Two Years Old Already?
June 11, 2008 by Lillie
A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye was born two years ago today. Many bloggers celebrate the anniversary of their blogs, their blogiversaries. However, since this blog is my baby, I’m celebrating my baby’s birthday and the following highlights:
- 376 posts, including 15 series of 2 to 15 installments
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Nearly 3200 comments, which have educated, entertained, and inspired me far more than my posts have done for my readers
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Nearly 70,000 spam comments caught by Akismet in 18 months (I didn’t have any spam control in the first 6 months … and got little spam)
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More friends than I can count – many of whom are listed in my blogroll
On my blog’s first birthday, I reviewed how my understanding of blogging had changed.
I discovered that my blog is not just a place to share what I’ve learned. Blogging is a large city with hundreds of small neighborhoods. It’s a place to make new friends, a place to learn and share. It’s synergy that makes the whole more than the sum of its parts.
My understanding of blogging as community has developed even more in the last year. The number of blog posts increased about 35%, but comments increased by more than 500%.
I said last year I was going to work on SEO and promote my blog better … but I didn’t. This blog is pure fun for me, and SEO and promotion isn’t fun to me. I’m glad I have a handful of subscribers and some loyal readers. If I were serious about blogging, I’d focus on the topic of writing rather than covering whatever interests me at the moment. But that would be too much like work. So I’ll keep having fun and hope you’ll come along for the ride.
Thanks to each of you who subscribe or read regularly and to those of you who visit occasionally. I appreciate each one of you, value every comment, and love our friendly little neighborhood in the big city of the blogosphere.
Put on your party hat, have a slice of birthday cake, and release a balloon to say “happy birthday” to A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye.
Now I just hope my blog isn’t going to start having tantrums like a Terrible Two!
Happy birthday to a beautiful blog!
Your blog has and always will be one of my favourites Lillie, and I’m not surprised to see that you’ve had so many great comments and conversations here. You’re a hostess with the mostest for sure!
Thanks for the cake. I’m going to send a virtual balloon filled with gratitude and writer’s spirit.
Joanna
Joanna Youngs last blog post..How To Ask Purposeful Questions: Introducing a 3 Part Series
Congratulations on making it two years. Not everyone that starts a blog goes that long with it. As far as the work part is concerned, I don’t think writing on topic is like work unless you really have nothing to write about. I do think a blog needs variety though. The title of my own is misleading because it has been changed to encompass several other, related, topics. And that helps me have something to write about every day.
Happy birthday to this very special baby of your! Manny happy returns
Alina Popescus last blog post..Don’t Submit but Do Vote!
Happy B-day to one of my favorite writers, Lillie; glad to have you in the blogosphere! Hey, I’m with you – I think you should just do what you want here and have fun with it. If you really want to get serious, you can always start another blog…
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..The First Step to Effective Communication
Congratulations Lillie! This is indeed a wonderful milestone to celebrate. I can’t say I’ve followed your blog from the very beginning but I have been following it for some time now. I enjoy reading your articles and I look forward each and every one.
Happy Two!
Jasias last blog post..Decisions, Decisions…
Happy blogiversary! That’s a great milestone–you should be proud (grin).
–Debs last blog post..MM: It’s a Date
You deserve a party! I love reading your posts. Because of your ideas, my blog has a little more verve! After discovering you several months back, I have made it a point to scour your sidebar and catch up with your thoughts. Your writers eye has given me new ways to look at things! Thanks! And good luck with the Terrible Twos!
Travelinomas last blog post..Reflections
Happy blogiversary Lillie!!!
So tell us, do blogs (like cheese) get better with age?
Jennifer Matterns last blog post..Damn! Why Didn’t I Write That? – Book Review
Diane,
Thank you for the good wishes. I enjoy writing about writing, but it would feel like work if I were constrained to one topic and if I felt I had to follow a specific schedule and do SEO … all the things that niche bloggers are supposed to do to be successful.
Thank you to the birthday wishes, Alina.
Thanks, Robert. You’re right – if I ever decided to get serious about a single topic, I could start another blog. I’m honored to be among your favorite writers, as you are among my favorites.
Thank you, Deb. Yes, I’m proud of my toddler!
Travelinoma,
Thank you. I’m thrilled that my posts have helped you with your own blog, which I enjoy.
Jennifer,
Thank you for the good wishes. If you read some of my early posts – and see that I didn’t get any comments for ages – I hope you’ll agree that my blog has improved with age.
Happy Blog Birthday! Only a toddler but no one could tell from your Writer’s Words. I hope you don’t mind if I toast you but if you want to join in, stick to the apple juice and arrowroot cookies on your side, ok?
Happy Belated Birthday Lillie!
You deserve all of the accolades that come your way.
Keep up the fabulous blogging!
Cheers,
Steve
Steve Bannisters last blog post..Procrastination: Read this to avoid doing work.
Steve,
Thank you. This todder is starting to look pretty funny – with a huge head from all the accolades.
Happy blogiversary!
Happy Birthday! Two years a long time in the blog world. Congratulations for making it this far!
