Writing Forward: Year in Review 2008
If 2007 was a year of transformation (it was), then 2008 has been a year for manifestation.
For the first time, I set clear goals and met the most important ones. I wrote a novel, launched a new site for my website copywriting services, and kept Writing Forward going.
I can’t imagine what next year will bring. Before I start daydreaming about the future, I’d like to take a walk down memory lane – a quick trip through some of my best posts of 2008.
Best Blog Moments of 2008
Back in January I asked what’s more important in creative writing – skill or talent? The answer might surprise you.
No matter how skilled or talented you are, your writing will greatly improve if you open yourself to receiving a writing critique, but will you be able to handle it? It isn’t easy to get negative feedback but if you want your writing to be great, you should learn how to accept a critique graciously.
Not everyone strives toward greatness, which is why I felt it was necessary to point out that great writing does, in fact, matter online.
Speaking of online writing, did you know the most effective web writing is more like briefs than boxers? Web writing works best when it’s concise and easy to scan. Some of the best writing on the web can be found in the blogosphere, which is why I wrote a little story (much like this one) and peppered it with links to some of my friends who are writing community bloggers.
It’s important for writers to stay creative, and one way to do that is to keep writing journals in which you can record your thoughts, ideas, and things that inspire you.
In addition to staying creative, writers need to stay in shape by working those writing muscles. Collect writing tips and resources, read trade magazines, and listen to interviews. Soon, you’ll have a heavy duty arsenal that will help you stay fit for duty.
By November, I was busy learning how to write a novel. What I found out was that basically, you sit down and write the darn thing.
Now that the year is coming to a close, I look back on the posts with fond memories, although I’m a bit mystefied as to why a post that I wrote in 2007 about the best writing tips is still the most visited and highest rated page on this whole site. I wrote that post in about fifteen minutes. At least it’s aging gracefully!
Writing Forward into 2009
In just a few hours, the year will truly be over and we’ll embark on a new one. It’s time to set our annual goals, gather our financials for the taxman, and say goodbye to the year that was 2008. I wish you all a safe and happy New Year’s Eve and will see you next year!
Melissa Donovan is a website designer and copywriter. She writes fiction and poetry and is the founder and editor of Writing Forward, a blog packed with creative writing tips and ideas.
Wow! You have had an awesome year. I hope you made time to have a private life as well. Here’s to more writing adventures in 2009. Happy New Year!
My private life took a backseat to my professional life this year but that’s alright because for many years, it’s been the other way around
Happy New Year Deb!
Hey, thanks for the publicity, Melissa! Happy New Year and a tip o’ the hat to ya!
Thanks Robert! My pleasure. It was a fun project!
Hi Melissa!
Keep up the great work! I look forward to reading your blog in 2009!
Happy New Year!
-Brad
Brads last blog post..Make money, gain experience writing for Associated Content!
Thanks Brad! I look forward to reading yours too
Happy New Year!
It’s been a good year, Melissa. I look forward to seeing what you do in 2009!
–Debs last blog post..A Sextet of Information
It has been a good year, a very busy year. 2009 should be interesting indeed!
Happy New Year Melissa! 2008 was a wonderful year at Writing Forward and I can’t wait to see what 2009 holds in store. Your great writing, spot on tips and joyful enthusiasm were definitely an inspiration to me last year.
Karen Swims last blog post..Farewell 2008
Happy New Year Karen! I’m still working out some of the details for changes in 2009 but I definitely want to step up the focus on creative writing, especially fiction and poetry. That’ll be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to your blog this year too – I always think of it as a site that makes me feel a little warmer and a lot more inspired
It took me a little while to read this post… mostly because you kept putting up new posts before I got to read the previous one and I needed to catch up.
Anyway, I must agree that last year did seem to be quite the year for you and it makes the mind boggle how you may possibly out do yourself this year. Well, that is if you wanted to. But I thank you for all the writing tips and information throughout the year. I started following you due to that 22 best writing tips and it definately was a source of encouragement, education and inspiration (not just that post, but the many that followed). So thanks for doing what you do.
I know, I posted a lot last week. Sorry about that! Believe me, there’s plenty of room for me to outdo myself this year! I want to focus on creating better content and for bringing more writers into the fold. The “22 Best Writing Tips” was a post I wrote back in 2007, and I have yet to write a post that beats it. Kinda weird that a post I wrote just a couple of months after I started blogging still outperforms all my other posts over a year later. Ah well… Thanks for being a friend t.sterling
I wouldn’t worry too much about a better post than The 22 Best. I think it’s like the perfect introduction to what is the Melissa Donovan Network. And yes, a network, not a TV network (yet) but you have your expanding businesses and insightful blogs, you might have to blame that most popular post for your legion of followers. Plus you are friendly and inviting, so thanks again for the compliment. I know you are just flattering me to make cheesy eggs with cheese.
And I’m not complaining about there being so many posts. I’m not a vacation anymore, so I have time to read while I’m at work.
t.sterlings last blog post..can’t end a vacation without a good breakfast
But that post only took 15 minutes to write! What about sweat and hard work? I’d like to outdo that one, eventually. It was heavily Stumbled, which is why it performs so well, plus it comes up in search engines quite a lot too. I’d like to put out one of those a month…
And yes, cheesy eggs with cheese would be delightful