Today is my fifth blogging birthday.
Yes it’s hard to believe it’s been five years since I decided to give this thing called blogging a go. I joined Blogspot just as Google was finishing its takeover (some of y’all might remember its ‘Beta’ period. Ah, memories). Communities have risen – and fallen. Some bloggers have come and gone.
Hell, I even remember when Gmail invites were gold.
I’ve seen lots of debates and knock-down-and-drag-out fighting; trolling; jealousies. I’ve seen burnout. I’ve seen success. I’ve seen strength and I’ve seen love.
My own journey has had its ups and downs. I’ve been thinking about what posts have stood out in retrospect. In the early days, The ‘Dear Me’ Project taught me the power of memes, 13 signs that someone you know may have a eating disorder showed me the value of list posts.
There’s been weird moments too, like talking about my book while standing at my father’s graveside.
Ultimately I feel that the posts which have longer lives have been the ones when I’ve been completely honest and willing to be vulnerable: like confessing my anxieties about mothering a daughter or when I discuss those awful, lost few months of 2006 or Cities and Light at Night.
I’d like to thank everyone, past and present, for reading, commenting, and some of you – lucky me – I call friend.
I wonder what the next five years will bring?
xxx
To show my thanks, I’m giving away a $100 voucher from the Sydney Writers’ Centre. It’s not valid for manuscript assessments, mentoring, or overseas writing trips but you can use it to go towards one of their many workshops or courses, many of which may be done by correspondence or online.
I will be closing the competition at 5pm on Thursday 25th August.
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment saying what you think you’d use the voucher on if you won it. Go here and have a look at what’s on offer! In Melbourne too!
Thanks again!
*
And last, had he lived, today would’ve been my father’s 62nd birthday. My love to him, ever.
Edited: The competition has now closed. I’ll let the winner know via email. Thank you!
