Saturday, August 15, 2009

Who's Reading your Blog?

You never know who's reading your blog. I've been blessed with many new readers this week and I also received the nicest email from Writer's Digest for mentioning them:

Thank youDear Terri:

I just wanted to thank you on behalf of everyone here at Writer’s Digest for your kind post about our September issue on your blog. I do hope the information on agents and queries proves to be helpful, and we wish you all the best with your submissions—and all your writing endeavors!

Kind regards,
Jessica Strawser


And yes, their magazine is one of the most helpful ones I read and despite our unemployment status, I've decided not to cancel it. What other magazine would take the time to write a blogger?

UPDATE: I had a publisher ask me for a full manuscript. My query worked well enough to give me this next step in the door. It doesn't mean it will get accepted but it gives me some assurance that I'm doing something right with my query.

Do you think about what you're writing and who is reading it?

42 comments:

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Terri -

Woohoo! I'm so happy for you. A publisher asking for a full manuscript is a big step forward.

Many people subscribe to Google alerts, so they know if they're mentioned on your blog. An author contacted me one time about a review I did on her book. The contact resulted in an interview.

As far as thinking about what I'm writing, I consider the readers and writers who hang out at my blog. As with all writing, the cardinal rule is to write to your audience.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Valerie said...

Congratulations. That's a great step forward. You must be thrilled to bits.

Heather Sunseri said...

I am so happy for you that you had a full requested. That's incredible.

And that's pretty amazing that Writer's Digest took the time to write a "thank you" to you. Very good!

Heather Sunseri said...

I am so happy for you that you had a full requested. That's incredible.

And that's pretty amazing that Writer's Digest took the time to write a "thank you" to you. Very good!

Great Grandma Lin said...

prayers are answered...patience

Stephanie Faris said...

Congrats!!! That's great news about your request. And how nice of Writer's Digest to take time out to thank you. When I was in the top blogs on MySpace I wrote a blog about Marijuana University in California. Three or four days after it ranked, someone from the university contacted me to thank me. I guess someone tipped them off.

Andrea said...

AMEN! You never know. I found out recently that some of our American Soldiers are reading All GOD's Creatures. They find it humorous b/c I speak in Sitka's voice. What a blessing to know this helps them. I, too have many new followers. GOD is definitely working!
Congratulations on all GOD is doing in your life! Andrea

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

How exciting is that to have a request for a full manuscript!!!!! Praying for wonderful results that will head you in the direction of being published!

I always wonder who's out there reading my posts other than my followers and commenters. Often I receive an unexpected email that says that something I posted was helpful, encouraging or enjoyable. That's always a blessing.

Tana said...

I'm praising God for you! I'm so thrilled it's beyond words! LOL about writers digest. That's pretty awesome! All the times I've mentioned them I've never received anything like that, I think the lord has something special planned for you!

Linda Hoye said...

Yay, Terri! That's so cool that you've been asked to send in your complete manuscript!

Nikki (Sarah) said...

Your perservance amazes me. You don't give up and it's being rewarded. Awesome! Myself - I first started writing for myself but a number of followers have been emailing me about their their pain and struggles - now I write for them too - to give hope.

Lillian Robinson said...

Happy Dance! Whoopee! And a BIG CONGRATS! That's fantastic! (I know it's a sin, but I'm envious. Patience... I know my time will come.)

That is why comments are so important... they let you know what your readers like.

Wouldn't it be great if all during the writing process we had tons of readers cheering us on? Talk about motivation!

Keep us posted on the submission. I'll say a quick prayer for your success!

Carmen said...

Such great news! Congratulations Terri. Every little step brings you closer, and having Writer's Digest thank you is a really good thing! Although you're being cautious, you must still be so excited!

As for my blog...well, it hasn't even been a year, and I'm still learning. Once I get my focus, we'll see what happens.

So happy for you!

Carmen said...

Such great news! Congratulations Terri. Every little step brings you closer, and having Writer's Digest thank you is a really good thing! Although you're being cautious, you must still be so excited!

As for my blog...well, it hasn't even been a year, and I'm still learning. Once I get my focus, we'll see what happens.

So happy for you!

Melissa Amateis said...

Congrats, Terri!!! This is such a positive step!

It's always been interesting to me to see who reads my blog. I've had some fun people show up over the years!

Jody Hedlund said...

Wow! What a blessing to get a full request!! And how exciting--it is such a confirmation that you're on the right track! Congrats!!

Helen Ginger said...

Yay, Terri! I hope you receive great news back from the publisher. That would be so exciting!

I do think about who's reading what I write, especially on the Internet, like on my blog or on Twitter.

Helen
Straight From Hel

Jessica Nelson said...

Eeeekkkk!!!!

