Yes, This Will Be On the Test

Writing, Reading, Laughing

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Picking Your Bloggy Brains

Help - Help - Help
I'm really trying to kick my blogging up a notch as I attempt to balance it with teaching full time and writing as close to full time as I can eek out.

I would love to hear what your blogging routines/schedules/tips are so I can shamelessly steal them and become more 
blog-o-riffic.  

Here's what I already do:
  • Visit everyone's blogs who comment on mine and become a follower on their's
  • Have comments on my blog come to my email so I can pop a personal response back 
  • Subscribe by email to any blogs that offer the option
  • Try to blog at least an hour a day and then catch up on weekends
  • Drown in guilt when I can't keep up
Your turn. Please shower me with advice.

33 comments:

  1. I don't know, Leslie. You've hit most of the points I typically offer as advice. I think you're doing pretty well. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're already doing a wonderful job. My only piece of advice would be to drop the guilt. Each blogger does what they can in the amount of time they have. Write first, blog second, and don't worry about the rest!

    ReplyDelete
  3. It already sounds like you're going above and beyond, Leslie!! I think what you have is terrific. Like Julie says, drop the guilt though!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have a schedule, but admit to failing on one blog more than the other...

    Anyway, I try to load up my posts on the weekends, and then set aside 60-90 minutes for visiting. Using google reader really helps me keep track of blogs. I organized them, so my friends are lumped in a friends folder. It's still hard.

    When I get my next releases out, I will devote whole days to online promotion. But not yet.

    ReplyDelete
  5. My advice is don't spend too much time blogging. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think it sounds like you are doing everything right! Nothing to be guilty about- you are doing all that you can. Teaching is such a busy job with so much work to do and writing also is demanding and takes time. Keep doing what you are doing.

    I try to get some posts ready in advance (when I am on a blog role) and I schedule them to be posted in advance. I save the email notices I get from comments on my blog- so I can go to people's blog and comment to them. If you are looking for more followers (which I am not sure you are) then a hop could be helpful. If you aren't looking for any more followers- then I think you should keep up the system you are using. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks everybody. I appreciate the great advice and sweet support.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't have any additional advice, because I'm struggling with my blog schedule as it is. But I know I can count on a post from you every Wednesday evening, and I know it's going to be informative, interesting or funny--often all three!

    I do love it when you review books, because you have an insight most of us don't with a roomful of fifth graders. And I always appreciate your visits to my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  9. If you want to kick it up a notch, you're going to have to blog more. I blog almost every day. Yes, it's killer. And it takes a lot of time. But you don't have to go every day. Maybe two more times a month. Review a book or a movie. Share your writing. I love what you blog about now, but think about who you want to come to your blog then blog about what they'd want to read, whether it's a review of a book, a recipe(no) or a movie(no). And comment, comment, comment. I have a blogroll list and I comment on everyone's blog every single day. If after a couple of weeks they don't comment back, they get replaced. But for the most part, everyone comments. It took a long time for me to get in that routine, but the blogroll works better for me than the email subscriptions.

    Heather

    ReplyDelete
  10. You're doing great. But I think it's the last bullet point that you'll probably want to bring down a notch. Reduce the guilt. You've got at least 175 bloggers that follow you but each post you do not have 175 comments. I post MWF unless I do something like I did this week, which was to host 2 authors on my blog, or participate in a blogfest/contest. Otherwise, MWF is for me to post a blog. As for commenting, you can visit as you can, comment as you can but don't get caught in a vacuum of must-read-and-comment-to-every-blog. I love when you comment at my blog, but I will understand whole heartedly if you can only comment on one or two posts in the week. So will other bloggers.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I used to feel overwhelmed with blogging and commenting, but over time things became more streamlined. I'm creating a Google Reader folder of regular commenters so that I don't lose touch with anyone.

    I blog 2-3 times a week, and my posts are short or medium in length. Also, blogfests provide great prompts. I copy and paste my Goodreads reviews when I want to blog about books.

    You shouldn't feel guilty. We all do the best we can with the time we have. Plus, we need to have time to write.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What do you want? More traffic? More followers? Then blog more and comment on others more. But I think what you are wanting is to keep your blog presence without killing yourself. I blog every MWFSun. If I miss a day, I don't stress. Your writing is the most important, EVERY agent will tell you that. I just read where an agent said when they see a writer with a humongous blog presence and following, they wonder if their writing is quality. It's a common misconception to think big following = great writer.

    When I am organized (which equates to every other week) I write my blog posts the weekend before and schedule them. In the meantime, I have a running list (in word) of blog topics. Because a lot of times I will get a great idea for a post but don't have time to flesh it out. Then every Saturday morning I sit in bed with a cup of coffee and flesh out my posts. When I don't have a blog post for the day, I give myself a 15minute timer and type madly. When it dings, I stop and post it. It's called posting on the fly. Some days those posts are the greatest, other they are crap.

