Crack for writers, part 1

I'll get on with the main topic in a minute, but first I have a favor to ask of you.

Periodically I beg and plead with those of you who are even semi-regular visitors to the BYE to bravely click on that follow button on the right hand side of the screen. As I write this, 36 of you have already done so. Thank you! Well, really it's only 35 since I registered my dog Callie without her permission. Now that Callie has gone, I like having her there with you and looking over my shoulder.

Every time I ask you to do this, one or two more of you humor me, so I'm pleading once again. Please click that button. There's no downside. Becoming a "follower" doesn't put you on any mailing lists or e-mail my new posts to you or anything like that. Quit being so paranoid. Unless you use Google Reader, the only thing it does is give my ego a little positive reinforcement. If you do use Google Reader (as I do), it's another way to access the content on this and your other favorite blogs.

I ask you to "follow" the blog for a couple of reasons. First of all, I am trying to build the illusion of popularity for this site. I'm not sure of my motivations for that--for our collective amusement, I suppose. But the main reason I want you to "follow" is that I try to write to an audience, and seeing you out there gives me a mental picture of the people I'm talking to.

Besides, you really are a dishy crew, and I dig seeing all your smiling, groovy faces.

There are more of you now. Not long ago I put up the flag gadget you see on the right side of the screen. The number beside each flag represents only unique visitors to the site from each country. If you come back to the site using the same computer you won't get counted again.

As I write this Discerning Readers from 17 different countries have joined us in the last few weeks. Russia joined our federation for the first time today, Добро пожаловать as did Saudi Arabia, مرحبا . Not surprisingly the US dominates the readership here with 681 different Americans visiting our freehold in the last month or so since I posted the flag gadget, so we're still number one at something, anyway. I love seeing all those flags flying. Thanks especially to the big contingents from Canada and the UK. And a big willkommen to all four of you from Germany.

Overall readership is up here too and January will be our second record month in a row for visitors. As I keep reminding you, growth is relative--your ranks are swelling, but you are still members of a tiny but fiercely proud club.

I was going to write about "crack for writers" today, but I just wasted so many words on flags and followers that I'll hold back until tomorrow and a rare Saturday "bonus" post.

Hey, today's post wasn't a total loss. I enjoy writing about you guys. The truth is the audience is the drug any writer is addicted to.

Now click that button.