This week, I’m celebrating a whole year of Writing in the House of Dreams.
I asked fuelyourblogging – a really useful site for bloggers – for an end-of-year assessment, and they said
Your blog is a great example of balancing both a personal focus and a focus on others with similar experiences. As a writer, I see a lot of value and insight on your blog that I can use on my own path, so I’m engaged right off the bat.
The personal stories add that unique perspective people look for, as mentioned above.
Keep up the great work!
Woo hoo! *happy dance*
‘Writing in the House of Dreams’ has a hundred fantastic followers, including some who bring in lots of casual visitors through tweeting about my posts and sharing on facebook (special big huge thank-you – you know who you are!)
But writing a blog is undeniably very time-consuming, and for an author that’s time doing your normal work, but without getting paid. So why would an author want to write a blog?
The short answer is, because it’s a whole new adventure in writing. It might take time away from your work-in-progress, but it doesn’t take away any writing-time.
The time I spend writing my blog makes the writer-in-me feel happy because
- It have total creative freedom – there’s no pressure to try and make what I write here attractive to a mass market
- I get instant feedback from readers – this has given me many insights, especially through people sharing their personal stories
- It brings me the generous gift of guest posts from some fabulous interesting people
- Its reach is global – I have readers from every continent, some of them reading my blog in translation
- It engages me in the blogosphere as a reader – I’ve discovered some great new writers and had lots of interactions on other people’s blogs
- It makes me engage more fully with networks such as twitter, linkedin and facebook – which I enjoy
I’m going to tweet and fb one of my fave posts each day this week, as part of my blog birthday celebrations.
So gather round, dear friends, grab a glass and help yourselves to a slice of virtual cake… and thank you for coming to the party 🙂
Jenny Alexander's blog: Writing in the House of Dreams 
Happy Birthday – and thanks for an interesting and informative year of Writing in the House of Dreams.
Thank you so much, Penny 🙂
Whoopeee!!! Happy Blog Birthday, Jenny! I’ve been writing mine for just over a year and agree with all your pluses for doing so. It is time consuming, but I love that creative freedom that you mentioned and the opportunity to philosophise a little bit and just throw things out there and see what people think. Another lovely post!
Ooh… thank you Abi – have some cake! Your blog is one of my most happy finds on my adventures in the blogosphere 🙂
I have found your blog to be full of insight and inspiration to pay more attention to my dreams, and fascinating to read of the common themes of dreams. Long may you write your blog and Happy Birthday!
Hi Tessa – I’m so glad you’re enjoying my blog, and thank you for all your comments over the year 🙂
Because I can’t chase women and can’t play golf. My web site’s an embryo.
I just visited your site Jim – and it doesn’t look like an embryo to me! Clear writing, interesting thoughts, keep going 🙂
Jenny
A year is worth celebration (I’m about there too and it feels like a good length of continuity..and continual learning). It is writing – as julia Cameron said ‘only writing is writing’ and all writing is writing. Thanks for keeping your blog up there.
Hi Kate – thank you for keeping your blog up there too – I popped over earlier and left a comment on your latest post. Yours is another blog I always enjoy 🙂
happy Blog birthday, Jen!
Thank you Kath! It feels like a baby compared with steel thistles – you and Katherine and other SASsies really blazed the trail.
Yes, a blog does take a great deal of time and effort; depending on what you want to do with it. I’ve had to take a break from mine to concentrate on a novel I want to get published. But, the experience in writing a blog is invaluable.
That’s a very good point Alejandro – I think we should have the flexibility to take a break when we’ve got other writing projects that need our attention. Best of luck with your novel!
Happy Blog Birthday, Jenny!
This explains why my unicorn has been so lazy writing on Reclusive Muse lately – he’s too busy trotting around other blogs eating all the virtual cake! Clearly, I am going to need a food post soon to tempt him back.
Haha – I’m glad he was on the roam when I sent out my invites, Katherine! How many bloggers get to have a real live unicorn nibbling at their cake?!
Congratulations! I love reading your blog because it always gives me new ideas and help me take my own writing to a different level. Can’t wait to see what the next year brings 🙂
Hi Carolyn – I’m so happy you enjoy reading my blog, and delighted that it’s sparking ideas for your writing. That’s what it’s all about, for me!