The first year of blogging, I blogged in the dark. If anyone other than people personally known to me read my posts, I do not know. For weeks, even months, I would churn out a post a day every day, and get no comments. When I now go back and read some of those posts, I am amazed. How did I motivate myself to maintain a fairly consistent standard, without any feedback?
A year back, Tami started blogging. Following her example, I started commenting on blogs, even following them. I made a bunch of new friends, all of whom I knew by name, and who’s blogs I followed regularly. The number of followers climbed up to the twenties and remained there for months.
Then I took part in Arlee Bird’s A to Z Challenge, and the number of followers started going up everyday. Fifty followers was a number I never dreamt I would reach, by the second week of May, I had reached a 100. Life was beyond hectic at that time, and I missed celebrating entering three digits.
I thought 125 followers could be a good milestone to celebrate, but by the time I noticed, I had gone beyond that. Would I never get to celebrate my wonderful followers?
Then on my blog-iversay, Journaling Woman became my 150th follower!!!
While I have always said, and still maintain that the number of followers I have doesn't say anything about me or my blog, I would be hypocritical if I say that I am not overwhelmed by the number.
So, Celebrations!!!
I would love to do a giveaway to celebrate the Anniversary and the Milestone, but living in India makes it rather hard. The postage on almost anything I choose to give away is likely to end up being more than the value of the giveaway itself!!! And yet, I adore each one of you, and want to give you something.
When I was still mulling about it, I saw that Al had decided to celebrate his blog-iversary by giving away three 8x10 photographs taken by him. I loved the idea so much, I decided to steal it and give away three photographs taken by me to one lucky winner.
The rules to enter the give away:
- Leave a comment on this post on or before July 20
- Be a follower of my blog (new followers are welcome)
- For additional points, tell me which of the photographs on my blog are your favourite
I will pick a random winner and contact them to decide on the three photographs.
If you do not win, and you still like any of my photographs, let me know, and I can send you the photographs in the highest resolution that I have so you can print them out yourself.
And whether you choose to enter my giveaway or not, please enter Al’s at Publish or Perish. Not only does he live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world (I refuse to tell you which one- visit and find out), he is such a good photographer, any of his photographs can grace a living room wall.
And since I am not sure if I have told you or not- thank you, everyone. Every single one of you has enriched my life in some way or the other, and I adore you all.
Thank you!
31 comments:
It is an amazing experience this blogging business, the sudden eruption of followers who can often develop into friends is awe inspiring and why not virtual and visual giveaways like gifts to celebrate anniversaries. Happy anniversary, Rayna.
We don't have Followers on Wordpress, so I'm not really up on this, but want to say a big congrats to you and your wonderful blog!
Congrats, toss my name in your hat!
It is amazing the connections and
camaraderie. Milestones are always fun to celebrate~
Congratulations on your recent blog anniversary and the continued increase in your followers. You have an awesome blog and I'm honored to have found you in blogdom and call you a friend.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Congrats, Rayna! You deserve your friends, your followers, and your glory!
I think all of us that blogged for a while with no followers really get what you mean. Your photographs are gorgeous. I especially like the one from last Thursday with the children with balloons and an older one of a black and white butterfly.
Hooray and congrats! Your stories and drabbles are wonderful. I haven't been around long, but I LOVE the Dream Woman photo. It's been great getting to know you~ :o)
Rayna - Congratulations!! Your blog deserves many, many followers, and I am proud to be one of them. I learn every time I visit. I would love to win one of your photos - they are all breathtaking. My favorite - and one that is a good reminder - is "Balance."
Congratulations, Rayna! Our stories are similar...but I only started commenting and following in March, so I have some catching up to do. I was at 50, but for some reason unbeknownst to me, now I'm back at 49. No idea why she left...but of course I'm beating myself up about it.
I've been your follower for a while now, so there's my second entry. Now to go find some favorite photos. I'm really excited about potentially winning this!!!!
Congratulations, Rayna! Great Blog! Bet you'll grow even more. You are too good not to.
Giggles and Guns
That's awesome, Rayna! And a nice touch to give away a photo of yours. As I stated in my post yesterday, the A-Z challenge made such a difference for those who participated.
Congratulationa Rayna, blogshere would be lost without you. here's to the next 150.
Yvonne.
Congrats, Rayna! May you have many many more followers to come!
Lovely photos by the way.
Congrats Rayna! That's fantastic! You deserve it - I love your blog. :)
Can I have some of that cake?
Rayna, congrats! That is fantastic.
I think the thanks should go to you as well. I love reading your drabbles, and even with the challenge form the Burrow, I probably wouldn't have tried without having read a good few from your blog.
Congrats on your anniversary and your long list of groupies! :)
Congrats on your 150 followers! I love that I found your blog, it's a good one!
Congratulations, Rayna! I love stopping by your blog.
Congratulations!!! What a great milestone for you!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Congratulations on your 150 followers. I’m happy to have discovered your blog. I find it fascinating to compare the similarities of authors separated by thousands of miles.
Congratulations Rayna!
150 followers? That's awesome. Glad to be one of them. You have an above average blog so you should attract followers. 299 is right around the corner.
Stephen Tremp
Congrats on the milestone!
Hello Rayna,
I am one of those silent readers of your blog and I absolutely love your blog, your way of looking at things. It would be unfair on my part not to congratulate you for the milestone you just crossed. I thank you with all my heart for such a wonderful blog.
Truly,
Pramodini
Please put my name in the hat as well. I think your photos are wonderful. And look, now you have 156 followers. That's fantastic!
One of my favorite photos was a flower -- jasmine -- a couple of months ago. Then there's a street scene I'll have to go back and search for -- I remember it for its wonderful color.
Congratulations!
Thank you also for the shout out!
I have to admit that part of the reason I settled on photos for my first giveaway is the postage cost.
A single paperback costs about $30 to airmail anywhere in the world.
You had better enter me as well!
Thank you everyone for throwing your names in the hat, and I am really flattered that some of you remember individual photographs.
@ Carol- there is such a difference between blogging in a vaccume and blogging to people, isn't it? But people like us are richer for having known both, I think.
@ Elisabeth - yes, the last year, blogging has been so enriching because of the give and take, and meeting so many wonderful people.
@ Al- ditto. Postage can be killing
Well, because I think you are such a talented photographer, I would love some of your photographs of India (a place I would love to visit someday).
Please enter me.
CD
@ Clarissa- done!
Awesome, Rayna. I love all your photographs, but especially those of your younger son, he is so very expressive!
Thank you, Dipali.
Will throw your name in the hat too....
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