Happy anniversary, squeetus

Last Tuesday marked my sixth anniversary as a blogger. It was Dean's idea. I had no real understanding about what a "web log" was meant to be. An online journal about writing, I decided, and made about one post a month. After all, my first book, the goose girl, hadn't even come out yet. 

I still struggle with balancing a public journal with my own privacy. It's only been a year since I decided to no longer post pictures of my children to maintain their privacy. But I'm not so good at discretion when it comes to my own self (I'm great with other people's secrets--ooh, do I know a few!). How much do I reveal about myself? What do I hold back? 

I guess it was about two years into it I began to understand what the blog meant to me and why I did it. 

• I blog to be helpful to other writers. While I was starting out, it was so helpful to read other writer websites and get a glimpse into the life of a writer and the publishing process.
• I blog to be accessible to my readers. I feel huge amounts of regret and guilt that I can't respond to my fan mail or do many events or travel as much as I'd like (though the reasons I can't are so cute--Hi Max! Hi Maggie!). My hope was by having an active blog with commenting I could maintain a relationship with fans all over while staying home.
• I blog to promote ongoing literacy. I love to recommend books I'm passionate about, so that readers who like my books don't stop here but keep reading, or parents and teachers can get good suggestions for all kinds of readers. 
• I blog to add a positive voice. That may sound kind of hokey, but there's so much mucky-muck out there. I wanted my blog to be a safe place where young people especially could talk about books and reading and other good things and not be torn down. The fan site Little Red Reading Hood now is accomplishing this goal better than my blog.
• I blog to promote my books. I put this last because it's not my primary concern (much to my publicist's chagrin). I'm not very salesperson-y, I'm not comfortable trying to sell my wares. Torture for me was the early days of my career where I'd go do a "signing" which was me sitting at a table near the front of a bookstore, where I was expected to address shoppers as they came in. *shudder* But I wouldn't have a blog or a website if I wasn't an author, and I've worked very hard on each book and feel very proud of them. It does make me happy for my book babies to be out in the world being read. And a blog is one way to introduce people to my books who might not have read them. Though I suspect most blog readers are here because they've already read them or at least one. 

Blogs can  take over your time, and provide for a writer a great excuse not to write today. So I made some rules for myself, including posting at the most twice per week (usually four days apart) and not responding to every comment. I read all the comments, but I've noticed that I can spend hours responding and re-responding, which I really enjoy, but I have to be strict with myself so I don't give away my writing time.

Adding commenting was a mixed blessing. While it allowed me to hear back from readers and allowed readers to chime in, it also requires some babysitting. It took me years to be comfortable deleting inappropriate comments. At first I just left them there, then Dean stepped in and did it for a while, but at last I'm over that. It's not censorship, I've realized. It's about maintaining a safe environment for everyone. 

Here's my first blog post. Only six years ago? Seems like ten times that, and yet in some ways it seems like yesterday. I have so much more confidence than I did then, and yet I still feel like an awkward newbie and this wonderful shiny gift of book publishing could be taking away any moment.

25 November 2002

I delivered the manuscript for a new book to my agent today. It feels so good to have a finished product! Of course, when is anything really finished? I should say that I delivered the fifth draft of a new book, and most likely will go through many more drafts before the end. I'm very excited about it. The book follows Enna, a minor character in the goose girl. (Ooh, she would hate to have me ever refer to her as "minor." I mean a "supporting character.") 

This new book takes place in Bayern about four years after the end of the first book. The working title is ENNA BURNING. My family (who is not allowed to read it yet, of course) keeps pestering me to tell them what the title means, but I'll never squeal... 

Comments

[Christy]

I just have to say that I am sooooo glad you decided to take that step and get published. Your books are my favorite and I am so glad to have them!

[Amanda]

I love reading your blog for all the reasons you posted! As a closet writer, I've very much enjoyed and grown from reading your advice to writers. Now if only an author would have the courage to post a first draft and subsequent drafts so that we can compare it to the final published form. That might give me hope that my imperfect work isn't inestimably inferior to my favorite authors. It will just take some really good editors!

I also love reading your book recommendations. Please keep it up!

[Sylvia]

I'm so glad you decided those 6 years ago to blog, Shannon. Your posts give me invaluable advice on writing and reading. Thanks a ton!
I got RR today...can't wait to read it!
x

[Q]

Thank you SO much for blogging. I can't tell you what wonderful, far-reaching effects it's had in my life.

[hwalk]

Your blog was the first blog I ever started reading, and it started a very positive hobby in my life and gave me a lot of new friends. I love it whenever a new post comes out--this blog rocks!

[Deb]

Shannon, you are a delight! When I found your blog, I found a treasure! I check it everyday I get on and check my e-mail.
Your adventures have put a smile on my face!
It's as much fun to read your blog as it is to read your books.

[Erin]

You've fulfilled all your goals in blogging! Reading about the things you go through is really inspirational for a young writer like me and I love knowing what you're up to!

