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It’s IWSG time again. Every first Wednesday of the month writers gather worldwide to air their dilemmas and offer support. Hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh, you can still sign up to join us.
First, a reminder the What’s Your Chocolate? bloghop is just a few days away. Monday, September 10th, my lovely cohosts – Laura Eno, Brinda Berry, and Ciara Knight — and myself are presenting this chocolate extravaganza. Just post about your love of chocolate, then visit others for a chocolicious party. Sign up to be chocolate coated HERE.
Now for something completely different …
You always hear writers mentioning how much busier they are once they start publishing. It’s something I heard and understood, but the reality didn’t hit until this past spring. I thought, well, I already interact on social media a fair amount and schedule it in, it can’t be much busier. Wrong. Just the small addition of monthly newsletters, keeping accounts, and organizing the next launch can require another full-time me.
One of the things I did to make my life saner was to condense down to one website. I moved the blog to only here last month. I have to say, having only one site to maintain frees up time I can use for writing or editing or marketing or making covers or writing blurbs or reading crit partner’s work or those other things I mentioned above. Either way, it’s saner.
As essential as I consider a blog / website to be, they’re time consuming. Why burn a wick at both ends if it’s unnecessary? Talking to writers and readers can be done all in one place. I was really nervous a lot of folks wouldn’t come over from the other blog. Most of you did though, so thanks for alleviating that fret.
I feel like being here frees more than just some extra time. Freedom from numbers, too. It’s not about how many folks tack their faces into a follow box. It’s about connecting with people.
That is the most powerful tool in the beginning writer’s arsenal, that network. It’s worth the time and effort, and it makes a difference when starting to publish. It’s helped me start to push my boulder up the hill, and I’d be going nowhere without the support of all of you.
Sincerely, thank you.
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You’ve made the right decision. Social media is an important tool for writers but at the same time it IS time-consuming. I’d already noted on my return to blogging how you’d combined everything into one site, and I shall be doing the same at some point.
That’s great you have more time now. A lot of people seem to follow just to get their own numbers up, I’ve noticed that a lot on twitter, it doesn’t make sense though and it’s just mean :)
I’m glad the transition to this space went smoothly for you, M.
Condensing! Smart choice. And people wonder why I’m not on Facebook and all the other sites. Who has the time?
And bonus points for the Monty Python reference!
To be honest, I’m always a little worried when I see someone move their blog. I always hope everyone will make the transition with them, but I know there are some who won’t. Then again, maybe those people weren’t really involved and interacting anyway. And it does make sense to have all your online stuff in one place. Glad it simplified things.
I think your transition was easy from a reader point of view. I like your new site better. :)
You’re right about the little box of faces. :) I don’t think I kept many of them when I moved my blog, but then I realized they’d only been numbers anyway – not people interacting with me.
It can get overwhelming when you start getting published. All the editing, marketing, etc. It’s awesome, but if you don’t keep things simple everywhere you can, it might get to be too much.
I’m learning along the way for sure!! :)
I admire all that you do with your writing and the fact that you do so well with meeting your publishing goals. I’m so glad that condensing has helped you stay on track!
Nothing to do with the subject but I really love that photo of the flower, how pretty. :)
You’ll be happy when you do it, Ellie. I’m so much happier. Even though they’re not updated as much, adding links and maintaining the pages and links can suck hours out of a day that can be better used for something else.
There are a lot of people who just follow for numbers on Twitter and on the blogs. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which is which until you try to connect.
It did go fairly smoothly, Suze. Although some have refused to come over. Shrug. Whatever.
I loved Monty Python, Alex. I’m on FB & a few others, but don’t invest much time interacting. Although, I’m more active on FB than I have been.
No, not everyone came over, LG. Even if I’ve visited them several times, they have yet to stop by.
Thanks, Tonja. It’s not really new. It coexisted with the other all along.
Exactly, Laura. The interaction is where the magic takes place. As we all know.
I agree, Lynn. Things you think are simple before are no longer so simple.
Thanks, Julie. I take a lot of photos of flora. Thought I’d start sharing some of them.
So schmart, Mary! Simplifying is the only way through this. I’m focused on quality, not quantity.
Great points M.Pax. The network is everything. Hard to keep up with though.
Oh yes, for me, any time I can eliminate a time-sucking activity it makes my writing life better. I eliminated Twitter after trying it for 3 months – might have been an error, but I do have more time.
Karen
When I re-started my blog at the beginning of the year and switched to a different format, it was hard at first. But I’m glad I did, even though I still scramble for time to do everything. But you are right. Networking is very important.
I’m signed up for the Chocofest, so I look forward to meeting a few more people there.
We have to figure out how to work smarter, Lee. Essential really.
It is, Maurice. Which is why simplifying wherever possible makes sense.
Hi Karen. I love the Twitter. But I agree that if you don’t care for a social network, don’t force it.
KarenB, change is hard, but I’m glad I did it, too. Yay for festing with chocolate.
I know what you mean bout followers. I was all about them when I started blogging, then realized that half the people were just hitting follow so I would check out their blogs, which is fair. Now, I focus on content and let the following thing sort itself out. Love the new blog, BTW.
