Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Writers' Wednesday: To Blog or Not to Blog?

I am a bad blogger.

I mean, about a year ago I switched from writing every day to writing 3 days a week. I know I lost a few followers, but what's a girl with a full-time job to do?

And I rarely have the time to visit and comment on other people's blogs. I know that's poor blog etiquette, and believe me, I'd really like to have the time to do that...I just don't. If it comes down to 30 minutes when I could write or I could read blogs and comment on them, I'd probably write.

I know that authors' online presences are crucial. I know readers look for blogs, Facebook accounts, Twitter updates, and all that good stuff. Sigh. I just don't have the time to keep up. I read an article the other day about a romance author who's been writing for 20+ years and doesn't even have a website. She doesn't feel left out. Of course, she has a solid following and probably doesn't have to worry about luring new readers with daily blog posts or giveaway contests or witty Tweets.

I'd like to be that kind of author. Unfortunately, in today's technology age, those of us who are just starting to build a reader base need to tap into all the avenues we can, and online, free contact with readers is an easy way to do that.

Which brings me back to square one. I like to do it. I'd like to do more of it. And I'd like to devote a little bit of time each day to connecting with other authors online as well. But the brutal truth is that from September to June, it's awfully hard to do that. So as long as I have this full-time day job, I'll do what I can and save the rest of my time for writing.

Thanks for hanging around and humoring me. When I become a best-selling author, maybe I'll quit my day job and update my Facebook page/Tweet twenty times a day. Until then, well, I'll see you around when I can lol.........

3 comments:

Marianne Arkins said...

I totally understand. I decided a few weeks ago that I would take 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening to blog hop. I think it's necessary for me.

You, though, have LOTS of interactions about your books IRL, and that makes a difference.

Yolanda said...

I feel your pain ...although I'm unpublished ... I need to write and somewhere along the way I lost my time management skills. Ideally I'll find them and become better at blogging, following and most importantly writing!

Diane Craver said...

Allie,
Your blog posts are always interesting and it is too time-consuming to post daily for many of us. I think it's important to connect with readers, but it's not possible to do it all. And you are doing so great with your book signings and managing to write wonderful books while being a full-time teacher and wife.

Hope you can in the future devote more time just to your writing career.