I Appreciate Your Support - December 2007
Wow! It has been a big month to wrap up another busy year. 2008 has swung into action with a strangely calm and quiet day. The months to come are filling with plans and preparation. Talk abounds in the blogsphere of goals, resolutions, plans and progress. Everyone seems to be focused on what 2007 brought them and what they’re looking forward to in 2008.
I want to take a moment today to look back at the past month and beyond to offer my sincere thanks to everyone who helped breath life into The Writer’s Round-About. Creating a successful blog is not as easy as it seems. Without your dedicated support we wouldn’t have achieved the great success The Writer’s Round-About has had in the last months. Your comments, stumbles, diggs and links have given this blog a warm atmosphere and lively spirit. Thank You!
Now it’s time to step back 30 days and acknowledge the wonderful people who offered feedback and comments this month.
Michele L. Tune - Michele is always cheering me on and full of warmth, inspiration and encouragement. It is truly wonderful to have your friendship, Michele. You’re a faith-filled voice who pushes me to strive for my dreams and helps build my walls of confidence with your unwavering belief in my talent and potential. Thank you, Michele!
Melissa Donovan - I’m inspired by the success you’ve had with Writing Forward in the few short months since you started blogging. You’re energy and enthusiasm pushes me ever onward. Thank you for your comments and link love.
Lisa Gates - I loved he coaching session we had together. I know I’ve said this before but I truly appreciate the guidance you’ve already given me and I will be back for more soon.
I’d like to offer a huge welcome and thank you to newcomers this month. I hope you found your visit fulfilling and informative. Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions. I truly appreciate your feedback and would like to offer you special thanks for having the courage to leave your thoughts and join the conversation.
It is lovely to see so many familiar faces and repeat visitors. Your continued support means a great deal to me and I’m always glad to see you back again.
Thank you to all who participated in the latest Absolute Write Comment Blitz. These blitz are always so much fun and I hope you all enjoyed my blog as much as I enjoyed yours.
As returning guests may have already discovered this is a recurring theme at The Writer’s Round-About. Each month I like to reflect and voice my appreciation for the participation and contribution visitors make. With the close of 2007 I’d like to recap those entries.
I give my regards and gratitude to all of you. Your presence and encouragement through 2007 gave me remarkable strength and inspired my journey along the bumpy writer roads and round-abouts. I look forward to continuing our travels together in 2008.
Elrena says:
Aww, thanks for the link! You rock.
Have a wonderful New Year!
Sharon says:
Happy New Year, Rebecca. It’s always a pleasure to visit your blog and you’ll be seeing just as much of me in 2008. Thanks for the link love.
Michele says:
What a lovely post, Rebecca! I’m actually working on my monthly link love post. It will be up soon.
You’re most welcome for the encouragement and support. You are so talented and I’ve noticed that maybe you don’t always realize that. It’s hard to believe in ourselves sometimes–that’s what friends are for!
It’s been awesome to watch you and this blog grow as you waded out into the cyber waters, got a little wet, and then just dove right in.
And… thank you for the mention, and the link. I appreciate it greatly!
Here’s to a year better than you could ever imagine!
Smiles,
Michele
Lisa Gates says:
Rebecca, you are doing what all too few writers do: connect. I think there’s a perception that writing is a solo endeavor and that it’s somehow a sign of weakness to seek support and direction.
Your natural abilities — writing and community building — are going to give flight to your success.
Happy new year, m’dear!
Melissa Donovan says:
Thank you so much Rebecca. I can’t tell you how much I’ve appreciated your support of Writing Forward these past months, and how glad I am to have discovered the Writer’s Round-About. It’s a wonder to watch our blogs grow, and I look forward to seeing even more growth for all of us in 2008.
Happy New Year!
Melissa
Naomi Dunford says:
Hey! What a fantastic idea, and thanks for the link. Why didn’t I think of this? And they call me an all-powerful marketing guru…
Jeanne Dininni says:
Rebecca,
Thanks so much for the warm welcome–and the link to Writer’s Notes! I appreciate both! I’ve enjoyed visiting your blog and commenting on your thoughtful posts!
