From Zero to 10,000 Reads in Two Years

Hello one and all! Hope you are all well. I am not...as I have a stinking cold. Oh well, mustn't complain. Even though I wanna complain about how much I hate feeling like crap. Anyway, my intention when writing this piece was not to moan about the lurgy.

Following pieces by two of my favourite creators, L.C. Schäfer and Dana Crandell, where they both celebrated the milestone of 5,000 total reads since joining Vocal, I wanted to share my own. As of today (Monday 2nd October 2023), I reached the massive and surprising milestone of 10,000 total reads since joining Vocal.

Hey Mum, I Completed My First 10K!!

If you haven't already, you can check out L.C.'s and Dana's posts below:

First - Thank You!

First and foremost, I wanted to take the opportunity to say a huge big and genuine thank you. Thank you to everyone who has ever read, liked, commented, encouraged, spellchecked, argued or whatever on my poetry, articles, fiction pieces and anything else I've posted. I know that I would not have reached this stunning milestone without your support. So, thank you.

You have been on this journey with me...every step of the way. You have put up with all the weird takes on poetry that I post, my satire and even my raps!

You have been encouraging, friendly and generally a nice bunch of people. So, thank you!

I write for me, but knowing that there is an audience for it here, makes it easier to push ahead and publish my work.

Wanna Know Something Funny, Though?

Around 2 months ago, I had reached 7,000 total reads and was going to write and publish a funny piece about it, featuring lots of things of which there are multiples of 7,000. I shelved that plan, for whatever reason I can't actually remember. But that means that in 2 months, my total reads have shot up by another 3,000 (see that math in action, baby!) That seems crazy to me.

Here for full transparency is the shelved 7,000 total reads celebration:

7,000 different types of amphibians

7,500 types of apples in the world

7,100 languages spoken around the world

7,000 species of living echinoderms

7,000 Dollars and You by The Stylistics

7,000 total reads and counting

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If I'm honest, having 10,000 total reads, seems pretty darn crazy. Especially when I think back to the days of just having a handful for my first posts. I know I am prolific, but it still shocks me.

You Are Helping Me

The numbers are a thing and as much as I hate numbers, I wanted to acknowledge them because it's important to take a pause and celebrate accomplishments. However, pushing them aside, though, I wanted to thank you not only for helping me reach this milestone and being on the journey with me, but helping me to better my creative works.

From the comments and suggestions to the unofficial challenges I've enjoyed participating in, I feel I am a better writer than I was two years ago. At least from a creative writing point of view. So, I'm grateful from that point of view.

A Special Treat

Now, I have been laying hints to a special treat as part of reaching this milestone. Many people over the last year or so have suggested I record some of my poetry. I think it's the whole Scottish thing. I have been against it really because I sound like a little child.

However, I thought it might be a nice treat and a way of saying thank you by including yours truly reading one of my favourite pieces. I choose this one because it was never a Top Story, but many of you seemed to really love and connect with it.

I was planning on reading a whole selection of poems, especially as my voice is all super croaky and bassy right now because of the aforementioned lurgy. However, I am also lacking in energy and it took a long time to sort out just one video as I have never done it before.

Maybe in future, I will do it again. I am by no means a performer, so please understand that and be kind :)

If you have not read it, liked or commented on it before, here is the link to the poem on Vocal:

Thank you everyone again for your support and thank you for reading my mumblings! Here's to the next 10K!

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