300th

It’s weird for me to consider that I am currently writing my three hundredth post on this blog. Partly because Dec 16, 2017 feels like a REALLY long time ago (the date of my first post). But also, that means that I have been consistently posting here every Friday for almost EIGHT YEARS? I’m sorry. What?

When I started this blog, it was in response to ‘advice’ out in the world that having a presence online was important for new authors – and at that point, that meant the face app, the photo app, the bird app, and having an established blog. Since then, ‘blogs’ as we knew them (part of someone’s website) aren’t much of a thing anymore. Posts have become part of social media, and there are any number of platforms that one can post in the hopes of gaining a following (and, in some cases, a paycheck). And here I am, still typing along on my website to… likely no one. Why?

Because I can, and it’s a habit that I like. It forces me to write about things I likely wouldn’t otherwise – because you have to come up with an idea to write about in the post, and then repeat every week until…well, who knows how long. I’m a little surprised I made it eight years, to be honest. But here we are.

A lot has happened since that first post. I finished my first ever novel-length manuscript, revised my little heart out, found some incredible beta readers, revised more, queried, and even signed a contract with a publisher to put that story out into the world. I’ve written three and half other manuscripts. (Two are out in the world – Wherever Would I Be and Goode vs Melville. One is waiting for it’s first revision phrase. One is waiting for me to figure out where I want to take it.) I started research on a new novel that has been pushing itself forward.

I’ve also continued to teach (hello year seventeen?!?!), and I joined three book clubs. I’ve been to Scotland twice and am plotting to move there someday. I attempted to drive Route 66, but after the fourth tornado, I turned around. I also lost my favorite two fuzzy writing buddies.

The world shut down and reopened a changed place.

And I continue to type. I’m Ami Maxine, by the way. It’s nice to meet you. See you on post 301.