Tennessee Text Wrestling
Michele Tune, Writing the Cyber Highway
Misti Sandefur, Life of a Writer
Mike Olbinski, A Mike Life
Hummie, Hummie’s World
Significant Contributors (2 to 10 comments):
Merry Jelinek, Mom and More
Karen Putz, A Deaf Mom Shares Her World
Writing Nag
Edith Brown, Jeteak Press Writer Blog
Sam Chan, Acquire Wisdom and Live with Passion
Stephen Hopson, Adversity University
Alcohol Rehabilitation, Drug Rehab Center
Alicia, Writing Spark
Theda K., Crayon Writer
Angela Williams Duea, Pearl Writing
Bryan, One Man’s Goal
David, Blog Raters
Mary Emma Allen, Home Biz Notes
Brad Shorr, Word Sell, Inc.
Cade, Write to Right
Jasia, Creative Gene
Jeane Michelle Culp, Binding Ink
Liz Strauss, Successful Blog
Lori Widmer, Words on the Page
wordvixen, Quest to Write
A Mom and More
Angela/The Gack Ink Girls, Gack Ink
Char, Essential Keystrokes
chrisblogging.com, ChrisBlogging
Code4Gold
Denise, Freelancing Journey
doris chua, Home Office Women
Fr. Jerry Sherbourne, Fr. Jerry’s Jottings
Georganna Hancock, A Writer’s Edge
Jenny, Up the Hill Gang
Julia Temlyn, Mrs. Write Right, Word Therapist (aka writer-editor)
Jyn Smith
Lara Kulpa, Anubis Marketing
Lisa, Work at Home Mom Revolution
Mike DeWitt, Spooky Action
Mike Seth, Hammer & Duct Tape
Pfunk, Pfunk’s Foolsophy
Phil Davis, How to Publish a Book
Ponn Sabra, Empower Women Now
raz godelnik, Eco-Libris
Sharon Hurley Hall, Get Paid to Write Online
Sheila, Go Visit Hawaii
website copywriter, Webmaster Labor
Amy Derby, Write from Home
AnitoKid, The AnitoKid on Billiards|Philippine Sports
Beth G. Sanders, bgsblog
Breezie, Shooting the Breeze with Breezie
Carpentry Jobs
Chamonix, Chalet 1802
cooliojones, My New Hustle
CyberCelt, Endangered Spaces
Dave RH, The Ancient Standard
David, Cooking, Recipes, and Kitchen Tools
David Airey
Deb, Punctuality Rules
Dorothy Thompson, Pump up Your Online Book Promotion
Ed, Dingmo
Evelyn, Productive Pen
GnomeyNewt, Blue Jar
Heather, Desperately Seeking Sanity
Jason A. Clark, Inner 88
Jerseygirl89, Dirty Little Secret
Jobs in Israel, Job Mob
Kate Baggott, Babylune
Linden man, Chinoy Ray
Liz, My year of getting published
Louiss, Blogging Secret
Manchild, When Least Expected
Mark, Mark (Unemployed)
MDB, Million Dollar Blog
Newspaper Printers, Archant Print
Paula Mooney, Paula Neal Mooney
Priscilla Palmer, Priscilla Palmer.com
Rabat Travel, Morocco Emotions
rob, robinsongo
Robyn, Brain Based Biz
Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa das, Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa
Sincerity
Solomon
Sue, I Breathe; Therefore I Write
surjit, Gurushabad
Sylvia C., Sylvia’s Insight
Tammi, Drawing on Words
Thisbe, Discount Spies
Timothy Lim, Singapore Chiropractic
Vic, bu.bulicio.us
Vikk, Down the Writer’s Path
Yang Yang, Stumble Upon Yang
Important Contributors (1 comment):
@Stephen, Productivity in Context
Ace, IM Panama
Adam_Y, Flow Field Unity
Alex, Personal Finance Views in the UK
Alex, Science of Identity
Alice
Alina Popescu, Words of a Broken Mirror
Amana Mission Publishing Ink, Amana Mission Publishing Ink
Andrew, F&C Directory
Angela, Serien-IM Blog
Annie, If Only I Could Learn ‘How to Write,’ Right!
