Today I've got a two-pronged post. First, the business side.
Many of you either know from experience or have heard of the Anniversary Effect.
On the anniversary of something traumatic, people may have upsetting dreams, or behaviors such as sleep disturbances, agitation, anxiety, sadness, jumpiness, or fear.
Classic Anniversary Effect triggers include the death of a loved one (their birthday, day of death, or holidays usually celebrated with them), 9/11, hurricane Katrina, or other traumatic events.
The effect can even be triggered by memories brought on by scents, sounds, and seasons.
Sometimes the sufferer is aware that their symptoms are because of the impending anniversary; sometimes not. In the latter case, the symptoms can be baffling to the sufferer and those around them. Only when they are reminded about the special association does it become easier to deal with.
Has anyone used or seen the anniversary effect in novels?
Okay, on to a happier anniversary item. Today marks the anniversary that I started my blog.
I can't believe it's been one year! I remember when I started. I didn't know what I was doing, and after my first post, I posted again that I was quitting. I'm glad I didn't!
My personal Anniversary Effect includes:
- disbelief that I could actually blog for a year
- sheer happiness with the supportive bloggers I've met
- nervousness that I won't be able to blog about a single, interesting thing next year
- stress over balancing blogging with writing and life in general
- enjoyment in making my silly drawings and reading some really entertaining blog posts and comments by my followers
You guys make it all worthwhile!
Also, don't forget to check out Mental Health Mondays at Laura's Blog and Sarah Fine's The Strangest Situation!
76 comments:
Happy Anniversary!!
I really enjoy your blog. Thanks for the time and energy you put into it.
Happy Anniversary, Lydia! You've done an amazing job with your blog--I've never seen anyone pack so much info into such enviably concise little posts. Useful and accessible. And also, fun. Looking forward to another year of it!
Yes happy anniversary! I think we all have those related feelings (the last one I can ever write, balancing writing with "important" things). Thanks for blogging and supporting me too.
Congratulations! Happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary! And I'm so glad you didn't quit. I never would have known the difference between a heart attack and a stroke, for my characters that is.
Congratulations on blogging for a year! that is awesome!!
Umm, I don't think I've ever seen the anniversary effect in a novel before...
Congrats on blogging for a year!
And I think we see this effect all the time. It's called backstory. When the character remembers something due to smells, sights, or triggers. I love it when done well.
Congratulations! Glad you stuck with it- yours is one of my favourite Crusader blog discoveries :)
Happy Anniversary! Has it really only been a year? I feel like I've been stopping by your blog forever. I'm so glad you decided not to quit. =o)
I'm sure I've read something with the Anniversary Effect in it, but I can't think of the title right now. It's definitely an effective tool. I mean, what reader hasn't experienced the same thing at some point?
Congrats! Medical Mondays is one of my favourite blog features of all the blogs I read!
Congrats! And Happy 1 year anniversary! I'm so glad you didn't quit :D Totally one of my favorite blogs!
Let's see, as for the anniversary effect in my story. Actually, yes, my MC has one and it was a little difficult to write because I had never gone through what she had been through. But I drew on others, like those you mentioned, and it worked out pretty well. I think I can do better, but it is a first draft ;) Congrats again!
Congratulations! You certainly took the blog world by storm.
I had a traumatic few months back in 1998. on 4th July we became proud grandparents for the first time, that was fatastic, sadly 10 days later my mother suddenly had a stroke and I was by her bedside when she passed a way, that was a devestating expereience, rhen three days later my husband was diagnosed with brain cancer and passed away 2 months later,
Those few months every year lived in my memory, now I look on them as a celebration of their lives.
Congrats on your first year of blogging. Here's to the next.
Yvonne.
I just read Love, Aubrey (fantasic Middle Grade book) and she deals with some anniversary things like her dead sister's birthday. There were some really powerful passages using the A. effect.
Congrats on blogging for a whole year! I'm not quite there yet and don't know if I'll make it, but your personal list of effects is inspiring :)
Glad to know you didn't decide to throw in the towl. Not a bad following list to have achieved. Happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary Lydia !!
