Happy second LJ-anniversary, me!

[bironic]

This year on LJ, I:

- Upgraded to a paid account, thanks to my patron who may or may not wish to remain anonymous.

- Made a spiffy layout in place of the old Refried Paper template.

- Ran the fairly successful Comment on Neglected Favorite Fics Week, which you should participate in (again?) this October.

- Read a bunch of fic in fandoms I didn't know and ended up getting into Stargate: Atlantis (Season Four next week!) and also MI-5/Spooks for a little while, the latter of which is all tigertrapped's fault.

- Wrote 16 pieces of fanfiction/fan poetry in four fandoms totalling 30,000 words, including:

- Three ficlets
- Five sestinas
- Four "regular" fics
- One meta/parody/birthday fic
- Two remixes
- One MST

Sadly, most of those came into being between September 2006 and January 2007, and 30,000 words isn't much to speak of for an entire year. This year I really want to do better in both word count and number of stories completed. I just need to manage my time more efficiently and figure out a way to get rid of these hangups I've developed.

- Beta'd a bunch of stuff for people, both individually and in groups on people's LJs. Next to writing, it's one of the most fun and satisfying parts of being a member of this community. Maybe this year I'll keep track, see how much I'm actually doing.

- Made some wonderful new friends and somehow managed to double the number of people who subscribe to this journal. I cannot tell you how happy-making this is. Perhaps the big red exclamation marks will help:



- Have become more aware than ever that I'm writing to (and for) an audience, which can be tricky when choosing what and how much to write about, because I'm not always sure why everyone's here. Too much House or not enough? More details about personal stuff, or is the balance right? More emotion or more analysis? Do people miss subjects I used to post about? I made a promise to myself when I started this LJ that I would always post for myself instead of letting imagined pressures dictate content and frequency, but at the same time, I want to keep you all happy. Stay tuned for a poll on this subject.

Relatedly, I've run the "top commenters" algorithm again and can confirm in the first ten results alone that the demographics here have shifted away from RL friends/acquaintances just a bit in favor of an emphasis on House-related topics. While I'm thrilled to be so involved in the fandom, I would like to regain a better balance around here, for everyone's sakes.

---

Top Commenters on bironic's LiveJournal
(Self and anonymous comments excluded from rankings)

1	daasgrrl	230
2	kabal42	206
3	elynittria	185
4	catilinarian	153
5	thewlisian_afer	151
6	nightdog_barks	130
7	usomitai	120
8	purridot	86
9	firestorm717	75
10	topaz_eyes	70

11	synn	63
12	stephantom	63
13	maddy_harrigan	61
14	mer_duff	60
15	theninth	58
16	perspi	49
17	michelle_nine	48
18	roga	45
19	deelaundry	42
20	pun	36
21	queenzulu	33
22	thirdblindmouse	32
23	renoir_girl	32
24	musicisbelievng	31
25	secondsilk	30
26	fallen_arazil	29
27	bethctg	29
28	leiascully	24
29	jadesfire2808	22
30	crazypalefreak	22
31	nicocoer	22
32	captain_tulip	22
33	jdr1184	19
34	pynelyf	19
35	swatkat24	17
36	litalex	14
37	simple__man	13
38	saara_zaara	12
39	asynca	11
40	pwcorgigirl	11
41	ryokophoenix	11
42	thedeadparrot	10
43	petrichor_fizz	10
44	xxoticc	10
45	mateo10	10
46	teresa11	9
47	moonlash_cc	9
48	ahab99	8
49	alisel_kat	8
50	azdaja_dafema	7
51	housepiglet	7
52	elynross	7

Total Commenters: 225 (173 not shown)
Total Comments: 4831
Report generated 9/9/2007 10:49:06 AM by scrapdog's LJ Comment Stats Wizard 1.7

---

Last year's goals were:

- Hold another Memoryfest for all and sundry, probably in January. Check. Memoryfest II saw a jump in participation to the point that I couldn't keep up with comments and will probably reduce the frequency of posting for the next one. I loved reading everyone's memories and noticed with interest the difference from last year's 'fest in that more people were reading and sharing whom I don't know personally.

- Meet some of you lovelies who live within driving distance, and perhaps some who don't. Done! Fangirl brunches and outings have been such fun, and I hope to not only continue to enjoy them this year, but also meet a few more of you who live nearby (or don't, but will be visiting).

