I began this adventure three years ago not knowing what to expect. Duh. Does anyone ever know what to expect? The All-Wise Blog Sages recommended a tight focus: The Pet Lover’s Gazette > The Dog Lover’s Gazette > The Chihuahua Lover’s Gazette > The Longhaired Tan-Coated Chihuahua Puppy Lover’s Gazette. I tried to come up with something focused, really, but just couldn’t make myself that small. So, after pondering the issue in my first five blog posts, I settled on the vague-but-honest subtitle The Power of Story, and the self-descriptive, “Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-About-Stuffer.”
Yet somehow, over the last three years, fellow-bloggers and explorers from other dimensions (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn) have found their way here, and provided wormholes for me into their parallel universes, as well. And some—quite a few—have become friends. Yeah, I know, online “friends” aren’t real friends, yada-yada. But dammit, some of them really are.
A few months after I started, I wrote a despairy little rant entitled New Blogger Blues, and got a quick ironic bump. Some people gave encouragement, while others were fellow “What am I doing wrong?”ers. But all reminded me I wasn’t alone. It wasn’t an Interstellar moment, but it was nice (Now that I’m a bonafide junior birdman, I try and pay it back, forward, and sideways as much as I can.)
When Robin Williams died, I wrote a “trending” post–without realizing it—and had my first (mini) viral moment. I’d give that up to have Robin back, of course, but it showed me that sometimes you have an accidental box office hit and other times you build it and they simply don’t come. Which is OK. Really. And then again, sometimes your post gets dug up by some intrepid paleontologist, and treasured like sap-turned-to-amber; my article Caterpillars Don’t Become Butterflies is read by more people every month now than it was the entire first year it was posted!
Finally (not that you’re asking), here’s some advice:
- Don’t just find your voice, develop it. Find the sweet spot interwoven from what your audience responds to and what’s authentically you.
- Edit! Being concise will enhance your flavor; it’s literary MSG (without the side effects).
- WordPress Reader: find like-minded bloggers here, using tag words; then read their posts, make comments, and some (not all) will discover you back.
Thank you, dear friends.
Blessings till it hurts!
Mitch
Happy 3rd Anniversary 🍾
Thanks, Tink!
💫
Congrats!!
Congratulations – way to go!
Thank you, Mike!
You’re welcome, Mitch – Happy blogging! 🙂
Congratulation dear and respected sir. And thanks for your kind pieces of advice on you Third anniversary. I wish you always doing your great effort.
Thank you, Tanveer!
Happy Anniversary on you wonderfully written blog! Thanks for the advice too! 🙂
Thank you, Yamina!
Of course! 🙂
Congratulations Mitch 🎂🎉😊
Thank you!
Congratulations and continued success, Mitch! Your words always inspire me or give me a chuckle. Thanks for those intangible gifts that are always right on time. 😀
Aw, thank you, and likewise, Michelle!
Congratulations, Mitch!
Congrats!! Happy Anniversary!!
May you celebrate 100 more….well that would make you about 150….don’t get greedy. May you have many more creative years.
You’ve got a great blog Mitch. Congratulations on your success!
Thank you, Ron!
Congratulations and happy blogversary, Mitch!
Thanks to one of my earliest blogger friends!
You are very welcome and I did not even realize I started following you so early. Looks like we started blogging almost together… lol!
I like your wise word “blogiversary”. Happy anniversary! 🙂 Mine is on July 29, 2014.
Well, then, congrats back, Martina!
Aww Thank You 🙂
I’m glad you came here, and even gladder that someone said somewhere, “Mitch is one of my favorite bloggers of all time!” and put up a link for us to follow. Happy Blogiversary!!
Aww, thank you!
You have a generous spirit, Mitch. I think that’s what I love best about your blog. No matter how successful you get, you’re never too big to help the newbies.
Congratulations!
Hey, we’re ALL newbies this side of eternity. Thanks, C.J. Ditto!
Congratulations and thanks for this Mitch. I launched my blog two months ago. Your words are quite motivating.
Glad to hear that, Ite. Blog on bravely!
Congrats and all the best!
Congratulations! This blogging thing is a roller coaster ride. I have been blogging for 10 years… and at times it feels like I write into the void…but then someone lets you know that your words impacted their life… that’s a powerful moment.
It is indeed!
Happy anniversary, my friend.