Annie, Super Fast Reader
Anupreet
AOV Philippines Outsourcing Service
At Home Mom
Aureliusz Kalliokoski, Iscribbler
Bape, Bapestas.net
The Barrow-Wight, Raven’s Barrow
Barry Cox – Scottsdale Homes, Relocate to AZ Homes
bellevelma, Running with Books
Benjamin, Benjamin On WOWNDADI
Bob, Every, Every Minute
Brenda G. Wooley, One Kentucky Writer
Cameron, The Tech Scoop
Car Titans, CarTitans.com
Carol Webb
Cass, Cass Knits
Catherine, the Redhead, A Week in the Life of a Redhead
Cathy Marley
Charles Sheehan-Miles
Cheap HDTV
Cherie Lee
Children oil portraits, Guaranteed Portraits
Chris, Leadership in Action
Chris Moore
Church of Integrity
Cindy, Kaleidoscope
Clock Man
constructicle boy
Court, Court’s Internet Marketing School
cm
Comfy – Educational toys, Comfyland
Cricket Videos
Cyberpartygal, She Rambles On
Dan, Rent Bits
Dana, The Writer’s Blog by Dana Pri nce
Darlene, Tough Questions Great Answers
Dave
Dave, Go Backpacking
David, OnTheWebEd
David Bowles, Writing the Westward Sagas
davis, In the Arms of God
dcr, dcr blogs
Deborah Gamble, Uncommon Notions
Denise, Freelance Writing
Denise, Tired of Working? Take a Break
Diana Brandmeyer, Next in Dianaland
Diogenes, Fine Art of Blogging
Dirk, Fun Paradise City
djahna, Sure 2 Profit
Jen/domestika, Domestik Goddess
Don, Affiliate Watcher
DRM remover
Dubai, Update Dubai
Dylan, Link It For Me
Emma, It’s Write Now
Environmental News Service, Environmental Graffiti
Eve, WordPress Reworked
Every Square Inch
everysquareinch.blogspot.com
Everything Anything and Nothing
Fashion Directory
Felix Ker
Forrest Croce
Franck Silvestre, Make Money with Affiliate Programs
Free Online Coupons
Funny Picture Woman
Gaming servers
Glenda Watson Hyatt, Do It Myself Blog
green tea benefits, Tea Scoop
Hank, hoodiaweightloss
Harmony, Writer in the Making
headshot photographer los angles
Heather, A Creative Journal
Holly, Woman Tribune
Hoto
Howard, Mead on Manhattan
isabella mori, Change Therapy
Ivan, Zona Cerebral
J, Workout Review
Jackie, Practical Wisdom
Jacky, Vermont 251 Club
James, Digital Key
Jan, Circular Communication
Janie
Jason , Stock Market Investors
JasonJ, Ask Jason
Jay, Between Looking and Seeing
JC, rnb Dirt
Jeff, Jeff Hendricks on Design
Jenn Mattern, All Freelance Writing
Jennifer, Tree Hugging Family
Jeremy Hobbs, Consumer’s Corner
John, Business Opportunities and Ideas
John Kremer, BookMarket.com
John Wilberforce, Hit Flip
John Wolf, Author
Joint Venture Partner
JoLynn Braley, The Fit Shack
Jos, NoDirectOn
Jose Tudor, Tried It Myself
Joyce Bowling, Kentucky the Mountains I Call Home
June
kalpesh, Implanting Ideas
Kamal, Why Must Visit Malaysia
Karen Alaniz, Write Now
Kate, Electric Venom
Kay Ross
KCLau, KC Lau’s Money Tips
Kersson
Kevin, Fuel My Blog
Kristie, Christianity.com
Kwiz, Women Walking in Wisdom’s Footsteps
ladysown
Lakshmi Mareddy, Chilligava
Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer
Layouts, My Space Now
Lazy Boy
legbamel, One Step Forward
Linda Haden
Linda Cano
Linda R. Moore, Raven’s Roads
Lisa Gates, Design Your Writing Life
Lisa Saper-Bloom
Liza, Top Tutorials
Lori Rosmus
Lowell Crabb, Acceleration of Money
Lucid, Spiritual Suggestions
Malignition
Malok, Sold by Jennifer
Manila Mom
Martha Hilliard
Mary Evelyn Lewis, Virtual Wordsmith
matt
Matt, Cheap Air Soft Guns
Matt Jones, Random Acts of Verbiage
Matthew, Blog about Your Blog
Matthew Cornell, Matthew’s Idea Blog
Max, UK Cottage Rental
Melanie, Thrifty and Creative
Michael, Mobile Phone Geek
Michael Werner, Dream Jobs Dialog
Michelle Gartner, Smart Not Cheap
Miller Caldwell
Mirko, Designer Daily
Mister EDgAr
Moultrie Creek
Moving Master
moxy, Blogocola
Mr Pasadena Lasik Surgery
Nico Lorenz T. Panlican, Life Essentials
Okinawa, HDR Japan
On Web Check
Ouch!