- Improve my commenting skills so I can say in one paragraph what it now takes four to cover. I think I managed this one. That, or I've just been discussing less. Hm.

- Write more. I posted 11 more pieces of fanfiction and 20 fewer journal entries than last year. There was a slight drop in subject diversity as well as posting frequency and, I feel, quality, but the increase in fic sounds okay to me. This year I'd like to try to post more about fandom/fanfic meta, dig into the pile of essays and books on my shelf and start some discussions. I've wanted to do that for a while. We'll see.


To mark the occasion, I've accepted synn's invitation to share her server space and have begun copying my fic over to bironic.nostatement.com. The index page will probably change so there's some sort of introduction, and the design sort of sucks, but it's a start. It feels somehow more legitimate as a fic writer to have an independent website. Feedback is more than welcome about whether enough information is included in each story link, whether the presentation works, or really, just about anything.


*raises glass* Here's to fun and growth in the next year!

Comments

[velvet-midnight.livejournal.com]

*throws confetti* Yay!

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[zulu.livejournal.com]

Man, this just goes to remind me that I completely missed my fifth LJ anniversary, at the beginning of September. Usually I do the self-reflection bit at New Year's, but man, you've really thought about it. Excellent goals! Forget the rl people! Come and be with us in the bosom of fandom forever!

...er, I mean, how healthy it is to have a balance in life.

YAY.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Happy belated fifth! You're old.

Usually I do the self-reflection bit at New Year's, but man, you've really thought about it.

Ha. Yeah, what was that you were saying about having a balance in life?

Could do it at New Year's, but hey, that's when everyone else does it, and a week into the Jewish New Year is good enough for me. :)

[jadesfire.livejournal.com]

*clinks glasses*

Here's to more fic and more good stuff in the year to come :D

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Cheers! And here's to all of us getting a bit of a boost as well.

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Happy anniversary!

I think "Comment on Neglected Fics Week" is a great idea. There were so many great stories I read when I was first getting into SGA fandom, but I was in too much of a greedy reading frenzy to actually stop and leave some love for the author. This will a great reason for me to go back and comment. And, of course, read some wonderful stories again. :)

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Great to hear that you'll be participating in CONFFW (which really needs a better name and/or acronym). I'm with you 100% this year, down to the fandom. It's terrible how many stories slip by over time.

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

Happy anniversary. Here's to many more!

*clinks glasses and hurriedly drinks contents before Nadja steals it all*

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Alcoholic cat? Oh dear.

Thanks! Here's to seeing you around a bit more this year as well.

[crazypalefreak.livejournal.com]

You're going to do Memoryfest III, yes? I bloody hope so, because I plan to do it too.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, definitely. It's only a matter of figuring out how to adjust the posting rate so I can give it proper attention. See you there!

[roga.livejournal.com]

I made a promise to myself when I started this LJ that I would always post for myself instead of letting imagined pressures to dictate content and frequency, but at the same time, I want to keep you all happy.

Man, I so get where you're coming from in this entire point, you have no idea. Half the times I post these days, I ask myself the same questions. Because I got into LJ because of fandom, but I wasn't in fandom and the people reading it were - well, they knew me, not fic me. I didn't even post fic in my journal until just over a year ago. And then I suddenly got into fandom, and didn't know if people were friending me for fandom posts or me posts, and then... yeah. I totally know where you're coming from, and phew, I'm not the only one who feels that way. Especially the sentiment you expressed in the line I quoted. Yes.

Also, happy anniversary! :-)

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

It's not just you! It's not just me! Whew. When I started this journal, my f-list was a small group of RL friends and some fandomers I'd met at cons. Things started to get tricky when it started to grow to HP and House people I only knew online. Because how do you balance -- how do you know how to balance -- RL-type posts with episode commentary with fic with movie reviews with...? Some people are here for one thing and some are here for something else. And then there's the concern about how many people are reading in the first place. Even this post felt a bit like performance. But you know all this, yes? *shakes head* And then you start to feel rueful/amused that you're worried in the first place.

[thewlisian-afer.livejournal.com]

Shit, I comment here a lot. XD It was totally the Memoryfest that did that, though, because I'm a pretty crap commenter in general.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I think a few people really shot up because of Memoryfest(s) -- perhaps especially our unofficial (and very welcome) co-hostess.

