When I first started this blog, I had one reader. I set up the blog and within a couple of weeks somebody messaged me saying, "Are you the guy who wrote Temple of Mirrors!?" I couldn't believe anybody read that story, let alone would remember it four years after publication. I was glad to have that reader, and if they still read my blatherings, I'm all the more glad. This is a special shout-out to you, if you're still there. You rock.
(In fact, contact me again, dude. I no longer have your details so far as I can see. I think it's fun to know who you are, and I'd be happy to always give you a signed copy of my work. I'd bet many writers would do that if they were privileged enough to know who their first fan was.)
To everyone else, I offer a big thanks too. I haven't posted all that much over the past year. I've been so busy, trying to set myself up as a novelist, trying to please my agent and get a book into a major publishing house. It's a long, long journey.
About a month ago, I dared look at my view statistics again, thinking I'd be down to a meagre number, dreading the thought after making things pretty respectable over the years.
I also assumed they'd go down for another reason. I used to write about the craft of writing. Then I decided to take a chance and start writing more about me, about my thoughts and feelings. Stream of consciousness ravings of a random bloke at a keyboard. There's still stuff about writing and publishing, because it's perpectually on my mind, but it's no longer a deliberate, businesslike focus.
Long story short, I had several reasons to be afraid to look at my statistics.
And then I looked, and my jaw dropped. Since I started posting about me, just sharing my journey, my views have more than tripled. I don't know why you people care, you sick bastards, but I do know you have my enduring gratitude. You make me feel like maybe I can accomplish this goal one day. I consider myself tremendously lucky for every view.
So for whatever ungodly reason, the metrics suggest people enjoy reading about me, and what I think. I'm going to restructure my blog just a little bit to reflect that. If you hate the new format, please let me know. If you like it, then thanks again.
I'm also altering the format to better reflect what I think about, and what I have to say. Over the last year I would often be stuck for what to write, uncertain whether what was going through my mind would be of any value to anyone. I mean, why would it? I still don't get it, but if you people like reading it, and I like writing it, then everybody wins, right? Let's say, for instance, I'm reading some ye olde Michael Moorcock, and I'm thinking about how he balances intriguing character with an elegantly simple story about overcoming a monster. If that's what's on my mind, and if for some ungodly reason you guys enjoy my perspective, I accept your interest with gratitude, and will be pleased to share. So I'll be sticking up a reviews section. It won't all be books, either. I play games every bit as much as I read.
I don't know what else I'll add yet. This is a work in progress. I might even self-publish some short stories--things I believe in but haven't found a market for. Just a thought. If anyone has any thoughts, please feel free to message me over Google or Twitter (I even set up Tumblr recently, though I haven't figured out how to use it yet) or write in the comments.
My fear in posting this is that it'll look self-congratulatory. I assure you it isn't meant that way. I am genuinely astonished that people read my blog, and I'm equally glad. The least I can do is be candid with my readers, and design my blog to give them more stuff to read.
Pointless picture for Pinterest:
Blam.
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