This month marks my fifth blogging anniversary. I am going to (try) to post more often, I enjoy and need the virtual fellowship with friends like you.
The focus of my blog is and always will be a message of hope in Christ. That’s something I’ve learned a lot about in my almost 21 years with ALS.
Thank you, Bill. You have inspired me so much. Love and prayers, brother.
You’re an inspiration ever since I found your blog! And a bright spot in my feed that I always look to reading! Happy Blogiversary!!
Aw, thank you, Edward!
Happy blogiversary Mitch! Congratulations on three years! Thanks for sharing your gifts with us!
The honor’s mine, Terri.
Congratulations on your 3rd Blogiversary!!! 🙂
Thank you, funny girl!
Hey, Mitch…way too go! I enjoy being your online friend! You do have a cool blog and 3 years in blog years is like 12 in dog years. I think I’ve been blogging about the same amount of time, and although I am my only follower, I hope to see that double soon! Pass the blog cake with some cold milk please! Proud of you!
;>) Ditto, Rick!
Right on, Mitch! One of my first blog amigos. Here’s to 3 more years! And a lot more friends. 🙂
It all started with you, Kev! ;>)
Happy Blogiversary and thank you for the words of encouragement and advice.
I appreciate your wisdom Mitch! And I love your style. Your posts are always relatable to me. Happy 3rd Blogiversary!
Thank you, Rhonda!
Congrats! So much of what you have said here resonates!
Glad to hear it. And thank you.
Happy Anniversary fellow blogger. I think I was first drawn to you because you live in the city I was born in but now I’m a fan because I enjoy your writing and your outlook on life, appreciating the fact that your faith is important to you and you aren’t afraid to put that out there. Perhaps someday when I’m back in the Queen City with my husband we can meet for coffee!
I’d love that. And thank you!
Awesome! Happy 3rd Blogversary, Mitch!
Terrific milestone!
How great! Happy Blogaversary, Mitch! Wow, you have done a LOT in 3 years! 🎉🎉🎉
Oops… Blogiversary… gotta spell it right… I know, a little OCD! 😂
Congratulations on 3 years! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Happy 3rd Blogiversary good sir!
You’ve done well! This Blog, a movie and another movie on the way! You are on a ROLL! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your journey!
Thank you!
Wow! Congratulations! Happy year 3!
Thank you, Miriam!
You’re welcome, Mitch!
Happy blogversary a d loved this post.
I’m glad you’re here. I have yet to post anything viral, but I also found I couldn’t limit myself to one topic. God gave me a mind that swings through the trees like a monkey, so — with a lot of editing, for sure — I post an eclectic selection. Always with eyes of faith.
Noted and appreciated, Paula.
Happy Blogiversary my friend, thanks for posting, and the tips.
Congratulations Mitch. I am glad I stumbled upon your blog, I very much enjoy it.
I’m glad we stumbled onto each other’s blogs, too, Carla.
Happy 3rd Blogaversary!
Happy Blogiversary!
I really needed this today. Thanks Mitch. Happy Anniversary to you! Loved your post.
Thank you, Deb.
How great that you made it three years! That is real dedication, to something you love. Good luck as you continue to grow 🙂
Thank you, Laura!
Happy third MT!
Thanks, GR! ;>)
Happy 3rd Blogiversary!
Thank you, Meonn!
Happy Anniversary! You would not believe the trouble I have had trying to find other blogs with talking animals or animals writing about other animals. What tags do you recommend? 🙂
That’s pretty specific. ;>) Seriously? Mix it up. Try tags relevant to your current blog post topic. You need to use new tags often, anyway, or the same blogs will start coming up over and over again.
Hello!
I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. No pressure, as usual, but if you’re interested, you can see my post at: https://infinitelyadaydreamer.com/2017/08/31/the-versatile-blogger-award-%F0%9F%92%AB/
I’m honored!
Fabulous post and Happy Blogging Anniversary (if a little late) 🙂
Thank you, Judith!
You have a good sense of humour. I like the way you write 🙂
Happy anniversary, and thanks for the tips! 🙂
Thank you, Dawn!
I chose this historical post at random, having just started following you … and was truly inspired to not worry about numbers following after only 6 weeks of waffling. ‘Meeting’ online bloggers has been so much fun; a whole new section of my brain has opened up and a whole old section of my day has disappeared … in blogland!!!!
Well, as Darwin might say, thanks for the random selection, Viola. Happy New Year!
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