The Numbers Don't Lie

I wanted to post something a bit different. Anyone that knows me knows I am not a numbers guy. I do not really gel well with numbers. Words are my ammunition and love. Numbers I appreciate are necessary, and maths is needed, but I have trouble with it.

Why am I prattling on about numbers? Well, as I am often reminded, numbers don't lie. That's at least one thing I appreciate about numbers.

What numbers in particular?

Well, my stats!

I have spent a long time saying that I see myself as an accidental poet, and it took me a long time...well, since being on Vocal...a long time to come to terms with that description being applicable to me.

I am cool with it - sometimes I get a little wobble, but it's something I've come to love writing. Even though I started Vocal with the view to writing thought and opinion pieces, some satire, and focus on my fiction writing, loving poetry writing has become a happy little accident.

What's this all got to do with numbers? Well, am quite obsessive about my stats for a guy that doesn't like numbers. I like watching them increase and whatnot and using it as some vague measuring stick as to how successful I am doing with my Vocal output.

The Big 5,000!

Recently, I passed another milestone of reaching over 5,000 total reads. (It is actually sitting at 5,100+ now). I want to thank everyone who has supported me, read, liked, and commented on my work.

New Most Read Piece

My most read piece also changed. For the longest time, well, pretty much since it was published at the start of the year, my poem Don't Give Up On What You Feel was my most read piece. That poem was replaced this week by If I were a sculptor... - which is close to having a total of 2o0 reads, which would be another first.

In fact, looking at the list of my top 10 pieces, 6 are poems.

Accidental Poet - Definite Poet

Another thing number-related I quite enjoy doing is using the community categories on my profile page to keep tabs on the different types of writing I've been publishing.

If you click on each category, you can see the number of pieces you have written for that community out of your total number of pieces.

Doing this really cemented the fact that I can no longer and should no longer argue the fact of being a poet (I mean it says it in my profile mumblings!)

Of the currently 246 pieces (before this was published), 188 are poems. That's not even completely accurate because the one post I did for Viva - Mosquitos Don't Care, Why Do You? was actually built around two poems. It was a word count issue, but, the two pieces I've published in Art have revolved around poems. Then I wrote Timely Crucial Purpose for the Horror community because I hadn't published there yet. That is also a poem!

The numbers again don't lie - 188 out of 246 means that 76% of my output is poetry. That means that roughly 76% of my creative output on Vocal is poetry. So while I may be an accidental poet, based on what I actually write, a poet is what I am, among other things.

The fact that my first plans for self-publishing revolve around poetry, also speaks volumes to me just getting over the last hang-ups I have around that part of my creative makeup!

Thank you again to everyone who supports me and encourages me - without your time, patience, and kindness, I'd have never gotten to the big 5,000 or had the success I have had without your generosity and support!

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Thanks for reading!

I won't include links below as I usually as there are enough links in the article itself.