Melissa Donovans last blog post..What I’ve Learned About Blogging
Thanks, Melissa. Maybe blog years are something like dog years. Two years old in the real world – twenty years old in blog years.
I cant say it any other way than it has already been said-Congratulations! As a fellow blogger (beginner) I can only strive to reach this landmark! Again Congratulations…keep up the good work as I’m sure you will with so many people enjoying your writings and depending on you to do so.
M.S. Phillipss last blog post..Cellulite Massage: How Effective Is It?
M.S. Phillips,
Thank you and good luck with your blogging career.
Happy birthday to your baby blog. Manny happy returns of the day.
This is the first time I’m visiting your blog, its really a nice peace of work.I would love to come here regularly..Keep up the good work =)
Ecard Lovers last blog post..Love: Dating And Flirting
Thank you. I hope you come back often.
I wish you all luck with you blog
And happy happy birthday to your blog 
A realy nice work do you do here 
Thank you, Nicki. I appreciate the good wishes and kind words.
Happy Blogiversary, Lillie. You are always so wonderfully supportive and positive on every blog I see you comment on that I’m not surprised you’ve developed such a fan club.
As for the spam, the more spam you get, the more popular you must be!
Dana – The Writer’s Blogs last blog post..Tough Decisions in Freelance Writing
Thank you, Dana. Maybe you’re right about the spam – Liz Strauss wrote recently that she’s had more than a million spam comments!
Happy Birthday!!
Congratulations on your blogs success!!
Lillie, Happy Blog Birthday! I am so happy to celebrate the milestone with you! I love your attitude and am so glad you’re having fun. I always do when I come here or when I encounter you around the “neighborhood.” I wish you many more years of fun!
Karen Swims last blog post..A Divine Slap on the Head
Congratz..You should be proud. I see lots of abandoned blogs.
hello, sorry for my english first…i want to say: happy blog birthday! i think you have a real good blog, i can also learn from it, how to better blog in germany!
Gene,
Yes, there are a lot of abandoned blogs. I read somewhere that most blogs don’t last past three months. A blog is a lot of work, but I love it.
so, you’re two… that’s pretty old in this business.. happy birthday. I hope to reach that age too.
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Happy birthday. Blogging really is a learning experience, and one that gets better everyday. Just imagine what things will be like over the next 2 years.
Chriss last blog post..Bob Marley Wailing & Jamming
Hi Lillie
Congratulations and Happy blog birthday.
I love your blog. You always have so much to offer. I look forward to many more insightful and interesting posts.
Yvonne Russells last blog post..Seth Godin, Meet Yvonne Russell – Yvonne Russell, Meet Seth Godin
Lillie, two years of writing a blog and you’re still celebrating? Amazing!
Christine Duncans last blog post..Introducing Christine
Chris,
I expect to learn a lot more, make more friends, and have more fun in the next two years.
Yvonne,
Thank you. I’m a fan of your blog as well.
Christine,
Yes, still celebrating and still loving blogging.
Well done. It is hard work keeping a quality blog running fullstop…2 years is a real achievement. Kudos to you.
Congratulations Lillie – This is really encouraging. I am over the one year mark but I’m flagging lately (mind you in life – not just my blog). But it’s this sort of post that reminds me that it’s worth keeping on going. Thank you.
Cath Lawsons last blog post..Are You Chasing Customers Away?
Cath,
I think we all through cycles in life. I haven’t posted this week because I’ve been overwhelmed with major projects with short deadlines. Here’s hoping your flagging time passes quickly.
Children grow slow in first year but after that they grow in a great speed.
My baby hasn’t been getting much attention in the last few days because I’ve been extremely busy with client work. I’d better give it a little nourishment if it’s going to grow.
Happy Belated Birthday! Sorry I missed it.
Renaes last blog post..Chloe-Mania
Happy Blog Birthday!! Looking forward to the third year and I’m sure you’ve got a well-behaved toddler here, one only has to look at the “mom” to know that!
Here’s to many more years!
Karen Putzs last blog post..Proud Mommy Moment: My Baby Hit a Home Run!
Lillie,
So sorry I missed your blog birthday! (Finally checked Google Reader today, which I’m so behind on!) I’ve been so horrendously busy with my contract writing lately that I’ve barely had a chance to visit any of my favorite blogs–mainly doing so only in response to Google Alerts or Technorati blog reactions informing me that I or my blog have been mentioned. (Really looking forward to the reprioritization of my writing projects at the end of June! That should give me more free time and allow me to more regularly visit the blogs I love.)
So, belated congratulations on two years of writing this wonderful blog! Wishing you–and your readers–many, many more, as well!
Blessings,
Jeanne
Thank you, Jeanne. How sweet of you to wish my readers more birthdays of my blog!
I understand getting behind in reading blogs because of work. Reprioritizing projects is a good idea when you are getting overwhelmed, but congratulations on having so much work.
First of all I will like to congratulate for the huge success of your Sweet two-year old baby. The quality of the posts, the writings and everything is wonderful so far indeed!
Thanks a lot. Keep up the same work.
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