As my 2010 began I was getting the last of my first 100 followers. I had set the goal in October of 2009 to get 100 by the end of the year. Oh well, I was a few days late, but that was okay in my book After a little over three months of blogging I was starting to grasp an inkling of how it all worked.
After I got the 100, I set my next goal for 200 by April 1. Blogging daily, I had gotten settled into a writing routine. The followers came on a regular basis now that I knew more about how it all worked. My second goal came before the April 1 projection. That's when I tossed out to the readers the concept of the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge.
This was my celebration and I wanted others to join with me. And, by golly, they did. The Blogging From A to Z Challenge was a success. I made a lot of new blogging friends and picked up another 100 followers during the month of April. This was the highlight of the year for Tossing It Out.
Blogging was becoming old hat for me now. I was churning out posts and making my daily deadline. I was also starting to look forward to my first blog anniversary in September.
When the one year of daily blogging date came I soon cut back to a three day schedule. This works better for me and each post gets more readers than the daily posts did. Of course, it still seems like there's never enough time to get everything done.
Once again I participated in NaNo and completed that challenge without a hitch. This novel should actually see completion very soon. Then it will be on to editing and rewriting and so on.
On the non-blogging level I'm getting by fine. My health remains good, but my job outlook is still bleak for now. I've been enjoying my first granddaughter as she passes her second birthday and is not a terrible two child by any means. My daughter who was getting married last December has delivered me a second beautiful granddaughter less than two weeks ago. Life is simply grand.
This year I will try to get something to happen to my first completed novel Time Light. I also want to wrap up my father's project The Autobiography of a Nobody and my 2009 NaNo novel A Desert Place--I am a year behind on both of these.
Is anyone up for another April Blogging From A to Z Challenge?
How was your year? What were the highlights? What do you plan for 2011?
Happy New Year!
Hi Lee, congratulations on your 2010! I've yet to sit down to figure that out for myself but, off the top of my head, I, too, finally figured out the blogging thing in 2010, made lots of new friends and new followers. I'm half way through my first novel and have started my second. There's more, but, those are some highlights.
ReplyDeleteFor 2011? Between now and my birthday on June 30th I will shed 35 pounds (that I picked up on '09) and finish the first draft of #2.
A very happy Christmas and new year to you and yours! that rebel, Olivia
Happy New Year, Lee! Sounds like 2010 rocked for you. You know I'm up for another A to Z Challenge. That boosted me over 100 followers and some of my best blogging friends came from the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI intend to have the sequel to CassaStar polished and to my publisher next year!
Count me in for another A TO Z.
ReplyDeleteHope you achieve your goals in 2011,
Yvonne.
Lee, you've had a successful year. Congratulations! I'd like to get my first novel revised to the point that I have the nerve to find some critique partners to read it. Hmmm. I just realized I wrote "first" novel. That's a good sign, I think. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteSince I missed the first one of course I'm in. Sounds like a great year for you Lee. I wish you the best for the up coming New Year.
ReplyDeleteIt has been such a treat sharing the past year with you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for welcoming me to your blog world.
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Congratulations on the new granddaughter, r-LEE-boid!
ReplyDelete~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Hi Lee .. congratulations on your achievements .. it's just good having a blog that's appreciated in my book! Two grand-daughters would top it off .. none available over here! Enjoy yours .. and let's all have a wonderful successful 2011 .. cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very productive and successful year! And congratulations on your second grandchild! I'm still waiting for my first. Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2011! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your follower success....
ReplyDeleteI've managed to get to 113 since February of 2009. Not too shabby for a guy who only posts twice a week and rarely makes any sense.
I wasn't around last April and was so jealous when everyone said how great it was. Count me in this year!
ReplyDeleteYou has a great 2010 and I hope 2011 is even better.
You did have a good year! I hope the job prospects look up soon though!
ReplyDeleteI had a great year - lots of wonderful family stuff, the job is good - busy, but good - and I've learned a lot about writing! :)
Hope you enjoy a fabulous new year!
It sounds like you had a good 2010! Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteI'm up for a Blogging from A to Z Challenge!
I hope you have a wonderful New Year!
Congrats on the good year! Here's to an even better 2011...
ReplyDeleteSounds like your 2010 was very successful, congratulations!
ReplyDeleteFor me, it was a very hard year. Not a bad one, just difficult. But, BUT!, there were many high points. I finally began my blog. I began writing again. I met all of you wonderful people. My baby niece was born.....so many things to be thankful for.
