Today, it’s exactly one year since I published my first blog post. Since then I have written a little over 200 posts. If they average on about 800 words, that means I have produced 160 000 words on this blog. That’s a novel, basically. I tried to google “how many pages is 160 000 words”, and it came up with “it depends” (which I knew) and “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is 168,923 words” (which I didn’t know).
The thing, though, is that a blog year is comparable to a novel year the way a dog year is comparable to a human year. It takes many dog years to make up one human year. Likewise, 160 000 words worth of blog posts isn’t a novel. But still. I think this means (to me, anyway) that I have proved I can stick with something I write for that long. I can write a novel if – no, WHEN – I set my mind to it. When I have the time (heard it before?). When I am ready. And I will.
In the meantime I feel the need to take a stroll down memory lane. You’re invited to join me if you like.
Since I started this blog I have...
-moved three times , one of them across an ocean . And then once in my workplace.
-tried , and failed, twice to write the same novel within a month.
-pondered over tough life decisions.
-complained about laundry...
-…and dishes...
-...and of course my thesis.
-told you about what I read, where I live , what I listen to, why I don’t do Twitter and how I mastered the art of time travelling.
-repeatedly advertized for http://www.onemilliongiraffes.com/, and whether my linking helped or not, the project was completed just a few days ago. It is possible to collect 1,000,000 handmade giraffes in 440 days, (only 239 of which were made by me). In general, the “giraffability” part of this blog has not been as large as I could have wanted, but at least the giraffes still beat the squirrels and the fraggles …
-taught you some lessons in Norwegian and about being Norwegian.
-taught you a lesson in alternative probability.
And if you’ve always wondered why all my blog titles awkwardly start with the word “on”, there is even an explanation to that.
It’s been a very good year.
Have a great weekend!
37 comments:
Congratulations!
and thankyou: for your generosity, for sharing so much and for reminding me why I need to make more time for the things I've learnt to love.
Congatulations on completing a year, Mari.
You have packed more into this one year than I have into the last three or five!!!
It has been an annus girrifibilulus for us all! Here is to the next!
160,000 words? That's novel.
I'm on about 153, which is a dribble over a drabble (if you're a mathematricksian).
Congratulations on doing a year. I hope that you'll carry on for much longer because you have so much to give.
I'm going to blogger off now,
All the best from beautiful old blogger Boonie
Sue - thank YOU! I wouldn't bother sharing if it hadn't been for all the lovely visitors to this blog. Makes a girl inspired, y'know! ;)
Natasha - now you're just talking nonsense. I know very few - nay, none - blogs that offer the variety and quality of content as yours. You're a blogging hero, you are!
Mark - cheers! Or, as you alter ego would say, SKÅL! Yay!
Boonie - thank you! I hope I shall continue for a long time yet - with such lovely people to keep me company there is no reason I shouldn't (other than, you know, real life getting in the way. But I'll try to work around the tough spots).
Congratulations on your first packed year, I have only known for part of that year and it has been a privilege to read your blogs.
Here's to the next year.
Yvonne.
Congrats on your blog anniversary! I don't like doing laundry, either. Then I have to do ironing, which I like even less.
I love to learn more about being Norwegian!
Congratulations on a whole year of writing. That's a lot of words.
Congrats on your blogoversary! Here's to another year more! *ching*
congratulations! that's a BIG year! not only have you proven to yourself that you could stick with something, but you went through a lot. 3 moves is huge. that's enough for me to experience a stress induced coma for the next month.
Congratulations! From one blogger to another, I know what a big deal one year is. It's a big achiement to keep a blog going for a year. I seen many people drop off after six months or less so I always give a big cheer to those who make it to the one year mark.
Here's to many more fabulous blogs posts! All the best! - G
I haven't been with you for a year but I have enjoyed the months that I have.
True, writing a blog isn't writing a novel but it's an accomplishment nonetheless.
CD
Wow, that's really putting it into perspective with the HP book. Congrats on a year of blogging! And much happiness to come in the next!
You've covered a lot of ground in a year. Impressive. Congratulations on your blogiverary. Many more!
Yvonne - thank you. And likewise!
Aubrie - I tend to skip the ironing part (especially now, as I don't own an iron at the moment), but yeah - the laundry sucks!
Alex - well, here's a confession - I think I may have used some of those words more than once. But only once or twice :P
Rosie - thanks! Cheers!
Amie - yeah, the moving part wasn't my favourite. But it was worth it in the end :)
Georgina - it feels like a good milestone to have passed :)
Clarissa - and at the moment it is as big a commitment (to writing) I can manage, so I am happy that I've gotten this far.
Summer - I know, right? I was all "Really? But HBP is pretty thick. Wow!"
nonamedufus - thank you, I hope there will be many more :)
toot toot tooo!!! Congratulations! And you've had a busy year, girl!
