With Gratitude
Enriched by Words passed its six month mark on January 1st. In thinking over how far the blog (and I) have come in that time, I couldn’t help feeling gratitude for those who helped me get there.
Off line, my friend and business advisor. P L’Acosta, has been wonderful, giving advice, making suggestions, and then sitting back to let me work it all out. His wife deserves much thanks for letting us camp out at her table for long nights of web design. My husband has ceased rolling his eyes when I mutter darkly over the computer, and has even learned enough about this whole blog/Internet thing to give some advice on occasion. My family has been very encouraging and my mother visits my blog(s) daily.
Online, the help and encouragement has been tremendous, pulling a shy writer out of her shell and into the big world. The first blog I found and followed was The Interminable Writer (who was my very first comment!), followed quickly by Annie on Writing and Crysanthemum Promise (recently renamed). 1WriteWay and Out of Thin air joined my tiny blogroll within days. These four ladies were my first foray into the blog community. I’ve been sad to see some of their blogs lay fallow; they gave me the confidence to reach out. I was quickly enamored with the awesome guys at Men with Pens (and still am!), celebrated with Kiersten when she landed an agent, and followed Amber daily. I ran across Melissa at Writing Forward and stayed.
I found Fifthwind, and that opened up a whole new world. Ken runs a forum for serious fantasy writers. I joined, got my feet wet with receiving public critique, and never looked back. I met Jaym, a writer whose style and voice is close to my own, and so good, it makes reading her work a joy. I met Anthony, who is dipped in awesomesauce. And suddenly I was meeting great writers at every turn!
I have a great personal “blog circle” now which includes Sal and Jess at Everyday Thoughts from Life, Jamie at Blue Duck Copy, Cassie (JC Hart at In Sunshine and in Shade), Alex (Alex Moore), Sean at Writer Dad, David at Blogger Dad, Dave at Teach My Children Well, Matthew at Matthew Dryden, Paul at A Spark in the Umbra, and so many more!
I’ve never cleaned out my blog rolls. Those names all had a part in getting Enriched by Words and Write Your Mind Journals through the 3 a.m. feedings and colic. But oh, I need to add new names and links! Sumar (The Writing Base) and Tony (My Life as I See It) need to be on there along with several others! I’m enjoying getting to know Anna Scott Graham and Jane Smith. (If you haven’t checked out her brand new flash fiction project, head on over to Greyling Bay.
I’ve really grown as a writer, getting over that “but what if people read it?…oh and what if NO one reads it?” stage and loving the community. I recognize my voice, and have confidence in my message.
I’ve done a lot in the last six months. I joined the (unofficial title?) Chuck Westbrook’s Blog Project and have really enjoyed getting to know “unsung” bloggers while helping them a bit just by getting to know them. How cool is that? Oh, and I totally blame Sassy Kathy for the growing collection of photos in the Office Envy file and for the start of my own Book Lust file.
I have had the privilege of beta-reading two novels and several short stories. I wrote a novel and several short stories of my own along with two short e-books and numerous articles for Write Your Mind Journals (which is about to launch the new site this week! WOOT!) Last week I was tagged for my first meme ever.
I’ll be busy in the coming months. I’ll be writing for Writing Mafia, working on launching a new web-based enterprise, editing my first completed novel in years (and it should count as my first, because the others never hit the depth and length of this one), and circulating short stories and items for feedback. I have collected essays for two new projects (e-books or tree books? Don’t know yet). I’ll be working on another novel in the spring, and I’m comfortable enough with all of this to concentrate on the business of selling my favorite object in the whole world…journals!
I can’t say thank you enough, and felt a public thank you was in order. You are my on-line family.
The candle portion of the above images is courtesy cytoon.
If I’m part of your online family, does that mean I get to steal your toys, pull your hair, tell Mom YOU got into the cookies, not me, and stick my tongue out at you until you cry?
You have been one busy lady!
It’s a whole other world for you. One you will excel in, I’m sure.
PS: Mom says there are enough cookies for everyone and no hair pulling. ; – )
Well, James, you know you are part of the family now because the reader that responded is my mom!!
I will share my toys, sneak cookies if I have to (or bat my eyes at mom for them), but I will not, absolutely under no circumstances, stand for having my hair pulled. I will practice my little girl ninja moves on you!
Oh, and if I share my toys, I expect you to share yours…so there, lol.
I am glad we met!
I am so glad that “fate” brought us together. I am hopeful that this coming year will bring tons of goodies and new growth for all of us in our little circle of friends.
And just a little advice, watch that Chartrand, he’ll make you fall in love with him like the big brother you always wanted (he also pulls hair like a pro).
@Jamie: Your comment about James is totally inappropriate.
@BJ – Welcome to the six month mark! It’s quite a journey – and I want to thank you for being so kind to me.
I can’t wait to reach my 6-year mark….
Awesomesauce… love the word. You have gone far and done very well looking forward to the next six months:)
@Anthony So am I!
@Jamie Really looking forward to the new year with this group. I’ll watch out for James, but if he gets out of hand I’ll go running to Harry (who will probably offer to shave my head to save the hassle, lol). They are good guys.
@Matthew I know it is writing, but when that rawness peeks out I just want to give you a hug.
@Brandy Yup, I tell everyone Anthony is running awesomesauce in his veins.
Congratulations on reaching the six month mark BJ!
Btw, if James pulls your hair, you can shave his off.
may the next six months prove fruitful in so many ways!!
nice to get to know you too…
I didn’t even know you had a blog ; )
Congrats on six months! Isn’t discovering a rich and wide community of writers online a wonderful thing?
@Sumar WOOT! but, um…I think I’ll let you tell him…
@Anna thank you!:)
@Kiersten I’ve been on your blog since the day we “met” in Ken Kiser’s comments.
And I can’t say the first six weeks were any fun, but once I got to know a few people, and then a bunch of them, it got fun and wonderful. 
Wow BJ, this is quite a post! I see a few folks I recognize and lots that I don’t so I guess I have some exploring to do.
I’m glad we found each other in this vast place they call the blogophere
Me too, Melissa!
mwahahaha! i do what i can to encourage wishful thinking and lusting
Still writing, BJ, but instead of Interminable Writer, I’m Fragrant Liar (ha, same difference . . .). Nice to see you are still at it, and thanks for the kudos.