The following will be a short letter to you. And then I have a great surprise for all of you! Seriously.
To you,
Just recently Write me a Book, John! surpassed 2500 WordPress followers. I know so many bloggers talk about not caring about followers or site views and all of that and that’s fine, but I’m very open about the fact that I do. Think about it. There wouldn’t be any reason for me to post just about every single day if it weren’t for you. Maybe you read half my posts or a quarter or a tenth, but it doesn’t matter. You read them. You may disagree with some of what I say and I may have even offended you at some point along the way, but you’ve helped me reach this point.
And I understand that plenty of people (bloggers included) don’t take blogging seriously. I know of bloggers who will post a week straight and then not again for a month, and that’s fine. But it’s just not what I want from this whole experience. What I really want is to keep you constantly entertained and informed as much as I possibly can. I want you to wake up each morning looking for what I post each day. I want you to share my posts on Twitter or Facebook of whichever social media site you prefer. I want you to have to think before posting a comment on one of my posts. I want this little spec of the internet to become a little part of your day-to-day routine. And maybe all of that is me wanting too much, but you’ll never be able to tell me that I don’t take you, your opinion, and your blog seriously…because I do.
All I’d like to say is thank you. For reading my rants. For disagreeing with me. And mostly just for reading. It means the world to me that you spend your valuable time on this little blog of mine.
Your fellow blogger,
John
Now for the surprise.
I want to ask you something. And in return I want to GIVE you something even better! I realize that a great many of the 2500 followers on here don’t hardly interact with me, if at all. But many of you do. And many of you have been around here for many months and several have been here since early 2014. And for every one of you I’m talking about there’s a reason you’ve stuck around. Maybe it’s my direct nature of writing my posts. Maybe you think I’m sometimes funny. Maybe you just like books and put up with me. I don’t know, but there IS some reason you read my blog.
And I want you to tell me! I want you to tell me why you like my blog as much (or little) as you do. And I’d like for you to really think about it before posting your response because the person who I determine writes the best response will get to name a character in my WIP! You can name he/she after yourself or after your dog or after whatever you want (within reason) OR if that isn’t enticing to you, then I’ll buy you two paperback books of your choice (and throw in a signed copy of mine).
What do you think?! All I want to know is what you think I’m doing right. That’s it. I really hope you’ll take a minute to comment.
PS: You’ll get the two books or the opportunity to name one of my characters ONLY if I get at least ten individual responses.
On this day in 2014 I published 200 WordPress Followers!.
Congrats, John! I’d like to say the numbers don’t matter, but I think they do, at least a little. I wish I had some spectacular reason to share with your for why I continue to follow your blog, but the honest to goodness truth is that I like how forthright you are with every post and response. Do I always agree? Nope, but I get the sense that we can disagree and still be friends. 🙂 Again, Congratulations! I’m excited for you!
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Haha we can be! Thank you! 😊
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🙂 Yay! Congrats, again!
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I stick around because you’re an intelligent guy with well presented topics. We don’t have to agree on everything, but any discussion always stays respectful. That encourages discussion, and I think it’s great.
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I’m semi-intelligent. 😉 Thanks for reading. I think you’re one of my longest readers. And yes, blogging is just better with discussion.
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Congratulations!!
Why do I follow, read and sometimes comment? Because I like what you write, plain and simple!! 😊
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Haha thanks!
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You’re as honest as you’re able to be. Sometimes you talk about things no one else is–difficult or touchy things. And you’re funny, which is worth a lot.
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Haha I certainly try to be. Honest, that is, I don’t know how to be funny. 😉
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Congrats. That is an awesome milestone 🙂
Well done. Steve
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Thanks!
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Congrats John! Have followed you since I started blogging. I think your posts are informative, useful and there is always a human element mixed in. Well done!
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Thanks!
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Congrats! I read your blog because you have such interesting posts. Keep up the great work!
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Thanks!