Patricia
Patti McQuillen, Gaslight Writers
pelf, pelf-ism is contagious
perros, Sobre Perros
Peter, Hit Meister
Peter, tarife’s xanga site
PeterK, High Salary Careers
Pips, Pips Net Future Trends
PODs Print staff, 3-D Printers and Printing Technology
Randa Clay
Randy, The Garden of the King
Renae, Morning Coffee
Rick Cockrum, Shards of Consciousness
Rinsem
Robb, I Need One of Those
Robin Bayne
Robin Yap, Yap 3.0
Ron, Into the Bit
ru4real, Are You for Real?
sami m, Birch Bolete
Sarakastic, Fibromyalgia Experiment
satellite tv
Sauna
Scott, The Directory Dude
SEO Ninji, Search Engine Optimization
Simon, Yeepage
Sophisticated Writer, Confessions of a Sophisticated Writer
Sports Videos, Dekhona
Steve, 123 Look2Me
Steve Hayes, Notes from Underground
Steven Snell, Vandelay Design
subconscious mind, Erupting Mind
Summer, Summer’s Nook
Sunset Pearl
Susan Hetrick, Advice from the Blender
Susan J, The Urban Muse
Suzanne Wells, Moms in Business
svend
SYH, Women Mumbles
Takeoff Zone
therapydoc, Everyone Needs Therapy
Travelinoma
Troy Worman, Process Geek
Two Write Hands
UtahCateringMan, Culinary Crafts
Vahsek, Jack of Some [sic} Trades, Master of Stupidity
Virginia, Katalusis
Virtual Impax
wagi
Web Design Business, FocusMinded.com
web dev, Make a Website
Wedding Cake Lady
Wholesale Cameras, Safety Tech Spy
Wii Fit
WildwoodNJ
Yuwanda, How to Start a Successful Freelance Writing Career
Xavier, TechNov Blog
Disclaimer and advance apology: Although I tried to be accurate, I’m sure there are mistakes in the list. If I left you off or made an error in your listing, please accept my advance apology and post a correction in a comment below.
Note that if whatever was listed as the commenter’s name was the same as the name of the blog, I listed and linked to the blog without repeating the name.
If there is no link for a listing, 1) the commenter doesn’t have a blog; 2) the link was removed from the comment because I found the site offensive (there are only a couple of those); or 3) the link led to a parked domain. I did not check each link, but I clicked on ones that I didn’t recognize the site name from the URL. If the link led to a parked domain, I removed the link as the site no longer exists. If I knew of a URL change since the comment was left, I linked to the current blog.
I also want to thank those who read and reviewed the manuscript of my forthcoming novel, Dream or Destiny. Others offered to read; however, either I already had enough volunteers or they were unable to finish because of schedule conflicts. I appreciate those offers as well.
Special thanks to the following who took the time to read and review the manuscript. Your comments, edits, and insights will make the book stronger, and for that I am grateful.
Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, Next in Dianaland
Helen Ginger, Straight from Hel
Mihaela (Mig) Lica, Pamil Visions’ E-Writings
Misti Sandefur, Life of a Writer
Tammi Reynolds, Drawing on Words
Thank you all for a fabulous 2007! I’m looking forward to an even better 2008.
Hi Lillie, thanks for your generous thank you to me and all your contributors. Best of luck with your novel!
