I started this blog a year ago today. My first post was March 30, 2011.
This is my 255th post, which is a lot further than I got on either of my two previous blogs. That’s an average of 4.9 posts per week. With a few minor exceptions, I’ve consistently posted every weekday for 52 weeks. I’ve gotten a grand total of over 500 comments: a.k.a., you guys are outstanding.
I spent most of the year trying to focus exclusively on writing about writing, but I finally gave that up. Now I can (and do!) just ramble on about whatever I want, and I think the blog is better for it.
You and I have covered a lot of ground together, hypothetical reader! We’ve examined whether a career can be made of badassery (answer: yes). We’ve looked at how you can (and should!) make good art even if you don’t believe in yourself. I’ve subjected you to a wide assortment of my own fiction (of which this story was perhaps the best), and you’ve suffered through it bravely. We’ve thought about how Zen bubbles up into all sorts of non-Buddhist writing. We’ve asked whether writing can be elemental, like fire or water. We’ve answered the question of free will vs. destiny. And, of course, to the continual delight of Googlers everywhere, we’ve come up with 28 words you can use instead of “awesome.”
Can I say something? Y’all are amazing. (That’s the Texas in me coming out.) You really have been wonderful. Your reading makes the blog worth writing. At the end of my other two blogs, I felt drained, relieved they were over, even though I remain very proud of the work I did in writing them. But right now, I feel energized, excited to keep going, and curious to see where the next year will take us.
I hope you feel the same.
In celebration of this momentous event, by the power invested in me as Supreme Dictator of This Tiny Website, I hereby declare this post an Official De-Lurking Post. All you readers out there who normally slip away silently without leaving a comment, today is your day! Say hello, tell us your name, type a wordless angry face – whatever. Just de-lurk! You can go back to lurking tomorrow, I promise.
(Non-lurkers are also welcome to comment, of course.)
Thank you so much for reading. Here’s to many more years of This Sort of Thing. Have an excellent weekend, and happy Friday!
Brian D. Buckley 
Congratulations!
Thanks Shaila!
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De-lurking: SUCCESS
Woohoo! We’ve reached a full year of the blog!
may the blog last many more years to come.
Thanks Alex. I’ll do what I can.
Congrats on your ONE YEAR anniversary! š
You stated that you are still excited and energized about this blog, but you felt drained when you ended the other ones…I was curious about why this time is different?? perhaps bc you write about so many more topics?
Yeah, that’s definitely the main reason: I can write about whatever I want. It’s a lot of fun to just take whatever’s on my mind and put it out to an audience.
Thanks!!
Congratulations!
Now back to lurking…
Scariest lurk-face ever! Thanks for commenting, Teri. š
Ya know… I’m a little offended I didn’t know you had a blog š¦ Which is probably my fault but I’m still blaming you
Hey Adam! Good to see you. Yeah, I should’ve mentioned it to you…unfortunately we don’t get to talk much anymore. But thanks for commenting!
Its one of my greatest regrets that I don’t get to keep up with you and Ben while living in NC. It doesn’t help that getting back to OH is hard on its own much less trying to find Ben in CBus and you in Findlay.
Speaking of Mr. Trube, did you know he’s got his own blog now too?
http://BenTrubeWriter.wordpress.com
I do as of yesterday. I found yours via a post of his on facebook and took the opportunity to see if he had one as well. š