You've really set the standard for other bloggers over the past year.
Not just for the quality of your posts on here but also the selfless way you support other peoples blogs.
Thanks for your support:)
Happy Anniversary!
Your blog is great, and I love visiting here.
I haven't used the Anniversary Effect, but maybe I will now that I know about it :)
Congratulations on making it a year, Lydia! I’m so glad you decided to keep blogging.
It’s weird the way that an anniversary can have that effect on people. I have a couple days like that. Even though I know when it’s coming, it still surprises me that my head can’t detach itself from a date on a calendar.
Happy Anniversary, Lydia. I'm glad I found your blog a few months ago. I love the posts. I know what you mean about Anniversary Effect. This is tied to PTSD, right? I know my father suffers from it because of Vietnam.
Happy Anniversary, Lydia! I adore your blog!!
My anniversary effect stems around my birthday. My ex-wife decide to file for divorce on my birthday, claiming to have forgotten what day it was. For awhile I wanted to switch my birthday to Cinquo de Mayo after all there would always be a party on that day. Now I just deal.
OMG! So the positive spin to the end of this post was totally awesome. Very inspiring. Congratulations and happy anniversary Lydia!
Happy Anniversary!
I've heard of the Anniversery Effect but not that name. I can't think of any literary examples, sorry. That might come in handy for me, however. So thanks!
-Vicki
Happy Blogoversary! Great connection with the medical Monday. :)
Happy blogiversary!
Happy anniversary. I think we all suffer from those symptoms you mentioned. ;)
Happy Happy Joy Joy. Has it really only been a year? How time flies.
Happy Blogoversary! I always love coming here!
My typical anniversary effect is that I always feel very happy in the first week of January because Christmas is over >:)
Cold As Heaven
Congratulations on your blog anniversary--you've really got something good going here :-)
Congrats on your blogaversary!!!!
A psychoanalyst (whose name I'm totally blanking on) wrote a paper on the anniversary reaction--interesting stuff!!! ;)
WOW!!!!! HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY!!! Awwwwwwwww!! This time next year I shall be feeling nothing but joy and utter happiness cos it'll be your blog anniversary!! Yay!!! Take care
x
Happy Anniversary! I'm glad you didn't quit as well, where would I get my pictures created in Paint fix? :)
Happy anivisary. I hope your blog doesn't forget to buy you flowers.
Oh, I'm so glad you didn't quit! Yours is a wonderful blog to visit--filled with wit and color and some astounding information, especially on Medical Mondays. I'm so happy to have met you and wish you a very Happy Anniversary.
Happy anniversary!!! That's awesome! You're such a pro it's hard to believe it's only been a year. *tips champagne glass*
Yay! Happy Anniversary! I've really loved reading your blog. :)
Congratulations! The anniversary effect is so wild. I am glad you keep writing. I have learned so much, especially from your Medical Mondays!
What a great anniversary for once. I truly get something out of each and every one of your posts. And don't think about a year of posts -- remember the secret of the world's greatest potato-peeler : you peel 'em one potato (or post) at a time! Roland
Congrats on the year of blogging! My mom would back up what you said about the anniversary effects. She gets like that on the anniversary of when my dad passed. Also other important dates in his/their life.
Congrats!
Congratulations on your anniversary! I think you bring the sort of uniqueness to the world of blogging that can't be ignored. I always anticipate your new posts.
Congrats on your one year blog birthday! It's a great achievement and you don't need to worry at all that you won't have anything interesting to say. I know you will and I'll be here to read it along with lots of other people.
I've seen the anniversary effect a couple of times in books although I can't remember where now. I've certainly seen it in real life although it's not happened to me except in a positive way - good memories.
Jai
Happy Anniversary! I’ve experience the effect before but I didn’t know it has a special name.
Happy anniversary!!!
I've never heard of Anniversary Effect before. It might just be something I can use in my current WIP. Thanks!!!