Hi Lillie thanks for including me, I took some time off from blogging to have my last child (don’t feel sorry for me for stopping- 5 is enough). I am so glad to be back to blogging on all my blogs and reading so many great blogs and posts like yours. I can only imagine how much time it took you to link to all these blogs. Have a a Happy New Year and thanks for the link.
well thanks for the mention
What an amazing labor of love! I have a fraction the number of comments you have, and can’t even imagine what an undertaking this must be … no wonder it took longer than you planned.
You have an amazingly strong affection for your readers. I would thank you, but I’m too much in awe.
Oh, I’m so embarrassed I had but ONE comment. Really shameful for how much I think of you. And read you on my reader. Sounds like a commitment coming on, doesn’t it???
Lillie, you have completely outdone this MeMe YouYou, and I bow to you for making it so specific–something I really value.
My hat is off, my love. And your gesture is so well appreciated.
Lisa
What an amazing post, Lillie! I commend you for doing this. I can’t imagine how much effort it took because I know the recent creative link love post I did was quite a lot of work and it is hard to make sure you’ve included everyone and linking with the correct url takes even longer.
I have really enjoyed your blog since I found it. I forget how I found you, but I’m so glad I did! Off the top of my head, you’ve made me think about writing press releases, the need to pray for peace, and so much more! I’ve learned a lot here and can’t wait to learn more this year.
Your comments are always so kind and meaningful and in my opinion, much appreciated.
Thank you for the link love and for providing great content, advice, tips, information, and friendliness at this blog.
Smiles,
Michele
Wow, this must’ve taken you an eternity to compile. Thank you for including me in your listing, I’m feeling slightly awful for losing track of your blog over the months.
Best of luck in the coming year and thank you again for all of your wonderful entries and dedication to your readers!!!
Wonderful, Lillie. Participating in this meme is like taking out our memories and cherishing one by one. Thank you.
Dang Lillie…that was a huge job to do all that, but thank you for doing it! Nice to be a part of this site and I’m glad I got to contribute a bit to it.
Keep it up, can’t wait to read the novel.
Lillie, what a wonderful representation of the community you’ve built up here. Thanks for the time and effort that went into creating it (and the link love, of course)
Joanna
Wow, Lillie, what a list! You certainly deserve every comment you’ve received! So glad to see that I’ve left that many comments; because so often, when life has been especially hectic, I’ve felt a bit neglectful.
Thanks so much for recognizing your commenters in such a special and meaningful way! Here’s hoping that 2008 will bring even more comments–and more readers–your way!
Many blessings in the New Year!
Jeanne
This must have taken you ages, Lillie (I know my monthly list does). Thanks so much for including me and for the quality you provide on your blog. I obviously don’t comment as much as I read.
Here’s to a wonderful 2008 for all of us.
Now thats what I call link love. Its funny, you go to someones site and ind something interesting. The web site owner writes an article like this. I have a google alert set for my site. I see you wrote the article. I come to see what you wrote. Thanks for reminding me about your site. I like your comment layout. Very impressive.
Hi Lillie, I am truly awed by your project. To look at the scope of how you sorted these out is very remarkable because as you say, it took much time and patience.
Though I have visited on occasion, I hope to visit more often in 2008 to see what you are up to.
Thanks for the shout!
Happy New Year!!!
Wow! What a lot of work you went through! I’m impressed, very impressed.
I enjoy reading your blog and plan to start reading the blogs of some of your commenters as well. I am hoping to make 2008 a year of getting some of my own writings published (self published) so I need to learn quickly and put pen to paper… or fingers to keyboard as is more truly the case.
I have many lessons to learn about writing and I’m counting on you Lillie to teach me some of what I need to know.
Thank you for all your wonderful advice. I wish you a blessed and happy new year!
Lillie, this is a nice idea and boy, a lot of work as you said. I hope you’re happy with the results. I also wonder if there’s no WordPress plugin that could have made things easier. If I hear about one, I’ll tell you for next year
What a wonderful post! I may have to steal this idea for next year.
Wow, Lillie, what a phenomenal job. You certainly had a great deal of patience to compile this.
