Fourteen Years

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I clicked into my WordPress account early this morning and saw a message that I’ve been “flying” with them for fourteen years.

This version of my blogging life known as Steve Campbell Creations has only been around since 2022. Before it, my blog Art ~ Writing ~ Life ran for many years after it replaced Creating New Worlds, my original blog incarnation. Despite the name changes, they all have been home to my art, my writing, my books, and tidbits about my life as both professional artist and writer.

art writing life header
Art ~ Writing ~ Life Banner/Header.
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My Art Banner/Header, 2011.

Those old posts from February 2011 to April 2022 have vanished from the worldwide web and so have all the likes and comments of my followers along with their names and avatars. A few of them have followed me to this newer version of my blog self and I hear from them every now and then, but many of them have vanished, either no longer blogging at WordPress, blogging under a different monicker, or no longer blogging at all.

I guess what I’m getting at is it’s a different blog world than the one I entered fourteen years ago. Back then, it wasn’t unusual to get thirty or more likes on a post as soon as it was published. I had nine hundred followers by 2014—friendly followers eager to leave comments that often outnumbered the total likes on a post. Now, my posts are lucky to break into double-digit likes. Of course, I have a lot less followers since the decline of people who blog now, but I appreciate every one of them. Sure, it’s become a fickle world out there since 2011, but I’m still happily blogging along and reading and liking all those whom I follow.

So, cheers. Raise a glass of your favorite beverage with me. Here’s to another year.

To everyone reading this, peace and love, and thanks for being a part of this blog.

Steve, 2/22/2025

This post “Fourteen Years” copyright © 2025 Steven Leo Campbell at stevecampbellcreations.com – All rights reserved.

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14 thoughts on “Fourteen Years”

  1. Steve…I didn’t start until 2017. It took me months to get a like or noticed but of course I didn’t know what I was doing. But I was talking to someone yesterday about how blogging was around 2011 when he started…he did say it was many more people and it was a bit easier starting out…now it’s hard to build a readership. That is why I posted everyday for 7 years to build it…and saying that…I know I could lose it since I only post on weekends now and throw in an occasional Monday and Friday.
    So you can’t log back into your old site anymore or did you delete it?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Max, I deleted my old site, but I have copies of all the posts I made backed up on an external drive. Unfortunately, I don’t have copies of the comments. I had many conversations and sometimes spent hours conversing at my blog when I should have been doing other things. Those days are long gone!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh that sucks…when I leave mine one day…I’ll probably just leave it up. Because of the subject I cover and the famous songs…I get a lot of google searches coming to me. I get more views from google than I do wordpress.
        Thats a shame you couldn’t back those comments up as well.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Max, that sounds like a good idea. I hope your music links stay active over the years after you leave. I think a blog about popular music is more interesting than one about an artist and writer that barely anyone beyond my hometown knows about … 🙂😀

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Well…I’m only doing it on the weekends now…and now instead of just pushing content out daily…I’m concentrating on less known acts…I enjoy it more…maybe some on Fridays and Mondays…so I will drop off I’m sure.
        Hey Steve…I was interested so I know people are.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Max, I noticed your concentration on lesser-known acts. I have been listening to some of the recording artists you have featured and enjoying their music. It’s always a pleasure to visit your blog.

        I’m glad to know you still find my blog interesting. You and I have been following each other for many years, and it’s never a dull trip when I visit yours. Keep up the good work.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. And I won’t stop following you Steve…the main reason I started this new thing is because I missed SO MANY of my readers’ blogs (like yours) that I felt guilty and rightly so! I just couldn’t get to every one because of my job and life.
        Thank you for saying that about the unknown artists! I really appreciate your support through the years.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. I know what you mean about trying not to miss everyone’s blogs, Max. I had a job where I got Mondays and Fridays off, so I’d spend those two days catching up on my reading and correspondence with everyone I followed. I also spent those days posting at my blog as well as doing my art and writing my stories. It made some days very long.

        Again, I enjoy visiting and supporting your blog. I think it’s a good idea to cover the unknown artists. Whether musicians, visual artists, or writers, the good ones need all the support possible…and the internet is a good vehicle for that.

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Yes it is…it’s perfect to get stuff out there now for the world…drawing attention to it can be tricky. Yea I tried to do it everyday…and I just got too far behind and I thought this would be better…at least now.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. When I started posting in 2013, it definitely was different. Relationships were forged. When I would read and comment/like, that blogger would usually visit my site, and would leave a comment or like. Reciprocal…and the pleasure of genuine conversation and friendship. That is not the norm now.

    I started to notice a difference a few years back, and also a difference in the writing itself.

    Because of this change, I guess I just pulled back and stopped posting.

    I still enjoy reading and searching for new sites. Hopefully, I will start writing again…so much has occurred in my life that needs to be told😊
    Bernadette

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Bernadette, thanks for the comment. I think I noticed a lot of my blog friends leaving in 2016, 2017. WordPress has changed a lot since then and seems to be geared more toward an audience that wants to build websites instead of blogs. I used to have two websites prior to my engagement with WP and found that I enjoyed blogging more than writing code. Back then, someone would send along an award or two and strike up interesting conversations. I don’t blog as often as I used to, and I’ve found that my posts with less text and more photos in them get more hits than post with more text and no photos.

      I look forward to reading about your life someday soon. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Steve, this post beautifully captures the evolution of blogging… the way it has changed, the way audiences have shifted, and the way some of us still keep the flame alive. It’s rare to see someone stay committed to their blog for fourteen years, and that in itself is something worth celebrating.

    Here’s to those who’ve come and gone, to those who’ve stayed, and to the new ones who will find their way here. Your words still resonate, and that’s what truly matters. Raising a virtual glass to another year of blogging… Cheers!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Mohan. I apologize for my late response. I took a short sabbatical from blogging to clear my head for my huge venture of publishing my next book.

      Yes, here’s to keeping the flame alive and another year of blogging. Cheers!

      Liked by 1 person

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