Challenge

Close Call…

My Blog Streak Almost Got Broken…

40 days from 10 straight years of blogging every day and it almost got broken last night. Luckily, I did that blog and posted it early in the evening, like I am doing this one.

Because sometime later in the night, the horrid server that I pay far too much money every year for their (lack of) services, decided without warning to completely update all kinds of things.

And the sign on my site said “Out of Service” and they left it at that. In essence, their updates just broke about everything.

I was asleep when the fine folks at WMG Publishing discovered this problem and Josh spent hours on the phone with the people, working them from that original no service sign to a 505 sign to a 404 sign and then finally back up and running slowly around the world.

It was well after noon before it finally got back up completely, thanks to Josh. Close call on the blog. That would have been a miss.

Just amazing how over ten years it has been luck like that holding the streak alive. Thanks Josh and Allyson!!! You guys are amazing.

And thanks for you fine folks who told me it was down. Very much appreciated.

Now if it can just hold on for 40 more days. (grin)

Got a story deadline, so going to write one tonight. I’ll work on workshops tomorrow.

 

 

2 Comments

  • Philip

    Dean – I just realized I’m on a streak of reading your blog every single morning since Oct. 15, 2015. Which means I’m grateful you’ve kept up your end of the bargain.

    It’s worth noting you’re one of the few remaining indie voices who’s consistent and sensible. So many “gurus” from 2015-2019ish–and I won’t name names–are out of publishing and thus out of advice-giving despite their preaching about all the “secrets” to getting rich quick in KDP Select! You predicted that would happen.

    Recently re-read your Math post from 2019 comparing a six-figure trad contract author’s income to an indie who only sells 42-books/month and it was mind-blowing. Totally an argument not only for indie but for going as wide as possible and not shackling yourself to the Bezos prison. Thanks again.

    • dwsmith

      Yup, amazing how burn-out just takes them out. Some of those “secrets” just were not sustainable over a long period of time, and also based on the assumption that publishing never changes from the moment the person arrives. Writers who don’t study the history of all this and understand where the myths are coming from (most from the 1990s at this point) are doomed to a short career. That’s the problem for me and Kris. We’ve been around for over forty years now, watching them come and go. Whatever Happened To… is not something you want associated with your name in fiction writing. (grin)