    I know it is blog etiquette to comment on someone's blog who comments on yours but I also think that is a bit over the top. We are writers. Our writing should come first. I think one should comment on the comments they receive but more than that is kind but not necessary. I keep a running list of my top 15 bloggy friends I love and I check in on them once a week. I do NOT read every blog I follow ALL the time. (Except my top peeps.) If someone gets their feelings hurt because they commented on your blog and you didn't theirs, they really aren't respecting you or your priorities.

    I think when you free yourself from some of your blogging burdens, you will find the guilt will ease a bit. Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That's exactly what I do too. In addition, I sometimes get up the gumption to do a blogfest, if the subject really appeals to me. It's a lot of work (For a day) visiting other blogfesters, but it's a great way to meet new people and get new followers.

    The hardest part of blogging for me is coming up with content that I think will be interesting. I've tried to branch out a little more with subjects other than writing, but those posts always seem to flop (very few comments). Now you've got a great thing going because you blog about writing and teaching, both of which fascinate me.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Same issues, I'm afraid. What I plan to do this year is take a break after April. I'm not sure that will help, but it may allow me some time to rethink and regroup!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Forgot to add...that what I used to do, that I should bring back. Is one week a month go on a blog hiatus. I wrote a blog post explaining my needs and that I'd be back in a week and you know, people are really understanding with they. We are all writers, we get it. Not all of us can be super bloggers.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hahahaha when I figure it out myself, I'll let you know.

    Sometimes, I do get ahead. Then if I have time, I'll visit random blogs on my veeeeeery long blog list. :-D

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm in no position to be giving advice. I do the best I can while still finding time to write. It ebbs and flows. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. It can definitely be overwhelming. I only post once a week, but I try to be consistent and reciprocate comments and follows.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hey Leslie. I myself have always kept things at a more leisurely pace.
    I blog when I feel like it and I have a limited list of people I read and "follow"/comment on. But I'm loyal to that list.
    It depends on what your goals are, I think. For example, especially if you want to self-publish then you need to really put in a big effort.But otherwise...

    Anyway from what you write above, sounds like you're doing enough. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm also in no position ro offer advice. I only post once a week and then go around reading other people's blogs and commenting all throughout the week!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I write my posts on the weekend (and that includes my QT posts). The only exception is Cool Links Friday. I do that Thursday evenings. I get up at 5 am MWF and blog until 7:30 am. Then I catch up on comments left during the day from 4:30 to 5:30 pm. Sometimes I also have to blog in the evening, and often I have to catch on some the next day (which is a non blogging day).

    I put a lot of time into blogging, but it's worth it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sadly, I find there's always guilt! I do most of the same things you do, except the email. I use Google Reader to organize my incoming blog posts - I've organized them in folders for each day of the week so I've got a place to start. The new blogger interface doesn't let me add to my folders though ... well, maybe it does, but I haven't figured it out...

    ReplyDelete
  23. Just hit reply under each person's comment and they'll receive the e-mails. Two for one! I comment more than I post. I generally only comment on blog who comment on mine. I have over 700 followers, so there's not really any other way except an occasional look to see who has posted. And don't go crazy. Do what you can. I think it's better to post as much as you can manage. Good luck finding balance!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Heya Theresa - Here's the test to see if it goes to your email. Testing-testing- 1-2-3

      Delete
  24. Sounds like you're doing pretty much everything :) I think we're all just doing the best we can, figuring it out, and hoping good things come of it.

    Sarah Allen
    (my creative writing blog)

    ReplyDelete
  25. That's pretty much what I do, which is why I blog so little nowadays. I struggle to keep up even with responding to comments. It's tough to do it all.

    ReplyDelete
  26. P.S. I tried responding by email to the comment you left on my blog which came through on my email, but it doesn't seem that your profile is linked up to your email. It wouldn't let me reply...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oops, I'd better check that out. Thanks for the heads up.

      Delete
  27. Blogging is hard work. My advice is...don't stress over it too much and don't force it. Use that energy and time to work on your book.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I think Dana's advice is spot on--tailor your blogging efforts toward your desired results. I, too, try to write my posts over the weekend, which gives me time to respond to comments, check others' blogs, etc., during the week. It can eat up a ton of time, though, so I make sure that I always do "my" writing first. Otherwise, blogging seems to expand to fill every available minute!

    ReplyDelete
  29. You are all rockstars. I'm going to work on a new routine based on all your awesome advice. I appreciate your collective wisdom. Thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete