Half a million plus...

Ten days or so ago, this blog sauntered past a milestone of sorts. This came when it chalked up half a million pageviews. In previous posts about the vagaries of blogging statistics, I've made the point that they aren't to be taken too seriously, but I'm certainly pleased that the trend this year has been markedly upwards. From my point of view, it's motivating that a good many people take an interest. A few other stats - I've done just over 1,700 posts, and there have been close on 9,000 comments (this figure includes my own replies, so I imagine  the reader response figure is more like 6,000)  for which I'm extremely grateful.

I'm also grateful for the emails that I receive relating to what I've said on the blog. I've learned a good deal from these, and I must say that blogging has introduced me to a host of new people, whom I probably wouldn't have come across otherwise, which has been great. I feel that the blog has more than repaid the time I put into it, thanks to reader reaction.

I'm conscious that there are some things I should do better, and I'm also well aware that I'm not keeping up terribly well at present with some of the other fine blogs that are out there - many of which are listed on the blogroll. Striking a balance between blogging, Twitter, and writing my own fiction (never mind the day job) is and will no doubt remain a challenge.

As for my thoughts on Twitter....I'm simply not sure. At present, though, I'm continuing to do some tweeting, though I find it easiest to tweet these posts. Maybe, like many things, it's a good idea to keep practising in the hope of improvement. I was talking to another blogger at St Hilda's the other day, and she (like a few other people I've spoken to lately) are unconvinced about the merits of Twitter for writers. But I guess the answer is that different forms of social media will suit different people. There is unlikely to be a single 'right' way forward. The question is - what works for you?

For me, therefore, blogging remains my preferred way of dipping a toe in the sometimes muddy waters of interaction via the internet. I said a while back that I'd do a few posts about the experience of writing my new novel. Since then, I've been silent on the subject, I know. Why? I'm afraid I haven't made much progress with the new book yet - but I'm keen to get going with it now....Honest.

1000 Not Out

I squeezed in a couple of blog posts yesterday, which took my overall tally of posts since I started ‘Do You Write Under Your Own Name?’ to one thousand. Suffice to say that, when I began the project, I never dreamed I would get this far, let alone so (relatively) soon.

It’s been a thoroughly enjoyable experience for me and, all being well, I don’t plan to stop in the forseeable future. I do want to say how very much I appreciate the responses that I receive. Your comments often provoke much thought as far as I’m concerned, and I do hope you will keep them coming, along with the many fascinating snippets of information that you provide.

And it has been an absolute delight to meet in person a number of fellow bloggers and blog readers over the past two and a half years. There are many others of you that I guess, unfortunately, I’m unlikely ever to meet, but who knows?

Recently I was startled to discover that this blog was listed number 5 in the ‘top 10 UK literature blogs’ by Cision. Quite gratifying, but much more gratifying is the sense of being in touch with people all over the world who are united by a shared love of the crime genre