Last week we discussed how many of us are blogoholics and spend massive amounts of time blogging. Although blogging is a great hobby, it can interfere with our daily lives.
Decreasing the amount of time we spend blogging can not only improve our real life social skills, but can free up more time to spend on other goals.
Today’s Lesson
Like many of you, I need to become efficient in my blogging activities. Listed below are five tips I’ve come up with for streamlining our blogging routines.
Set a timer when visiting blogs in your reader
Although I don’t do this each time I visit the blogs in my reader, when I do, it makes me realize how fast an hour passes when I’m reading other blogs and commenting.
Answer your comments less often
If you’re receiving a steady stream of comments, let them build up before joining in. Often commenters will “feed” off each other and an interesting discussion can ensue.
Pick one or two favorite social networking sites
Each time we add another social networking site to our list, it eats into our blogging time. Use the ones you enjoy the most and discard the rest.
Write when creativity strikes
Bloggers often have spurts of creativity followed by dry spells. When creative juices are flowing, write several posts at once. When the dry spells hit, we have something to fall back on.
Post date your articles
For those using WordPress, we can take advantage of the post date feature on our WordPress blog. In WordPress 2.5.1, the option is under “Edit” of your “write” screen.
Today’s Assignment
How do you streamline your blogging time?
Can you add other suggestions to the list?
Feel free to join in the conversation, share your time saving tips, or let us know how ideas posted by others will help you.
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Photo Credit: AMANITO’s photostream
Already I am learning much from these tips you and your readers have given so far, Barbara.
I am always looking to adopting best practice from the beginning.
I like your idea of pre-writing posts when creativity strikes, though I understand Cath’s caution with regards being tempted to overdo it.
This will be a very helpful article and I look forward to everyone’s advice.
Hi Barbara – these are great tips. The pre-writing your posts is a good one if you’re careful. At one point, I found myself pre-writing a whole weeks posts – which should have been good. Trouble was, I still found myself wanting to cover other things and began writing two posts a day which was ridiculous.
I would add – make a proper marketing plan. Like you said – time how long each activity takes you, then make a plan to spend so much time on each, every day. Otherwise, you’ll spend too much time commenting and social networking.
While these are good things, there’s lots of other marketing activities that are equally as important. If we have no plan – we tend to gravitate towards the ones we like doing best and they’re not always the most worthwhile ones.
I agree with Cath and I would add that…
You can write several posts one after the other, but you don’t need to publish them the same day. You can always save them for another day.
Miguel de Luis´s last blog post..Roots, how to make them grow
Hi Barbara. All great suggestions! Actually, I’ve been wondering how helpful a speed reading course might be. Do I hear laughter… ? — I’m serious 🙂
I’m working on setting up a blogging schedule, which I’m obviously not using YET. It’s well after midnight and I should be in bed now.
I work from home and have allotted a few hours early in the day to visit, comment and write. I know that if I don’t get this out of my system I’ll be sneaking peaks all day and all it takes is one peak and I’m gone for hours.
The bulk of my work day (no blogging) will be 10-4ish. Then I’ll allow another hour or so during the evening to write & reply to comments on my own blog.
Davina´s last blog post..Free Spirit My Ass!
I write when the muse strikes! Generally, that occurs in the wee hours of the morning (4am or so) – it’s nice and quiet, kids are asleep, husband is asleep, Twitter Budgies (okay they shriek up a storm, but I digress)…..
Quiet time really does help my creativity.
Data points, Barbara
Barbara Ling´s last blog post..How to destroy relationship abuse
Great tips Barbara!
And, Davina – I do really like the idea of a speed reading class! It is an excellent idea – we can be more proficient at getting through all the great stuff out there.
I do a couple of your suggestions Barbara. Like keeping essentially one social tool. And replying to groups of comments (even though I answer each one) at one time. I’m afraid if I set a timer, it would go off way before I’m ready to step away (even though that could be a good idea sometimes!).
Certain days of the week I have more time, and I’ll do more reading, commenting etc. on those days.
I really need to start writing articles when the creativity is there. It would be nice sometimes to have something to fall back on. So, that’s the one I’ll take away from here to work on! Thanks Barbara!
Lance´s last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
Hi Barbara – this is great for me at the moment – as I really need to work on my blogging time management. Thanks!
I see you have a groovy new CommentLuv (or something).
Robin´s last blog post..Love Song To Planet Earth
I save my writing for when I’m inspired. I wrote 4 last week so I could free up my weekend.
