A QUARTER MILLION ON RED ROOM—AND LIFE SWIRLS ON
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On this day in October, this page of mine on Red Room reached 250,000 views around 12:30 p.m. I predicted in September that I'd hit this milestone in October. To arrive here has my head spinning. Did my ten closest friends come here a hundred times a day every day? That’s doubtful.
Rather, I have to credit Red Room, the brainchild of a writer named Ivory Madison (and how perfect a name is that for a cover or as a detective?). This site brings readers and writers together for much more than a casual tweet. Originally, I didn’t intend to write many blogs because I had novels to create.
Then I saw in the first blogs that I wrote that a hundred people read them right away—very satisfying. Those numbers grew, so that now I might get 1200 views on a day I blog, sometimes two thousand, and I still get 600 views on days I don’t, which is most days. That’s because many of my past blogs remain popular. From the start, I decided that if I was going to spend time writing articles (which is what I consider the best blogs) then I should be helpful if not also entertaining.
For instance, my interviews with best-selling indie writers Darcie Chan and Boyd Morrison still get many steady hits. Also popular is what I wrote recently for Kirkus Reviews, that critical publishing industry paper, which asked me “How I Did It”—how did I get successful? Red Room is my hub and that helps a lot.
Now that I just checked, two more of my popular blogs have examined popular writers: “What J.K. Rowling Teaches My Students (and Me)” and crime novelist Michael Connelly.
Two of my favorite blogs are funny ones, “Ten Simple Things for Becoming Rich-Rich-Rich in Self Publishing” and “A Plunge Into the Night,” about an evening spent in the ER.
If you are new to writing and want to explore the life of a writer, then I suggest you randomly try out other writers here on Red Room. While you’ll find well-known writers, such as Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, you’ll also get a sense of the roll-up-your-sleeves workaday writer, too. You may not know them by sight, but their blogs reveal vibrant thinkers, and their books are worth buying. This is a unique place, Red Room, and it’s worth joining either as a reader or a writer.
For more about what I do, click here for Ty Johnson’s interview with me, or click here for my website.
Thank you, readers and fans, for coming here.
'Love At Absolute Zero' is a gift--and one of the many that continue to emerge from the pen and mind and brilliant trait for finding the humor in life that makes him so genuinely fine a writer.”
—Critic Grady Harp, Top-Ten Amazon reviewer
About Christopher
Christopher Meeks writes short fiction and novels. His book of short stories, The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea earned great reviews including the Los Angeles Times ("poignant and wise") and a blurb in Entertainment Weekly that said, "A...
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Love Equals Zero
Hi Christoper:
I do not believe in coincidence, so I must say How are you? In the year 2002, I finished my dissertation on the metaphysics on the power of love and healing. I printed a Haiku, in September 2011, I released, "The Healing Leaf". Inside I wrote a poem stating when you are love you are at absoute zero. I would love to win a copy of your book for three reasons. I told you the first. The second, I was about to place a poem from my poetry book and your page popped on the screen of my computer. Three, I see you are gifting your book in a contest. I would love to read your writing. I see you teach writing skills and you have plenty information to share. Would you mind sharing your talent with me?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Pamela Moorehead
Pamela
Pamela, I'll send you a copy! Send me your address, either as a direct message to me on Redroom, if that can be done, or in the contact form at www.chrismeeks.com, and I'll whisk you a copy. Thanks.
Christopher, You have
Christopher,
You have deflated my balloon with your half a million hits. I am approaching ten thousand hits and I was excessively pleased. Now, I look forlornly at my miserable stats and sigh. But just for a minute. Hope always soars and I plan to emulate you one day in the not too distant future. Blessings on you and your writing. Sharon Alice Geyer
Don't be discouraged
Sharon, as I wrote, I started off slowly, too. Once people find you're writing interesting things, they will come. Keep up your good work.
Very Inspiring!
I'll have to come to the party at Vroman's. Congratulations!