Thanks for remembering me and Home Biz Notes
Hello Lillie. Thank you for the mention and WOW, I can imagine that it must have taken you a tremendous amount of time to sort all of this. You have built up quite a large community. You deserve a pat on the back.
thanks for the link love. i don’t think i have the time to do this all manually; am still thinking about how to do what you’ve just done an easier way. HATS OFF to you for your dedication!
No offense guys, but all the data is in the database. Copy it, and post it. Doesn’t sound so difficult to me. If I had to do it, I would paste it into excel. Add columns for formating. Save as a text document.
I am impressed! That took a heck of a lot of time but what a wonderful way to see how many commenters were woven into your life in 2007. Here’s to many more in 2008!
Lillie, thanks for the link love and for the wonderful information you provide through this blog. I look forward to reading and commenting more in 2008.
Finally, best of luck with “Dream or Destiny.” It truly was a VERY interesting and great read! In fact, if you ever plan a virtual book tour, let me know and you can use my blog as a part of your tour; I’d be delighted.
Blessings and big hugs,
Misti Sandefur
hi Lillie! that was surely a tough challenge, but u make it successfully. a long long list, you had to work really hard on it!! hats off to you. wishing you best of luck with your novel “Dream or Destiny”. God bless you.
Awesome job, Lillie, and thanks for the mention! I appreciate how time-consuming the task was, but, oh so rewarding!
I’m on a quest to find a quicker way to compile the list before it’s time to do it again. Surely there’s a way to query the database. I’ll let you if I find it.
Stay great in 2008!
i just spent a little time looking at a relatively quick way to do this. i use wordpress. looked at the database; exporting the database and then extracting the URL’s from excel still seemed pretty tedious.
what i’ve just started doing and which is relatively easy is to go into comment management, simply cut and paste the comment list into word, and then delete everything except the commenters’ URLs.
right now i’m thinking i might post one month of commenters per week – so i should be done with my thanks by the end of march.
of course there’s also URL extraction software out there; i’ve looked at it before but i’m not super enthusiastic about it. i kind of like what i’ve done so far; got my comment thanks for december ready to go.
thanks for this great discussion!
UH UH UH !!!!!
I just thought of another thing. Since you are in the comment database you could easily make a list of most commented articles in the same time period. My god think of the possibilities!
I guess too much coffee here!
Will someone stop this brain.
Howdy, Lillie! Wow, there’s a whole herd of conversation going on around here! I’m so glad I was able to be a part of what’s going on around here. Thanks for a great year, and an even better new one!
Cheers!
I can’t imagine how long it must have taken to compile this list. You are a greater blogger than I.
Thanks for the link and the great site.
Lillie, what a sweet and thoughtful thing to do! Thank you so much for taking the time to thank each and every person!
Blessings to you in 2008, and always!
-Renae
That took some serious time to create this list!
A friend sent me the link to your blog yesterday so this is my first visit, maybe next year I can be a 50+ contributor!
Have a great 2008!
Hi Lillie,
That’s a long list of names. You really had to put in a lot of effort for this. Thank you very much for spending your precious time to says thanks.
Have a blessed 2008 and always!
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Lillie, I hadn’t realized I left so many comments behind in 2007, the first year we crossed paths.
I’m not surprised however. You always have something of interest to share with your readers and your kind heart is a terrific witness of our Savior’s love!
Now, to begin work on my 2008 commenting on A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye!
Wow!! What an amazing list! Although it took you quite some time to compile that list, I’ll bet it gave you a warm feeling to see how many people have visited and cared enough to comment.
I’m impressed, what a thoughtful way to recognize your commenters. This must have taken a while to create this post. I’ll be checking out some of the websites.
[...] that I share my experiences and thoughts and learn from my readers. I’m delighted with the community that has grown here. I’ll never be an A-list blogger with hordes of followers, but I’m [...]
Yes, comments are what make blogging worthwhile, and thanks for the thanks!
Lillie Thank You! Especially for your time and effort in one of the most appreciative posts I have ever seen. You are Special Lillie and cherished!
[...] January, I thanked commenters for the entire year of 2007 at once. I decided I wouldn’t wait that long again – creating [...]