Woohoo! I'm so excited for you on the manuscript! That is awesome! Are you going to give us details? LOL Is this the other romance for LI? *huge grin!*

Also, that is really cool that Writer's Digest contacted you. You're right; we never know who's reading.

Julie Gillies said...

Oh Terri, I am SO excited for you! Congrats to you, girl! Please, please keep us posted on the outcome.

I wrote a post that a publishing syndiator commented on. Boy, was I surprised. You're so right...you just never know who's reading your blog!

LisaShaw said...

This is such a blessing Terri. I know that great things will happen with your manuscript also.

I do think about "who" is reading my blog that is why I pray so much before posting anything.

I love ya and you and your husband are in my prayers. I'm praying for you right now...

Kathleen said...

Stealth fans! See ... behind the scenes some pretty amazing things are happening.

Hugs,
Kathleen

Karen Lange said...

Congrats to you! I am happy for you:) How exciting.

I do think about the potential readers for my blog and other writing as part of the bigger plan that the Lord has for my writing. It's kind of exciting to think where He can take it, who He can cause to see it, and so on.

Again, congrats, and blessings:)

KelliGirl said...

It's true. We never know who reads our blogs. I found out that both my mom AND dad read mine! Once in a while my great-aunt does too.

When I've mentioned a specific person or company I've also had them post a comment.

Indeed, we must be very careful with our words. What we write on our blogs is VERY public.

Congrats on the manuscript request! Can't wait to hear if it goes to the next step.

Blessings, my friend,
Kelli

david mcmahon said...

That's GREAT news about the full manuscript.

Congratulations ....

Eileen Astels Watson said...

Congratulations on the full request. That's AWESOME, Terri!! Wow, great things happen while I'm vactioning!

P.S. What a nice thank you note too. So nice to see!

kah said...

Awesome! Congrtas. :) Yes, we all need to remember that ANYONE can read our blogs at anytime. Which means we must be careful with the Too Much Information syndrome. lol

Sonya Lee Thompson said...

Hi Terri,

That is so exciting, congrats on the publisher asking to see your manuscript. You are an inspiration to all of us!

Hey, come by my blog to see why your feet are lovely.

Sonya Lee

Greg C said...

The woman who runs the Market read my webpage last week and loved it. She said it was a great article and to keep writing. :) I have had several nice comments on my blog recently. Check out my numbers. :)

Susan R. Mills said...

Congratulations! That is really good news. Keep us posted!

Billy Coffey said...

Congratulations, Terri! That's great news. And how cool is it that Writer's Digest emailed you?

I've heard that there is generally a 1 to 5 ratio when it comes to blog readers. For every one who comments, there are five who read but choose to remain silent. That's a lot of folks, and it's easy to not consider them sometimes.

Janna Leadbetter said...

Absolutely, I think about what I'm writing and who might see it. I think that's so important to keep in mind. And really, isn't that what it's all about?

Best with the full sub! And congrats on the contact from WD. How exciting!

joe doaks-Author said...

Terri, Hooray for you. Just wonderful on both counts. I’m very glad for you. It just goes to show that nice people do get noticed and good things DO happen to them. Great job. Keep it up.

Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog

Jill Kemerer said...

Amazing! Isn't it cool that they e-mailed you? Stuff like that makes my day! And congrats on your full! I know they'll love it!

Diane said...

Awesome! I pray continued favor for you in all you put your hands to.

Kathryn Magendie said...

YES! TERRI!! that is marvelous news -- I am so happy for you -- WHOOOHOOO! *Big grin*

and I have some very very nice people reading my blog - including YOU!

Nancy said...

My readers are very important to me. I think of them and try to picture them as I write.
So happy about your success and go ahead on the manuscript.

Yolanda said...

God has made that very evident to me, that I'm writing for Him to them. I've been amazed once or twice...ok lots of times with who is reading, especially the lurkers that come and read without commenting. ;-) The blessing, I pray, is truly that they are still being fed the word of God and His goodness/love.

Lovingly,
Yolanda

BeckyJoie said...

I've had some reader surprises lately too. One never knows!

Marianne Arkins said...

Thanks for visiting my blog today. This post made me smile, though. I've gotten emails from Alpha Omega Publishing, Vole Control and various other people and companies that I've mentioned. It makes me VERY conscious of what I say, though. Reminds that the entire world just might be watching.

Congrats on your full request and GOOD LUCK.

Unknown said...

I don't yet understand the concept of a query but I'm going to keep learning and continue writing!

Unknown said...

And yes I'm one of this week's new readers!

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Terri,
This is such good news. I do love your blog and thanks for the great tips you give us writers. Please visit my blog and leave a comment at: http://blueridgepoet.blogspot.com.