A Novel Million Blog
Monday, September 25, 2006
???
What an incredibly uneventful day. Worked all day yesterday and finished at 2am. Five hours sleep, worked all day with no breaks, will be back in at 11pm for another 2 hours. Learnt to use a PCR though.
¶ 9:11 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Computers are fun
you can sit in front of them for hours. A 10 minute email check generally turns into at least 30 minutes. If everything I did took me 3 times as long as estimated I wouldn't achieve anything. Yet, whenever I come away from the computer there is always something that I think I've done.
Blah blah blah. It's late here, and I'm just on way way into work to inoculate some bacteria into broth to grow overnight. I'm thinking it's about time to put out another press release soon- my first 3 month report. Definitely a lot has happened and the stories are under way. They aren't flying along, but I haven't really got a huge marketing campaign or any PR people working for me, so the public reach is pretty good (I think). It's definitely the sort of site which could be around for a while and also keep expanding into new households everyday for years to come. So I'm realistic as to the timeframe and targets that should be expected for this new venture, and I think the first 3 months have been pretty good. Some people have put comparisons between my website and the Million Dollar Homepage, but I don't think they should be compared in terms of success rate at all. That site was a phenomenon making $1 million in 4 months based on a simple idea. I think it is an incredible model, but unrealistic for any new venture to match those records (unless they are very lucky or have a lot of money to put into advertising). It has also been said to me that if a business is still around after 3 years, that is a mark of it's success. So that's probably a better model to try to achieve. ¶ 11:44 PM 0 comments
aren't they?
you can sit in front of them for hours. A 10 minute email check generally turns into at least 30 minutes. If everything I did took me 3 times as long as estimated I wouldn't achieve anything. Yet, whenever I come away from the computer there is always something that I think I've done.
Blah blah blah. It's late here, and I'm just on way way into work to inoculate some bacteria into broth to grow overnight. I'm thinking it's about time to put out another press release soon- my first 3 month report. Definitely a lot has happened and the stories are under way. They aren't flying along, but I haven't really got a huge marketing campaign or any PR people working for me, so the public reach is pretty good (I think). It's definitely the sort of site which could be around for a while and also keep expanding into new households everyday for years to come. So I'm realistic as to the timeframe and targets that should be expected for this new venture, and I think the first 3 months have been pretty good. Some people have put comparisons between my website and the Million Dollar Homepage, but I don't think they should be compared in terms of success rate at all. That site was a phenomenon making $1 million in 4 months based on a simple idea. I think it is an incredible model, but unrealistic for any new venture to match those records (unless they are very lucky or have a lot of money to put into advertising). It has also been said to me that if a business is still around after 3 years, that is a mark of it's success. So that's probably a better model to try to achieve. ¶ 11:44 PM 0 comments
Sunday, September 17, 2006
One of these days, maybe, possibly
Anyway, I'm in talks with one of the previous authors who wants to add more to the story and give it a kick of adrenaline. He's submitted a draft entry, but there's going to be some modification in it to get it really smooth before being uploaded. This could be a few days away, but I just thought I'd give an early heads up so that you can all get ready for this colossal event!
Happy birthday to all those people born yesterday.
And tomorrow. ¶ 11:46 PM 0 comments
After much world-wide anticipation it looks as though there is finally going to be some addition to the Character Story. You might recall that this is my pick to become the more popular story once they both get going better.
Anyway, I'm in talks with one of the previous authors who wants to add more to the story and give it a kick of adrenaline. He's submitted a draft entry, but there's going to be some modification in it to get it really smooth before being uploaded. This could be a few days away, but I just thought I'd give an early heads up so that you can all get ready for this colossal event!
Happy birthday to all those people born yesterday.
And tomorrow. ¶ 11:46 PM 0 comments
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Mentally, it's not the easiest thing in the world to be committing so much of my time (years in fact) and energy into the one project and I think a lot of science students actually drop out mid way through it due to the strain of it all. I think it requires either (or in combination) a good support network, a great inspirational teacher, or a big mental threshold. I'd have to say that I reckon I'm still here because of the last one, but my mentality has definitely been at the edge of it's limits a few times in the last few years. I don't think it would be so hard if I were actually doing my research in a University setting (seeing as I am still pretty young and a student), but I actually don't have any of that aspect as my University is located across the Tasman Sea in Sydney. I'm basically half way through it, but the next half does still seem a long way off.
Site wise, I guess the best thing is that I clocked over 100,000 hits within 3 months. I've had some nice comments from people who reckon its a good idea, but still waiting for the stories to get going a little faster. Fingers crossed. ¶ 11:03 PM 0 comments
It seems like I haven't been writing as many blog entries of late, but I can assure you my time is well occupied by my own research. Actually, after a bit of mid-PhD gloom recently I had a pretty good week at work last week. A bit of renewed enthusiasm for my work.
Mentally, it's not the easiest thing in the world to be committing so much of my time (years in fact) and energy into the one project and I think a lot of science students actually drop out mid way through it due to the strain of it all. I think it requires either (or in combination) a good support network, a great inspirational teacher, or a big mental threshold. I'd have to say that I reckon I'm still here because of the last one, but my mentality has definitely been at the edge of it's limits a few times in the last few years. I don't think it would be so hard if I were actually doing my research in a University setting (seeing as I am still pretty young and a student), but I actually don't have any of that aspect as my University is located across the Tasman Sea in Sydney. I'm basically half way through it, but the next half does still seem a long way off.
