(Journal) Births and (Blog) Birthdays
I just realized that The Extratextuals has been around for a year now, so happy birthday to us. You may have realized that what was a group blog has taken on a decidedly Jonathan-ish flavor, but for the record, it’s still a group blog. Derek’s been writing his dissertation, while Ivan is creating extratextuals (see here in particular), and is often in the awkward position of having a lot to say but being constricted by contractual obligations. I’m enjoying the blog, though, so I’m quite happy to keep tooling along with my own offerings, knowing that occasionally one of my colleagues may pipe in with something.
Thanks to all our readers. I still don’t have any form of stat-tracker, so I only know who you are (or even that you exist) when you tell me or post a reply, and I’m always surprised and thoroughly pleased to see that it’s not just my wife and my mother reading.
Right now, I’m finishing a book, which has made writing tough, but once it’s in to the press, I’ll have much more time to relax and write for the blog. It’s due on September 30, and it’s all about extratextuals, so once it’s closer to publication, I’ll post more about it too.
Meanwhile, congratulations are also in order to Transformative Works and Culture, a brand new journal available for free to all with Internet access or a friend with a printer and toner. TWC, says its site, “is an international peer-reviewed journal published by the Organization for Transformative Works. TWC publishes articles about transformative works, broadly conceived.” (Think fan stuff if the terminology confuses). The first issue has pieces on Hillary fans, genre, BDSM symbolism, vidding, soap operas, horror, posthuman anxiety, and, yes, what’s a good journal launch without a piece on incestuous fan fiction? 
There’s also symposia, interviews, and reviews. Apparently, editors Karen Hellekson and Kristina Busse never got the memo that you start small and build in size: this is a sizeable volume, rich with material that puts other journal start-ups to shame and really deserves an audience. Very well done to Hellekson, Busse, and all involved.
Congrats to you and the rest of the Extratextuals, Jon (btw, have I mentioned that whenever I think of you, Derek, and Ivan in your blogging identities, I imagine you dressed in costumes like the Avengers or the Justice League?). Looking forward to another year of posts!
Thanks Bob. That’s funny. I see Derek as Flash and Ivan as the Martian Manhunter. I always liked archery, so I’ll be Green Arrow
You really need to add a blog stats package – for no other reason, looking at what search terms lead people to your blog is a lesson in the randomness of the web (for instance, yesterday 2 people found my blog by searching for “surveillance van”!). Wordpress has its own built-in that I use, or Google Analytics or Sitemeter are both good. Monitoring your hits is a wonderful pastime blending narcissism and procrastination!