Annual Report

I am cynical and most years end on a crappy note for me. The year always feels like it went too fast and nothing much was done. But evaluation is required nonetheless. One has to see how the year was and maybe chalk out a plan for the future. And so it must be with blogs.

Overview

2012 was the year of experiments. A new interface, a different name and newer ways of publicity kept the blog alive and buzzing. However, the year recorded the least number of posts since its conception and that too without any majestic surge in the quality of writing. While there is no correlation/causation to say that the experiments caused the decline, readers have been rumoured to suggest otherwise. Another theory doing the rounds is that the author has become a corporate monkey and has lesser and lesser time for his other half of the brain. What is instead surprising is that the readership saw an increase. From 2 regular readers and 1 forced reader, the blog now has 3 regular readers, 1 forced reader and 1 accidental reader. The newer ways of publicity (facebook, twitter, word of mouth etc.) have also brought in casual readers and some of them have managed to leave a mark. All in all, 2012 just managed to pass the benchmark. The increased readership seems to have motivated the author to write more, and those are our expectations for 2013 - an increased readership leading to increased writing. 

Causes for Decline 

The most prominent aspect of 2012 has been the sheer dearth of blog posts by the author. 10 in Thesaurus and 3 in Jibber Jabber is an abysmal number, best suited to fashionable bloggers. This makes us curiouser and curiouser as to what caused the declined. While it is tempting to believe that the occupation of the blogger diverted his attention, the blog actually has seen regular posts since the employment (July to December constitutes 60% of total posts in Thesaurus and 67% for Jibber Jabber). Therefore, the lack seems to be in the first quarter of the year. See the following chart to understand better (both blogs included) :

A close source to the author described the first quarter as extremely busy and confusing for the author. Faced with life-changing decisions and an impossible schedule, the author really had no time to breathe. In a particular week the author was seen juggling college interviews, organising debate competitions and debate training in a different city. June which marked the end of final year exams saw the maximum posts, thanks to the availability of time and joblessness. Therefore, the key reason seems to be the lack of time or rather a free mind to think out blog posts.

Regardless of that, there were somethings the author missed and must not be forgiven for. In Jibber Jabber, the readers were waiting for posts on FDI, Palestine, Delhi Gangrape, Gujrat Elections etc. but were left completely disappointed. Instead, they got a summary of tweets in a particular post in October. Thesaurus was filled with sermons and guides to living a beautiful life. There was a complete lack of fiction and storytelling. The last piece of poetry we read was in August 2011.  If the readership is to be maintained, there has to be a resurrection of poetry and fiction. That is our key takeaway for 2013.

The New Stuff

While the new interface seems extremely appealing at first glance, especially the hidden message in the backdrop, it hasn't delivered the magic that was expected. In a world of mobile internet and email alerts, the author expected that the readers would take out time to change the views of the blog from the dynamic view option. Someone should tell him that he isn't the only one facing a lack of time. The mobile website was fixed only in the latter half of the year, before which the dynamic view would take decades to load. On the other hand, Jibber Jabber being an issue based blog has the right theme to it. Plain and to the point.

We like the new name and our pleased with the change, but are still inquisitive about its origins. Till then, we would recommend a dictionary/thesaurus widget to go with the new name.

Undoubtedly, the sliver lining of the year was the rise in readers. We got in touch with a recent reader and they surprisingly remembered a particular post from 2011 and were able to relate it to the real life events of the author. That alone shows the effect the writing has on people (or the author's complete lack of inspiration). Another recent reader is rumoured to discuss every post with the author after it has been published. This report would be incomplete without mentioning the two loyal readers of this blog, who have stuck around because of the sheer brilliance of the writing (or their love for the author). We must congratulate the author of that.

The Other Stuff

Our analytics team tells us that yet again, the most popular post (in terms of page hits) was A Tide In The Affairs Of Men. The connection between the post and OTH has quenched the thirst of many Googlers and OTH fans.

In terms of qualitative liking, "Information value" was the best post of 2012 because of its innovative nature. Followed closely by it is "Godspeed" - we understood 'nothing' but it seems like intelligent stuff.

The song dedications in 2012 are beautiful and we are very impressed with the kind of music the author has been listening to. Each track has its own flow and flavour. If there is one thing that the author should never let go, no matter how many changes the blog goes through, is the song dedications.

In all this, one should not forget the half hearted attempt of the author to reply to comments. When this went to press, there was still a comment in a December post that had not been replied to. This has to change in 2013.

Speaking of comments, the highlight of 2012 was a comment war on a post on Jibber Jabber. Reports suggest that just right now there was a reply by Anonymous on that post. Though its sad that the war was not about the content, we are happy that it's getting some attention.

What next?

Just write, Rohan. Don't be scared. Be patient with the annoying people. Anything you write has a flip side to it. And you will always reach dead-ends. And you will mostly be disappointed. But just keep writing. Sad stuff. Sermon Stuff. Fiction Stuff. Anything. Just write. Because that is a huge part of you. Not the whole of you. But a lot of you. There are so many parts of us - the part we think we are, the part we show to other people, the part we want to be and many others. But this maybe the real you. Just write.