Best wishes in the New Year!
Jeanne
Michele says:
Back again to ask a quick question. Have you commented at my blog lately? If you haven’t, no big deal. I just found out a person had been leaving comments but I was missing them somehow and wasn’t publishing them (I moderate comments). I think it was because a few people commented at the same time. Who knows?
Just to be on the safe side, I wanted to let you know if you have commented and wondered why your comment wasn’t published, it wasn’t because I felt like being mean.
I’d never do that purposely! I’m still trying to weed through the comments I’ve received (via gmail) to see if anyone else might be feeling like their words didn’t matter…
Whew!! This blogging thing can be tricky!
Rebecca Laffar-Smith says:
Wow! Blog comments really go nuts when you give link love. Thanks so much for all the warm regards and praise everyone. I am so glad you are all a part of this blogging journey with me.
@ Michele: You’re right, I often lack confidence in my ability as a writer. It is only when I’m deep into a project I feel that sense of, “I know what I’m doing and I do it well.” The rest of the time I often wonder what right I have to think I could do this professionally. I feel like a hack. I know I’m not, but it doesn’t stop that evil voice of self-doubt from probing the weak points.
@ Naomi: You better polish those skills! Gratitude and link love are primary 101 skills when it comes to marketing. Got to let the customers know they’re heard and valued as well as giving them what they want. That’s how repeat business is forged. Perhaps it’s time I put together a marketing (related to blogging and writing) post. Oh, an idea! Would you like to guest post one here?
@ Michele: That question depends on your meaning of ‘lately’. lol I’ve got four posts in my reader which means I’m four posts behind with my comments. I will get caught up, my reader is bulging under the strain of my having been too involved with other things to spend much time blog reading.
These days many of my posts go through without moderation. I think you have it set up to allow users to post if they’ve been approved before or recently. Maybe I’m just lucky or too blind to see the ‘waiting for moderator’ notice.
*ponders* Speaking of this, I wish there were an easy way to track the comments I leave. I always subscribe to comments if the option is available but on the blogs that don’t have this option I often forget to follow up for replies.
Fiona says:
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for the, uh, thanks. Likewise, many blessings for the new year, and I look forward to what 2008 brings us all.
Fiona
Grandy says:
Rebecca,
I’ve seen your comments on several of the same blog sites I’ve followed, and only now had the time to come visit. I usually appreciate your comments you leave for people. Your honesty is impressive. I look forward to learning from you in 2008, if that’s alright with you.
Sharon Hurley Hall says:
You have been given a ROAR Award. Enjoy - and pass it on!
Rebecca Laffar-Smith says:
@ Fiona: *chuckles* Thank YOU, again, Fiona!
@ Grandy: I’m glad you’ve enjoy the comments I’ve made elsewhere. Impressive honesty? Does that mean I’m too blunt? Too in your face? I don’t try to pretend I know everything, I’m still learning too, but honesty is one of my first policies.
You’re certainly welcome to join me on the writer’s round-about (that’s how I think of freelancing) and I hope we’ll learn from each other as we go.
@ Sharon: Wow! Thank you so much, Sharon! I’m honored.
Grandy says:
By no means did I mean that you are too blunt or in anyone’s face. It’s refreshing to see honest comments in a tactful manner. We can all learn from candid opinions, but sometimes I think people are afraid to say what they think. You don’t appear to be that way.
Oh yes…I’ll be back…and can tell I’ve got some learning to do.
Rebecca Laffar-Smith says:
Thank you, Grandy. I feel it’s important to maintain my integrity and be honest and open despite being on an online medium. I’m a firm believer of the “treat others as you would like to be treated” idea. So I speak my mind, voice my opinions, share my insights/knowledge, keep no secrets, and frequently leave lengthy comments. I’d love others to do the same here with me.
nita says:
Aren’t you sweet.Great idea. Thanks for linking to me. Looking forward to your next write-about.
Nita
http://roadtoscholarships.wordpress.com/
Rebecca Laffar-Smith says:
My pleasure, Nita! It’s great to see you again.