[Chelsea]

I think i first started reading you blog in the fall of 2005. It took me months to be brave enough to actually comment. I haven't missed a post since! ;-)

[Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen]

I love your blogs and am so excited about the list of books you gave us! Thanks for everything. :)

[Frogster]

Thanks for being so uber-awesome and blogging for six years! I love it whenever you post--I know I'm going to be entertained and informed! I especially like your recommendations.

Happy Blogiversary, Shannon!

[Frogster]

Thanks for being so uber-awesome and blogging for six years! I love it when you post--I know I'm going to be entertained and informed! I especially like your recommendations.

Happy Blogiversary, Shannon!

[Beca]

Congrats! :)
Your blog is one of the highlights for my week! :)

[jenelcc]

Thanks for your blog Shannon, in my opinion this is one of the best writer blogs around!

[Maya]

Shannon, your "wonderful shiny gift" will never be taken away. It's your talent and amazing-ness that keeps you going, and you'll never lose that.

You have such an illuminating and fascinating blog, and it's always nice when you post something new; yours is one of the few author blogs I bother to visit on a regular basis.

I've always thought that it's so great to read the thoughts of an author on a blog. I remember being surprised that authors blogged. I remember the very first time I commented on an author's blog.

It's such a different experience, I've always thought, to have access to the more personal side of an author, rather than seeing them in person.

Yes, I'm here because I've read your books. You're a marvelous, marvelous writer.

It's not every day that we come across a famous, wonderfully gifted writer who blogs. I've enjoyed your "positive voice" and it's a definite contribution in my world.

Thank you, Shannon, for blogging and for putting a sparkle into my day.

[Katie-wa]

I love you, Shannon!

Too bad you can't put pics of your kids up anymore. :( *sad face* But I totally understand the privacy issue.

Wow! Six whole years! That's quite a while. Happy Blogivesary! (Great word, BTW)

[Rachel]

I'm so glad you have a blog! One of the reasons you're pretty much my favorite author is that not only do you write great books, but you have a hilarious voice in your blog! It makes you seem like a normal person that I can totally relate to! Here's to 6 more years of blogging!

[Vicarious Reader]

Thank You for blogging for six years. Your first entry seems very... second chapter Ani-ish. Huzzah to self-confidence!

[Lois Moss]

It's so wonderful to find that you have a blog! Where have I been? 6 years! Kudos! I love your work! I love your humor and honesty. I'm looking forward to stopping by on a regular basis now!

I'm one of those aspiring authors seeking advice and learning how to approach the publishing monster without getting squashed.

[Maribeth]

HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY! (if that's a word. :P)

Wow! I can't believe you could keep that secret from your family. Teehee.

[Emily M.]

I love your blog. Thank you for keeping it updated, and for the generous way you share yourself with your fans.

Your site is also great--I just linked to some of your excellent writing advice in a post I did at Segullah about revising (entitled "O Revise, What Can I Say More?" heehee.)

[Julie]

Congrats on 6 years!

I really stopped by to say that I just finished Austenland, and I adored it. I had borrowed it from work (I work in a bookstore), but I'm going to buy it, and buy a copy to send to a friend for Christmas! Thanks for another really fun read.

Also, I really enjoy the blog. I am just discovering how much "getting to know" the person behind the pen (or keyboard) enhances the reading experience. With my favorite authors (and yes, you are certainly on that list), it somehow makes everything more fun. When a new book is finished, or an award is received, or an event goes well, it's like a friend has just had a personal triumph. I guess that's one of the effects of the online environment.

Anyway, thank you for sharing, both your talent and your thoughts.

Have a great day!

[Miss Erin]

Thank you a million times for keeping up this blog, Shannon, even though you're so very busy. I SO appreciate it.
:)

[cuileann]

And we are so very glad that you do blog, Shannon!

That shopper-grabbing kind of gig sounds horrendous.

[Mike Snyder]

I can't believe it's been that long. I still remember that first entry and the joke about Enna being minor.

I'm glad you've made a community for your readers and that you strive to keep it a safe one.

I'm also glad you share the ins and outs of being an author. It takes away some of the mystery of how a book comes to be. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Happy Six! The traditional anniversary gift is Candy or Iron, the modern gift is Wood. So for a literary twist, you could read "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" for Candy, "The Corpse and the Iron Shoes" story from Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others for Iron and "Pinocchio" for Wood. (The version illustrated by Gris Grimly.)

Congratulations, Shannon. =)

[Jackee]

Happy anniversary! I love everything about your website and blog. And I'm determined to someday figure out what the heck a squeetus is! Then again, the way you say you keep secrets....

[shelli]

happy anniversary! Wow six years. I started in 2006. mine is a marketing blog for authors (that is my day job) to give back to this community! - not that you need it! :) if you visit, hope i can help you as much as you have helped others :)
http://www.faeriality.blogspot.com/
shelli