We were able to get a comment from the author when we told him we were running this report. He doesn't know the contents yet, but this is what he had to say :

"Thank you so much for doing this. It feels great that you are helping the blog out. Be kind in what you write.  I just have one thing to say. It's something I heard through a TV show. There was once a man who was building a beautiful home for his wife and kids. A home in which they were always happy and would never have to leave. But it wasn't actually a home, it was a cage. I hope neither the blog nor me, are in a cage that we have built for each other."

We totally agree with that comment. Whatever it means, we understand.

And that's it from our side. We hope that you find this report very useful. Do share your comments and feedback.

To Rohan Chawla, Chotashakespeare, Thesaurus, Corporate Monkey, Chawla, Roaaan and other names that you have for the author.

Song : 
23 by Jimmy Eat World
A Satisfied Mind by Jeff Buckley
Come Talk to Me by Bon Iver

No One Gets Left Behind

This isn't as awesome as its old cousins, but please still welcome the new template! For one, it's yellow!


This is the new dynamic view by blogger, which is supposed to be user friendly. It allows viewers to choose the way they want to view this blog. You see "Flipcard" written on the top left hand side? Take your cursor there and it'll show you other options to view this blog in; such as Classic, Timeslide et al.


From what I gather, this is still in the baby stages of Blogger. So there could be some bugs. As you can notice on the right hand side, there are no widgets. There is just a black bar which has Blogger Supported Widgets such as Bio, Blog Roll, Blogs I Follow and Subscribe. So it'll take a while for the random Shakespeare quotes to come back. Thank God for this guy (Click to Meet!), his coding helped me make the blog look better. I owe him. Thanks!


You may also notice that this blog is no longer called "Shakespeare's Jeans" . This is not something new, the blog has changed names before (From Carving a Niche to In Shakespeare's Jeans to just Shakespeare's Jeans). I changed the name, well, because I no longer felt in sync with it. Neither I am reading Shakespeare, nor writing as awesome as he did and certainly not having as much fun as he did with (or without) his Jeans! Which also means, that the random quote widget might not make a comeback.


In light of that, please also welcome "Thesaurus" . Firstly, it's miracle that I spelled it right. Secondly, don't ask me why. I am not going to tell you. You can of course, be assured that nothing is going downhill.


With that, I realise that other than the posts, everything else has changed. Accept it with open arms or take out your scorn in the revamped comments section! I am also thinking of buying my own domain-name/website, taking cue from the latest GoDaddy advertisements. In which case, the blog address might change as well and I might merge the two blogs. But that'll happen only once I have the money to buy and maintain it.


Funny, this post is called No One Gets Left Behind.


I hope you like it. If you don't, it's okay. No One Gets Left Behind.


Song : No One Gets Left Behind -- Little Miss Sunshine

Fools and Kings.

Joker.
Debater.
Good For Nothing.
Mentally Sick.
Singer.
Storyteller.
Cartoon.


I will miss you, Sir. Each time we receive knowledge, we incur a debt. And the only way to pay back this debt is to spread the knowledge. I hope I am able to spread the lessons you taught me. Not Just of Economics. I will miss you.


Song : 500 Miles--Peter, Paul and Mary.


Every end has a beginning. Meet Jibber Jabber. (Click to See!) This one is to all my teachers.

Jibber Jabber.

Don't worry the old blog is not dying. It's not even in ICU. It's not on a vacation either. It is however on its usual mid-year crisis.

Why A New Blog?

Of late, I have been thinking of current issues. Things that bother me. Stuff that's happening in the world. So I thought I'd make a separate blog for the same. This is not a newspaper. This is not an editorial page. This is also not a debating website. It is also not a unique blend of the three. Its just, jibber jabber.

I define things in the negative. New thing I learnt about myself :)

I am scared that I won't blog enough. But there is only one way to overcome that fear, to blog a lot. Only time will tell what comes out of this.

I am scared this is my way of escaping something. Weird feeling.

I am worried. About the world. 

Anyway. Stick around for the first post!

Rohan Chawla

The Way Young Lovers Do.

I hope you like the New Theme.


Nothing beats a Blog Post after a Really Bad Exam. Not even Free Beer.


Lots of things have gone and lots of things might come. I hope to write more, but I say that every year.


Song : Robert Plant & Alison Krauss- Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)


Thanks for sticking around. Means a lot.


ChotaShakespeare.

Changes and Thank You-s

Today is an important day in the history of this Blog. We have changed the title, the template, the widgets and all the change is definitely for the BETTER. I hope you like it. My writing might also change and you might notice a tinge of young-ness.

This wouldn't have been possible without :

1. Blogger templates: Thank you for the jeans.

2. Facebook: For helping me rest for a while.

3. Pari: For having seen it for the first time.

4. Arsheen: For having loved it so much.

5. Gautam: For his idea to change my picture.

6. Ahana: For finally seeing it.

7. Aakriti: For having loved the template and promised not to follow.

8. Vasudha: For being a keen reader throughout.

9. SS and other readers: For always telling me when the post was weird or nice.

10. Digveer: For have planted the idea in the first place.

11. Aditi: For have improved my writing.

12. Coldplay: For making awesome songs which I listen to when I write. Sorry your widget had to go.

13. (My best Number) EK: For making me realize that sometimes you have to change or stay away because other people are too dumb to do the same.

Thanks Everyone. Thanks. I hope you like it.

Oh since I forgot earlier, One Tree Hill. You changed everything. Thanks.