Starting a writing related blog didn’t sound like such a big deal, until I hit the “play” button. I started writing blog posts at the beginning of July, and had 35 or so ready to put up by the time I officially opened the blog. Then it felt like the second I started my writing time got sucked into blog land.
I’m not complaining. If it were really the blog I’d just shut it down. The blog just happened to be a great excuse to not work on what ever difficult scene was bothering me. Its so easy to tell myself I’m building a following, when all I’m really doing is hanging out with the people I know and love: Other writers.
Why write when you can talk about writing?
And it’s not as if I’m not actually writing. I’ve written 140 words so far, just typing out a new blog post. All these excuses are true, but they’re still just excuses. I realized that when I found new blog post ideas taking priority over how Elizabeth escapes from her airport nightmare.
I sat down at this point, and started reorganizing. New blog posts are to be written on weekends only. (I’ve got ten zillion of them waiting their turn to go up. It’s not like there won’t be a daily subject anyway.)
Comments now take up my morning, and writing has been moved to the evening. I kind of like that, because if I sleep in I’m not losing real writing time, and I don’t have to recheck my work for things I wrote in a sleep deprived stupor.
What’s your secret for keeping your writing life organized? Please share!
A.M. Kuska's Blog 
Aug 30, 2010 @ 12:20:27
I used to get up at 5:30 when my DH worked out and write my blog posts, comment, check out AQ and then get my kids ready for school, come home and write when my other (real) job was not demanding my time. Then over the summer, I started work on a new business endeavor that will bring me back to work full time starting September 8th.
That said, I have no idea how I will manage. However, your weekend blogging sounds like a great idea. I’m guessing I’ll have to cut back to only a few times a week instead of daily. Which is the world’s biggest bummer because you are right, the blog is not about the writing. It’s all about connecting with other writers and I will miss that.
hugs~
Aug 30, 2010 @ 12:51:00
I seem to be the reverse of you. I have a blog, and I write (around life), and yet it is my writing blog which gets less attention than my other writing.
I need to remember to blog more, but i forget. I prioritise the novel and the short stories, with some editing of other work in there, and THEN the blog…
Aug 31, 2010 @ 03:48:42
Your best bet for getting comments is to socialize in the blogging community. The people most likely to comment are the ones who know those comments matter. You know?
Aug 30, 2010 @ 13:42:17
This summer has been horrible in terms of my discipline, organization, and output. Before your post popped up in my e-mail, I had just been looking at the date and thinking, it’s the end of potato chip season. We eat potato chips with hamburgers, which we have for dinner nearly every Saturday through the summer.
And I was thinking I need to follow MartiV and CarolE’s lead by setting out a schedule, and heeding Cat Gerlach’s admonition to “always try harder.” It works for them!
Your daily postings have been impressive. Very few people post every day. Some blogs have new posts daily, but those are usually group blogs or blogs that rely on a photo and a short caption. So, you go, girl.
But the novel comes first.
Aug 30, 2010 @ 15:44:21
I’ve been blogging for less than two months and found that blogging was taking too much time. I had to identify my blog priorities and make a plan: I begin early in the morning before daybreak commenting. I post once each day but interrupt the posting schedule whenever duty calls. I spend half an hour or more in the evening before retiring commenting again and surfing for new bloggers. Would you like my surfing formula?
Aug 31, 2010 @ 03:35:43
Sure!
Aug 31, 2010 @ 14:19:29
I discovered the little “search WordPress.com” box on the tool bar at the top of my blog page. I put in any word that comes to my mind, say apple pie (I haven’t used that one yet) and all the blogs that have apple pie in the title of their most recent posts will come up. Write or Writer brings up LOTS of posts. I take a look at the blog and decide whether I want to comment.
Aug 31, 2010 @ 02:25:34
Hi, saw your visit, so thought I would check out your blog. 🙂
I only blog once a week. I write or edit or proof read Monday to Friday, and weekends are free to do what I want, including writing next blog.
Sep 01, 2010 @ 23:55:13
I’m still early in the “managing” phase of my blogging…with two little ones and editorial deadlines, I have decided my structure is a lack of structure. I log on when I can and try to comment as much as I can. My goal has been at least two new posts a week but the day can vary. I do have hope it will streamline soon…:)
Sep 02, 2010 @ 13:47:17
Early morning is when I work on my novel. I’m a morning person, so my mind is freer at that point and the ideas just fall onto the page (usually, unless I’ve got stuff coming up later in the day that distracts me).
I blog when an idea hits me over the head. I’m not on any schedule for that. My novel is my priority. Then, whenever I have time during the day, I make the rounds of my favorite blogs and comment, etc.