I was so confused by that dog years to novel years to blog years part... But I don't have Hart's gift for math.
And I don't have my glasses on. ;p
Happy Bloggiversary, Mari! Hail Digression! *does giraffe dance*
*plants subliminal message about writing that novel this November, as the thesis will be out of the way*
Leigh--TOTALLY got the
Blog year is to novel year
is as
Dog year is to human year
It means it takes 7 (because 7 is the most powerfully magical number) blog years to write a coherent novel.
Leigh - haha, sorry, didn't mean to confuse you! I'm no mathematician either, so I'm gonna put one in for it being your glasses causing the confusion :P
Tami - yes! That's what I meant. Only I hope it doesn't take 7 years... Can't we say 7 months instead? I'm not sure I can wait seven more years to write a novel... (November won't be it, though, since the first half will be spent polishing my thesis, and the second half will be spent sleeping...)
Ooo, I just came up with something. According to this blog, a "blog year" is 200 posts, right? (Nevermind that this time it took me 365 to reach 200 posts.) According to this math it takes 200 days (as one blog post per day sounds reasonable) times seven = 1400 days (which is a little shy of four regular years) to write a novel. That doesn't sound so bad.
(Now we're talking confusing math, though!)
Congrats! Well Done...
Celebrate with giraffe shaped cookies or cake ;-D
If I had discovered you earlier, I would of made a giraffe~
Ellie - thanks, that's a great idea! And too bad about the giraffe - but they are still accepting giraffes at www.onemilliongiraffes.com, and I would love to see one even if it won't be one in a million ;)
Yay Mari! So glad you have a blog and I get to know you. And that you obsess over numbers just like me and the tartlette! Yay! I'm going to have a cupcake in your honour...yay!
Congratulations! I remember when you told me you'd been doing this less than a year and I was surprised -- I really thought from your ease and flow you were all old-school. Clearly you have the hang of/knack for it!!
B
Wow one year, congrats!
Congrats! And you've done so much in a year!
Congratulations! That's quite an accomplishment.
I like your comparison of a novel to dog years:)
Congrats on the year! You've done a lot in that year - good for you :)
Here's to many more!
Awww, happy blogiversary! I'm a bit miffed that the giraffes have all been collected before I've finally finished a first one, but oh well. Go you, and go other-strange-giraffe-obsessed-Norwegian! ;-) BTW, is your Networked Blogs thingy not working anymore, 'cause I'm not getting the posts in my FB newsfeed...
I'm glad to be here to celibrate your bloggoversity. What are we supposed to bring again for one year anniversary: mouse pads? I always forget this stuff. But really: ongrats and take strength from your serious sustained effort. We're all showing ourselves we can do more -- whatever our particular "more" is. Even if it turns out to be "more of this".
Congratulations on one fantastic year. I am right behind with my one year date coming on September 21.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Jan - you know that goes two ways - so glad I get to know you too :)
Barbara - aw, thank you! That is very sweet of you to say, especially considering you two are natural born bloggers :)
Holly and Lynda - thank you. It feels like a long time, for some reason.
Jane - tee hee, the blog/dog-novel/human year thing seems to the the source of the most amusement/confusion in this post..
Jemi - thank you!
Leanne - that IS too bad. They are still accepting giraffes, though, even if the project technically is over the website is up. And I think the Network thingy is working (they are posted on my profile at least), but with my decreasing number of posts they may be harder to spot.
Kablooey - what, no gift basket? I'm so bummed... I like your little typo(?) there, though. Ongrats! It's like you're saying congrats and onwards at the same time. "Great, great, now get ON with it!" ;)
Lee - I thought for sure you had been blogging for more than one year? Or maybe it's your second blogiversary? Either way - congrats (or should I say ongrats?) to you too!
I'm late but Happy Blogiversary. Looking forward to another year of wonderful post from you. Wishing you all the best.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
The one year mark? That's something to be proud of. :)
What a good idea to review your year all in one post.
Have a great weekend!
Sounds like you have had a very full on year. Congratulations on keeping the blog going. I'll be having my one year anniversary in November so I'll have to think of something interesting to do.
Mason - thank you so much!
Michelle - it's a rather random selection, but at least it covers a fair amount of my busy year :)
Cassandra - It's been busy, indeed. Goood luck in coming up with an anniversary surprise :)
Congratulations.
I've never understood what a dog year is about. I thought a year is a an astronomical thing, and that humans and dogs orbit the sun on the same planet. Anyway, your word count convinced me that it should be possible for a human (including me) to write a novel in one year, and that a dog would probably need some more time >:)
Cold As Heaven
woo-hoo, one year!! I thought you were joking about the 239 giraffes so I did a search and you weren't lying. I think you love giraffes more than me.
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