We're all Ones…

I finally hit a little milestone I'd set for myself some while back when I started my blog, The Backroom (which what you're reading now) and while I try hard not to become too obsessed with things like hits, stats, numbers, and accounting (because like I mentioned in my previous post, most times there's not enough information collected to accurately reflect the truth), in this case I believe I have enough data to make a reasonably educated estimation.

So, what's the grand occasion you may ask? Well, although it's nothing in comparison to the multitude of very successful blogs out there, the main page of my Backroom has finally hit the plus-one hundred readership mark for the last two weeks (not counting the usual array of hits from ATOM/RSS readers, spiders, and bots) which I don't think is bad at all for a pretty much rarely ever marketed project.

Yes, the count is miniscule I know and nothing when put into relation with the traffic of my primary website [http://dehanna.com] yet for me it's a notable occasion and reminds me again of how we all have to start somewhere … even if it's only from the piddly Number 1.

Whether it's the first book sold, manuscript or article written, or professional contact made, the majority of people who write had to start from absolutely nothing but a whim and a dream and build from there.

There's no *poof* factor or fairy-godmothers with magic wands that make anything and everything instantly happen in this industry and anyone coming into it (or even just passing though) shouldn't let themselves believe any different.

It takes work, education, commitment, integrity, and more to become just even "slightly-noted" (as in detectable by a search engine) much less successful--but let's not forget profitable--and deluding yourself from the truth of what it is doesn't help anyone succeed.

But having this kind of realistic attitude doesn't mean you can't dream--we all do (including me)--but you have to realize that most of the time it doesn't happen overnight unless you're already somebody in a business many times filled with an endless supply of unknowns.

So, I guess the theme of my litany today is: don't get discouraged if you're beginning with your own writing project or career and are still numbering in the fifties or maybe only in the tens or less because when it comes down to it many times it really doesn't matter where you are right now.

All that counts is that you try to realistically stay true to your project, set little reachable goals, learn as much as you can about making it a success, and apply the knowledge of what worked for others in your own creative way!

Because hey … we're all ones at some point ;)