Saturday, June 12, 2010

TARTIVERSARY!!!!

It's a Tartiversary
It's a Tartiversary
It's a Tartiversary
Iiiiiiiiit's a Tartiversary!

(come on... sing... I know you know the tune...)


You know what I just learned? If you 'google image' the word Tartiversary, EVERY image is from my blog! That makes it my OWN FREAKING WORD! Oh sure, I lent it to my Sister Tart last week, but she apparently wasn't nearly obnoxious enough with it...

The pool is filled with champagne, The kiddie pool is filled with pudding (to wrestle in--Alex, does this help make up for the man butts?), the fountain is filled with chocolate, and the Soundtrack for the Naked World Domination Plan is PLAYING!

Super Freak

Rainbow Connection

Boys Wanna Be Her (Doll, you make them feel so small, and they love it)--does this song scream World Domination Tour or WHAT?--Video is on the violent side, but I LOVE the song...

I can't believe it was only a year ago I began this blogging thing—it is such a natural extension of my insanity that I really should have discovered it in about 2001, though my life at that point (with a 6 and a 2 year old) wouldn't have accommodated it time-wise. But MAN, this is fun...

I think most people, if you talk to them, have strong preferences for the kind of social networking they like best, and this is DEFINITELY my thing. I love Facebook, but it is more a keep up with friends tool than a make NEW friends tool—Oh, I've made a few friends there—my sister Tart, Jan, I found there... The Divine Marian... but I feel like HERE, with the volume we all SHARE, it is far more conducive to getting to KNOW each other... Facebook, mostly, are acquaintances... HERE we make friends. Twitter, we NETWORK. The Twitter thing I think I ONLY do for the cross pollination of the other things I do... to Tweet about blogs... and that is important, as I learned recently with the BuNoWriMo thing... MAN, can it make a difference! But it is too fast paced and 'right place/right time' dependent. I don't like something I have that little control over. Blogging though... THAT, I love... you see... I get to spout my ideas and opinions and then people READ THEM! HooHOO! (is my narcissism showing?)



Sentimental Journey

I finished my first book in October 2008 and proceeded to polish and hone. In April 2009 I (MISTAKENLY) felt I was ready to query for the first time and dived into Facebook with an author's profile. Two months later, I decided I needed a blog. My first ever post can be found, here. A little after a month in, I came out as having my writing roots in Harry Potter and invited my friends (see below) and I started madly inviting my Facebook friends to follow via Networked blogs... progress tricked along... I made friends... and oddly enough, I grew in my confidence to DO THIS THING. I think NaBloWriMo (National Blog Writing Month, post a blog every day for a month) last October, took things to a new level... for starters, I dragged some of my writing group into this blogging thing... (me and my FOMS[Fear of Missing Something], doing that peer influence thing...) it's always been the way... The Tart can't resist and soon all her friends are knee deep in it...

But that was a turning point of sorts... a feel for how EVENTS can grow things... I've waxed and waned for how much of that I had time for, but I've definitely kept my eyes open, as I think it's one of the better ways to grow your blog visibility, and if people never see you, they can't fall in love.

And I fit in the writing stuff... oddly enough, writing four more books in that year, but having my GRANDEST success via blog... voice spotted... suggestion made... trial attempted... so a year later, I may not have an accepted book, but I DO have a contract... and agent... a plan... leave it to me to back in...


Blog High Points

(these are the ones that sort of shocked me at the time with a high number of hits or comments)
August was about the point I passed the 'average of five' comments per blog... but the formatting for the blogs back then lack paragraph breaks for some blogger related reason... I was angsty in August, probably because I was querying, and that was when I CONFRONTED my mother about problems I'd identified clear back in June. But I was definitely getting my legs under me, planning my book tour, joining stuff, making friends, I started getting blog hits for people searching Naked World Domination Tour and Nudist Group. In February..., 8 months in, I finally felt my first inkling of fame with  Be A Blog Slut (19 comments, which at the TIME felt like a million)... Some may have frowned at my resorting to admirable arses and beautiful behinds in April as I blogged A to Z, but hey... when you are a Tart, it is probably better to work with it than against it—you try to hide it and eventually you offend 'em ANYWAY and misleading then offending is worse than being upfrontally offensive... or so I see it... sort of the difference between being a tease and a slut... see, the first is unforgivable, the second, merely naughty... such is tart logic.