I hear that! I’m always amazed by writers who can participate in multiple blogs as well as keep up with writing. It’s HARD! I really like your new website, btw. Not sure if I’ve told you~ :o) <3
More bloggers need to cut back somewhere when they feel burnout. A writer needs to think things over, not be constantly at the party.
I prefer to keep the two blogs I have now as separate places. I’ll know when to force a merger.
Condensing is a great idea. Hey, your condensing is our condensing too! :)
I can barely handle the blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. It’s all so much. But I am grateful for my cyber community.
I would expect things to get busier, but I don’t know how people with full-time jobs could adequately take this on. Writing new material and promoting the current is a full-time job if you’re doing it all yourself.
I like the new site.
I decided the same, Libby. It’s so much saner.
It is tough, Leigh. Very tough.
I felt that need, DG. Sometimes I wish to blog less, but it seems like there’s always so much to say.
lol That’s right, Southpaw.
I handle the blog and Twitter OK. The rest, barely, Nancy. It’s a lot.
I don’t know how they do either, Arlee. But even with regular publishing, the author has to do most of the marketing. And I hear new authors have to take on editing as well for themselves.
I experienced complete and total burnout after my sixth book, because I was stretched too thin. I’ve since dumped some social sites and Yahoo groups, and it’s so much better now.
I totally agree that a one-stop shop is the way to go. I would recommend having the blog and website together for anyone starting this journey. I love the look of yours!
I agree. Having that REAL connection is so important.
I LOVE your flower pic. You do good flower photography… and gangsta cow photography.. and stellar photography… ok, you’re good at photography :)
Of course we followed you here. But you do have to concentrate on writing. Everything else has to support that, not detract from it.
I still have trouble believing how much longer it takes me to write, now, that I have so much more to keep up with. I wrote the first draft of my first novel in 6 months and had it ready to go 6 months later. It’s been a year and a half since then, I still don’t have a complete draft finished. heh
As someone beginning this path, I’m learning more and more what you mean. Things are definitely different when you get out there and promo and do all the things it takes to be successful, especially as an Indie author.
Glad you found a way of working toward simplifying things.
I can understand that, Diane. It’s easy to do. Way too easy.
It was my intention when I started, Brinda, to have one stop, but I got off-track somehow. I would give beginning writers the same advice.
The book I ordered on how to use my camera better just arrived, Lynda. I hope to get out and play more soon. I do enjoy photography. I’m not great at it yet, but I do enjoy it.
I do, Mark. The observatory closes soon and winters are loong here. Plenty of time to be quite bored very soon.
I’m envious of that speed, Andrew. I actually find I write faster than I used, too. However, writing is the slowest of the phases for me.
They are different, Angela. You hear it, but you don’t get it until you’re in it.
nice post!
it is more about connecting than the numbers =)
I love this new place. :) It is gorgeous and very friendly. I love my blog. The people I have met and interacted with have become my own cyber family.
If you stay connected to other bloggers through blogfests (and especially ones that mention chocolate!) then people will always follow you over, because you’re giving them time, so they do the same for you. And it is a beautiful site.
The only slight problem I have with this site, is I can’t find anywhere to sign up to be informed of new comments, so I have a feeling I comment and never read your reply. Is there a way around this? (Of course, now I’ll have to remember to come back to check out the reply lol)
Simplifying one’s life is a wise thing. Gee, this gives me pause, as I was getting ready to redesign my website (which is separate from my blog). I guess I’m a tiny bit afraid of WordPress. Got to get over it!
The connections are what pay off later, Tara.
I agree, Melissa. I love the blogging community.
I’m always willing to give time, Annalisa. If you ask me something, I will reply by email, Annalisa.
Well, this doesn’t have to be WordPress, Catherine. My brother felt it would be the easiest way for me to be able to manipulate the site without needing his help every time I wanted to do something different. I love the way I can add and delete pages at will. It was a longer learning curve than Blogger, but I think it has more capability. This site isn’t hosted on WP tho. It’s my domain and I use InMotion as my webhost.
I simplify my cyber life by just keeping one blog. I use twitter some but not really any other social media platforms. It can become too much.
Good for you w/ simplifying! Social media is a necessary evil in my life. I need it, but man does it take up a lot of time.
It can, Michael. It’s easiest to maintain what you like doing.
I hear you, Candilynn. It is necessary.
As long as a person comes off as being somewhat sincere, it’s all okay. But (and that’s a big but), many people are so transparent about it being advertising for their books (or other items). I don’t know how either group has enough time to hit all those things though. I think keeping it simple is a good idea. You have a lot of things going on and still try to find time to support others. I think that is what keeps people interested in what you do. You’re nice!
I completely understand what you’re talking about. Most of us just can’t comprehend how time consuming putting your name out there is. Promoting isa nightmare for most writers but learning how to make the most out of our time and selecting to invest in the medias that will result in the best sales is the reward. In the future you’ll have a better knowledge and will improve with every experience.
Best of luck!
I always enjoy visiting your site. I am glad it has been helpful to condense to one blog. I wish you much success with everything. :)
Shew, I finally got caught up… I think. I hadn’t realized how behind I was and I think I missed some pics from the summer skyfest. When you said that the season was almost over I realized that I just hadn’t seen enough of your great pics of the nigh sky. So I think I am going to have to backtrack a bit. Cheers!