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Congratulations! I am new to the whole blogging business and I really enjoy your posts. You have an authentic, honest voice which I appreciate. And our shared love of Cole and Pike and Spencer binds me to your blog!
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Thanks! Yes! Those books are too good not to love!
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I like your voice. I enjoy the things you post. You have a good sense of humour which makes commenting fun.
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Thank you, sir. My sense of humor is nothing compared to yours.
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Oh stop.
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Ha! I’ve read the comments on your posts. People all laughing. Most people just want to argue with me. 😳
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I need to step up my game and start posting regularly. I don’t argue with you much because I mostly agree with most of what you say. I think if your posts spark some discussion,or even an argument, this could be symptom of being interesting.
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Yes you do. Every once in awhile I’ll think I’m missing all your posts and then I look and you just haven’t posted in a couple weeks or something. Hm. Well I’d hope my posts are somewhat interesting…😞
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I like your honesty regarding anything related to reading and writing. I also like how you keep your readers informed on current things happening in the literary world.
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Thank you. 😊 No point in not being honest and opinionated, right?
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That’s true!
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Congratulations John. I’m one of your more recent readers, but I always enjoy your posts. They’re refreshing, entertaining, and informative. You’ve done a few on Amazon and the Kindle which were particularly helpful to me, so thanks!
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Thanks! 😊 Yes, I’ve written about Amazon quite a bit. Glad I could help!
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Congratulations on such a successful blog! I continue to read your posts because I like that you write thoughtful and reflective posts about the writing process, the reading process, and about the book industry at large. You make me pause and consider my own habits and opinions on different situations, and I enjoy having a thought-provoking source of entertainment. Keep it up! 🙂
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Thank you! I think you’ve summarized my blog in one comment. 😊
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Read my post from today!
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You know why I stick around – okay, so here are some of the infinite reasons:
1 – You like Lulu & Gumpy. Though I have not heard much from you about Bozo yet, I’m pacifying him by saying you care too much to show it.
2 – No one, and I mean NO ONE has ever said my voice is good before, so that has got to be a first that needs to be humbly acknowledged in the very least.
3 – No one gives a pep talk quite as cool as you do plus I hate the way you argue. What?! I am obviously a glutton for punishment 😛
There!
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Hahaha this made me laugh. I love your voice. And I don’t care what anyone else says. 😊
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🙂 As long as I made you laugh!
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Always do. 😊
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I’ve been reading your blog for nearly a year. I’ve stuck around because you write well-thought out posts. We don’t always agree but its like you play devil’s advocate and back up your opinions well and I appreciate a good debate sometimes.
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Well I’m certainly glad you appreciate that I put some effort into my posts. Cause there have been plenty of days in which I wanted to sleep instead of writing one. 😂 Thanks for sticking around! Hopefully another year can happen!
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That’s truly awesome! Congrats! I don’t always get to read your posts but I do really enjoy reading them when I get the chance. You always have interesting and creative topics. I also think it’s awesome that you’re so dedicated to making your blog posts. I’ve said enough nice things now😜 You also need to send me your book still… 😂 Again, congrats!!!
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Thanks! You can never say enough nice things. 😉 And no, my book isn’t YA so you’d probably hate it.
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I read other stuff than YA! It’s just I know I will love it if it’s YA. However I have looked at your book on Amazon and it sounds interesting!
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Mhm. To all of that.
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Fine! Don’t believe me! 😫
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Why should I? You never believe me.
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I am just tuning in tonight and it worries me that in the past month, even though I post once a week, my readership has fallen off. I liked what you wrote, you must have incredible drive to write every day. I changed my header, maybe people think I’ve stopped writing? But my writing has improved, according to the last comments I received. Do you know how to get Freshly Pressed, or on Longreads? I don’t have time to search all over this site to find out. If you have a minute, I’d love you to read my blog. I’m under Musings and Mumblings under merrieherrie. I’m not boring.