Site wise, I guess the best thing is that I clocked over 100,000 hits within 3 months. I've had some nice comments from people who reckon its a good idea, but still waiting for the stories to get going a little faster. Fingers crossed. ¶ 11:03 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
All the exciting news
I'm currently walking everywhere as my van has run out of WOF (a road certificate) and I'm fearing that if I take it in to get another one it's going to need a lot of repairs that I can't afford. There's a few things that I'd been warned I'd need to get fixed before my next certificate the last time I got one (such as a bit of rust and fixing the door hinges). The door hinges, in particular, are supposed to be a finicky job. Anyway, it's giving me my daily exercise and I get to walk past the Mercedes car yard every day!....not that I'm hugely into cars but it's a bit of a case of two different world's- those that drive Mercedes and those that walk because they can't afford to put their cheap van on the road. ¶ 10:30 PM 0 comments
That's a bit of a false title. Not much to report other than I'm bloody busy at work, Google Ads are expensive, my site has gone past 100,000 hits (in under 3 months), and I'm really tired. I've made a few changes to my site...the main one being I've cut out the splash page.
I'm currently walking everywhere as my van has run out of WOF (a road certificate) and I'm fearing that if I take it in to get another one it's going to need a lot of repairs that I can't afford. There's a few things that I'd been warned I'd need to get fixed before my next certificate the last time I got one (such as a bit of rust and fixing the door hinges). The door hinges, in particular, are supposed to be a finicky job. Anyway, it's giving me my daily exercise and I get to walk past the Mercedes car yard every day!....not that I'm hugely into cars but it's a bit of a case of two different world's- those that drive Mercedes and those that walk because they can't afford to put their cheap van on the road. ¶ 10:30 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Addition to the Word Story
And for all of those people who might scoff at the literary standard, loosen up. This is supposed to be fun as well a new way for people to advertise. I think the formula is there and also the first 2 1/2 pages are interesting to read- especially when you keep in mind that the passages were written by different people. ¶ 11:30 PM 0 comments
Leaving the Character Story far behind in it's wake, the Word Story has taken another massive 112 word leap towards it's completion. Check out the new entry. I'm really enjoying watching this story evolve with every addition (even at it's current pace)- I hope you guys are enjoying it also.
And for all of those people who might scoff at the literary standard, loosen up. This is supposed to be fun as well a new way for people to advertise. I think the formula is there and also the first 2 1/2 pages are interesting to read- especially when you keep in mind that the passages were written by different people. ¶ 11:30 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
These here be times of high hits
Some of the interesting new countries to make a debut on my webstats are Kenya, Tanzania, Hungary.... and last month some new additions were Egypt, Macedonia, Cayman Islands, Ghana, Cyprus, Panama, Myanmar, Kuwait, Romania, Lithuania, Malta, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Of course there are also all the expected countries (30+). My favorite webstat has got to be seeing all these countries flags come up along with the hits. Stay tuned... looks to be another entry to the Word Story once I get the final words from the author. ¶ 8:19 PM 0 comments
As far as hits goes, my site definitely is at the top of its 7 year property cycle. Following on from ca. 12,000 hits in the last week of last month, I have now started this month with over 16,000 hits in just over 4 days. It is by far the best extended high period I've had, and currently 42% of these viewers have put me on their favorites! I thought 30% was good!
Some of the interesting new countries to make a debut on my webstats are Kenya, Tanzania, Hungary.... and last month some new additions were Egypt, Macedonia, Cayman Islands, Ghana, Cyprus, Panama, Myanmar, Kuwait, Romania, Lithuania, Malta, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Of course there are also all the expected countries (30+). My favorite webstat has got to be seeing all these countries flags come up along with the hits. Stay tuned... looks to be another entry to the Word Story once I get the final words from the author. ¶ 8:19 PM 0 comments
Saturday, September 02, 2006
The wonderful convenience of drive-through service
Just my little observation for the day. It was yesterday actually, when I was walking home and through the carpark of a certain hamburger family restaurant. I just cannot really understand the whole drive-through appeal when there is a 10 car queue stretching around the corner of the building! It was pretty funny to see actually (bewildering is a little more appropriate). There were people sitting in their cars, engines running (in this time of ridiculous fuel prices), twiddling their thumbs while waiting to move forward to the speaker counter, and then doing the same before actually arriving at the counter to get their food. The cars were not even visibly moving forward as I walked through the carpark. It just amazes me that this is done in order to avoid the hassle of getting out of the car and walking 10 meters to the counter. Well, the whole food choice amazes me actually, but that's just personal preference.
Re. the website.....for the second time in one week I've bettered my 2nd best day for hits record. The best day I've had was when I received 5,500 hits (coinciding with a few newspaper articles, press releases etc in New Zealand), and yesterday I got just under 5,100. So this is obviously good to see. ¶ 10:26 PM 0 comments
Re. the website.....for the second time in one week I've bettered my 2nd best day for hits record. The best day I've had was when I received 5,500 hits (coinciding with a few newspaper articles, press releases etc in New Zealand), and yesterday I got just under 5,100. So this is obviously good to see. ¶ 10:26 PM 0 comments
