Happy Friday! I hope everyone has had a good week. As what seems to have become my normal state of being, I’ve fallen behind on everything this week. It’s such a juggling act. Let’s dive in!
Something that’s been on my mind a lot lately is blogging. Is blogging still worth the time and effort these days? I went on a search and discovered there are over 600 million active blogs across the globe. Surveys show that over 60% of internet users interact with blogs. That’s an impressive number. And while that is a lot, we all seem to stay within our little circles of friends, acquaintances, and colleagues. So, from that standpoint, I go right back to the question, “Is blogging worth the time and effort required?”
Sure, it’s a great way to catch up with what’s going on in our worlds, and I do love that aspect. We get to share our work in progress, new projects, book reviews, family events, sometimes illnesses, and anything else relevant to life. But let’s face it. Blogging regularly is time-consuming. I don’t know if anyone noticed that I missed putting up a regular Monday post this week. Family events took priority, as it was my youngest grandson’s birthday. We had so much celebrating him as he turned the big 10.
Connor – a little afraid of all that fire power!
But I digress. Since losing a huge amount of blog subscribers when I migrated my blog into my website, I’ve questioned whether or not it’s worth it to continue. I still don’t know the answer. But I’m mulling it all over.
In the meantime, I am struggling to find the time to work on the second book in The Bargainers Series. I feel like I am moving at a snail’s pace and getting anxious to get in some serious word count. Just for fun, I want to share the opening to A Noble Bargain.
Music and laughter drifted around Oliver Quinn as he tipped his paddy cap to a pretty young girl sitting alone on a bench against the wall. He’d had his eye on her since she’d arrived. It didn’t escape his notice that she seemed to fold into herself, mostly staring down at her hands folded on her lap. Single lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling cast an auburn glow on her nut-brown hair.
The threadbare plain cotton dress and worn, scuffed shoes spoke of struggles that required no explanation.
The year was 1948, and in the small town of Crossett, Arkansas, local dances drew people from all around the area.
Young men showed up in their Sunday best, hoping to steal a dance and, if they were lucky, a kiss from their favorite girl. Old men came with jars of moonshine, looking for a good card game or perhaps a chance to jaw with their neighbors, while their wives gathered in close-knit circles to share the latest gossip or a new recipe.
Folks in Crossett worked hard and played hard.
And Oliver did both.
AI Generated
I love the characters in this story. They each have struggles, dreams, and secrets. My biggest obstacle is carving out enough time each day to work on it, thus taking me back to the blogging question.
Have any of you found a sure-fire way to handle all of it? If you have, I’d love to hear it.
In the meantime, May is a super busy month with all the end-of-the-school-year events. Several of my grandkids are in either orchestra or band, so there’s a lot, plus an upcoming graduation. I don’t know how much I’ll be online, blogging or visiting other blogs. Just know I’m trying.
I won’t make any promises, but will try to put up a Monday inspirational post next week. I do have a few guest posts scheduled and I always love supporting other authors. We’re all in this together!
So, keeping this short and sweet, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the benefits of blogging, or lack thereof. Surely, I am not the only one facing this dilemma and it helps so much to share. Let’s chat!
I hear you about the blog issues, Jan. There never seems (for me, at least) enough time to do it all. I want to do a regular post, but something else always seems to take priority. Your excerpt for the new book is excellent, BTW! Oh, and Happy Belated Birthday to Connor.
Thanks, Mark. I think most of us feel the time crunch issue. I just keep suiting up and showing up and doing the best I can. I appreciate your comment!
Hi Jan. I think we all feel the same way at times. I paired down to twice a week now and that works fine for me. I usually write posts a few days before scheduling posting dates and that takes away being overwhelmed. And I am grateful for the friends I’ve made in the blogging community, so no intentions of giving up blogging, but sometimes we all need a break. I’ve even limited my nights to read blogs in the past two years to two or three times a week. People who post daily and more than one blog a day, I pick and choose what to read. Also, blogs that are really short novels, I bypass, lol. I think when we spend our hours online we don’t want to read a longgggg blogpost. Breaking into parts is a better idea. Just my thoughts. <3
I am right there with you on the long blog posts, Debby. I simply don’t have the time. And I totally agree about the friends I’ve made within the blogging community, friends from around the globe. How amazing is that? I think twice a week is a blogging schedule I can handle. At least I’m willing to give it a try, but my main focus has to be on finishing the second book in The Bargainers Series. Everything else, except for family, has to fall under that. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment! Hugs~!