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The purpose of this post was not for you to tell me to read your blog. Or ask random questions about blogging.
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You’re honest, you state things plainly, and you are not afraid to admit when you don’t understand something. I always find your blog refreshing and interesting to read. You write about things that interest and intrigue me. I love it when you write a post about old-fashioned typewriters or bookmarks or bookish gifts, and when you ask questions of us. Although I don’t often comment on other blogs, I find myself commenting (or wanting to) on your blog more often because I get the feeling that you are genuinely interested in what opinions other people have on things. And that seems to be the key to good blogging. Congratulations on your first 2500 followers (of which I must admit I’m a tad jealous!), and long may you continue to gather even more followers!
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Thank you so very much. I hope I can keep it interesting for you in the future! 😁
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I stick around because we tend to share the same unpopular opinions on things 😛 Congrats on the 2500!
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Haha yes we do. Thanks!
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Pssh! If you need me to tell you why I frequent your blog, then you haven’t been paying attention to all the amazing and ridiculous and hilarious and sometimes outright confusing conversations we’ve had over the past year. I suggest you go back and remind yourself why I’m still here. 😛
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Haha I definitely don’t need any reminding! 😁
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Firstly, congratulations on 2500+ followers, to me that’s a huge achievement to reach! So, here’s my answer as to why I like your blog: do you remember that post about smelling books and I said I do that? You thought I was crazy? Haha. You’re a comedian and it’s fun! You blog about interesting and fun posts that I can relate to! I hope that answers your question 🙂
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Haha thank you! I still have no idea what you’re talking about with me being funny, BUT I do appreciate you thinking it. 😂
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Oh, you don’t remember?!?! Hahaha
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Haha I do. But I’m not funny. And you are crazy. 😂
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:O I saw the emoji!! That’s a first 🙂
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Haha I think it’s a message!
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I enjoy your blog because it makes me think. Sometimes, it makes me mad! Lol. At times (often) your opinions on books, reviewing, reading, differ widely from my own, which is great. You may completely trash my way of doing something, which can sometimes insight rage, but also makes me laugh, because everyone is different and the opinions of a stranger on the internet don’t really effect my life. Yet, still I read every post since discovering you last May or so. I like that you’re not just another book review blog (though I love those blogs too!) and that at times your posts seem to intentionally make people say “hey!” and then defend their line of thought because you don’t get it or agree. This is a good place for bookish debates. Also, your format inspires me. I’d love to work on posting more regularly and doing more than just reviews and posting pictures of my books. So keep up the witty posts and keep pissing me off!
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I love this. Seriously. Thank you. 😊 And I font want to piss you off too much! 😂
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Haha well I don’t plan to unsubscribed. It’s nice to have a different view on my feed. If your posts make me mad or I think my comment would just lead to an endless debate, I just stay quiet. But it’s always good food for thought!
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Haha perfect! I think you should comment when you disagree. Cause so many people tend to agree with me. I want to argue some. 😉
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Honestly, I don’t read very many of your posts because I struggle to maintain a consistent flow of content on my own blog. However, I can tell you why I followed you in the first place and why I like the posts that I do read. I followed you because I like just about anything that has to do with books and because I’m a writer. Your blog deals with both of those things, and I liked the perspective you bring to each of those topics. As for why I like the parts of your blog I actually get around to reading–I like your straightforward, honest approach. You say what you mean and are honest about your opinions, even when those opinions aren’t popular and would be considered inferior by some. Also, you’re transparent about your struggles as a writer, and I can relate to most of those struggles myself, even though I’m not nearly as dedicated a writer as you are.
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Well thank you. It’s nice to have you around here. 😊
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[…] 2500 WordPress Followers and Surprise! […]
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[…] about three weeks ago when I wrote this post to celebrate reaching 2500 WordPress followers and to offer up a nice surprise? No. Too bad. I […]
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