So I have been blogging for a while now…..a whole year to be exact.
What did I learn if anything. It seems to me that everyone who writes about what they’ve learned since they started blogging get freshly pressed. I’m pretty sure it will not happen to me , but I will share my experience with you anyway.
As many of you know, English is my 2nd language so for me to write and express my feelings is not as easy as for any of you which is why first I would like to thank my 2 biggest supporters and proof readers: my co-worker who is also a teacher, Audrey, and my lovely neighbor Amanda. Thank you both for never telling me NO.
The more I wrote, the more comfortable I start to feel about my writing. I went and bought a book “How to be a Writer” . I read it and blogged about it and believe it or not, the author of the book Barbara Baig contacted me, wanting to do an interview. Even though I felt shy right now to contact her back for the interview, one day I will. The truth was – my writing was on the blogging “map” so to speak. Furthermore, I signed up for freshly pressed on WordPress and as part of my morning routine I read featured posts, some of them I liked and commented on, some of them …. I just read.
To my surprise after leaving a comment or two, some of the bloggers decided to check my blog out and actually commented on whatever I had to say. I felt as I had a “voice”……. My very first “real” comment was celebrated with a glass of wine. When I said “real” I meant a comment not from my friends, but rather from a blogger like me. Slowly but surely I have built up my small, very small audience of only 14 subscribers. I know for many of you it’s not much, but for me it’s a validation of my writing.
Finally here are few points of what I learned not about blogging, but about myself:
1. I am doing what I like and knowing that people are reading and enjoying my babblings gives me much pleasure,
2. I read now more than I’ve ever read before, stories of average people, who are experiencing more or less the same life and the same feelings as I do and
3. I made new friends who are always, no matter how stupid my story may be, will leave positive comments.
In conclusion I would like to say that blogging experience exceeded all my expectation …if I can only figure out Twitter now 🙂
Pearl's twirl 
I have many things to say to you. First of all, I love your blog and you, and I hope you continue writing for a long time! Secondly, I have no idea how WP does their freshly pressed. I was pressed twice, which was very nice. But I have written pieces that I thought would be good as freshly pressed and the ones they pick are very different. Seems like lately they’ve been picking blogs that are somewhat new. It’s a crap shoot. But I do this because I love to write and love all of you; not because I’m trying to get freshly pressed. Next, that is so great the author contacted you about doing an interview! I’m so impressed! And finally, don’t focus on the 14 subscribers. That’s only the number that subscribed through WP. You may have tons more through Google Reader subscriptions that you don’t know about. Anyway, keep writing! I love your blog!
Agree about subscribes. For example, I’m not your subscriber simply because I prefer to bookmark blogs.
Leah, thank you so much, like I said no matter what stupid post I write I know you will always be there to cheer me up. I’m definitely not doing it to be freshly pressed, I love to write, even thou I don’t call myself a writer. I will check out she writes for sure. Thanks again.
Also, check out shewrites.com. It’s a great writing community where you can share your posts and people love to read other blogs. You’ll like it.
My congratulations, Ariana! A year is quite a long time for a blogger and the first year is always considered the most difficult. You have achieved a lot: mastering the language, faithful readers and an invitation to do an interview. I’m glad you’re with us and good luck to you on your second blogging year. 🙂
Thank you Olga. It is an accomplishment for me and I am proud of it. When I started I did not know that a year later I will still be enjoying it. …. And I love the fact that bloogin brought people like you and Leah into my life.
I too have been blogging for a year now (well, a couple of weeks off), and I have only 13 subscribers through wordpress.
I have never been freshly presssed either.
You have just brought the biggest smile to my face! I have been wondering if blogging is for me. Sure I get views, I was so shocked yesterday when my views exceeded 34 in just an hour and a half, but it doesn’t seeme enough. Certainly not compared to other bloggers who are ‘new to the game.’
Thank you for sharing with us where you are at with blogging stats – and your email – that is amazing! You have just inspired me to continue.
Elena, thank you finding me and thank you for your respond. Guess what I am signing up for your blog and please don’t give up keep writing if it makes you happy.
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Ariana, congratulations on reaching your first year milestone! Good for you! I agree with the lovely ladies who have commented here–don’t focus on the number of subscribers. You’ll notice as time goes on that your readership will continue to grow as long as you have something to write; something to say. Blogging provides us with the opportunity to do what we love and for the majority of us, it’s writing. So by all means, express yourself, especially if it makes you happy! 🙂
I need to check that book out.
I know the feeling about new comments, I get so excited whenever I get a new comment, especially on a non-giveaway post 🙂
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Ariana,
Have you figured out Twitter yet? I just started less than a week ago, along with blogging about writing (found your site on Bella’s today). I posted yesterday that tweeting and blogging is a full-time job. I use to tweet when it came out but everything was so random and fast! Now, I’m doing it again with a real purpose, to promote my writing and to support what others are doing. Just today, I bought a CD from an Indie musician, Kimberly Holloway. So, with that mission in mind, I’m just jump in there and tweet. It’s a little addictive, however.
Anyway, I’d like to invite you to visit my humble abode at http://www.totsymae.com
Nice meeting you through your blog.
I’ve decided that to become Freshly Pressed, your blog has to be three months old. LOL! Reading through the comments, it always seems like somewhere in there, the blogger says, “Oh, I know… and I’ve only been at this for 3 months!” I know what you mean though about it seeming to be a gamble. The post I had Freshly Pressed was about “The Top 5 Reasons I Blog.” I’ve noticed a lot of them either have a list or a how-to of sorts. Who knows… Maybe one day they’ll announce exactly how they make the determination.
I have exactly the same feeling that you about getting Freshly Pressed I don’t think I will see one day one of my post publish there ! But who cares right ?! Just like you, English is not my mother tongue and just like you, writing is sometimes more a challenge than everything but blogging is so much more than just writing, isn’t it ?
hello Ariana, I have finally visited your blog and delighted at what I find. firstly let me say thank you for visiting my blog via Olga. secondly congrats on your first ‘writing’ anniversary! 🙂 I love blogging and have been writing since 2008. I agree that you shouldnt worry about the number of subscribers, I have a few but some days have 151 reads of my blog. 🙂 other days it barely scrapes up to 21!! I think it has a lot to do with the tags and keywords. but whatever it is….I get great enjoyment out of writing and when someone drops by and says hello its a real thrill. Good luck with the writing. do contact the writer, if you leave it too long she may forget and I am sure she would be delighted if you did get in touch asap!!
keep writing
warm regards
Cindy
p.s. you would never think english is not your first language and frankly you write better english than english people in the UK speak it.
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