I hope in the new year that you're able to get the projects completed!
You must have a lot of check marks beside your 2010 lists of goals! Congrats (especially on being a grand-dad of 2 now now too). I really liked following the A-Z challenge and would be excited to read the partcipants again. My photo blog is a daily routine so adding A-Z would be tough for me to do.
ReplyDeleteOlivia --I wouldn't mind shedding 35 lbs myself. Good luck with your goals.
ReplyDeleteAlex-- First taker for A to Z--let me ponder now and see how to approach it. That would be great to have your follow-up to CassaStar to come so quickly.
Yvonne -- Thanks for your continual support over the past year. I'll let you know about A to Z.
Liza --- You and I have a similar goal. Maybe we can "trade" our novels to critique.
Jules - And a mutual thank you. Another taker for A to Z!
Kristy --- Hope you reach those goals and more!
StMc-- Thanks and looking forward to see what you do in the coming year.
Hilary -- I'm with you on the wishes for success for us all in 2011.
ReplyDeleteMarguerite--Thanks for those good wishes. I'll wave tomorrow (Friday 12/31) as I drive quickly past Lafayette on my way to Houston for New Year's Eve with one of my daughters and her husband.
Andrew --- As long as you have quality followers it's all good.
Mary-- Sounds like you all are talking me in to another A to Z Challenge.
Jemi -- Thanks and hope your 2011 is the best year ever.
Golden Eagle -- I'm sure you'd do great with the A to Z Challenge.
Pat -- Right on!
Words Crafter -- I guess getting thru the year is success in itself.
Lynn -- You can always do an A to Z with the photo blog. That works too!
happy new year, Lee!!!
ReplyDeletewell...thanks to you and that last challenge, i'm already involved in an A to Z challenge. writing my life story from a to z here in blogland. it's a book of fiction of course because i had to change the names in order to protect the guilty with the exception of myself. but unlike others, there won't be any need to purchase it, because i'm writing it in a blog. it's free to read:) no followers box/gizmo and no comments...shown.
What a lot you've done in 2010! For me, 2010 held my first three months of blogging and my first hundred followers. It held two first drafts and the start of revisions. My CP got a fantastic agent as well! I hope 2011 will hold more blogging and the end of revisions, so I can start querying. I've got a couple of ideas fighting to get out, so fingers crossed I'll get to those!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI plan to stay busy and FOCUSED during 2011. My focus was severely lacking during 2010.
Hi Lee :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year
No matter what looms ahead, if you can eat today, enjoy today, mix good cheer with friends today enjoy it and bless God for it. ~Henry Ward Beecher
May God Bless and Protect You in the Year to Come. ~Ron
Bud-- I'll have to check it out when I get to my home computer and home schedule. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAmie -- Querying sounds good. Best of luck to you with that.
Carol -- Yes! Focus! I need more of that as well.
Ron - Thanks for those wise words and the same wishes for you.
Arlee, I made several wonderful new friends during last year's A to Z challenge, so I'd definitely like to do it again. Keep us posted on your plans.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope you have a great 2011. I'm planning on a very productive writing year.
It's great to see you achieve your goals. May you also achieve the ones you set for your books. Hope 2011 is successful for you!
ReplyDeletePatricia --- I will keep you posted on A to Z. If I can manage it I will do it again.
ReplyDeleteLily-- And I wish you likewise. Thank you for stopping by.
I'm always up for a good challenge.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
ah, so grandpa will remember 2010 for getting a brand new grandkid! :) Congrats on that once again.
ReplyDeleteTo me personally 2010 was bad, especially compared to 2009 which was good to me financially and even in the blogosphere, since I started HOLLYWOOD SPY then.
I hope 2011 will be much much better and that it will bring positive changes to all of us!
Karen - A challenge is good.
ReplyDeleteDezmond -- You have been doing consistently good posts this year. Looking forward to 2011 as well.
Happy New Year Lee!
ReplyDelete2010 was a reawakening for me; I am so happy I found you and your challenge! I'm up for another A-Z, but can we wait til spring? I just finished blogging Reverb; I blogged every day, but Christmas. Phew, it was tough!
Hope 2011 is another great year, for you~
Ellen-- It looks like I'll plan for another Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. April is Spring, right? I agree that everyday blogging can be a drain--I'm glad I've cut back.
ReplyDelete