I Missed My Two Year Blogversary! So Happy Anniversary! : Nicole Pyles

I can’t believe this happened – who let June go by without telling me I’ve been blogging for two years already?

Wow, has time gone by so fast!

I will have to say this has been a rough year. Lots of family stuff going on and lots of personal life (and work) stress. To be completely honest, I’m not that happy with my blog for this past year and neither am I happy with my writing progress. Maybe that’s why I’ve missed this two year anniversary?

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t any reason to be proud! Blogging is not an easy thing to stay on top of all the time and sadly, life does get in the way sometimes. I am happy to say though that I have met some amazing people because of this platform and for that I am grateful.

I don’t want to get too down on myself though! I did accomplish a lot this past year!

Okay, here’s my list –

1) I got a post on a really popular writing site – Men with Pens entitled, “Ghostwriting – Not as Soul Sucking as You Might Think.”

2) Launched the 1st Anniversary edition of our weekly writing prompt.

3) I’ve been inspired to write some pretty awesome stories for our weekly writing prompt (read this and this one to see which ones I am most proud of!).

4) I have also written blog posts that I am really proud of too (read my post about saying goodbye to my fantasy novel and read which libraries and bookstores that are on my bucket list).

Now, if I was to reflect on what I would like to change the most for this next year of blogging it would be this –

1) Take a more active role in the blogging community.

Stress brings me down and fogs my head so I have the tendency to get very reclusive during that type of period. I’d like to start being more active on others’ blogs more and more – even if it’s just commenting three times a week.

2) Set (and exceed) my personal writing goals.

I haven’t been setting writing goals and part of that is fear. Fear of not meeting those goals, fear that I will fail myself, and fear that I won’t get the success I would like. But I want to start setting goals and as I set them, you guys will be the first to hear of it (and you will hear of it when I exceed them).

3) Read more!

Remember that stress thing? Stress also clogs my reading time. I actually just got back from the library and have a huge stack of books on my side table, so I am way ahead of this goal. Maybe I will even join a few book reading goals that I catch on a few blogs.

4) Respond to one weekly writing prompt a month (at least).

This is one I know I can do – I want to respond to the writing prompts that I post about every Wednesday. I know I can do this at least once a week. Doing this inspires me and inspires my writing.

5) Start a…something.

I’ve been itching to launch something bigger and involving more bloggers, writers, and authors. I’m not sure what that is exactly, but the thought is out there and we’ll see what I come up with.