Every new coming year WordPress sends out the year’s blogging report. It highlights categories like, crunchy numbers (popular posts), posting patterns, attractions, how did they find you? (referring sites,) where are the views coming from? (from around 137 countries total- with most views from The U.S., France and Germany,) and comments from viewers. This year I was blessed to gain new followers, and to finally meet an unconscious goal I’ve had of reaching 100 followers, plus a few extras along the way. I noticed that once I realized I hit 100, I mentally checked it off my list.

Read my Thank You note (and more on that topic) HERE.

I recently noticed that my blog got more traction when I began posting an abundance of short stories/series. And I also realized how effective categorizing and tagging are.

As michelle leigh writes- 3^rd Anniversary is coming up tomorrow- January 8^th, I decided to dive into the inner workings of this blog and re-evaluate what works and what doesn’t. As the old cliché says; Practice makes perfect. And I truly believe that mlw has come quite a long way since my first post.

Check it out HERE for a Blast from the Past

I’ve noticed that it’s difficult for me to always come up with something to post on the days I’ve committed myself to; Mondays & Thursdays. For the most part I stuck to this schedule pretty consistently. I think the only time I missed a day that I can actually recall, was on Christmas, but I posted Friday instead. As I saw on my posting patterns, there were a few Sunday, Wednesday and Friday posts along the way, but for the most part the schedule stuck. And I’m pretty damn proud of that fact. It has been really important to me to stick to this schedule to maintain a consistency. But I also want to maintain a credibility and put out worthy content, and not just fillers. Which is something that I think I often struggle with, because inspiration isn’t always consistent. Every writer has their dry spells. However, as I’ve noticed my latest post record has filled me with much more joy. As short stories have been somewhat of a trend for me.

Over the past few years that I’ve had this blog, I usually tell you what we can look forward to in the New Year. I give you a list of things I want to work on, I share my resolutions with you. But this year I’m not going to do that, because the greater the list (and you know I love my lists) the more likely they won’t happen. The list can put the pressure on. So I know there are some things I’d like to do on this blog, ways to improve it, but I think I’m going to keep them to myself and let you be surprised when they happen. No resolutions, just helpful ideas to achieve a better life and by extension- a better blog.

As for the content, there will continue to be short stories, and poetry. And as much as I at times feel like this blog is all over the place with no consistent message, and I would love to just stick solely to sharing stories with you, I do have other interests. Sometimes things will fall into the lifestyle genre, fashion genre or the movie/music review genre.

This reminds me of a story. In college, I had to start a blog for a class. The blog had to center around one thing. I chose music. I love music and I love lyrics and analyzing the meaning behind why an artist writes their words. But being confined to one subject drove me crazy at times. I felt like it limited my creativity. I like the freedom to post what I love and enjoy, despite the subject matter/genre/category.

As I ponder all of this, I am suddenly reminded of the phrase attached to this blog; the phrase written just beneath my blog name; “A safe place for the written word.” That’s the message of this blog. To allow myself (and all of you) to feel welcome to read and write about what we feel is important to the nurture of our souls and spirits.

Obviously I still feel that there are things I’d like to change and work on. There’s always room for improving your craft. And the more you do it, the more confidant you will feel about your ability to do it.

I remember a professor/mentor of mine used to always say, “A draft is never done.” No matter how any times you proof, edit, or rewrite it. And it’s true you can always find ways to change things, to make it better. But you have to write it in the first place.

So as we move forward into the New Year, my hope for this blog, is simply to keep it going. At this moment the schedule will remain the same. But as life changes, it may vary, (but I will always keep you posted.) Things may start to change slowly, but I only wish to strive to make this blog better- more fun, and more interesting to read. So thank you for coming along on this journey. I look forward to all the love stories that are to be written and shared here on michelle leigh writes along with anything else I feel to share. I do hope you stick around. And I thank you again. And let us once again rejoice and say a big…..HAPPY 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY MLW!!! I am so proud!

Stay Tuned!

(And yes Love Conflicted readers, I WILL finish it, I promise. In the meantime…catch up HERE!)

 

Follow me on Twitter: @Shellbelle91

*Spoiler Alert: I tweet about television shows for the most part, #LIVETWEETER.

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