Thursday Review—Don’t Get Blogged Down

This may seem like a odd topic for a review, but I’ve gotten a lot of questions lately about how some of you are following so many blogs you don’t have time to write. Of course I’m also hearing from some who haven’t committed to following any blogs because of a fear that there won’t be any time to write.

Either extreme will blog…er…bog down your career.

All kidding aside, as a writer it’s vitally important to continue your education. And blogs can be an extremely efficient way to do this. I can hear the chorus of complaints now.

• There are millions of blogs out there—how do I find one that’s worthwhile?
• How do I narrow down my choices—do I have to read hundreds to find one that fits what I need?
• Where do I start looking—it’s gonna be like finding a needle in a haystack!

Enough already.

Finding high quality blogs, that pertain to your situation are just not that hard to find. You find a good blog the same way you find a good book. Think about it, we’ve been shopping for books for years, choosing from millions of titles, and finding success. 

• First, look for recommendations from people you trust.
• Second, most blogs have blog lists as a part of their layout. If you like blogger A and he likes blogger D, chances are you ought to give it a try.
• Third, look for blogs from familiar people. Now days, most bloggers have or are at least affiliated with more than one blog. 

So how do you manage following blogs and keep from eating into valuable writing time?

I have a plan for that too. I like to use a three tiered approach.

• I start with three to five blogs that I follow regularly. These are blogs I almost always read.
• Then I have a second level of six to eight blogs that I watch closely. I read these about one half of the time and I decide when by paying close attention to the subject lines and titles of the posts.
• Finally I have a third level of about twelve to fifteen blogs that I watch the subject lines and titles and read when they sound interesting. 

This is the method that works for me. I’d love to hear how you manage your blog life.

Don’t forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie

An Organized Schedule Leads to Success

As many of you know, I had a really productive year in 2010 and a lot of you have asked how I accomplished it all. I did it because I was willing to follow a schedule - it was my way of eating an elephant one bite at a time. I learned how to break large tasks into smaller ones. here are some of my suggestions.

It doesn't matter whether you write as a calling, a hobby or a business. We all perform better when we have expectations and a way to judge results. For those of you just starting out, here are some suggestions.

1. Set small, measurable goals
2. Under estimate the time you'll be able to put in
3. Adjust your goal setting to a weekly mode, rather than daily

Weekly Word Count Goal
One of the things I've found most helpful when setting word count goals is to set my goal for the week rather than the day. I still have two teenagers in and out of the house so sometimes life interrupts life. To combat this, I set a weekly wordcount goal for my fiction endeavors. Then, I break it down into daily totals. If I miss a day's goal, I can make it up later in the week and I don't wind up feeling like I've failed.

Weekly Project Goal
You may normally work on smaller projects, like articles or devotions. If that's the case, try to set a goal of one devotion or article a week.

Revolving Weekly Goal
You might want to try something I call a revolving weekly goal. This is where you have a different goal every week for 3 weeks and then it starts over. The first week you might complete a small project. The next week, you look for markets where you can sell it. The third week you might spend learning about the craft of writing. Then you begin the cycle again.

Whatever method works for you is the BEST method.

Just remember, that no matter how early or how far along you are on your writing journey we all need to spend time studying the craft of writing. That can be done through reading books, attending a seminar or conference, or reading blogs and websites.

All of these are necessary for us as writers to improve our craft.

So what have you found works best for you? Share your insights with the rest of us - please!

Don't forget to join the conversation,
Blessings,
Edie

Do I Need a Facebook Page? And What is Twitter?

You can look at this digital age we live in as a blessing or a curse—and there are merits to each viewpoint. I happen to take the positive approach. I like the connectedness of this time and place. But, to answer your question. Yes, you need to have a Facebook page. It’s a place to connect with those who have the same interests as you, ie YOUR READERS! And Twitter is just a connection made with fewer characters.

A word of warning here, it’s possible to let these two tools eat into your writing time. For myself, the way I combat that temptation is to schedule my networking time. Many of you have asked how I schedule my day so now is as good a time as any to share it with you. Now, please know that I am NOT an organized person, but this loose arrangement of my day helps me to stay sane in the insane world of freelance writing.

• 8-9 I answer email (I have two accounts). I check my blog for comments and I check my Facebook and twitter pages. I use this hour to get connected.
• 9-11:30 I write articles or things that are directly linked to bringing in money
• 11:30-12 I answer any emails and phone calls that have come in and again check FB, Twitter and my blog
• 12-1 lunch
• 1-3 I work on proposals, queries, fiction and things not directly linked to a paycheck
• 3:30-4 I again check email, phone messages, FB, Twitter and my blog
• Then, before I go to bed I again check email, FB, Twitter and my blog

Now, some days the times vary, especially if I have a big deadline, but this is my basic schedule. I try not to be subject to emails or even the telephone. Funny thing, I discovered that people are fine with leaving messages and I actually can call them back! This allows me to accomplish what I need to everyday and still stay sane.

Have you found a schedule or way of doing things that helps you cope? Share it with us – I can always use the help!

Don’t forget to join the conversation,
Blessings,
Edie