One Year of Let's Be Vain...

I never thought that I'd spend a year consistently working on a project, but we're celebrating one year of Let's Be Vain today.

Shortly before this passed December 1st, I had the idea that I wanted to write more.  But without self judgment.  I believe the greatest barrier for a writer is our own self criticism.  Write a page, review it, cross off half of it, review it, crumple it up and toss.  Or the computer version of sending it to your recycle bin and then emptying it.

The blog's purpose was a forum where individuals could write anything and everything.  Punctuation, grammar, etc. didn't matter.  What mattered was that they were writing.  If you write, you are a writer.  Simply as that.

Plus, our namesake ensures that people come expecting the lowest of the low.  If we beat that expectation, then it's our victory.  "Reaching new lows every day" is our tagline, but I don't believe it speaks to the quality of the writing.

The blog has had about 10 different contributors at various points.  Some have signed on and never contributed.  Some have quickly submitted one post and then faded away.  Some have consistently posted and others more infrequently.

When the blog first started, I think I went about 53 days consistently posting.  It was a struggle and admittedly, I'd write 4-5 in a creative burst and then post them on different days.  Out of about 280 posts in this last year, I have contributed 183 of them.

This blog has grown from 6 people viewing it on opening day to 354 at our highest point.  I've discovered that if you talk about Britney, Anderson Cooper, or anything porn related...it drives the traffic in.

This blog has been assisted by traffic sent from facebook, twitter, reddit, best gay blogs and through randomly searching keywords via google.

It has been a great year personally, creatively, and professionally for a jay stewart project.  We have branched into new areas successfully and continue to strive to open spaces for ALL individuals to express themselves creatively. If you'd like to join, all it takes is a quick contact.  These days, everyone is reachable.  Please take advantage of this fact.

Here are 5 of my random posts over this last year that gives you an idea that I like to write about everything...

Let's get into the X-mas spirit, with a Let's Be Vain rant.

 http://lets-be-vain.blogspot.com/2008/12/stop-lying-to-my-nephew-x-mas-is-for.html


By far, one of my fav. series on this blog was "Unrealistic Land."  Each week, I'd paint a picture of where my life would never go, but dreamt that it would.
http://lets-be-vain.blogspot.com/2009/01/unrealistic-land-wishes-for-2009.html-

There's quite a few postings about my stupidity on this site...this one has my favourite title.
http://lets-be-vain.blogspot.com/2009/01/maybe-im-stupid-spoiled-whore.html

Social commentary is always fun, this post is even more relevant today.  Chris Brown is making headlines for appearing on GMA on ABC, while they cancelled Adam Lambert.  It's okay to beat up girls, but not to simulate oral sex with another man.
http://lets-be-vain.blogspot.com/2009/02/its-cool-to-buy-illegal-guns-but-wrong.html

It's rare, but there are times, when I get serious.  This is by far my most honest piece.
http://lets-be-vain.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-trio-of-mentors.html

Thanks for being a part of Let's Be Vain's first year, it'll continue to be around for many more. :)