Comments on: How Can a Christian Blogger keep Fresh and Green Without Burnout?

By: The Man Who Gave Too Much – a trip to the gallery and a book review | Dappled Things

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 18:11:24 +0000

[…] Wednesday Anita Matthias published, How can a Christian Blogger keep Fresh and Green Without Burnout? and I remembered my unfinished blogging project: a review of her newest children’s book, all […]

By: Anita Mathias

Anita Mathias — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 22:42:04 +0000

In reply to Colin.

“Simply by changing the title the number or readers jumped!” That’s amazing. I should try that with pieces which don’t do well. I’ve read that 80% of the impact of your post will depend on the title (because 80% of people will never read beyond it)–but, sadly, I often write my titles last, after I’ve finally figured out what my post is about.
I like to think of blog posts from 2-4 years ago as drafts for me to practice editing, re-titling, re-focusing and contracting on. And to sharpen my thinking and expression. I enjoy editing, and my archives have a mass of rapidly written material crying out for editing!

By: Anita Mathias

Anita Mathias — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 22:38:08 +0000

In reply to Steve Ratliff.

“blog readers can tell when a person has stopped growing and learning.”
That is so scary. Tim Challies has a post about his prayer that his blogging success should never exceed his sanctification. When I was younger, I used to pray that I would keep growing closer to Jesus, even if the price was suffering. I am afraid to pray that now. Besides, I think we do grow through abiding, through remembering that we are the beloved. I am in a somewhat stagnant period spiritually, so need to abide more!
“God never wastes a perfectly good trial” Love that!
Thank you for commenting, Steve!

By: Steve Ratliff

Steve Ratliff — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 13:15:57 +0000

Oh dang, sorry for the grammatical error in the first paragraph of my reply. . . .

By: Steve Ratliff

Steve Ratliff — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 13:13:26 +0000

Thanks for your thoughts, Anita. I appreciate you saying that there is no shame in repeating oneself. Peter was eager to remind his readers of things they already knew (2 Peter 1:12). At the same time I fully agree that freshness and new insights (even when communicating “old” truths) is vital. Congregations and blog readers can tell when a person has stopped growing and learning.

A thread that runs through your recommendations (above) might be teachability. A teachable person can learn from just about anyone and anything. When I’m keeping in step with the Spirit I learn just as much from my “enemies” as my friends, from the hard times as the easy times, and from my failures as my successes. I read somewhere that “God never wastes a perfectly good trial” (James 1). . .

Blessings on you this day, Anita!

By: Colin

Colin — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 07:25:05 +0000

Hi Anita
Another fresh and challenging and insightful piece. I really enjoy reading your perspectives, and your reflection which always includes humour.
When I write sermons for preaching, so far I have tried to write novel pieces, trying to relate to events that are contemporaneous; I have sat through too many dire rehashed sermons in my time unfortunately. I wonder if this is why ministers often get restationed after 5-7 years or so. Just a thought albeit a bit cheeky.
I agree with redacting previous pieces, i did this with one of my blog pieces, and simply by changing the title the number or readers jumped! Lessons to learn indeed for a junior blogger like me.