Fabulous Followers

I was feeling really proud of progress, then went to Karen Gowen's Blogiversary yesterday and saw in one year SHE had earned 256 followers, or some such thing... Ah well... there will always be overachievers out there, eh?

My story is slow and steady... My Zodiac location (Cancer) on the solar map, in some cultures, is the tortoise, after all (still crusty on the outside, soft in the middle, with a shocking resilience) My first followers came as I poked a couple friends (mostly my writer's group), but the first big spurt (13 followers according to the comments on the Harry Potter outing post listed above) came from me making a plea where people already knew me. You see, I got my writing legs acclimated at HPANA, a Harry Potter site, writing fan fiction. I went from a tentative wobbly writer, to a confident (if still insane) one. From there I begged on Facebook... (pathetic, yes, helpful... erm... probably). NEXT, I started stalking Elizabeth, and following the blogs in her sidebar and commenting THERE (that helped a bunch—she's friends with some very nice people)--for the record... if you want to build a following, I DEFINITELY recommend stalking someone who's doing it right.

My first EVENT that earned me followers in a batch was the NaBloWriMo-- there was some mutual following and lots of support—I think I maybe earned another dozen followers that way... the year rounded out with maybe 50 followers at my 6 month mark... Participating in Amazon earned me some more, but possibly only because I began a TOPIC there on blogging and got it rolling. There was a way to LINK blogs, but I think people weren't actively doing much with them.

By April and Blogging A to Z, I had 70 followers and gained about 40 through participating from blogging A to Z , a handful from BuNoWriMo and a couple even in the last few days that I think may be because I am following more Cozy Mystery blogs and Tweeters... So there we have it... one year and looking like 131 followers via Blogger, 147 through Facebook (though I figure there is about a 30-50% overlap—people following both ways. So somewhere around 200 people...


It pleases me.



My Thanks to You

I don't have large stashes of swag to share, but I want to do a drawing to thank all of you, past and future for supporting me.

Leave a comment FOR TODAY, June 12, totaling the following.

-New followers get one (after I went to bed last night—via blogger—I don't have a way to see WHEN network bloggers join, BUT if you were a follower via FB and ADD via blogger—tell me, you can get the 3) , older followers get THREE entries (because I love you already and want you to have an advantage for already being on the Good Ship Tart!)

-If you can get THAT man to follow me, automatic win.

-Tweet me—one more chance (please include @hartjohnson)

-Facebook share this post—one more

-Mention in a blog with a link (and share with me)—two more

I am giving away a critique—either a plot read of a whole novel (up to 500 pp). Review will include a summary of strong and weak, and probably a sentence or two for each chapter about what worked and didn't, or a CAREFUL read—grammar, sentence structure—in track changes, of the first 50 pages. I'm not a super SPEEDY reader, but I've gotten pretty good at suggesting how a broader work might be improved. If you don't NEED a critique, it is transferable to someone you are friends with who DOES need one--just email me with who gets it.

I will tally and do the draw at the end of June... closing Midnight East Coast US time as it turns from June to July. but I am only considering comments on TODAY'S blog. (just a ton easier to keep track of)



Back to the PAH-TAY!

So your final assignment is to do something this weekend that is a SPLURGE. Eat or drink something you normally don't, spend some time (alone, with someone—define your splurge) that is indulgent compared to normal life, enjoy some scenery, or some company, or some aesthetic pleasure that you usually just put off... (it could be a museum if you like art, a trail if you like nature, a nudy magazine if you are Mr. Tart...) Whatever it is you ENJOY that you normally put off... enjoy it a little this weekend... as your Tartiversary present to me!  If you can do it naked, all the better--at the VERY least, forgo pants.

You people are FABULOUS!

30 comments:

The Daring Novelist said...

Party hardy for your Tartiversary! And congratulations!

Ted Cross said...

Next you should write an epic fantasy filled with nudist warriors.

Cruella Collett said...