Cheers!
Jen
How interesting! Maybe I can use this anniversary effect in my own stories. Congratulations on your big milestone! IT's time to celebrate your wonderful blog journey!
Happy blogiversary! I'm so glad you didn't stop too! Your blog is one of my favorites to visit every week. Thank you so much for all the insightful info you dish out, it's a huge help!
Congrats!! We just studied this in school and I love your post on it :) SO glad you decided not to quit because your blog is one of my all around favorites.
Happy Anniversary to you! And Congrats! on the followers. You have a great blog and I really need to visit more often.
Happy Anniversary (glad you didn't quit too)! You know, you seem to balance it all out--you're one of those people that I wonder how you do so much. Um, no pressure.
Happy Anniversary! So glad you didn't quit! I can't think of a novel with the Anni effect in it, but it's a real thing that's for sure. All a state of mind, though. Just needs reprogramming to get it out!
Happy Anniversary! :) Like many others, I'm glad you didn't quit!
An entire year is a big deal! Congratulations on that! :)
...and yes, I have used the Anniversary Effect in my novels--actually, quite a bit, now that I'm thinking about it. I believe it makes for an interesting place to start a story, in the midst of all that anniversary angst...
Happy Anniversary!
Glad you didn't quit!
Happy anniversary, Lydia!!! I love your blog :)
Happy anniversary! Glad you didn't quit. :)
Congratulations on your anniversary! Hugs back at you {{}}
Love your blog, especially on Mondays.
I have seen this used on either House or Grey's Anatomy where a woman showed up every year at a hospital on the same day. They diagnosed it as the anniversary of her best friend's death.
Congrats on your anniversary effect! :) I'll toast to that!
Aww, Happy Anniversary!!! :D I always enjoy reading your posts!
And don't worry, you're not the only one who is nervous about what to post and how to balance this with Real Life stuff. I freak out about this like every week. Haha.
Congrats again!
Hi Lydia,
Happy Anniversary!
I really enjoy your blog. Thanks for the time and energy you put into it.
Hey Lydia! Happy Blogiversary!
Happy Anniversary! Hope to be reading your blog for many more years.
Happy happy anniversary - you have done an amazing job in one year - thanks!!
Happy anniversary to you! I had an anniversary effect one Sunday a.m. in church. At the very end, they played "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus." It triggered my memory of my deceased grandmother, who used to sing that song in the car when I was little, little. And I started to cry.
Hello! Embarrassing, not-coming-to-Jesus moment... :D LOL! <3
How interesting. I guess it's kinda like the Birthday Blues.
Happy Blogoversary!
Happy anniversary! :)
Wow, happy anniversary! You've done a fantastic job with your blog. You have a great voice and always have interesting, well thought out ideas to share. You'll do great in the future. I always look forward to reading your posts, whatever they are. Even with your crazy schedule, you take time to visit and comment on other's blogs. (How do you do all that???) Thanks for being a great blog friend!
Happy Blogoversary, Lydia!
I've seen the anniversary effect used in TV, but can't recall where - only that I have seen it.
Love your medical monday posts. So helpful.
I'm glad you didn't give up the blogging, I'd have never met you otherwise and learned all this medical sweet stuff :)
Happy anniversary to you and your blog! I'm also very happy you didn't quit after that first post. :)
Happy anniversary Lydia! I actually remember when you started last year... it was around the same time I was crawling out of my shell (no pun intended :D) Time flies, doesn't it??
Congrats, Lydia. Wish you a Happy Anniversary. Mine will be on 22nd March. Unbelievable, isn't it, that we started our blog journey in the same month.
Happy Late Anniversary!!!!
I have no doubt that you'll be just as terrific in the next year as you have been in the previous one.
As for the medical thing, I've seen it in real life...hadn't thought about using it in a book. But now that you mention it.....I may need to steal the idea!
Congrats on making it this far. Good to see you're having fun at it. Keep up the great work and as always, happy eating.
Post a Comment