Madness Turns One!
Photo by Pineapple Supply Co. from Pexels
Happy Birthday Madness!
When an experience speaks to me, it begins with mental notes. Gravitates to pen to paper. Takes shape from keys to document. After about a thousand rewrites, it morphs into Black, White and, Gray.
Launching Madness was challenging for a magnitude of reasons, but I’m happy I did it. After reflecting back on the last year, below are 10 behind the scenes moments!
10 Fun Facts 2020-2021
Madness launched on September 3, 2020. In addition to the intro post, four other stories went live, but with different dates to make the site appear established.
Avoid the Unsolicited Gaze
Ms. Florence Agenda
My Gas Station Hero
Pilling: A Sheet Set on the Brink of Divorce
18 days after go-live, a friend called, “your
bio is horrible.”
When I explained it was the industry standard format, he insisted that I rewrite it. Meaning, while I gathered my thoughts and wrote a new draft, he drank a beer and smoked a cigarette on the other end of the line.
I finished the draft, but he refused to hang up until it was typed, staged and pushed live.
This is the only time a third-party copyedit was permitted.
“Let me get this straight. For the first time in your life, you finally follow your dream. You—the rebel. The most nonconforming person I know…and the first thing you do is FOLLOW THE RULES?!?!?!”
The site failed several times during the first month. Code misfired. Form delivery malfunctioned. Third-party programs worked against each other.
After a solid month of no hiccups, I held my breath and deployed the first email on November 19, 2020.
I played Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz my senior year of high school. Ballet was my first love. Jazz was my second. Moshing was my third. But, I have yet to conquer Flamenco.
I dance every time I get a new subscriber. Maybe I stay seated. Maybe there won’t be music, but by God, there will be dancing.
An elderly woman identified with Avoid the Unsolicited Gaze, because she had a similar experience.
She decided to share her story with her three adult daughters. In doing so, she healed lingering trauma. The reason I know this I because one of her daughters is my friend.
Several senior citizens reached out privately to share that I made the right call in Waiting on Covid-Free Christmas.
Apparently, that tactic is NOT socially acceptable during the senior shopping hour. #validation
After watching a webinar hosted by a popular book publisher, I contacted customer service. Not only did the president himself respond to my question, but he read—and loved—Chinese Massage Parlor.
Not my first choice for a professional starting point, but away we go. Thank you for your readership, sir!
The top three posts were:
A Solid Man
Help Wanted Part 1: The Interview
The Korean Spa
Though not distributed to subscribers, Civil War is so 1861, was the most shared.
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels
Cappuccino. Latte. Cold Brew. I'm a bloodhound for a fancy-schmancy cup of coffee. Early summer tan style. No sugar and lots of cream.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
Subscriber Shoutouts
While I have many to thank, none of this would be possible without the people who truly support Madness—YOU. The reader. The subscriber. Below are a few noteworthy subscribers from the past year.
First Subscriber
Teri H. encouraged me to pursue my writing for several years. After I made the decision to create my site, she was my first phone call. She jumped on it immediately.
Most Supportive Subscriber
When I thought my site wasn’t gaining traction, I debated pulling the plug. Literally, while I had this thought at the gym, Christine R. shouted, “I love your stories!” She continued cheering on a regular basis.
Most Madness Subscriber Moment
“Beth! Your blog is hilarious,” Riza A. shouted while reading Madness on her laptop—NOT a cell phone—in the middle of a crowded movie theater, two rows away (after reading How to Buy a Mattress) #pandemicmovietheaterparty
Most Inspiring Subscribers
Wounded Part 1: Cupping
Wounded Part 2: The Golden Gloves
The Real Con Part 1: Pay and Benefits
Best Subscriber Comments
“WHAT THE FUCK?!”
Retail Robbery
“I love reading your blog. It makes me feel so much better about my life.”
Special Thanks To The Supporters
2021-2022 SNEAK PREVIEW & ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Share your feedback in this short survey.
“This sick storyteller wants to hear it all!” - A Solid Man
Photo by Angela Roma from Pexels
Support Madness and the creatives behind it! Tip your waitress writer!
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
Stories for 2021-2022 are already underway. Below is a sneak peek at the titles slated to launch in 2021-2022:
The Mercenary
For Colored Eyes
Ode to Death
Nude Beach
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for reading. Thank you for your encouragement, likes, hates, and comments of all varieties. It means more to me than you will ever know.
Faithfully,
BWG
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