I find the scheduling tool on WordPress to be valuable. I write my regularly scheduled blog posts in advance, then I am free to work on other projects, like writing and promotions. For NaNoWriMo last year, I scheduled the whole month of November ahead of time, so I could concentrate on writing the book every day. I have ‘blog days’ when I just work on blog posts and updating my site. I still need to promote my posts on social media, which takes an hour or two in the mornings, but the rest of the days are mine.
Also, you are a winner in the WordCrafter “Sarah” Book Blog Tour giveaway. Contact me for your free copy. kayebooth@yahoo.com. 🙂
Thank you for weighing in, Kaye Lynne. I agree that the scheduling tool is super valuable if the posts are some that can be done ahead of time. So many of my posts such as the Monday Motivation are written in real time, so I can’t schedule them ahead. However, I love the suggestion for time management. Also, thank you so much for “Sarah!” I’ve emailed you!
I know what you mean, Jan. Also about always being behind. I haven’t felt caught up in so long that I wouldn’t recognize the feeling. LOL.
That photo of your grandson is priceless. Hugs.
Hi, Teagan. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Seems a lot of us are in the same boat, rowing to beat the devil. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the photo and hope you’re having a good weekend!
I’ve been facing the same questions. I started out as a five times per week guy. I was aggressive with things like Lisa Burton Radio. People burned out on that, and I couldn’t get participants. You’re right about our circles. It seems like they have a maximum size and once we get there, we don’t accomplish much more. It influences sales, too. It’s hard to spread the word beyond our regulars. I don’t have any answers or optional things to try.
There is no way I could find the time to blog five times a week at this point. It’s just not feasible. My hat is off to those who do. I was a fan of Lisa Burton Radio and hated to see it go away, but as they say, ‘all good things must come to an end.’ I really tried to expand beyond our normal circles with a paid blog tour for A Beggar’s Bargain. While it paid off in reviews, I’m not sure how much of that equated to sales. Still, we have to keep trying. Or, at least I feel like I do. I’m trying to come up with a new idea for my Monday posts. I think people are getting tired of them as well. And many of the same cards come up often. But I’m fresh out of ideas. I just need to work on my WIP. It is languishing. Thanks for chiming in, Craig.
Love the opening, Jan! You make it so easy to picture everything going on. As for blogging, it’s time-consuming, but I enjoy it. I’ve made so many online friends, and it’s a way to get draw more attention to books. I also couldn’t give up Bad Moon – I have too much fun. Happy Birthday to your grandson – it’s double digits now!
I’m glad you enjoyed the opening scene, Teri. NO! You can’t give up Bad Moon Rising. That is always an event I look forward to each year. I know it’s hard for you to blog every single day, but at least it’s only for a month. I too have made many online friends, like yourself. I just wish I could find a way to manage all that I attempt to do in a better and more consistent way. Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Friday!
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D.L. Finn, Author
I love the opening to your WIP, Jan! I would have to say put your time into that. As for blogging, it us a good way to keep with with our writing friends and I do get many of my reads from reviews. I always planned to add to my blogging schedule but never found the time. For me, the issue is being able to visit all the blogs I want to, I can’t. Social media, I do what I can. I would have to say some blogging and bloggers do help us get new readers or remind people to read us. Someday it’s nice to just connect and not feel alone in our writing world, too. So I will continue on until I can’t. Hopefully we can reach more people but if we don’t it’s a pretty good place we are in. Xo
I’m glad you like my opening scene, Denise. And I love your attitude about blogging. I am not able to visit all the blogs I want every day and I certainly can’t add to my blogging schedule. I agree about discovering some great reads on blogs that post book reviews. It’s a conundrum trying to figure it all out. And, as you say, we are in a pretty good place within our small circles. I am just feeling the frustration of not having the time to do it justice. Thank you so much for stopping by and adding your thoughts!
