Welcome back to Taylor Talks!
Happy anniversary to Taylor Talks! On July 29, 2014, I started on this crazy adventure that I called a blog. I had no idea how often I would post, I had no idea if I gain any interest in what I was writing about, and I had no idea that I would be sitting down at the computer an entire year later, celebrating a successful year of blogging.
Happy anniversary to Taylor Talks! On July 29, 2014, I started on this crazy adventure that I called a blog. I had no idea how often I would post, I had no idea if I gain any interest in what I was writing about, and I had no idea that I would be sitting down at the computer an entire year later, celebrating a successful year of blogging.
When I think back to where I was a year ago, I realize that so much has changed in every aspect of my life. I've graduated from college, I've completed more than half of my novel, my family has changed, and we just made this huge move from New York to Florida. I mean, I've gone from staying up late writing essays and lesson plans, to going out back after dark for a swim in our new pool with my sister. I've grown apart from some friends, and reconnected with others. I've said good-bye to a foster sister and a brother who was supposed to be with us forever, and I've even said good-bye to a cat that we had since I was in elementary school because he couldn't make the move with us. People always say that a lot can change in a year, but you don't realize exactly how much until you do a project like this that lasts an entire year.
My very first blog post, Welcome to Taylor Talks, discussed my reasons for wanting to start a blog. I was twenty years old, I hadn't yet told anyone that I was writing a book, and I just wanted to try to connect with other bio kids in foster families. I had no idea how to share my blog, and I hadn't even told my parents that I was writing about our life yet. It was all this big, secretive project that I was starting for myself, and I didn't know if it would go anywhere. Part of me thought that I was just jumping in on another of my big ideas that would end up coming to a screeching halt when I couldn't figure out how to make it work. I mean, I'm definitely one of those people who comes up with a grand plan every few months and then can never really follow through for the long haul. But here I am, a full year later, and I'm pretty proud of the way things have worked out with this blog.
I've been pleasantly surprised at the fact that my blog has received so many pageviews, especially in the past six months since I switched blog hosting sites. Just since the end of January, I've had almost 34,000 pageviews from over 5,300 unique visitors! I'd say that's pretty good for someone who has never paid for advertising and had no formal training in how to attract visitors to a blog. I'm definitely learning along the way, like when I realized that I should put pictures in my posts whenever possible because it makes the post more visually appealing, and I still have a long way to go. I have changed the way my blog looks, first switching websites, then switching around pages. Even now, I've updated the way the Archives page looks and changed around the taps in the Navigation Menu. I've upped my game on social media sites, poured my heart into blog posts and my book, and have shared my thoughts with the entire world... well, maybe not the entire world, but you get the point. I've even managed to post every single day (though I had only set a goal for myself of once a week), even when I was juggling schoolwork or driving down the east coast.
Heading into my second year of blogging, I have a few goals for myself. I still haven't been able to reach 150 likes on my Facebook author page, so that's definitely still a goal of mine. I would like to continue to blog every day, but I don't know what the coming year will bring. It may not be possible to blog each day, but I will make a promise to myself to try to blog every day if possible. Once things get settled in our new house, and I can get back to writing, I want to make sure that I finish my book by 2016. I know that I'll still have editing and revising to take care of, but I want the initial story to be finished by January. I want to lose some weight (that new pool is really helping with this goal), and I want to look good by the time we go to a wedding in October. I want to start up these sign language classes and meet new people here in Florida, and I might even try to sell some baked goods while I'm at it. I definitely want to look into more advanced signing classes and take some baking classes as well. I always have so many interests and hobbies that I want to pursue, but it's a good time to explore all of my options in life. I really hope to get a job with Disney, but if that plan falls through, I'll look into getting my Florida teaching certification and pursue teaching down here. I have so many things that I want to look into accomplishing over the next year, and I'm looking forward to doing it all.
Thank you so much for your continued support! I look forward to sharing more stories about my experience with foster care, and hopefully hearing from readers who have questions or similar stories to share. It's been really nice to receive a few comments and questions over the past year, and it would be great to increase my interaction with my readers. I'm always willing to answer questions and hear about other experiences!
I’d greatly appreciate it if you would share this blog with friends and family through your favorite social media sites. If you’re sharing on Twitter, don’t forget to tag me (@TayTayK02) and use the hashtag #TaylorTalks.
Thanks!
Taylor
My very first blog post, Welcome to Taylor Talks, discussed my reasons for wanting to start a blog. I was twenty years old, I hadn't yet told anyone that I was writing a book, and I just wanted to try to connect with other bio kids in foster families. I had no idea how to share my blog, and I hadn't even told my parents that I was writing about our life yet. It was all this big, secretive project that I was starting for myself, and I didn't know if it would go anywhere. Part of me thought that I was just jumping in on another of my big ideas that would end up coming to a screeching halt when I couldn't figure out how to make it work. I mean, I'm definitely one of those people who comes up with a grand plan every few months and then can never really follow through for the long haul. But here I am, a full year later, and I'm pretty proud of the way things have worked out with this blog.
I've been pleasantly surprised at the fact that my blog has received so many pageviews, especially in the past six months since I switched blog hosting sites. Just since the end of January, I've had almost 34,000 pageviews from over 5,300 unique visitors! I'd say that's pretty good for someone who has never paid for advertising and had no formal training in how to attract visitors to a blog. I'm definitely learning along the way, like when I realized that I should put pictures in my posts whenever possible because it makes the post more visually appealing, and I still have a long way to go. I have changed the way my blog looks, first switching websites, then switching around pages. Even now, I've updated the way the Archives page looks and changed around the taps in the Navigation Menu. I've upped my game on social media sites, poured my heart into blog posts and my book, and have shared my thoughts with the entire world... well, maybe not the entire world, but you get the point. I've even managed to post every single day (though I had only set a goal for myself of once a week), even when I was juggling schoolwork or driving down the east coast.
Heading into my second year of blogging, I have a few goals for myself. I still haven't been able to reach 150 likes on my Facebook author page, so that's definitely still a goal of mine. I would like to continue to blog every day, but I don't know what the coming year will bring. It may not be possible to blog each day, but I will make a promise to myself to try to blog every day if possible. Once things get settled in our new house, and I can get back to writing, I want to make sure that I finish my book by 2016. I know that I'll still have editing and revising to take care of, but I want the initial story to be finished by January. I want to lose some weight (that new pool is really helping with this goal), and I want to look good by the time we go to a wedding in October. I want to start up these sign language classes and meet new people here in Florida, and I might even try to sell some baked goods while I'm at it. I definitely want to look into more advanced signing classes and take some baking classes as well. I always have so many interests and hobbies that I want to pursue, but it's a good time to explore all of my options in life. I really hope to get a job with Disney, but if that plan falls through, I'll look into getting my Florida teaching certification and pursue teaching down here. I have so many things that I want to look into accomplishing over the next year, and I'm looking forward to doing it all.
Thank you so much for your continued support! I look forward to sharing more stories about my experience with foster care, and hopefully hearing from readers who have questions or similar stories to share. It's been really nice to receive a few comments and questions over the past year, and it would be great to increase my interaction with my readers. I'm always willing to answer questions and hear about other experiences!
I’d greatly appreciate it if you would share this blog with friends and family through your favorite social media sites. If you’re sharing on Twitter, don’t forget to tag me (@TayTayK02) and use the hashtag #TaylorTalks.
Thanks!
Taylor
RSS Feed