I give myself breaks and invite myself to be real. Then at least I know one person will read it! 🙂 me.
I don’t chase after social networking sites. If I read something and I’m inspired I say so and stumble it. I don’t stumble to get reciprocity.
I don’t even try to comment on every single post of my favorite bloggers. I just try to get to them at some time. It’s the best I can do.
After two years of blogging, this is what it comes down to. 🙂
Dr. Cason´s last blog post..I’m Looking for the Positive
I like the idea of the timer. I don’t know how well it will work for me, though because I still find myself saying “just one more”. I follow many of your tips and like Lance, some days I have more time. I catch up some on the weekends.
I have a list of about 10 blogs that I try to read daily. The others are broke down into categories and I have them in order by importance. The blogs I like but are not my favorites or my highest commentors are left for days when I have more time. I may have several posts saved up on these blogs and will read them all at the same time only commenting on one or two. This has been helpful.
I recently went through my reader list and deleted a few blogs. Not as many as I would have liked. I hate doing that, but I needed to cut back a little.
Also, sometimes as I see blogs take off and they have an increase in commenters, I sometimes back off and comment less. It seems they may not need my input as much as other blogs, and if I’m #44 there sometimes isn’t much more to add.
Finally, sometimes I just have to say, “I can’t read all these” and mark all as read and start fresh. Again, it’s not my favorite solution, but it helps relieve some of the stress when I see so many posts in my reader.
Debbie Yost´s last blog post..Good News – Bad News
I think one of the biggest time suckers when it comes to blogging is adding and/or updating new features.
It’s easy, especially early on, to keep tweaking and adding features that you can find yourself in a crunch just to get out your next post. But then again, if we don’t keep up with some of the latest features we take the chance of missing out on some great additions to our blogs.
I think good advice here would be to always right your post first and then you can tweak all you want. It’s OK to set THAT aside for another day, whereas you posting is much more time critical.
Thanks for bringing up a great conversational point. Eric.
“Motivate Thyself”´s last blog post..This Baby’s Still In Diapers!
Great tips as usual Barbara … I don’t think I’ll do the first one though, setting up a timer would probably stress me out! But I love the last 2 and I wonder why I didn’t think of them before. Thanks! 🙂
Irene | Light Beckons´s last blog post..Beverly Takes A Break
I’m a ‘blog while the iron is hot’ kinda girl.
I sometimes have bursts of ideas which I write down straight away (it has been know to be on the back of a car park receipt while in the car!) and then get as much down as I can.
I keep a ‘blog book’ with me to jot down ideas or things said or things to mention because I have a memory like a sieve.
I usually have at least 3 blogs in hand to fall back on.
I’ve also found it useful to have a structure to my blog, so I post on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday as a mainstay and then add in if and when I can.
I also have one ‘regular’ day where I do a certain thing on a Wednesday (I decided on a photograph-based Wordless Wednesday) because I find it much easier to stick to a routine like that and it helps to know what I need to come up with.
Tara´s last blog post..Which superhero are you?
Another way to cut back on blogging is to start a diy project that will keep you away from the keyboard. Then you feel like you are in catch up mode which makes you start to streamline what you are writing, updating or just reading. Crazy as that sounds, it does work occasionally! 🙂
Linda´s last blog post..An Idea I really Like!
I think I sort of, maybe, just might have a handle on this now.
a) reading and commenting: I have a list of the blogs I read and I work my way through them during breaks at work. What isn’t read in that time period, I read the next day.
b) writing my posts: as the mood strikes me, so quite often I have my week’s worth of posts written at the beginning of the week. I post-date them in typepad.
c) responding to comments on my site: all at once, in the evening.
d) social networking: just one (Twitter). 5 minutes in the morning to write a few comments and to announce my day’s post. 15 minutes at night to catch up with people.
I feel more in control with these strategies, and am accomplishing a lot more at home.
Urban Panther´s last blog post..You may mock me if you wish
I have a blogging problem. I was originally trying to comment on this post from my iPhone but it locked up after I had typed a considerable amount using my thumbs.
The gist of it is this. I blog way to much. Mostly its looking at stats, checking comments and installing plugins and moving stuff around in the theme.
I agree with you, I need to allot an hour a day (or some other predetermined time slot) to doing it so I can stop checking it under the table at dinner on my iPhone….
