Sitting here recovering from being forced off the road on my bicycle Tuesday, my Internet came up briefly to show I’d gotten a trophy from WordPress. My connection then disappeared for hours so I hobbled around and did dishes and continued to put frozen vegetables on my swollen legs and ankles. Later, it came up long enough to reveal a Happy Third Anniversary award had been bestowed upon my little blog and the first thing that came to me was, “Has it really been three years?”
Really??
So much has happened in that short time span. Injury at, my then, work, returning to work, heart attack, ill-health retirement, Guardian Liberty Voice, South Africa, USA, Las Vegas, Arizona…
Sadly, throughout the Guardian Liberty Voice and Vegas time frame, I ignored my little WordPress baby. There were so many people I met in the business that should have been written about here. Stupidly, I put too much effort into an organization that was never going to amount to its owners’ claims.
This is about my blog, however, and not about shysters conning writers into over producing articles in a sweat shop content mill that pays less than nothing. I did take one thing away from my experience that hopefully will make my little blog a better place to hang out, I’ve gotten better at coming over here and posting.
While I’d like to say that I am also a better writer, my ego will not let me make a claim like that without laughing so instead let’s just say my confidence level has increased exponentially and leave it at that. And as you can see, I still have a tendency to write paragraph long sentences, so that has not changed!
But at least one thing has. My profession has gone from Prison Officer to professional writer. While I never made a fortune writing for my former employer I was paid to write. On the same token, it tickled me to death that I was paid to watch films and review them, something I did for free before and I also got to interview some awesomely talented actors, like Tony Todd, Tiny Lister, Terry Kiser, Stephen Bishop, Jordan Hayes, et al.
I got to meet some great folks at conventions and I was not paid to do that, it was expected that I attend all the con’s scheduled days, meet and greet and write a minimum of three articles a day. That never happened, and, somewhat unsurprisingly, despite what had been agreed upon, which was one article per day, this was not where the publisher saw the paper going, it was content mill or nothing.
All the fun I was having being duped into believing that what I was doing was crucial in building up a solid entertainment section kept me from my own “words and music.” My reasoning was that if I was getting paid to write, I had no time to write for free.
This from a guy who was writing, for quite a while, 8 to 10 500 word-plus articles a day. Now I have made up my mind that the only thing which will keep me from stopping by daily will be lack of Internet or death. Although I probably should make an allowance for healing time, as I just now put another bag of frozen broccoli on my leg.
I will say, again, how much I appreciate all those folks who have come along for the ride. Those who started off with me, only to leave through frustration, and then came back; I thank you for returning. You must have been checking up on me occasionally. That pleases me no end. For those who stop by to comment I also thank you. I have learned a lot from folks who took a moment or two to let me hear another point of view.
I raise my metaphorical glass to you all and I will try to never desert you, or my little blog again. Oh, and if the editors of WordPress ever feel the need to award my little blog another Freshly Pressed, I wouldn’t say no.
Just saying…
Cheers!
21 March 2015
Quartzsite, Arizona
USA
Thanks matey! I’m always up for a pint and a chat in the pub! LOL I don’t think I”ll ever desert my little blog again. I have too much fun watching films and writing about them as well as penning the odd things that stick in my mind. Thanks, your comment has made my day! 🙂
Hi Mike! I dunno why, but I’m always excited to drop you a comment just to see what you say back, I guess its just because I think you come across a very nice guy who I should by a pint for and chat in the pub haha.
Anyway, congrats on your 3-year anniversay. It is always a troublesome thing to run a blog when you have another commitments that prevent yoi for posting on a regualr basis, and while my outside commitments weren’t as hardcore as yours, I can relate. I could understand why you left your blog because of your other writing jobs, though I always hoped you would return to writing your regular posts as they are hella fun and interesting to read. So if you are back for the long run, welcome back and I look forward to reading more from you. 😀
Thanks Kim! 🙂
Congrats Mike! 🙂
Not at all matey! It’s lovely being appreciated! Thanks!! 🙂
Congratulations Mike. I found your blog about 8 months before you “left” us. I would read about scary movies knowing I would never see them. I enjoyed your back and forth with other film reviewers.
I’m so glad you are back. Sorry if that is selfish.
OMG! I totally forgot “that!” My nemesis! LOLOL What is funny about my whole blogging beginnings is that I actually started on Blogger but could never get the hang of it and wound up with limited views and very few followers. I then moved to Tumblr and did a bit better and then…
I discovered WordPress! It is still, despite its many hiccups, my favorite. And (see what I did there) I still occasionally start my sentences with “and”, “or” and ‘”but.” Tight is the goal. Once in a great blue moon I’ll write something that comes so close to tight it’s exciting. I’m getting better at proofing, I read it out loud, like a podcast and pick up most of my mistakes that way! LOL
Cheers matey! 😀
And I hope you’re blog goes for many more successful years.
Thanks matey!! 🙂
Thanks matey!! 🙂
Congrats on 3 years Mike.
Ahoy Matey ! You and I seem to have started at about the same time !
A toast to Ye !
Congratulation, Mike. Well done, my friend. 🙂
I’m getting better too. Like, NOT beginning every sentence with “and,” “but,” or “or.” How’s that for incoherent? I’m learning to write tighter — and I have been writing tight since my radio days in the 1970s. Then I had to learn to write LONG for manuals, but never ever use an adjective. Then I had to reintroduce adjectives. Shorten paragraphs. Get comfortable with sentence fragments as art. Say everything in fewer than 500 words. Sound like Hemingway on a really bad day. Not use “that” 700 times in each paragraph. Learn to be pithy, not lyrical.
If only I could add proofreading to my skill set, I’d be set. Until the next writing fashion comes round.
Thanks matey! As for the better writer bit…If I can just stop doing those paragraph-long sentences where you run out of mental breath before you can finish it…LOLOL Seriously though, thanks!! 🙂
Congratulations. I was three years at the beginning of February, so I guess we started around the same time. It’s been an interesting roller coaster ride, eh? And you ARE a better writer. You were always good. You’re just better now.