in Blogging 617 Words

Blogiversary: Two years of the Moving Quill

Two years.

It’s been exactly two years to the day that I began this blog, venturing into the relatively unknown realm of flash fiction, creative non fiction, poetry, writing and blogging ideas.

Blogiversary, Moving Quill, Shailaja

As I write this post, I am singing along to the absolutely upbeat tune of ‘Singin’ in the rain’ and tap dancing in my head, keeping wicked pace with Gene Kelly. (It’s in my head, so anything’s possible).

A year ago, I shared 7 lessons I’ve learnt from this blog. So what do I have to share today? It’s been an evolutionary journey like no other. That’s one thing I love about the creative process: you’re always growing, moving, making space for more wonderful things to swim into your ken.

Here are some highlights from the year gone by:

  1. Featured on BlogHer’s home page: My post ,7 ways to break social media addiction, was picked to feature on the home page yesterday, May 23rd, 2016. This was a thrill I’d never anticipated and I’ve now got a lovely badge from BlogHer in the sidebar too.
  2. Yeah Write interview: My go-to writing site on the web did an interview with me in November and they asked me all kinds of things! Not to worry, it’s all suitable for work. Do read it  if you haven’t.
  3. White Swan interview: A subject very close to my heart, mental illness and my personal battle, was the subject of this feature by the White Swan Foundation for Mental Health.
  4. Paragraph Planet: My 75-word flash fiction piece, Mother’s Day, was picked to feature on their home page on the 22nd of May, 2016.
  5. Live Mint feature: Writer and journalist, Deepa Padmanabhan interviewed me as part of her series on mental health and writing. I’ll be forever grateful to Deepa for this piece. It’s helped so many people reach out to me to speak about their personal battles.
  6. NaNoWriMo:  For the first time ever, I attempted NaNoWriMo and despite not finishing my book (yes, still working on it), it was an experience I wouldn’t mind repeating this year.
  7. Going self-hosted: I took the plunge in November 2015 and moved my blog to self-hosted from WordPress.com. Worth it? Most definitely!

It was also a year of immense learning. I started and abandoned projects midway either because they weren’t getting the time they needed or because I had lost steam to sustain them for too long.

Honestly, I am not sad about it since everything has a time frame and when it’s time to let go, we must, without being too attached to the outcome. It’s hard, but we learn to do it better each time it happens.

I’ve also met some really amazing bloggers and writers whom I now consider very close to my heart. One such gem is L.G. Iyer and you should go right away and read her if you haven’t already! Another is Deepika who blogs at Worn Corners. I’d be very remiss if I didn’t mention my blogging support group, Blog-A-rhythm, who are the most supportive bunch on the blogging planet. Every single one of them is worth reading. Trust me.

Books have always been an integral part of me and 2016 alone has introduced me to some stellar writing but more of that in another post. I can tell that you’re falling asleep already. Don’t worry, I’m almost done!

 I’m so very grateful to be here doing one of the things that I so dearly love.  It’s each and every one of you that makes this possible as well as so much fun.

Thank you, so very much, for being with me on this journey so far and I hope you’ll continue to be here for many more years to come.

 

43 thoughts on “Blogiversary: Two years of the Moving Quill”

  3. That’s really nice of you to say, Anand 🙂 Thank you so much! I have a lot of blogs to catch up on and will try and get around to it soon, starting with yours 🙂

  4. Congratulations Shailaja. You deserve it all. Not just for being a good blogger but for being a great person. I’ll never forget how you helped me with twitter. Thank you, and wish you the best for this year too.

  6. A lot of accomplishments over the year! Congratulations, Shailaja. May the coming year shower upon you more successes and moments of fulfilment.

  8. Happy 2 year blogiversary! Those are some amazing achievements in just 2 years. I have seen your writing grow as the blog has grown too. I know I may not comment often but I do read it 🙂 Here’s to many more years!

  9. Thank you so so much, Traci! I am sincerely hoping that this current book will be done by November so I can start thinking about other things by next NaNo and how awesome that you’ve been doing it since ’07! Wow, you veteran!

  10. Happy blogiversary, Shail! What amazing highlights – congrats on all your wonderful achievements! I’ll have to remember that you’re thinking of doing NaNo again in November – I’ve done it every year since ’07 (won all but two), and I love it. Looking forward to seeing what lovely things happen for you in the coming year. 🙂

  11. Somehow, the achievements themselves don’t make me as happy as seeing all the love from all of you, Raj. Day after day, it makes this experience called blogging worthwhile. Thank you for that! 🙂

  12. A very exciting year for you Shailaja 😀 Congratulations on all your achievements … you deserve that and so much more 😀 Always a pleasure to read your posts 😀

  14. Congratulations Shailaja!
    So many bloggers, including me, look up to you. You are such a wonderful person and then how you have got so many of us together through blogging. I have always loved your writing. Keep going and know that you are an inspiration!

  16. You’re one of my strongest and staunchest supporters and I will be forever grateful for it. Thank you so so much!

  17. Heights of blogging? 🙂 It’s hardly that, Mithila. And no, no awards at all. It’s kind of a relief too 😉 Although, I love being appreciated for my writing. I’d be lying if I said otherwise 🙂 Thank you so much for all the love 🙂

  21. My best wishes to you to reach out and conquer new horizons! Stay blessed and happy and keep writing! Here’s wishing you many more anniversaries.

  22. So this is what it feels like to be at the heights of blogging! Giving interviews, getting awards, and most importantly, loving each and every minute of the blogging experience! Really, hats off to you Shailaja! Congratulations on this twin accomplishment! Good luck for all your future endeavours ?
    Much love ❤

  27. Thank you so much, Sampada. I have been very negligent and not visited your blog. I promise to make it up as soon as possible!

  28. Congratulations Shailaja! Glad you created this master piece of a blog and ever-so-grateful for having you for inspiration.

    Keep writing, keep growing, keep creating many more beautiful worlds with your words.

  34. Yes it has and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I’ve loved all the ups and downs, ever so much.

    Famous, it seems. Please. ??

  35. Double congratulations are in order, then 🙂
    Well done, Shailaja. And here’s to more milestones and many more firsts!

  36. Congratulations my dear Shailaja, every accolade was so well deserved :). I shall expect a treat when I meet you next ;). Keep blogging!

  37. Many many congratulations. You completely deserve it all. It’s been hard work and heartbreak and yet it has all been worth it, isn’t it? And My Gawd, you’re famous!

  39. Congratulations!! I absolutely love this blog and am checking out the ones you have recommended. Thanks.
    I need to learn to manage my time better. Lots of pending work here. 🙂

  40. Thanks to all of you at BAR for keeping me going, doing this thing that I love and not having it any other way, Lata. Thank you so much!

  41. Congratulations Shailaja.. I am in awe of your achievements over the year. Thanks to you for inspiring me..

  43. This is super Shailaja! *kudos* to all the awesome blogging that you have done in these years. Bringing together a support group should be an all important high for you here 🙂

Comments are closed.