Paunchiness´s last blog post..Win an Apple® iPod® Shuffle
I try to keep my posts to about three a week. It’s nice to know that even when I do not post on a certain day, I still have comments I can reply to. Kind of like, my blog is still working while I’m sleeping.
I write advance posts when I can, but I still find myself writing some timely post that pushes the pre-written ones aside. 🙂
I am on a couple of social networking sites, and I try to resist joining more!
Pink Ink´s last blog post..Please, No Lies
I find the timer to be a good tool. I don’t have a timer but I do set a time limit each day I am going to work on blogging. Be it commenting, posting or whatever. I stick to the schedule and move on with the rest of my day.
I have started to plan my day hour-to-hour in an attempt to get a true picture of what I can actually accomplish in a day. I plan (and limit) my blogging time. otherwise my work and home life get neglected.
I can’t say I’ve perfected this yet, but I feel I’m making improvement.
My time-management tool was inspired by simplemom.net, and you can see a version of the one I “tweaked” at my other blog, one bag nation.
Looking forward to reading more comments for more tips!
Vintage Mommy´s last blog post..Happy Birthday Vintage Girl!
I cannot wait to find myself ahead enough to post date my articles. That would be blogging nirvana.
Writer Dad´s last blog post..Hi, My Name is Sean (Not Seen).
When I first started blogging, I would write on the weekends and then schedule the posts. However, I experienced EXACTLY what Cath did and found I was “breaking” my posting schedule because I needed to create “strike while the iron is hot” type of posts.
Now, I SAVE those posts that aren’t time sensitive and can then publish them easily when the muse has abandoned me and left me for dead along the side of the information highway! Those “Drafts” are a welcomed relief at those times!
Great point about answering your comments less often as well as well as only joining focusing on a couple of social networking sites. I have found that there is a lot of time lost in constantly checking the comments and responding. I agree that it is better to let it build up because more than likely, people will “talk amongst themselves”. Regarding social networking sites; it’s simply too confusing to try to keep up with more than a handful. If you focus on just one or two, it can really make your life so much easier. Thanks!
janelle´s last blog post..You Can’t Please Everyone: Five Ways to Handle Negative Comments
When I’m blogging, I shut down email, Twitter, Facebook and focus on writing posts and answering comments first, then as a “treat” I allow myself to read other blogs and if I have even more time I comment on those.
I also don’t answer my home phone when I’m blogging (don’t tell my family and friends). Focusing is key to using my time to the fullest.
I feel badly when I can’t comment on all of my favorite blogs, but I hope my BWAB community friends understand and know I’m reading even if I can’t comment!
I “batch” my reading and save it for the weekends sometimes, too.
Linda Abbit´s last blog post..<a href=”http://tenderlovingeldercare.com/inspiring-quotes-for-caregivers-92408??)3EInspiring Quotes for Caregivers — 9/24/08
This is a great post! I just recently realized that I spend a lot of time blogging. However, instead of cutting back on blogging I gave my two week notice. How that will end up, I have no idea…
Justin Wright´s last blog post..13 Reasons To Follow Me on Twitter
Thanks for the great tips Barbara. Time management is definitely an issue for bloggers. One of our greatest downfall is that our work involves being online. And oh dear, there are a million distractions online. You may go to someone’s blog to comment, but before you know it, something else catches your eye and that’s it, you are dragged somewhere else and on and on….
The internet is a great place to be, but it is also a great time sucking machine. To be successful at managing our time, we need to be able to resist these sweet distractions. Sweet they may be, but too much of them certainly suck up our time. Actually, if you examine your output closely, you may find out that out of the 8 hours a day you think you spend blogging, 3 of those hours are actually productive, whilst the other 5 is unaccontable for…You have been WARNED!!
sharon´s last blog post..It is Important to Be Selfish
I’m curious, for those who feel they have a good handle on their blogging, how often do you blog and other than blogging, what do you do for work? More to the point, do you work a normal job or do you own and operate your own business?
The tips here are all great and ones I try, but I still have time issues even though I only write 2 to 3 articles per week.
Perhaps my problem is I read a little slower than some people and I can’t pump out an article per hour.
Owning a business I have website updates, interaction with customers, networking with other businesses, hold meetings and discuss marketing avenues and budget issues, spending sufficient time with my wife and kids, etc.
Part of my problem may be my posts tend to be a bit longer and informative, thus take longer to write. But it’s so hard for me to get my point across in just a few paragraphs.