Wooohooo! I feel like I've been sending off congratulations east and west (cause the Earth is round, y'see, so they will both reach you...) to you this week, but you know what? You DESERVE it!!! So CONGRATULATIONS, Happy Tartiversary to you! (I totally sang along)

I am already naked (alright, not entirely naked, but I keep the blanket on ONLY because it is cold here today), I am already in a good mood and I am ready to partay! (Which I will be doing in a bachelorette party, but since we are allowed to celebrate you anyway we want... I don't think there will be strippers, though)

*puts on party hat and pops open champagne*
Now where is that pudding pool?

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Congratulations on all of it, Hart! What a great contest! It's a privilege to have been stalked. :)

Mason Canyon said...

Congratulations, definitely time for the happy dance.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Will Burke said...

Congrats & thanks for the retrospective! I hadn't heard of NaBloWriMo, but it sounds like a great warm-up for NaNoWriMo! My torso is just like those fellows, but I'm wearing it upside-down!

Hart Johnson said...

Thanks so much everyone! It really does wind up a wild year fairly nicely, ne? Book contract in the LAST week of the first blog year... I keep wondering if now I should get organized...

Unknown said...

Congrats on the blog... I mean, TARTiversary! I'm glad I joined in with the blogging world in time to watch your rise to fame! ;)

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Happy Tartiversary! (and I feel so odd just typingthat word lol) You are so funny, your posts always make me smile, and calling me an overachiever is the funniest yet because that's about as far from who I am as calling me a nudist as I sit here in my layers of clothing LOL. Thanks for all the laughs of the last month since I started following you! And thanks for the mention! So cool that our blogs share birthdays!

Hart Johnson said...

Rise to fame? *snort* Amy, I'm glad you've joined the blogging, too!

Karen *giggles* I would have thought with the Xena theme that overachieving and nudity would have been comfortable! Then again, I heard you yesterday with using it to strengthen resolve you weren't sure was in you.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You've been through the ups and downs. And it's not all about the numbers, Hart. Hey, you have your own word now! That's something.
And yes, the women wrestlers helped offset the other photos in your blog today!

Hart Johnson said...

They're wrestling in PUDDING, Alex! I'm sure they'd let you help them clean up!

Thank you for being such a great commenter--always keeps me going!

Ella said...

I love you have your own word; How Fun! Happy
Tartiversary! I love your SPLURGE idea....mmh
I can think of several~ I will try to get caught up on FB, soon! Life has been throwing me some curve balls, this week, was wacked~

You have provided a ton of inspiration; maybe i should say a Tart of it~! Enjoy the pudding pool... ;-D I look forward to going back and reading some of your beginning post to see how your Tart evolved~

Ella said...

* I have a little something for you; Come visit me~

Sugar said...

congrats!!!
thank you *bows down to her highness*
thanks for the lovely eye candy! I can't resist peeking...*wipes chin*
annnd... I get like fifty bazillion entries for being naked and awesome riiiight?? :)
Luv ya doll!!! Keep your awesomeness coming!

Helena said...

The word Tartiversary has now officially entered the English language. Congratulations on reaching such ridiculous heights of success! And on top of a great blog you've got a friggin' three-book contract. Damn, girl! You have no idea how jealous I am. What do you have planned for next year -- domination of the publishing world?

Hart Johnson said...

Thanks you so much ladies! VERY thrilled about Tartiversary! teehee--not sure how many people are actually going to GOOGLE it... but... if they do, I know I'm covered!

Ellie, sorry to hear about curve balls--they sure happen though, don't they? And THANK YOU for the award--that's a special one! I mean they are all special in their own way, but I really like the sisterhood.

Sugar--teehee--YES! I should have SAID extra points for naked! Seems it should go without saying around here, ne?

Helena-THANK YOU! Jealous I get, but you will get there--your creative passion is definitely in line. In fact HONESTLY, I think you ought to write the book that goes with your BLOG--about all the training you are going through to see what it would be like to become like your heroine--THAT I bet would sell well and the concept would get interest.

Jan O'Hara (Tartitude) said...

