Ten Months of Blogging: Surprises Along the Way

Blogging anniversaries were a big event at Naked Girl in a Dress until last fall. I wrote each month to share my progress because, as I wrote in one anniversary post, more blogs begin and fail than begin and flourish. I simply wanted celebrate Naked Girl in a Dress each month it survived. With the start of school in September, writing frequency dropped down to twice a month and anniversaries were not reported.

Now that I have been writing again regularly for two months, I want to share good news. Last Friday was the 10 month anniversary since my first post. Looking back, so much has happened with my blog and in my life in that 10-month period. A lot has been unexpected, but I have found the surprise twists in life are the most exciting. I have enjoyed the journey so far.

Here’s what has happened in the last two months:

  • Elizabeth Flora Ross of The Writer Revived awarded me with Ross’ Rad Reads, reviewing my blog. I was so appreciative to be recognized by her because I respect Elizabeth as a writer as well.
  • Marlo Thomas read Free to Be You and Me and tweeted to me that she was happy to know it still inspires people.
  • Unless you blog, this might not seem significant, but The Bloggess, blogging royalty, is following me on Twitter. She also visited Naked Girl in a Dress and left a comment.
  • I was asked to join the staff of Studio30 Plus to help build this new social media site for writers. Working with Jules, Jerrod and Jen has been a great experience. The site is growing in membership and what is offered to members has been enhanced. And, most important, we have more fun than should be allowed.
  • I was contacted to be one of 12 writers for a start-up online magazine, which will cover a wide range of topics.
  • While I thought re-building readership after rarely posting for several months would be difficult, I realized readers stayed with me and patiently waited for my return. This has meant a lot to me.
  • My favorite experience with blogging is when someone contacts me to tell me my writing has had a positive effect in his life. I have received several emails in the last few weeks that touched my heart and energized me.

Thank you for helping me see progress each month by reading, commenting, and promoting the concept of being a Naked Girl in a Dress to others.

For Song of the Week I have chosen a ukelele-strumming surfer: Jack Johnson. Last Friday was unseasonably warm in DC so I went cycling for the first time this year. I was excited to think spring could be arriving early, but of course it snowed this week.

Even with the cold temperatures, I am excited for the weekend. The guy I am dating, RBH, is coming for the weekend. We are going out to dinner, having a few couples over for dinner, taking walks, and just spending quality time catching up. I really don’t care what the temperature will be outside; I am just excited we will be together.

Here’s Better Together by Jack Johnson:

Happy Friday!


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16 responses to “Ten Months of Blogging: Surprises Along the Way”

  1. Congratulations on your anniversary! Even as a new blogger/follower, I am already in love with your blog and so appreciate your honesty, willingness to open yourself and share, and your perspective on appreciating the good parts of life as they come. Keep posting girlie!

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thank you Random Girl, for the kind comments. I enjoy your comments as they are always insightful. Readers’ comments is a benefit of blogging that I love.

  2. Congrats on 10 months of blogging and all that you have accomplished during that relatively short time. The video you posted totally made me laugh. My best buddy in the world is coming up from Tucson this weekend and sent me an email this morning reminding me he would be here. In that email he included that Jack Johnson video. Brilliant minds think alike I guess…lol

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Sandy,

      What a coincidence! It’s a great video.

  3. Starthrower

    Wow! Only ten months? Far out! Congratulations on your success. I have been crossing paths with many new blogs less than a year old and still at it and it’s so inspiring to see that.

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thank you Starthrower.

  4. Happy Ten months! I remember when you just a *wee* little blogger- you’ve aged so gracefullly! :)

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Suz,

      You were one of my first readers too! Thanks for sticking with me and reading these last 10 months.

  5. Well, I’m just glad I found you, whether it was during your down time or not! I started in September, kinda.. So I haven’t really thought about anniversaries yet. I’ve just been so thrilled with all of the great people I have met!

    TalkativeTaurus.com

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      I would recommend anniversary posts. It is good to remind yourself of your progress by re-reading those entries. It helps keep you motivated because you know positive things have come from your writing each month.

  6. This is quite a stunning account of your first 10 months of blogging. Can’t wait to see what a year or two will bring. Your writing speaks for itself, it IS wonderful. I’m impressed…

    Congratulations!

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thank you Nikki! I have been enjoying the blogging adventure and can’t wait to see where this is headed in 2011. I feel I am off to a good start.

  7. Congratulations on all that you have accomplished in just ten months, girl. :)

    Have a wonderful weekend with you guy, too. I doubt that the frigid temperatures will be a problem. ;-)

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thank you Kat. I can’t believe it has been ten months already. I am also approaching my 100th post pretty soon so that will be another milestone for me to celebrate.

  8. Great minds think alike, I did a post called 12 Months of Blogging yesterday. Congrats to you, I am amazed I have kept going this long as usually I give up on past times after weeks or at most a month or two.

    Keep going with it, and the Tweeting.

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Simon,

      I hope you keep going with it too! I am too addicted to Twitter to ever give that up and I feel great rewards from the writing so I will continue with that as well.