It’s all a bit frustrating to me (the time issue).
John Hoff – eVentureBiz´s last blog post..The Pros and Cons of Social Media Marketing and Does It Teach Us Bad Habits As Entrepreneurs?
I have started reducing my time on blogging of late. Earlier, I used to reply to each and every comment as soon as they arrive (like Blackberry addiction). Nowadays, after posting something new, I give it 8-10 hours (sleep time) before replying. However, after a mass reply, the subsequent comments may be replied on a one-to-one basis.
I am using the WordPress scheduling feature once in a while, esp when I am on vacation. However, laziness is catching up and no more drafts in my queue right now 😆
Ajith
Ajith Edassery´s last blog post..Make your blog look great on any browser – even on mobile
How do you streamline your blogging time? Guilt. ;). I’m working on prioritizing, putting blogging in its place. I change the time of my blogging activities so that I’m not interrupted. I post once a week now, twice is rare. I let the comments build instead of responding right away. I try not to talk too much (any more) when commenting, one key point can work too.
Natural´s last blog post..Do Excuses Negate Responsibility?
Hi Catherine – Like you, I’ve had instances where I was set to publish specific posts, but then changed my mind. And yes, having a plan is necessary.
Hi Miguel – You’re right. We can always save post dated articles for a future date.
Hi Davina – LOL I LOVE your idea of taking a speed reading course. Having a blogging schedule is another great idea for saving time. If we can discipline ourselves to stick with it, we can still enjoy blogging and have plenty of time for activities in our real life.
Hi Scott – Yes, having read the comments that have come in, everyone is sharing wonderful ideas and time saving tips. Prior to starting a blog, many of these can be implemented so that your blog doesn’t take over your life.
Hi Barbara Ling – I’m like you. I love to write when it’s quiet. I’m not an early bird, but often feel creative late at night.
Hi Lance – Having posts to fall back on helps to relieve the pressure of getting a post out. Although I don’t always have one, I do have a long list of ideas in my drafts file.
Hi Dr. Cason – Yes, we do need to give ourselves breaks, and realize our limits.
Hi Debbie – I hear you. Sometimes our readers get so full we’re forced to pick and choose. I may not be able to read every new posts a blogger has, but will pick one that resonates with me.
Hi Eric – You’re right. Working behind the scenes can take a huge amount of time. Like you said, concentrating on posting and leaving maintenance for later works best.
Hi Robin – Yes, that’s the new and improved CommentLuv. I like how we have the choice of picking which post of ours we want displayed.
Hi Irene – The first few times I used a timer I felt more pressure, but now I allot a specific period of time and when it’s up, I move on to my next project.
Hi Tara – Having a structure to our blogs is a great idea. Knowing every Wednesday is “Wordless Wednesday” or every Sunday is a quote , or every Friday is a recap of sorts, does simplify the process.
Hi Linda – I’m a big diy-er, and you’re right. Getting away from our computers often gets us working with the other side of our brain, and helps us to be even more creative.
Hi Urban Panther – Wow! It does sound like you do have a handle on your blogging activities. It shows by having a schedule, we can accomplish more in less time.
Hi Paunchiness – LOL – That’s too funny, checking your blog under the dinner table on your iPhone. 🙂
Hi Pink Ink – Yes, writing less posts a week is a great way to give us more time for other blogging activities.
Hi Dave Jone – What I do is use the timer on our stove. When it goes off, I finish what I’m in the middle of and than go back to my job or life activities.
Hi Ann – I saw that post of yours. Tracking how we spend our time is the first step to streamlining our blogging (and life) activities.
Hi Writer Dad – Have no fear, you’ll get there. 🙂
Hi Janelle – Like you, I get confused on some of the social networking sites. They’re all a little different, and just learning each one is time consuming.
Hi Linda Abbit – That’s another great idea; turning things off to avoid distractions. Often it’s those interruptions that keep us from being focused.
Hi Justin – Welcome to the BWAB community. It will be interesting to see what happens now that you gave your two week notice. I wish you well on being a full time blogger.
Hi Kathy – Welcome to the BWAB community. I agree, having backup drafts do save us when the muse leaves us.
Hi John – Like you, time is something that has always haunted me, especially with all of the other things we need to tend to in real life. Maybe like Davina suggested, we need to take a speed reading course. 🙂
Hi Ajith – Yes, while we sleep comments do build up, so that actually works well. Being on different time zones can work to our advantage.