[...] first time I recognized my commenters, I thanked commenters for the entire year of 2007. That was such a long list and such a long time for commenters to wait for thanks, I recognized [...]
Lillie, Just a heads up for ya. Here it is Oct 10, 2008 and I just got another alert telling me about you link from this article. Fantastic! Something like a gift that keeps on giving! Ha Ha! Thanks again. Interested in swapping web site reviews?
Paul,
Apparently, Google re-indexed my site since everything is changed. I’ve been getting quite a few alerts on old posts—I have alerts for my clients’ names and books as well as my own and other topics I’m interested in. I guess that’s an unexpected advantage of completely re-designing the site.
I haven’t done Web site reviews and try to post mostly about the topics of my blog described in the About page, which are somewhat eclectic.
I’ll certainly keep you in mind if that changes and I decide to do reviews. Thanks for your interest.
Thank YOU, Brad. I really appreciate the contributions.
I’ll announce when the novel is finally available. It’s been delayed because of health issues of my publisher, but hopefully, it will get back on track soon.
Lisa,
Your one comment is greatly appreciated as are your lovely compliments.
Compiling this list made me more conscious of the importance of comments. I commented today for the first time on a blog I read all the time and love, so I totally understand that the failure to comment doesn’t mean lack of interest.
Thank you for coming up with the MeMe YouYou. I’m glad to thank my commenters, and I really enjoyed re-experiencing a year’s worth of comments.
Congratulations on your fifth child, Michelle! Glad to have you back blogging and commenting.
You’re welcome, Matthew. I subscribe to and enjoy your blog, and it’s quite likely I discovered it from your comment though I don’t recall for sure.
Thank you for the kind words, Forrest. When I started blogging, I thought I was going to be sharing what I’ve learned. I’ve discovered that I learn more from my readers/commenters than they do from me, and I’ve made so many wonderful friends that I never could have imagined.
Michele,
I’m glad you found me, too! Your beautiful compliments have put a big smile on my face.
Merry,
It was a lot of work but well worth it. One of the benefits was rediscovering a few blogs that I had lost track of somewhere along the line. So I completely understand that you lost track of my blog for awhile and am delighted that you’re back.
I’m glad you’re a contributing part of this site, too, Mike.
Thanks, Joanna. I’m so blessed and happy to have such a wonderful community here.
Thank you, Jeanne. Meaningful comments take time and effort, and sometimes when we’re under pressure with other commitments, we can’t do as much as we’d like. But you’ve certainly participated significantly here. As I said in the post, the quality and thoughtfulness of the comments impressed me even more than the numbers of comments.
Sharon,
I appreciate your monthly list as well as all your excellent posts. I’m glad that you read this blog regularly. Your comments are always insightful, which is far more important then the number of times you comment.
Robyn,
Sorting was easy after I transferred all the data to a spreadsheet. I didn’t start out intending to sort the list this way, but when I saw that several commenters contributed so frequently, I wanted to let them know how much I appreciate it. There are many great blogs to read and comment on, and none of us can keep up with all we’d like as much as we’d like or we’d be doing nothing but reading blogs and commenting. I know how many wonderful blogs compete for my attention, so I appreciate every reader and every comment.
What a beautiful and perfect description of this experience, Rick!
Google alerts are wonderful. I’m glad my post and Google alerts reminded you about my blog.
Happy New Year to you, too, Robin!
Thank you, Jasia. Best wishes for a wonderful year meeting your publishing goals.
If you haven’t already downloaded the Self-Publishing Primer, be sure to do so. It’s a brief overview of the self-publishing process and has lots of links to excellent resources. Also consider joining Authors on the Net. It’s an association of authors helping each other succeed in small press and self-publishing. I’m scheduled to be interviewed on self-publishing soon.
Leave questions and suggestions for future topics for blog posts in comments. I’ll do my best to answer your questions and post of topics of interest.
Jacob,
The effort was well worth it. I really enjoyed re-reading comments, thinking of blogging friends, and getting re-acquainted with some commenters I’d lost track of.
One of the top commenter plugins might make it easier, but I don’t want to display top commenters in my sidebar. For the time being, I’m recording each comment this year as I respond to it. That doesn’t take much time as I go along, and I’ll always have a current list.
