I slowly worked my way through some of Darren Rowse’s encyclopedic ebook
http://www.problogger.net/31-days-to-building-a-better-blog/ last month. It’s freely available online, though I bought the ebook, so I could read bits when offline, i.e. on holiday–well, until my laptop got nicked.
I found it so helpful that I volunteered to briefly review Bryan Allain’s 31 Days to Finding your Blogging Mojo.
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Though I would recommend reading Darren’s ebook (which is hundreds of pages, including links) first, I think Bryan’s book might be useful to a beginner, or to someone who has lost her focus, stalled, whose blog is not growing, or who is no longer sure why she is doing this silly thing in the first place. It’s a nice “get back to basics, and start afresh” kind of book.
Bryan has useful chapters and lots of good ideas on the philosophy of blogging, on discovering content, and on finding and keeping readers. He’s good at helping you see your blog with fresh eyes. I have worked through a few days, and will work through the whole book–once I have got through the Rowse one.
If one has decided to blog, it’s worth making sure one does it well–writing (mostly) good posts and finding an audience so that your blog is a growing, thriving, satisfying one.
Both these books will help you in this enterprise.
Blogging is a rapidly developing art form, and part of its pleasure is that there are no rules. Some blogs are conversational, with lots of comments, but the posts won’t be worth reading a year later. Some, like John Piper’s or Ann Voskamp’s are more magisterial, carefully-thought out, well-written. These have turned off comments, for the most part, and the posts have the evidence of time spent on them, and will be worth reading five years hence.
So one needs to develop one’s blogging philosophy. Write prolifically, but stuff which has little lasting value? Or write less, but things which you are proud of, and which can be re-posted a year later, and still be a blessing to people?
Bryan’s book sets out his philosophy of blogging. I personally did not agree with several chapters, since my own philosophy is different, but read it, and develop your own philosophy, which suits your time, energy, talents, values and goals.
Thank you, Bryan for the preview.
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HI Jennifer, I waited 16 months, and it was only after much prayer that I felt the “go ahead” to try to develop by by working smarter, not harder–since the time and energy crunch remains. I wanted to develop it earlier, but the time never felt right.
You have A LOT on your plate, so I guess the important thing is to hear God's directions for your day/week.
Thanks for the thoughts, Anita! I really like how you're purposely working to develop your blog. I know I can't do that at the moment because I'm in a different place with my young children (and perhaps I'm not ever called to that?); however, God in his perfect timing knows all these things, and I'm learning some wisdom in that regard. {Looking forward, though, to writing about those who hope in the Lord for you…} 😉
Hi Jennifer, I guess I was just sorting out my thoughts. I just wrote in my blog for the first 16 months, and left it to God to find me as big or small an audience as he pleased.
Over the summer, I seemed to get direction that it was now time to develop the blog, which I am slowly doing, a little bit very day.
There are no rules, and no two of us will travel the same path. I guess we have to discover the path which is right for us. Your writing is beautiful, and who knows? you might be given time to develop it once the children are older, and the business more established, perhaps with employees for routine chores.
Blessings,
Anita
“If one does not expend the time in blog maintenance in a sense you've wasted your writing time, since no one reads it.” –ouch, I need help!
Sometimes, though…when I think about words and thoughts captured for a present and future audience, I think there can be nothing better than a thought memorialized, a piece of you, really, ~ even if it benefits just you, or just one other. My favorite mementos from my mother are her writings. I recently realized this, actually. I used to think she wasted time writing when I was a child, as she wrote incessantly, often in lieu of mothering. And now, I see some value, as she is fading.
“In the beginning was the Word.” Someday, I'll really understand that holy thought, but for now, I just barely do, but sense there is something HUGE behind that verse. I'm totally rambling here, Anita, sorry…I think often about the value of writing, as you do, and wrestle through how much, how little, I should spend time on it.
Hi Dana, Sorry I meant 16 hours hammering out blog posts, not one, I assume, but several. I bought his book when I started blogging, and it has lots of great information. As does his ebook, 31 Days to a Better Blog. When my stats stall, I pull it up on my computer screen, and do 15 minutes of his exercises, and follow his suggestions. A few days of this, and I am back on track, with increasing visits and page views, etc.
Blogging is weird. If one does not expend the time in blog maintenance in a sense you've wasted your writing time, since no one reads it. So as always, we have to struggle to find the right balance!!
Wow! Sixteen hours on one blog! I can't sit still that long. The most amount of time I spend on my blog is when I'm “re-vamping” it to give it a new look and keep it fresh. Otherwise, I spend less than a hour per day on it. I'll definitely have to check out this book and see what I can learn. Thanks for the tip!
Yes, that's really impressive. In his blogging book, he describes all nighters and 16 hour days on his blog. But since what he wrote had value, it can indeed be reused.
I find it hard to do both–post daily and write things I'll like 1 or 5 years later.
I guess one finds the balance through trial and error!
Darren Rowse has such helpful stuff on his blog. I think he is unusual because when he was growing his blog he wrote really well-written stuff prolifically! But on the other hand he was making that his job, so I guess he had more time to put into it.