Hi Natural – You’re right, we do need to put our blogging activities in their proper place. If we’re blogging for hobby purposes only, it’s probably easier to do. If we blog to make money or advance our careers/businesses, the time issue seems to become more of a problem.
Hi Vered – That works well, doesn’t it? If we can crank out more than one post in one sitting, it sure helps to give us more time for life or other blogging activities.
Hi Sharon – Isn’t that the truth? The internet can be a HUGE distraction, and following those bread crumbs can use up more hours than we could imagine. Like you said, we often end up with unaccountable time, and wonder where the day went.
Hi Tammy – You’re welcome. Communities on blogs are wonderful, aren’t they? I love it when people freely contribute as it helps others as well. We quickly realize we’re all in the same boat, so if someone else shares a blogging tip, we can all benefit.
I have created a daily schedule and given fixed hours to blogging. Let’s see how it goes. I am a fast reader which works to my advantage. My struggle is coming up with posts and comments – both take up a lot of time.
Avani-Mehta´s last blog post..How To Pick Your First Anger Management Area – Anger Management Series Part IV
I’ll second “When creative juices are flowing, write several posts at once.” It’s exactly what I do – then I post date the posts for a later date.
Hi Avani – You’ll have to teach me how to read faster. 🙂 I agree, commenting takes time, as we want our comment to add value to the post.
Hi Marelisa – I find reading blogs in my reader is the most efficient way to go as they are all in one place. Even though I follow a lot, I can pick and choose as I have them organized by NBOTW, blogs to watch (for NBOTW), read daily, read weekly, marketing blogs, etc…
I am slowly learning to wean off those blogs that I feel I “have” to go back to just because I received a comment. I am in this for me. I love to meet others through the process. Sometimes, I feel as though people just float from blog to blog without any direction. I have a list of 20 that I visit each day. I can’t wait to join in the conversations in the comment section.
I am one of the few that has a EC account that reads your blog. I have met some wonderful bloggers by doing it. I plan on dropping it over the next couple of months because I have too much on my plate at one time. I was never in it for the drops. I was in it for the “connections”. I feel as though I have made them now.
I want to say thank you for sharing all of your ideas. Us newbies need the help and you share it unselfishly.
Tammy Warren´s last blog post..Was that a compliment? Think about it.
Hi Barbara: I published a bloggers’ checklist on my blog yesterday to try and be more efficient, and I’m trying to create a blogging routine. Would you say that the most efficient way to read other blogs is with google reader? I need to streamline the way that I read blogs b/c I feel like I’m being very inefficient at that right now.
Marelisa´s last blog post..27 Simple Ways to Simplify Your Life
Instead of spending long chunks of time online, try doing it several times throughout the day.
I like to get up early and do some blogging while having my breakfast. It’s a good time to browse through the reader and drop a few comments.
I sometimes get a chance to check again at school just before class or at recess.
But pre-writing posts offline is a must.
That’s what I do anyway.
Chase March´s last blog post..Chase March – on a podcast!
Not sure I can add to this list.
But I do agree, that it’s perfectly OK – to wait a bit of time, before responding to comments. The important thing, is probably that they get responded to. Other than that, it should be done at a time most convenient for the blogger, when necessary.
Bamboo Forest´s last blog post..7 Ways to Settle a Dispute
@ John Hoff – eVenture Biz — I try to write one longer, “meaty” post per week and then two “quickies” per week, John.
I have a part time mobile notary/signing agent biz that has been v-e-r-y quiet of late (ha!), and so I decided to start my blog & TLeC community with my now-free work time. I feel stressed for time for all that blogging entails and I don’t have a huge other business like you do.
I totally understand your frustration. Your posts are so worthwhile, John. I don’t think your readers would worry if you keep posting long ones, but a little less frequently — if that would help your stress level decrease. Blogging is just one of many activities you use to build your offline business, whereas blogging IS my business for now, while being open to it growing into something more.
My blog is still so new that I don’t want to decrease my posting frequency yet.
Hope my two cents helps!
Linda Abbit´s last blog post..Inspiring Quotes for Caregivers — 9/24/08
I’d so love to take a speed reading course. Problem is, I don’t have time! hehehehe
John Hoff – eVentureBiz´s last blog post..The Pros and Cons of Social Media Marketing and Does It Teach Us Bad Habits As Entrepreneurs?
God bless post dating!
