My blogoversary doesn’t mean much, given the number of times I’ve moved/quit/fallen-off-the-face-of-the-planet. To be honest, the day passed without me even realizing it. But if I were to pay attention to these things, and set them to dates, I’d have to say that my blogworld is now seven years old.
I published my first blog post ever on February 14th, 2008, and posted my very first book review the next day. In the seven years since, I’ve read/reviewed nearly 800 books. I’ve been through phases of reading too quickly. I’ve wandered from genre to genre. I’ve discovered new books and authors and media. I’ve made tons of blogger friends, and met up with quite a few of them over the years, as recently as last month. I’ve taken time off, and sorted out priorities, and am still blogging today. Maybe my blogoversary doesn’t really count, but for me, it’s the mark of an incredible adventure that’s still continuing today.
Originally, I thought it would be cool to rank my seven top favorite books of the past seven years. Yeeeeah…not going to happen. I have too many new favorites to narrow that list down to seven! Instead, here’s a list of seven amazing things that never would have happened to me if it weren’t for blogging and fellow bloggers.
1. When I started blogging, I only read classics, and had really only read classics (or Harry Potter) for a decade. Book bloggers introduced me to a whole world of other things to read – modern books, authors I’d never heard of, genres I’d never tried…
2. These seven years have also seen the evolution of hate-to-love in terms of audiobooks. Oh how I adore them now!
3. Book bloggers create the best online events. Readathon. RIP. Bloggiesta. Etc.
4. Before blogging, I’d never even heard of NaNoWriMo, nor did I think it was possible for me to write fiction quickly. While NaNo is not every writer’s cup of tea, I’ve discovered that I love starting a book this way, and then taking what I learned from that first fast draft and rewriting slowly from scratch. So thanks specifically to Chris for pushing me in that direction!
5. Does anyone still reading my blog remember Death and Baby Death? That vlog series is probably my favorite thing ever done in blogging. And yes, I still have all the videos.
6. Over the years, I’ve had several major trials, and several major successes. Bloggers have supported and encouraged me when I was attacked by the media, when I lost over 100 pounds, when I finished writing novels, when I moved across the country, and on and on and on. That support and encouragement has meant the world to me.
7. Meeting bloggers from all around the world! This is top on my list. I’ve met so many – Chris, Melissa, Trisha, Amy, Megan, Trish, Jenn, Jill, another Trish, another Jenn, Cari, April, Juli, Carl, Aarti, Ceri, Anna, Reagan, Candace, Heather, Sheila, Lenore, Amy, Care, Kim, Serena, Nat, Jen…and that’s just the handful I can think of off the top of my head! That doesn’t even begin to cover the hundreds met at BEA in 2010 (another one of those things I never would have done without blogging!).
I know I haven’t always been terribly consistent, but I’m grateful for all the things blogging has given me over the years, and for all the friends I’ve made – and continue to make – because of something as simple as writing about books (and other stuff!). Love y’all!
The Zen Leaf 
Amazing how blogging has enriched us all, isn’t?? Now that you’re in the east, I hope to see you in NYC for BEA this year …. it can’t be that difficult to take the train in. I had actually forgotten about the media attack. ARGHHHHH
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Yeah that media attack…that’s pretty much what did me in and made me all disordered in terms of blogging for years. 😦 Boo. But I’m back now. And I’m really thinking hard about BEA this year. I want to go, but I didn’t know who else might be going. I’ve gotten the impression these last few years that it’s less attended by book bloggers these days.
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Well, you’ve been blogging in the book blogging world longer than I have. Congratulations. 🙂 I’ve been blogging for 10 years this coming October, but like you, I’ve been through many phases and also many blogs. It looks like you’ve had a great seven years, though. Again, congratulations.
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You know, I never even knew there were book blogs when I began. I just liked books, haha. It wasn’t for about six months until I discovered the book blogosphere!
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Happy Blogoversary, Amanda! I agree with you that blogging has been a growing experience in many ways. So glad you’re still around, in spite of all the changes in your life. 🙂
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Thanks Nancy! 🙂
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Happy Blogiversary! Hope Death and Baby Death are enjoying their new careers/retirement. 😉
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It livens the house up every year when they visit around Halloween. 😀
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I remember Death and Baby Death fondly! Your blogging and mine started about the same time. Congratulations–I’m glad you keep coming back to it!
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Me too. I’m hoping I’ve found a balance this time. 🙂
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I think this blogiversary absolutely counts, congrats! I agree, book bloggers plan the best events, and are some of the greatest people in the world. I remember meeting several for the first time at BEA in like 2010 and just felt like these were my people. So glad you are still here!
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Yes! That’s exactly it – it was so great to meet all those people, even people whose blogs I’d never heard of before.
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I LOVED Death & Baby Death! My Baby Death made a guest appearance at Gabriela’s birthday party a couple of weeks ago. I tried to explain the videos but couldn’t do them justice. Are they still on YouTube?
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I think one of your comments got caught up in moderation and now they’re both here, so I’ll reply to the longer. I think it’s awesome that Baby Death showed up at her party! The videos ARE still on youtube but not listed for searching. I can always forward you a link to a specific one if you’d like. 🙂
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I miss Death and Baby Death!! I’d love to see the videos again, are they still on YouTube?
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This definitely counts as a blogiversary!
It’s amazing how much we really do change over time, whether it’s something more temporary (being in the mood for one genre over another) or something that sticks (weight loss, new and unexpected friendships, etc.). Our blogs serve as an undeniable record of our growth, as readers and as people, and I know this is something I’ll be grateful for in the future, particularly on those days when I’m feeling like I’m stuck.
So glad you’ve stayed around, even if you’ve taken some breaks here and there. 🙂
P.S. I nominated you for some stuff, if you’re interested!
http://shainareads.blogspot.com/2015/02/some-monday-stuff-so-many-tags.html
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I loved your questions! Read them yesterday and saved the post, and I’ll likely use them in this upcoming Sunday Coffee. That day’s my birthday, so I might as well get a little more personal. 😀
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YAY! Looking forward to it. 😀
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Death and Baby Death! It’s so good to see their smiling faces. 😀 Happy blogoversary (I never have figured out how to spell that)…at least you’ve kept count. I’d have to hunt down LiveJournal if it’s even still around to figure out when I started, and that’s just too much work.
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