Or how I'm going to start doing it, anyway.
I love to blog. I love to read other blogs. I love to comment on blogs that strike my fancy or hit a cord or piss me off or whatever. And I love comments in return.
But this thing is taking over my life!
There are a million and two bloggers out there who are bigger and better than me, and they must have some serious time management skills or a maid or something, but me? I can't figure out how to do this blog thing without letting everything else go to hell in a hand basket.
But I decided that I can make this work if I do things my way... So here we go...
1. I will respond to comments on my blog within the comments section so that I don't have to spend my life e-mailing people who don't remember why I'm e-mailing them. So if you want a follow-up, hit that little box in the comments section that says "e-mail follow up comments to me". And don't worry about getting a flood of e-mails containing other people's comments. I don't get enough to worry about. If you leave a question or comment that requires a more intimate response, I will e-mail you, but you will not get used to that or expect it to be the norm. Mmm-K?
2. I will continue to follow new blogs if they interest me, but I cannot guarantee that I will read every post. Want to know how I filter? It goes like this:
(Internal monologue...)
Let's see, 2,439 new blog posts to be read in my reader...Skimming, skimming...
OOO! Catchy title! I think I will read that one.
Reading, reading....thinking about my grocery list...Oh. I lost interest. Done. Next blog.
Reading, reading...I like how these paragraphs are not too long...Nice post! I get it! And I shall comment!
That's pretty much how it goes. I'm not at all saying that I'm cool and everyone else is not, or that no one is worth my time - I'm just saying that I don't want to/can't spend three hours a day on the computer reading EVERYTHING and commenting on EVERYTHING.
So I'm not going to.
If I read your blog, I will continue to do so, and I will comment when I have something worth saying.
And I wouldn't expect more than that in return. If you are reading my blog and I am boring you, please end your own misery and move on to the next one in your reader. I don't have delusions of grandeur, I know I can't please everyone.
Also, once a month, I will go through my reader and unsubscribe from blogs that I have lost interest in. That is not to be intentionally offensive or mean in any way, I just don't like clutter.
See, that was easy.
Have a nice weekend, everyone! (If there's anyone still here.)
hahaha nice plan. Mine consists of returning comments within the comments of my post, and hitting those blogs back. To make my own comments I pick one day and got at it for a couple hours then repeat the next week.
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister! It seems a lot of us are getting overwhelmed with blogging lately. Summer is a bad time to spend so much time on the computer (She said at 12:11 a.m. Sheesh!)
ReplyDeleteLeave the grocery list where it belongs. The bedroom.
ReplyDeletedo you read this one?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rantsfrommommyland.com/
Luna - I do now. Damn you.
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling of having my life taken over. Right now I'm on summer break (yeah, with no kids too) so I hardly notice when 5 hours on the computer go by. I have no idea what I'll do during the school year!
ReplyDeleteI'll maybe have to emulate your guidelines come fall :)
I just cleaned out my reader yesterday because I found that I have been following blogs that I'm not even reading and I wanted to make room for new blogs, like yours, that I just recently discovered.
ReplyDeleteI have that same approach to my reader. It's so random, other than the 30 blogs I have in my "awesome" file. I've already done one purge but I like the idea of doing one each month. Great suggestion.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't figured out how to manage the comment/reading thing. It is a time suck, so I get up before everyone else and just say to hell with the laundry. Your method is probably way better!
ReplyDeleteOh snap! (Do people still say that??) I have been wondering how the heck to manage all this too. It's a little ridiculous that my children are getting neglected for "strangers". Way to say it!
ReplyDeleteWhat about family blogs? I don't have much talent, but I do like writing, and more importantly, feedback from other family members and friends. It's ok, I will always read yours... Mine hasn't gone viral yet. Maybe you could put a button on yours? HA! I know that won't happen, and mines not that good anyways...
ReplyDeleteSorry, I should have stated that this does not apply to family blogs. And David, my blog is far, far away from anything viral. Smart ass.
ReplyDeleteI'm still here and I will continue to be here. You write too well to stay away. Hey, the cemetery is on the street that is adjacent to the lower parking lot of the Park City ski resort. You have to go there, it's amazing!! I'm with you, I want to be buried somewhere with character and lots of old trees. I don't think I'm going to get my wish.
ReplyDeleteYou just stole my post!! Ha. I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I have a draft all about commenting - not sure if it will ever see the published light of a blogging day, but maybe... Reading and commenting could be a full time job (and one I'd gladly take if someone would just pay me, please).
ReplyDeleteThis is a no-pressure business. It's supposed to be a fun, creative outlet. So do what feels right, what works for you.
So glad to have found your blog. Also, am now hungry for an enchilada. The veggie crumble spaghetti sauce I was going to make is shelved (much to my husband's relief). Tex Mex is now on the menu!
ha ha i figured you'd love it. it's laura!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty much the same way as you. I have 5 kids, so I only have like a half hour a day to spend doing blog related stuff. My laundry and dishes are out of control as it is, couldn't imagine if I devoted hours to the computer. And now I feel incredibly honored that you commented on 3 of my blog posts today!!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Lula Lola - I end up getting home from the gym about an hour before the kiddo wakes up, and I do most of my blogging then and after she goes to bed. It's hard to keep up with all the blogs on my reader!
ReplyDeleteI think you just spelled out what everyone else feels. Or at least, that's what I tell myself. The alternative is that you and I just have zero time management ability. Pft. Whatever. I'm over it.
ReplyDeleteHa! You're a straight shooter, I like it! I'm with you , running into problems with clutter and filtering...laundry/dishes? forget it! Anyway, gonna try google reader folders? IDK, I've got to do something:)
ReplyDeleteDude, totally with you. Sometimes I think, "Ah hell, if I don't post, I'll lose EVERYONE!" You know, one of those mini dramatic moments. But eh, if people like me. They can wait. Woo hoo, blogging!
ReplyDelete