Sara at On Simplicity´s last blog post..Weekly Links: No Excuses Edition
Good ideas Barbara. Hey, you think we aren’t practicing social skills when we’re blogging? Ha!
I’ve thought of many ways of streamlining the whole blah blogging thing. I really haven’t come up with any sure fire ways yet. The timer thing is a good one. Usually an hour or two will get away from me before I realize how long I’ve been commenting. The problem is I want to add something substantial to the commentary, not just some stupid “great post!” thing. I am my own worst critic. And sometimes I spend 10 to 15 minutes at someone’s blog deliberating what I want to say – writing and editing. I really think that’s part of my personality though, and I don’t think that will change.
Oh well. There could be worse things.
And if I do get any busier – I was just thinking today – something’s gotta give. I will either post less or comment less. That’s hard to give on either end. Especially the comments, because people love to get comments.
Ellen Wilson´s last blog post..The Power of Perspective in Photography
I don’t post date the dates, I just save them in my draft file and post when ready. It is good to have back ups in case you get too busy.
Ellen Wilson´s last blog post..The Power of Perspective in Photography
I agree with striking while the iron is hot if you have an idea, even if it means making a draft post with just a title and a first rough intro.
that never fails for me when I have nothing to post, I must have 80 drafts waiting in the background!
Andy Bailey´s last blog post..New plugin to add snazziness to commentluv links
I am a week ahead in my posts at this time, but I always write between 11 and 2 everyday of the week. I will be away for 11 days 3 of them weekends days when I have to do my other life and not my writing life.
I check 7 news sites from as many countries as I can read the language – for diversity 5 days a week. I attempt to lead a workshop on some aspect of life’s changes once a month.
I read for 4 hours every day…Reading and writing comments is my week day dessert. ( I like chocolate cake on the weekends.)
I attempt to talk to at least 2 humans a day face to face or on the phone. My day is a disciplined routine from 4:30am to 9pm.
I am attempting now to learn how to make an income, which I have never accomplished in my life.
I read every word on Barbara’s blog and try to discover a new blog 3 times a week. I attempt to embrace one new lesson about blogging each week – and forgive myself when I miss. I appreciate the wonderful sharing and writing people do and I am grateful for all the comments people have made on my site…I get up in love with the day and I love this medium…how lucky am I !
Thank you all!
Patricia´s last blog post..I Need to Tell You This
I didn’t realize that a number of bloggers write their posts in advance. I’ve been finding it hard to, for unexplained reasons. I tend to go with the flow. I know it is very inefficient the way I am working but can’t seem to think of better ways to improve productivity. Perhaps, the thing that seems to be clogging my way to efficiency and effectiveness is my inbox. I’ve got to find better methods in clearing my messages.
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post..Soul Revelations From Past Life Memories
Barbara – I have yet to be disciplined on my blog schedule but I try my utmost best to write on a specific day of the week but the down side of that is that if I am not creative and writing under the time constraint then it may impact the quality of the content.
Shilpan | successsoul.com´s last blog post..How to Take Control of Your Life Now
I agree with most of your points except for the one about answering fewer comments, even with a massive amount of traffic. As Gary Veynerchuck would say, “answer every single email and every single comment on your blog’ for the rest of your FREAKING life.”
Daniel Allen / The Efficiancy Proposal´s last blog post..5 Ways To Get More Sleep
Hi Bamboo – Yes, answering all of the comments is important, and waiting for a time slot to do so, is fine.
Hi John – 😆 Good one! I don’t have time either.
Hi Sara – Amen!
Hi Chase – I prefer to blog in “chunks of time”, but I’m usually get to caught up in it, I forget to leave my desk. That’s where the time comes in handy for me.
Hi Ellen – I hear you about writing comments. Sometimes it’s more time consuming to leave a worthwhile comment than it is to write a blog post.
Post less vs comment less – That’s a tough one, but personally, I would probably go with post less.
Hi Andy – Aren’t those drafts like lifesavers? Like you, I have a lot of titles and “one liners”.
Hi Patricia – Wow! You are disciplined. It makes me happy to know BWAB is part of your schedule as I always enjoy hearing your thoughts. 🙂
Hi Evelyn – Ha! Inbox? For me that’s a little ways down my list. I separated my email accounts and have one for my blog and one for work and other. That seems to help, plus having a good spam filter.
Hi Shilpan – That’s where writing when you’re feeling creative comes in. If you post on a specific day, just save it until that day.