And hey, when House starts back up, I'm sure we'll be commenting in each other's journals all over the place.

[purridot.livejournal.com]

Happy, happy anniversary!

I'd write you a celebratory sestina if I had talent. But, moving on...

Peering at the date, September 22, I realize that several years ago this was the day that I stepped on a plane to go live in France for a year. I wouldn't be where I am today if not for that adventure. So let's consider Sept. 22 a day for leaving one's comfort zone and discovering new ground! *raises glass of sherry* À votre santé!

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Merci! (Is that the proper response?)

You lived in France for a year? Neat.

[ignazwisdom.livejournal.com]

somehow managed to double the number of people who subscribe to this journal. I cannot tell you how happy-making this is.

Hahaha. Every time that number goes up for me, I freak out a little. More people to have to think about adding back! More people watching me make an arse of myself in public!

And I actually think your presentation/design look great. The page is sleek, simple, elegant, and readable. "Legitimate" is exactly the word for it.

Congrats and happy anniversary! *dances you around the room*

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Whee! Thanks.

And thanks for the website feedback; I figured simpler was better, but it's very plain, and I'm waffling between Georgia (which I loved from my Refried Paper days) and Verdana (being so accustomed to it on LJ and on most of the websites we do at my job). So -- good to know it pleaseth as is.

Every time that number goes up for me, I freak out a little.

Ha -- not to say I don't do a bit of that too. (Why are they here? What will keep them from leaving me?)

[silsbee329.livejournal.com]

*bumps the number up and waves*

I need to be here for the House commentaries! And Happy LJ-anniversary! :)

[bironic.livejournal.com]

*waves* Thanks! Welcome back! I hope this season's commentaries continue to please.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Happy anniversary! You do everything so well, and I love reading what you write (whether my comment count shows it or not). I also feel blessed whenever you stop by to beta, so please know how much that's appreciated!

You're awesome.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! It's a pleasure to be able to see what you're writing as it's in progress, and it's always good to hear that what sometimes seem like inconsequential comments are actually helpful. *hug*

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Long may you continue to be awesome :)

Damn, do I really talk that much? *goes off to hide for a while*

[bironic.livejournal.com]

Hee! Don't hide!

Thanks, and the same to you.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Question: If this proposed House convention really happens in Princeton in May 2008, would you go? I'm thinking about it. If you see the note on H-W, I find it very interesting that they want to have fan-art displays but there is no comment whatsoever on fanfic. We are the poor in-the-closet stepchild, I think.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

I will be honest: I am a fan snob. I like conferences more than conventions, because conferences focus more on presentations and panels where people share their insights into the show/book/etc. and encourage fairly moderated discussion, as opposed to mostly socializing, celebrity worship and the selling of wares. This con seems fairly empty to me at the moment; like a charity party with squee. I've just asked if they're planning to do any organized panels, because the programming would be the main draw for me, not hearing Andrew Holtz speak or meeting the producers or looking at fanart (or even attending a fanfic workshop -- isn't that what we do here all day?!). But -- to actually answer your question :) -- Princeton is close by, and if nothing else, if this con even ends up happening, I'd probably go if fellow LJ-ers were going to be in the area, because, come on! Meeting otherwise-invisible friends! (And I say this at the risk of becoming what irritates me: one of those people who attends a fan conference and declares that s/he doesn't care about the programming because it's all about the socialization...)

[bell]

I almost feel like I should apologize for commenting so much. XD;;

Re: balancing for your readers: This is why I have a rl and a fandom journal! I hated to keep exposing my rl friends to my fandumbosity and I didn't want to reveal much about my life to my new online friends. There's still some audience problems-- like all my anime-era friends who now have to deal with my tv obsessions-- so I try to shuffle the content of my posts around some as to satisfy a larger portion of my flist.

Anyway, cheers for your accomplishments. :)

[bironic.livejournal.com]

That's a good solution, having two journals, but I've never really had nor wanted an RL LJ (to string along the abbreviations) but rather a place to vent all my fannish enthusiasm, because it used to clutter up my personal (handwritten, private) journal and that just wasn't the place for it. What you describe here -- There's still some audience problems-- like all my anime-era friends who now have to deal with my tv obsessions -- is more what's troubling me, the mix of people here for HP and those more interested in House and now the people who like and/or will tolerate SGA chat. I've got some RL friends on board, but they're all fans of something or other, so there's overlap.