Making time for blogging

[Patrick Feron]

Hi all

Would anyone out there have some good tips about becoming and staying a motivated blogger? Probably like so many, I started out with the best of intentions. Alas, all these other things like work,  sports training and needing to take time out just to relax have overtaken the desire to engage regularly with blogging. I don't want to be glued to the computer, but if anyone knows what motivates them to blog often and is willing to share, that'd be great.

 

Thanks

 

Paddy.

[Sara-Jayne Slack]

Keep developing your site. Work on a few different ideas rather than just one or two. That's what I did, and it's progressed so much I'm looking into making it my full-time job around September/October. I'm not saying make it your life, but keeping it from becoming a chore is really important.

 

Also in terms of updates, if you know you're going to be busy on a certain day when you update, schedule a post for that day so you don't have to worry about it. Sometimes I even schedule up to two, three weeks in advance (I update twice a week), then if anything topical comes up, I simply change the schedule order to fit something new in.

 

I hope that helps!

 

~Sara, from Inspired-Quill

[Patrick Feron]

Thanks Sara, that's good advice. I've been mulling over wide or narrow scope, and this definitely has helped.

 

Cheers

 

Paddy

[Patrick Feron]

Hi Shawn, a funny thing is your comments are making me think I need to sit down and think of this like I do my work (which involves analysis and planning, but I leave that at work because it is work). I think if I combine what you've spoken of with Sara's advice I might be on to a way to staying enthused... I like solving problems, so maybe that's a way for me to approach this.

 

Appreciate the advice. (Oh, & a relative lives in Auckland so I travel there once or twice a year. Warmer than Wellington, but humid and rainy by comparison).

Cheers

 

Paddy

[ManOfLaBook.com]

Maybe get some guest bloggers so you don't have the pressure to write interesting posts often.

 

How often do you post? Is it everyday? Maybe you should cut down to 2-3 times a week.

 

Are you a few weeks ahead of schedule?

I have about 100 drafts and at least one weekly post all the way to April (which I committed to). 

This takes off the pressure because I can just pick a draft, finish it up and have a post up in half the time.

[Enbrethiliel]

+JMJ+

 

Wow! Those are a lot!

 

I have less than ten in draft form at the moment, and only sure about what's going to happen to about half of them.

[Patrick Feron]

I'm more of casual blogger one might say, I'd just like to make it a more regular effort though. I have a bit on my plate, so finding time to wind down and relax (away from the computer) is really important. I hadn't even considered the idea of keeping a file of numerous drafts/ideas to progress at hand. I might not wind up with so many as you mentioned, but it's something for me to add to the planning. Thanks for the idea!

 

Cheers

 

Paddy

[Patrick Feron]

Hi RYCJ, I agree time can be made with good scheduling, and identification of priorities. What you've said has made me think about starting to do that again. I used to have to plot my days with precision for a few years while studying, doing night shift work and physical training (so as to keep the grades up if not my eyes wide open ;-). As a result I loathe planning even my weekends in advance, to this day. What I might have to do is combine some of the feedback to my topic with some acceptance of having to actually plan a bit. Thanks for the useful comments!

Cheers

 

Paddy

[Enbrethiliel]

+JMJ+

 

I have the opposite problem from yours, Patrick. I need to be motivated to rejoin the real world more often than I'd like to admit! =P So I kind of envy your position.

 

But more to the point, one of my strategies is to be a regular participant in "thoughtful" memes that require one to work meaningful content into a post. Every Thursday, for instance, is Character Connection day at The Introverted Reader: when I join, I usually write about a character I've known and loved for years. I've found that posts are easier to write on a regular basis when they're about older reads.

[Patrick Feron]

Hi Enbrethiliel, we all have our 'commitments'. I had to ween myself off work of all things, cut back the hours and get my life back - there's something to be said for retaining 'you' so to speak. I think I know what you mean by the 'older reads'. If I'm right, this would be material that I'm fairly familiar with so the information is already there in my head for me to bring together without tress. That's something I'll pocket and keep in mind, thanks :-)

 

Cheers

 

Paddy

[Gina D]

Make sure you're blogging about something that you find fascinating, it helps a lot!

 

And, frankly, don't be afraid to take a little break for up to a couple of weeks. It's better to post quality over quantity, and spamming a blog with crappy posts is still spam :) Write, edit and communicate with your audience when you actually have something to say and your blog will be better for it.

 

I know this blogger is not a book blogger, but when people get in these funks, I always point to Allie B at Hyperbole and a Half, she posts every two or three weeks, and sometimes goes even longer in between posts. Her audience never shrinks, in fact it grows. Look at her followers and her comments: they increase with every single post.

 

Quality over quantity, and don't beat yourself up over writer's block. It will pass, and your work will be better for it.

[Patrick Feron]

Hi Gina, that sounds like some user friendly advice. As I've checked the responses to my topic everyone has offered a bit more, and I can see how broadening the scope/choosing something I'm really interested in, monitoring quality, doing a bit of planning and not rushing the process may well be something I can tackle. Thanks for the wisdom Gina.

 

Cheers

 

Paddy

[Rainy Kaye]

I think a post on my blog can help you :) http://www.rainyofthedark.com/2011/01/how-to-keep-a-blog-schedule/

 

Best luck!

 

//Rainy