Is blogging and visiting blogs taking up all your time?
When I started blogging I was hooked straight away. There are so many awesome blogs on writing, I'm sure I gained more information and help from the online world than I did from my studies at school. I was starting at scratch learning the art of writing and I wanted to share that with other peeps. I guess the focus of my blog is - if I can fumble through this, think how easy it will be for you.
I blogged my butt off. Some weeks I'd blog up to four times. My opinion now is that's just not necessary. I know you can reach out to other writers and build a platform for your writing. That's the marketing side, you'll also make great blogging friends, I know I have. BUT. Now I blog about once a week, twice if something special comes up. This gives me more time to visit other blogs, improve my writing skills and work on my books. Less blogging means each post is live longer and has more chance to actually be viewed by readers.
So rather than update you every time my dog does something cute or I have a weird dream, I think about what will be helpful to my reader. The tip I'm suggesting today? Social media is a tool, a great tool, but if your goal is to publish a novel or write flash fiction or poetry, then make your craft your priority. Spend time on your art and balance that time wisely with your platform building. Let social media feed and propel your productivity, not steal from it.
Are you making time for your writing?
Not nearly enough honey child but like you I'm trying to only post once a week. As you say it allows more visits and comments and also frees up a bit more time for blog visiting. I'm doing far more writing and attending more writing courses and groups, mwahaha...See you Wednesday at one of them!
ReplyDeleteDenise
Blogging can definitely take up too much time. You have to find the right balance.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. And sometimes we need to break away from the blogging scene so we con continue working on our writing and making time for family issues.
ReplyDeleteI definitely don't blog too much. I'm actually working on a schedule that will help me spend enough time on them.
ReplyDeleteEllie
It can be time consuming, especially reading the blogs you subscribe too. I don't push myself to make a blog post. When something great happens, I'll post it. Mine is more of a hodge podge of things, a journal type blog so it's not necessary to do daily. Not cutting into family time because of blogging is key essential :)
ReplyDeleteI only post twice a week and that's pretty time consuming. Plus responding to comments. Plus visiting blogs more time consuming than writing for mine. If there was a way to make money doing this I'd be sorted.
ReplyDeletemood
Yes, yes, yes! <----I'm right with ya. I too was an obsessed blogger for a while, but have recently cut down to once a week. I'm finding more time for writing, but am still keeping the connections that I love so much. It's a hard balance, but one I'm hoping I'm easing into :)
ReplyDeleteI've been on Twitter and Facebook less, but I've been blogging more. I love blogging, reading informative blogs, and meeting bloggers in person at conferences. I blog 1-3x a week.
ReplyDeleteI'm balancing my time better these days. I blog three to four times a week and for me that is not that much. (Before I blogged five to seven times...). I am not on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus as much as I did. And I actually don't get the chance to respond to other bloggers and comments as much. So I am trying to cut back. And it's working to my benefit! :)
ReplyDeleteNo I'm not making time for my writing (non-blog type) and yes I am blogging too much. I keep saying that I going to make a schedule, but I need to actually set one up and adhere to it. Adding three blogs to the one that I had and cut back on probably didn't help. I know what I need to do, but it's so easy to put it off in favor of other things.
ReplyDeleteLee
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
I agree all the way around. I post about once or twice a week and that's lots for me too. There are so many awesome blogs out there and I've learned so much from all of them. There's no way I'd get any writing done if I blogged more. :)
ReplyDeleteGosh. Couldn't have said it better myself. You been reading my mind??? hee hee.
ReplyDeleteI had to cut back, because blogging is WAYYYYY too much fun. I could do it full time, but dang does the pay suck eh?
I used to blog like you but I really cut down on my blogging so that I could get my writing done. Love your posts.
ReplyDeleteI could have written this. When I first started blogging I was obsessive about doing it all many hours a day. I think it takes a whole lot of time to build the blog but not nearly as much to maintain it. Right now I"m in the maintance phase of it.
ReplyDeleteI blog a lot actually its just because my blog theme is basically what's in my mind I share so yeah I do that ... But i even agree with you :)
ReplyDelete'Less blogging means each post is live longer and has more chance to actually be viewed by readers.'
ReplyDeleteBeen thinking about this a lot. Important point. And it makes it easier for all of us to actually read each other's posts once the amount of blogs followed just starts to shoot up.
my blogging started as my renewed interest in writing but i know what you mean!!
ReplyDeleteBlogging is taking up so much of my time that I have to really start resetting my values. Thanks for posting about this topic.
ReplyDeletewww.modernworld4.blogspot.com
Agree one or two times a week is just about right for me:)
ReplyDeleteBlogging takes a huge chunk of my writing time. I'm trying to reverse that.
ReplyDeleteTo that end, I've reduced my blog posts to once a week unless something really important pops up. That's helped me get back to my WIP.
You are very correct about making time for writing. Blogging and networking can be time consuming. I find what helps is to have a regular schedule. Schedule big chunks of time for writing, time to check emails and then time for blogging. At least once a week you can schedule 30 mins just for visiting other people's blogs or even less. And with my 3 kids and all our activities, I cannot blog on my own blog more than once a week. I try to be consistent and update weekly or at least every week and a half. We have to do the best we can. But Charmaine, you are correct that as writers we must spend the bulk of our time writing otherwise how can we be writers? Take care!
ReplyDeleteHah, this post really touched a nerve with me - in a good way. I've decided to bump up to two blogs weekly, but have been stumped to figure out how to do that, work my day job, and write. Thanks for the reminder as to what I need to make (not find) time for. :-)
ReplyDeleteSome Dark Romantic
This is something I had to come to grips with a couple of months ago. I just have so much writing and editing to do that I don't have time to blog all the time. Don't get me wrong, it is a great tool and I've met some AMAZING people through blogging...but when it eats up all the time I need to be doing other things, something has to give.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to find the balance between blogging and writing and working. I always enjoy your posts, which is why you get the Kreative Blogger award. you can check it out at my site: Creating Wordlenik.
ReplyDeleteLoving the Zombie Dog.
I love your writing. I had to close down three blogs. I don't have that kind of time and I don't even do anything. It takes me about twenty minutes to pound out an article and three months to polish it. That's under two thousand words. I love fantasy but can't get the knack and truly admire people like you.
ReplyDeleteSocial media and email has cut into my writing a LOT. I have to set targets so that I don't get sidetracked into checking in here or there while I'm supposed to be writing.
ReplyDeleteBlogging is a way for me to practice writing; I look at it that way too. I also love it but can't let it get in the way of my other writing, so there's definitely a balance that must be found.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently blogging twice a week, but even that is starting to effect my time. I'm toying with the idea of blogging less just so I can write more. But it worries me if I do, then I'll fall even further into the background of the social media stage.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the blog advice it'll come in handy.
ReplyDelete