Tap me on the shoulder at Vroman's
Luisa, you won't be disappointed at Vroman's. Shelly is a fabulous speaker, and every one of White Whisker Books publication parties is fun, with food, drink, and new people to meet. Introduce yourself to me when you're there.
A Quarter Mill
Christopher,
Congratulations! Perhaps you can celebrate with a $250 or perhaps $25 (my speed) bottle of champagne or wine.
You're gifted plus you've worked hard and it's paying off. And Red Room is a strong, supportive site for writer's to connect and build their audience. I've also experienced tremendous growth in readership since I joined Red Room two years ago.
Clink, clink!
Jules
WOW!
What more can be said! I watch my stats, but I'm nowhere close to quarter of a million...may your next quarter million be as satisfying.
Holy Moly
I was feeling good about hitting 1,000 per month and growing . . . but now?
I do agree that Red Room does a great job. Other sites for writers are not as visually inviting and don't offer the details of page clicks.
correction
I meant 1,000 per WEEK
Getting over 4,000 per month
Jules, Nancy, and Vivian
Thank you for your notes, and, Vivian, 4,000 a month is great. I didn't get to my numbers overnight. I'm betting there are others who do better than me, too, because they blog brilliantly and often, writers such as Jessica Barksdale Inclan, Tim Wise, and Dale Estey. I don't write to be in a race with anyone, and I'm betting they don't, either.
I was inspired long ago by mythologist Joseph Campbell who said "Follow your bliss." Do what you love, and the rest will follow.
thanks
Thank-you Christopher.
I loved the Joseph Campbell lectures at Sarah Lawrence College. Amazing. He and his books remain such an inspiraton but it is hard to come to terms with his bizarre antisemetic comments so had to separate the message from the man.
Been following my bliss for decades working fulltime as a writer -- well, as a journalist which maybe means following my bliss-ishness.
It's not a race but we write to be read -- or we'd be hiding this stuff in diaries -- so congratulations on reaching people.
Joseph Campbell
Vivian, if you watch the documentary on Campbell, "Joseph Campbell: The Hero's Journey," available on DVD, there's a whole section on the Jew's plight with Hitler and how one must be wary of someone adept at delivering ritual as Hitler did. There's also a small clip of Campbell teaching at Sarah Lawrence. It sounds as if you found him different in the actual classes.
Life Swirls On
Christopher,
Congratulations on reaching the quarter million mark!
Thanks for encouraging me when I wrote a while ago about the challenges of marketing oneself. You inspired me to write "am I famous yet?" on my blog. We also ran into each other at my first AWP convention a couple of years ago; Ivory was there as well.
I especially appreciate the opportunities provided by Red Room, and am grateful I accepted Ivory's invitation to join back in 2007. Benefits of being a member are multiple and continuing. Since then I've persuaded half a dozen writers to join.
I'm still developing as a writer, instructor and a publisher (Meridien PressWorks™).
Jeanne
Love at Absolute Zero
Christopher:
Congratulations on last month's accomplishment of 250,000 views! Love your post about it. I'm smiling as I write this: Recently a male friend, who happens to be a theoretical physicist and university professor, told me about his attendance at a women's science and tech conference and his impromptu lunchtime roundtable where he invited attendees -- all female, of course -- to join him and ask whatever they chose to about male/female relationships. He never shared the details with me, but I imagine some of the questions and responses would make good dialogue for a novel. . . .
Love at Absolute Zero is DEFINITELY on my reading list!
Science and Women
Arabella, thanks for your note and desire to read Love At Absolute Zero. I've heard back mostly from female readers, enthusiastic for the book, and so for the eBook editions, a top designer gave the novel a new cover, which you can see here:
http://www.amazon.com/Love-at-Absolute-Zero-ebook/dp/B004ZF9GWE
Love-at-Absolute-Zero
Thank you Christopher, I am looking forward to reading the copy I am receiving of this book. I am quite excited about your accomplishments and this give me a goal to aim toward with determination and work. Congratulations, on receiving all the views to the Redroom. I believe you can and will double this accomplishment.