Happy Tartiversary, Hart. Awesome stats, awesome accomplishments overall - deserving for an awesome person who works her butt off in pursuit of her dream. This didn't happen by accident, babe. But then you knew that. ;)

No need to enter me in the contest, I just wanted to wish you well.

Hart Johnson said...

*smooches sister Tart*

Thank you! (we DO work our butts off, don't we?)
*wondering why butt is still substantial*

Ah well... worth it in the end *snort* Oh, butt jokes...

Jan Morrison said...

oh happy happy belated tartiversary dear dear tartlett! I was too naked yesterday to blog or comment. just following instructions! I gardened naked and went to Canadian Tire naked - which was very fun. OH - yesterday, I think it was yesterday but it might have been Friday - Halifax had its annual Naked Bike Ride. My friend saw it and she didn't know why they rode naked. I have lots of clients that do it so I could tell her that it is to point out how VULNERABLE one is on a bike. So nudity equals vulnerbility and that is why I really really adore you, Tartlett, you are bold and brassy and also incrediably vulnerable. And that is so so good!

Bridge Marie said...

Congrats on the year, Tami! *joins party*

And OH MY GOSH I just saw your contract post! That is so amazing! I am SQEEING for you, too!

Bridge Marie said...

*squeeing. Haha, I'm pretty sure what I wrote is unpronounceable...

Deb and Barbara said...

Congrats! And thanks for the run-down of how you traveled from there (no blog) to here (successful tartiversary). I don't know if I have the mojo to fb and twitter and such, but I looove the blog-reading and commenting (as you can see!)

Barbara (and fellow Cancerian)

Hart Johnson said...

Jan--EXCELLENT to spend so much naked time! And I'd seen the naked bike ride stuff, but didn't realize it was in Nova Scotia!--very cool! And thank you so much for being so fabulous. You always make me feel good!

Bridge--Squee is right! (and Squeeing DOES look silly!) Thank you!

Barbara-I really do LIKE facebook--I just don't network quite as efficiently-- It is far more conducive to a lot of silliness, cuz we KNOW I never get silly here *shifty*

And HA! Fellow cancerian, eh? What day? The Burrow has a streak of June birthdays (two Geminis followed by 3 cancers right in a row)

Deb and Barbara said...

I'm July 6 and Deb is July 5 -- so we "middle-agers" are BOTH cancers. Funny that like meets like and then, er, likes it...

Hart Johnson said...

teehee--I like how you put that! I know an awful lot of Cancers driven to write--I think there is an emotional connection made, and that is behind it.

RaShelle Workman said...

Well I totally missed the whole party *sigh* - but I'm a cancer also AND I thought I was already a follower, so I'm a double doofus today. Just want to say congrats. I think your WORD is super cool. I'm now a follower (ah, I knew something was missing and now I know). LOL - this is a great prize. You go girl!

Anonymous said...

Oh my hell, how did I not stumble across your blog earlier? I mean, I've seen your comments on other folks' blogs, and thought, Ha! Gotta love a gal who lobs scimitars at people, thereby providing bases for systems of government.! But, strangely, I never followed you home.

So here I am, on a Sunday night, trying to shake off the heat-and-humidity-induced crankiness, and I find your little corner of the blogosphere, replete with plans for Naked World Domination and tartage galore (I fully support both, fyi).

Anyhow, I'm following now. It could be because of the pudding wrasslin' pic up there, but I'd rather chalk it up to your wit and self-deprecatory sarcasm. Yes, let's do that.

Katy Foster-Dugan said...

Happy TARTIVERTSARY. I foresee by next year the world will have been conquered by nudity.

I googled Tartiversary and you were number one. Congratulations on the new word. Maybe we should contact Webster's?

Well I should be writing so toodles.

P.S. I'm glad I finally figured out how to comment.

Hart Johnson said...

New followers! YAY! Welcome RaShelle and Simon! RaShelle-I've done that several times... think I'm following then look to add to the side bar or something and the evidence has VANISHED! It's a Conspiracy...

Simon-Welcome to the many causes! And yes... let go with my wit *snort*

Katy-regular google too? Not just the images? EXCELLENT Taking over the world one word at a time! Wonder what we can do with Procrastinakeding... (glad you figured out the commenting too!--though I see the FB ones, too.