This is the 400th post on this blog that started in May of 2017. When I began, I wasn't thinking too far into the future; it was just a response to the advice given at a writers' conference. The general consensus was writers needed a platform and having samples of your work on a blog would fit the bill. At the time, I was trying to land a literary agent for my memoir.
I faithfully penned a twice-weekly post the first year and then reduced to one each weekend that was more sustainable. It took some weeks to figure out the platform, how to use WordPress and what was required to publish each post. It was interesting when I first learned about the analytics--how to view the number of people who'd read the posts and where they were located. How exciting it was when readers started responding, making comments, and letting me know what had resonated with them. I didn't fully appreciate how the analytics would track what countries my readers were from. I was surprised to see that those who'd viewed my post were from countries around the globe; I'd forgotten how many people in faraway places read English--but then maybe they'd used translation tools; I had no way of knowing.
After I'd developed a following on my platform, after I'd worked for hours with my friend, fellow writer, media specialist, Jill Hammergren to polish my book proposal--I sent it to the agent who'd shown interest. I was deeply disappointed when she responded that she'd just accepted another writer's memoir--and our work was too similar for her to take on my book. I attended the Spiritual Writers' conference in Raleigh the following spring. I signed up for an individual session with the agent from Denver and presented him my book proposal. He asked me some questions, listened attentively, and then gave his response.
"I can't get a publishing house to take a memoir unless the person is famous," he said.
He didn't dismiss me at that point, but took time to talk about my work. He then recommended for me to Indie Publish --using the same contracted services to produce a quality book that a publishing house uses---like editing, cover design etc. In the past, Indie Publishing has been called self-publishing---- which it still is--but at a different level. Since 2010, and big changes in the publishing industry, literary services can be contracted as an independent author--just like those of agent-represented authors.
I was disappointed, downcast when I drove away from that conference. I'd worked for years on my memoir and I knew I had something important to share. Time was passing and I'd gone about getting an agent, a publishing house, the standard way. I wanted my work to be out there in the world. I grappled with what to do and then decided I would go the route of Indie Publishing-- if doing it myself was the only way to send forth my book.
Through many hours of working with contracted editors, a cover design artist in Madrid, and Velum software--a formatting tool , my book was published in April of 2019 through Amazon. I had a Book Launch in my hometown. It was a happy time for me, surrounded by family, friends, and readers in the place where I'd grown up. The photo above was taken by Jill at that event. I had no idea on that day that 3 weeks later, I would be hit by the discovery that my marriage was ending. In the days that followed, I had no focus, no energy for writing.
In the shock of that time, I came to realize that I'd worked too hard on establishing the blog site to let it go. I made a commitment to keep writing those posts; I could find enough creative energy for that; and I have. I've written my way through the divorce and the reconstruction of my life.
In thinking about this being the 400th post, I was brainstorming the significance of the number four hundred. Someone reminded me that in baseball, hitting 400 (or .400), calculated by the batter going to bat 1,000 times and getting a hit 400 of them--is quite the feat; according to the internet, it hasn't been done since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941. There's no batting a perfect 1,000---just super if you bat 400. I'll loosely apply this to my blog and say it's "Super" that I've hit 400 on this blog site; everyone needs to give themselves a pat on the back 🙂
When I Googled the significance of 400, I kept getting results for astrology, numerology, and angel numbers. While I know very little about these areas, I did go to some of the sites out of curiosity; we never know what idea may spark something in us that leads us further on our right path. I read about angel numbers or those numbers that keep showing up in your path, I can't say that 400 has--it's just associated with this post. But some of what it said drew me:
"Contemplate your life and direction you want to take"
"You have the keys to your destiny. Always do the things that lead to your growth and progress."
"The time has come for you to set new goals and come up with new ideas that will elevate your life and the lives of your loved ones." Source-- https://www.sunsigns.org/angel-number-400-meaning
While I'm not ascribing any authority to that site, I have felt the restlessness that comes with knowing you're being challenged in your "growth and progress." I see different signs of things coming together in my life to push me forward in my writing. I finally re-joined my writing group-- now that I have more focus. I met with Jill to work on my next writing project--which involves looking at my blog analytics. It was interesting to discover my most popular blog post since I began May 2017: Bandstand or Soul Train?
Even that seems serendipitous, because it focuses on my early love of music and dancing to R & B and Soul music. All these years later, I followed an urge, a restlessness, to the Blue Note Grill Tuesday Night Blues Jams. Since I started going regularly in November 2022, my life has opened up in so many ways. Those Blues were planted in me as a girl and it took finding that Durham venue to rediscover that part of myself.
Now, as I wrap up this post, I must say "Thank You!" for reading my posts and encouraging me over the years. It's hard to keep writing in silence, and you'll never know how much your words have kept me going. As I move forward, I ask for your continued support. And I hope that in some way, I can encourage and support you--whatever dreams or goals you're moving towards; this blog is never just about me--rather about the relationship we all have as fellow sojourners on our life paths.
Blessings to You All,
Connie
I'd love for you to read my memoir, He Heard My Voice: A Midlife Mom's Journey Through Cancer and Stress and Her Unexpected Arrival at Healing and Wholeness (FYI that Denver literary agent gave me that long title! :). https://www.amazon.com/He-Heard-Voice-Unexpected-Wholeness/dp/1733836411/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=Connie+Rosser+Riddle&qid=1554985891&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnu
Thinking about "Band Stand or Soul Train" I tried my first Wordcloud
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