• Forest for the Trees
  • THE FOREST FOR THE TREES is about writing, publishing and what makes writers tick. This blog is dedicated to the self loathing that afflicts most writers. A community of like-minded malcontents gather here. I post less frequently now, but hopefully with as much vitriol. Please join in! Gluttons for punishment can scroll through the archives.

    If I’ve learned one thing about writers, it’s this: we really are all alone. Thanks for reading. Love, Betsy

One is the Loneliest Number

Today is the one year anniversary of my blog. When I started, I decided to give it a three month trial period. I can’t believe how quickly I got hooked, though I shouldn’t be surprised given my addictive personality. As we used to say in the program of which I am no longer a part: I can get addicted to anything I can do more than once.

Since I’ve been writing and revising an Oscar speech my whole life, here’s my Blog version: I want to thank my readers most of all, lurkers and commenters alike. Though I love the commenters a little bit more. My mother used to say she loved us three girls equally, but I read Lear and knew she was lying. Sorry, off topic. I want to thank the bloggers who I’ve read over the years and who inspired me, the agent bloggers who have been very kind to me with tips and links. I want to thank everyone who has linked to me. To the folks who wrote in questions and subjected themselves to my answers. To Hillary Moss who set up the site. To the folks who participated in my fakakta surveys. I want to thank the people in my life who have to hear me say things like: today in my blog, or I have to post, or blog blah blah blah.  And Riverhead Books and Becky Saletan who green lit the revision of FFTT. To Vivian who is so Swift. And to my bro, LC. And August, the month in which I was born. And to a poet who got so angry with me that he up and left when I wouldn’t or couldn’t help him.  This has been an incredible experience. Dad, (now I get teary and look to the heavens) this if for you. (I say this shaking my imaginary statuette at the ceiling.) You never really believed in me as a writer and that gave me all I needed. Thank you.

26 Responses

  1. Nobody says it like you, Betsy. I am totally hooked and addicted. Happy Anniversary. Your wit, charm, and psychological mishigas really make my day. That was beautiful what you said about your Dad. Helps prepare me for mine next week. Thanks so much.

    • By the way, the 3-D movie, Coraline, based on the Neil Gaiman novel, is incredible. It’s a therapeutic experience and helps you to see your parents in a new way.

  2. Wait, you forgot to add, “You like me! You really like me!”

    Reading your blog is always one of the highlights of my day. Yes, admittedly my life is banal and pathetic, but just the same–you’re always a winner to me.

  3. Congratulations on your one-year anniversary. I’m only at 4 1/2 months, but addicted I am. I’d written professionally for television for two decades, then didn’t write a word for almost five years. It was a surprise and a gift when my muse returned and now I’m enjoying myself immensely. I’m a new follower to your blog and look forward to your future posts.

  4. You’re so fucking cool. 🙂

  5. I’m happily addicted to your blog. A great mix of laugh-out-loud humor, thought provoking questions, and good advice. But what keeps me coming back the most is the laughs. How you can take something and twist it ever so slightly and have me smiling, or in stitches or just nodding and saying oh, yeah. Thanks Betsy, and happy blog-birthday

  6. It’s an incredible blog. A joy to read. I wish I had found it earlier. Oh well, archives to read on a rainy day. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

    But I really do hope you get your oscar moment.

  7. That thank-you to your Dad is fantastic! Now I’ve got the grins.

    Happy Blogaversary!

  8. Only blog I enjoy reading.

  9. Congratulations! You’ve had a restraining order on me for years and I’ve finally found you again.

  10. Congrats! Please post soon on how the after-party went…

  11. Congratulations, Betsy. From the moment I discovered you on Maud Newton’s blog (which I hadn’t read in a very long time), I knew that you had something I needed to hear. As long as I have internet access and you keep posting, I’m never gonna give you up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOU8GIRUd_g

  12. Mazel tov on the anniversary. You’re all that (and a bag of chips).

  13. Congratulations. I’m new to your blog, but I get a completely different feeling and see a very different person here than the one I conjured from your F&L book. So much so that I find myself logging onto the website daily. Very enjoyable and insightful. Thanks

  14. Only a year, you say. that’s amazing. What an achievement. I’m practising a question for you for one day when I can get it clearly enough in my mind and then onto paper. In the meantime I too value your wisdom and insight, along with all your other commenters, Happy Oscar.

  15. Betsy–You achieve what other bloggers aspire to achieve. You bring the funny. Congrats on a year.

  16. I fucking love reading you, Betsy. You are a cigarette after chocolate.

  17. I start my virtual day in this order:
    1) gmail
    2) NY Times
    3) your blog
    You inspire, educate and make me laugh.
    Cheers to many more years!

  18. Your blog is my holy grail of blogs.

  19. I offer earnest praise probably about as well as you receive it, but this is the only agent blog worth reading. Funny, smart, interesting, sharp, honest.

    (I just deleted 200 words about how much everyone else sucks, as not entirely to the point. Also deleted the phrase ‘zaftig sexpot,’ but am steting here, with the notation that I’ve never even seen a picture of you–just have a lively imagination.)

  20. Congratulations from one of your regular lurkers, Betsy. Several of my blog buddies are writers so I’ve linked them to you. Me, I just try to read and learn. Especially how to come up with such great post titles. The thing is, my song title file is not as extensive as yours!

  21. Glad you’re here, and hope you stay.

  22. You hooked me with your presentations at the Lighthouse Writers Workshop event a year ago. Loved the book, now love the blog. Is the statuette going in your office or staying at home?

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