Between the Lines is 18 Years Old on Saturday
19 August 2021
On August 21, 2003, this blog started thanks to the encouragement of two Autodesk colleagues Bill Johnston and Eric Wright. I was one of the top posting members in the Autodesk Discussion Forums on my own time, and at times answered the same plotting question week after week. I was told blogs might be a great platform to post a solution share the link when asked the questions again as well the posts would be found easily by others on search engines. It worked and soon Between the Lines blog was the first and most popular blog in CAD, and then we started several other blogs at Autodesk and helped other CAD blogs outside of Autodesk start out.
I have made so many good friends, connections, and memories. At times, it has been a struggle, and have posted from remote corners of the globe including the Amazon Jungle and the remoteness of Illeret Kenya to Bali Indonesia, but I have made it this far at 18 years that I can’t really just stop, not yet.
The two pieces of advice I give to prospective bloggers that are curious about starting is:
1. Use your own voice. This is a conversation, not a time stamped web page or another marketing and PR location. Be you. I try to talk as I would and have at AU around a table with a beverage explaining what I think about a topic or technology.
2. Understand a blog is like having a child, it requires time, effort, feeding, and diaper changes occasionally. You cannot ignore it when you leave on vacation or a sabbatical it must be continues or it falls of the reading list and search engines.
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Over 18 million views not including those that read on other platforms such as email, RSS, or content republishing platforms.
What a strange long blog this has been.
Thank you to each and every one of my page viewers and those that recognize me at airports or random places. It is always fun. In times of thinking about ending the blogging streak, there is always one comment by a person that fuels me up to get up and get writing.
Thank you Bill “Blads” Adams (RIP), who every year used to post a photo of a cake he baked in honor of this blogs birthdays. I miss that guy and the Autodesk Community lost a legend. I know Bill would be just as excited as me about hitting 18 years and have some epic cake lined up.
Thank you to all that have inspired, supported, read, or were inspired to do something after reading Between the Lines.
Thank you,
-Shaan