Blogging Angst and Triumph

[Kathy Maxwell]

What has worked and hasn't worked for you in your blogging world?  Talk about your "best of times and the worst of times."  Nothing is trivial so share your experiences!

[Alex Baugh]

The good about blogging:

I read more, and because of the nature of my blog, I learn more 

I have gotten to know very nice people all over the world

Having a refuge from the everyday world and its problems

A new follower is always a day brightener

The bad about blogging

Not being about to write shorter posts

Constantly thinking the name of my blog could have been better - The Children's War sounds like kids fighting, not being innocent victims of something they had nothing to do with

 

http://thechildrenswar.blogspot.com

 

 

[Kathy Maxwell]

I really think the name of your blog is quite apt.  Any war becomes a war in which children need to learn physical, emotional, and spiritual survival. 

[Alex Baugh]

I forgot to  add "good topic for discussion, Kathy"

[Kathy Maxwell]

You're welcome, Shawn.  I enjoy sharing thoughts and ideas with intelligent, ambitious women!

[SidneReadz]

well, My Triumphs is being able to post my reviews and having others to read them that are interested in READING TOO, meeting others with a  passion for reading novels and last but not least, Learning and sharing knowledge about the entire book world.

Angst: lack of comments from followers.  (somewhat over that now)   a few issue computer technical matters that makes my participation limited from time to time.

 

[Sharon Essex]

When it comes to my blog, I am completely angst-ridden.  I fret about everything: the name, the layout, the quality of the post.  Sometimes I wonder why I bother.

 

Recently though, an author linked to one of my reviews ... a big triumph for me.  It helped me remember that my intention was never to dazzle people with  my blog; I just wanted to share my thoughts about the books I read. 

[Allison]

Triumphs: discovering new books and new authors, receiving my first posts from new folks and not just my supportive family and friends, having authors respond to my request for an interview, hitting a high of almost 1000 hits in a month, figuring out how to add polls, seeing my book review blog succeed

 

Angst: lacking time to read every great old and new book out there, having authors ignore my request for an interview, missing the 1000 mark by about fifty hits, knowing there is more I could do to promote my blog but alas I have other commitments, seeing my story time blog flop

[Cody Young]

I began blogging (two weeks or so ago) because my editor in the UK said that if I didn't have a website I should at least have a blog. I prefer the flexibility of a blog site, so for the time being I am sticking with that. I want it to be a way to connect with readers, first and foremost, but one of the nice things about it is that I am also getting in touch with loads of other writers, which is great because working from home can be very isolating (even with a big family all around me). So far, based on a sample of three blog posts (yes, I know that isn't exactly statistically significant!) the most popular topics are ones that appeal to readers and touch upon a debate that is important to readers - for example I did a post on whether readers preferred playboy heroes (who abound in my genre) or virgin heroes (who are few and far between). The response was great, and very interesting for me as a romance writer.

[WonderBunny]

Great discussion question!

 

Triumphs: having people interested enough to comment on a book I've written a review of and some of the great blogging buddies I've meet over the last year and a half.

 

Angst: I am not a writer but that doesn't me I don't want my book reviews or other posts well written. I am constantly angst-y over my writing. Is it interesting? Is it full of errors? Did I state my feelings clearly? I am constantly haunted by those factors.

[Wicked Enchantment]

What a cool topic! Here are mine:

 

Triumphs: Meeting all of the wonderful fellow bloggers out there, who in turn have helped me in so many ways that I cannot dream to list. Finding all of the wonderful books and authors that I normally would not have found if I wasn't blogging.

 

Angst: While I don't fancy myself a writer, I do tend to get stuck with writers block on some of my reviews. And I hate doing a half-assed review, no matter who the author or what the book was. The other issue I have is figuring out what to post on my blog! lol

[Samantha Davis]

Great topic!  I've enjoyed reading all of these.  My own...

Angst...I've been blogging for less than nine months, and it often feels that I am writing into the void.  If a blogger posts a blog post and no one ever reads it, did it really exist? :)  

But my Triumphs...Every time a new follower signs up, every little comment that means someone read a post, and--once, but certainly my best moment so far--when an author posted a link to my review.

 

[Kathy Maxwell]

It takes time!  When I started a few months ago, I was in awe of bloggers with several hundred followers, but then I realized that they'd been on the web for several years.  Some host memes which boost their follower ranks.  Like you, I enjoy the comments the most.  Congrats on the author link!