Hi David Allen – Welcome to the BWAB community. Maybe my wording could have been better. I mean that it’s okay if we let the comments stack up and then answer ALL of them at one time.
Hi Dr. Nicole – That’s a good question. Since I last updated (WordPress), I haven’t used it. When I do, I’ll let you know where it shows up.
Great tips as per usual Barbara! Hey I tried to do a post dating with the old version of wordpress and it was a disaster! Does the postdated article show up anywhere on your dashboard once you hit post? Or is it just in some mystery land until posting?
Dr. Nicole Sundene´s last blog post..55 Healthy School Lunch Ideas
It seems like a recurring theme is set boundaries and then find the most effective way to optimize the time you have within the boundaries. Works for me.
J.D. Meier´s last blog post..It’s Not Your People, It’s Their Strengths
Big for me is to not force the writing. If it’s flowing, I write what I can. If it’s not flowing, I don’t force it. Nothing’s worse for me than if I sit there trying to force words that just aren’t coming.
I love the idea about setting a time when reading other blogs. Its amazing how much time I can spend doing that!
carla´s last blog post..LA Times: California launches broad effort to control hazardous chemicals
Hi J.D. – I remember when you mentioned setting up time boxes and working within that the framework of those. That seems like a very efficient way to go.
Hi Carla – Welcome to the BWAB community – Yes, setting a specific amount of time to read other blogs is a great way to control our blogging schedule. Like you said, it’s amazing how much time we can spend, without even knowing.
Hi Sarah – I agree, forced writing can be disastrous. For me, it becomes a waste of valuable time.
Thanks Barbara, I really needed that. I’ve been struggling a little to keep up with reading and commenting on other people’s blogs (especially as I keep coming across great new blogs that take me to other great new blogs!) and also writing my own blogs and responding to comments (not that I get too many – and sometimes I think it’s just as well because I’d be too overwhelmed). And that’s on top of all the other offline reading I want to do.
I figured out that I needed to get a bit disciplined about things, but wasn’t exactly sure how. I have realised that I can’t possibly read everything that interests me and don’t have to read every article someone posts just because I’m subscribed. And I don’t always comment because sometimes someone’s already said what I was thinking so why double up? – or I don’t have anything worthwhile to add.
Glee Girl´s last blog post..Something to look forward to
Hi Glee Girl – You’re welcome. It’s tough to keep up with all that happens in our blogging world. As our blogs grow, and we find more great blogs, the list gets longer and our time gets shorter. Discipline helps, but even that can be hard to stick to. It gets to be that we can only give it our best.
Hi Barbara,
I try to write a weeks worth of posts at one time but usually only get three of them done. I was so happy on Sunday that I had posts written through Wednesday but now it’s Wednesday and I have nothing yet for the next couple of days.
I’m trying to stop responding to comments immediately and batch it at one time. It hadn’t occurred to me that the commenters may interact and start their own discussion.
Kim Woodbridge´s last blog post..Believing in Myself and Taking a Leap
I still have trouble writing in advance, but I’ve learned to take notes on post ideas so that when I do write, the writing moves more quickly. I find commenting takes a lot of time, but batching it helps.
Lori
SpaceAgeSage´s last blog post..Fall’s memories, melancholy, and magic
Carry a notebook around in case one of those creative moments strikes and you don’t have your computer on! When you think of a topic, start jotting down ‘titles’ for your posts. Once you gather a few titles, pick the best one to publish. Killer titles rock! Editors know that and make good use of titles to attract readers.
The rest of the advice is dead on; though I have a hard time allotting my time. There are actually a few computer programs that will send your computer to sleep mode so that you’re reminded to take a break…I’m just not sure how I feel about that.
Ricardo Bueno´s last blog post..What is a blog?
Hi Kim – Batching comments is what works for me. With me being on PST (pacific standard time) most of my comments are waiting for me when I open my blog each morning. I love to see the commenters interact with each other.
Hi Ricardo – I love your notebook idea. It seems like bloggers are constantly thinking of their blogs all day long. And yes, killer titles do rock.
Although I do have a hard time allotting time, when I’m under a time crunch but still want to visit other site, I’ll set a timer for a specific period of time (otherwise I get carried away).
Hi SpaceAgeSage – Writing in advance can help a lot if we want to have something ready for those dry spells. Although I don’t always do it, I love when I have something to fall back on. It’s like blogging insurance.