Jerseygirl89,
It’s certainly not my original idea. Quite a few blogs thank commenters weekly or monthly, and I got the idea for the year-end thanks from Lisa Gates at Design Your Writing Life.
Since I stole the idea from others, you’re welcome to steal it from me.
Mary Emma,
I’ve never been noted for patience … but my mother always said I had lots of “stick-it-tive-ness.” Others call that stubborn.
IsMyLocationOnline,
I copied and pasted from the comments section of the WordPress dashboard. It took a lot of time because I had to copy and paste each item individually into a separate column for formatting and sorting. Is there another place to get just the names and URLs without the comments and field names in a table format?
The other thing that took time was looking up the site name. WordPress has only the URL and commenter’s name, and I wanted to include the name of their blog or Web site.
If there is an easier way to do it and include everything I wanted to include in the format I wanted, please explain it to me. I’d love to be able to do in less time.
isabella,
Thanks. Some of the top commenters plugins might provide this data, though it wouldn’t include the names of the blogs as that information isn’t provided in WordPress.
Thank you, Priscilla. I’m really happy about the wonderful community that has developed here.
Karen,
The number of commenters is amazing, but even more amazing is the quality of the comments and the conversations that have taken place here.
I gotta tell you this article and what you did has got me thinking big time. I am going to write an article on how I would do it.
Couple of thoughts:
-I would not worry about looking up each commenters web site name. If they didn’t add the name in their ID then shame on them! I might go ahead and look up the top commenters and show their web site name.
-IMO the people (like me) that are coming and seeing this post are the people that did leave their web site address, and have a google alert set for when the web site is written about. Every web master should have this set.
-All the info you need is in your wordpress database. Think about it. When you make a comment the data gets stored somewhere.
-I would copy the database into excel. delete the columns not nec. Add the columns I needed (with html/css formating). Save as text document.List should be html ready!
-The next time you need it, all you have to do is add new info. Your formating is already done for you.
-Being a php programmer, I could do it with no problem. But, most can’t, thats why I expained.
E X C E L L E N T J O B Lillie.
-If I do write an article I will mention you! It’s on my list of things to do. Page 16…..Ha Ha!
Thank you, Misti, for your support.
I do intend to do a virtual book tour, and I’d be delighted for you to host me on your blog. I’ll get in touch when I know a publication and promotion schedule.
Thanks, Lost. I’m delighted that I had such a long list to work with.
Glenda,
Please let me know what to find. I’m sure there’s a better way that what I did, but the side benefit of doing it this way was re-experiencing the comments and memories. An automated method might compile the same list but wouldn’t bring back memories in the same way.
Thanks for the suggestions, isabella. I think this coming year, I’ll do this quarterly rather than annually – especially because I hope to have more comments and commenters. I don’t want to it monthly – that seems a little too often to me, but quarterly might work. Then maybe do a list of top commenters for the year at the end of the year. Like you, I’m still looking at options.
What I am doing is to copy and paste the information about comments each day so I will have a complete list ready whenever I want to post it.
I like the idea of recognizing the top commented posts. I’m thinking about using that as the criteria for the posts I select for the BLOGAPALOOZA: What I Learned From 2007 at Middle Zone Musings. The Clean Archives plugin reports the number of comments on each post.
Hope you get to page 16 on your to-do list.
I’d like to write your article.
Yep, Robert, the herd here is larger than the cattle herd of our small family farm.
Jason,
Not a greater blogger, certainly … maybe just a little more persistent/determined/stubborn.
You’re welcome, Renae. Blessings to you in the coming year as well.
Thanks to your friend for sending you the link here, and thanks to you for visiting. I hope you are a 50+ contributor in 2008.
Thank you for being part of this community, Sam, and blessings to you and your family in the coming year.
Matt,
Thank you for your gracious compliments and for being an important part of this community!
Hope,
Going back through the comments and seeing the great community that has been built up here was a terrific experience.
Opal,
You’ll find some great blogs on this list. I visit each commenter’s blog and have subscribed to many of them.
You’re welcome, Steve. Glad to have you as a commenter.
Thank you, Jeane Michele!