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Mary Morgan
You’ve captured my interest with the opening scene, Jan!
Your thoughts and questions about blogs mirror my own. Should I return? Currently, I’ve taken a step back to focus on hubby while he’s healing and prepping for another surgery. Yet I’m wondering if it’s worth going back to blogging? I’ve been a blogger for 12 years–started two years before my first published book. I’ve had loyal readers from the beginning and those who have left, saying they don’t have the time to read the various authors’ blogs. Perhaps the reason I’ll return is it’s my “quiet” place to chat with other readers. For me, social media is a noisy arena, and I find blogging is like setting up a room with tea (or a cocktail) and having a chat. Does this make sense?
Blogging is vastly different for me than those early years, and it does take time away from work-in-progress. This is a great topic, Jan. I’ll most likely return to my blogging, but I’m also considering “shaking it up” once again. Psst…I so enjoy your blogs. 🙂
I’m thrilled that I captured your attention with my opening scene. About the blogging, it’s a hard question, Mary, and thank you for chiming in. Your reason for stepping back is way more valid than anything else I can think of. I like the way you refer to the blog as your ‘quiet’ place to chat with others. SM is extremely noisy and time-consuming, so setting the atmosphere for your blog is awesome. Yet, it does take away from writing time and for me, that time is limited at best, since I still work outside the home, although part time. I’m happy you took the time to stop by and leaving a comment. I will look forward to how you plan to shake up your blogging. I always enjoy your content.
Your numbers make me think blogging is better than I had thought though I get your warning. I like you tend to stay within my usual community though I try to venture out on guest posts, visiting commenters, that sort.
The real question for me is: If not blogging, what? I have no more effective ideas for marketing than this!
Thanks for chiming in, Jacqui. Your question adds itself to mine. I started my blog way back in 2014 and I do agree it’s a good way to market our work, but if our circle is small, how much marketing can we really do? But, as you say, if not blogging, then what?
Not sure at all about that. Overall, I get enough sales, I don’t want to quit, but not so many I would call myself a success. I love when I get comments from outside our community because I know somehow I reached someone new.
I agree with you, Jacqui, about the feeling when someone outside our circle visits and leaves a comment. It’s encouraging. Glad that you feel you get enough sales to keep you satisfied. Your books definitely reach a niche market. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Nice opening, Jan. I’m already wondering who the young woman is and what her role in the story will be.
As far as time management goes, social media (including blogging) has vampired our time. I’d give it all up save for a few closer internet friends I’ve made, except we have to be engaged to be writers. (I suppose if we only write for ourselves, we don’t have to be engaged, but don’t we all want a reader or two?)
I gave up all TV a few years ago. That has helped tremendously. I don’t have social media everywhere, either. No IG, very minimal FB.
You make some valid points, Priscilla. We may say we write for ourselves, but let’s face it, we want someone to read our stories and that requires engaging and marketing, which is time-consuming. I watch very little TV. I’d prefer to read a good book. 🙂 It’s hard to figure it all out. I want to continue blogging, but we’ll see how it all plays out. Right now the priority is to finish this book! Glad the opening made you want to know more about the young woman. She has a plethora of troubles. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment!
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I hear you about the blog issues, Jan. There never seems (for me, at least) enough time to do it all. I want to do a regular post, but something else always seems to take priority. Your excerpt for the new book is excellent, BTW! Oh, and Happy Belated Birthday to Connor.
Thanks, Mark. I think most of us feel the time crunch issue. I just keep suiting up and showing up and doing the best I can. I appreciate your comment!
Hi Jan. I think we all feel the same way at times. I paired down to twice a week now and that works fine for me. I usually write posts a few days before scheduling posting dates and that takes away being overwhelmed. And I am grateful for the friends I’ve made in the blogging community, so no intentions of giving up blogging, but sometimes we all need a break. I’ve even limited my nights to read blogs in the past two years to two or three times a week. People who post daily and more than one blog a day, I pick and choose what to read. Also, blogs that are really short novels, I bypass, lol. I think when we spend our hours online we don’t want to read a longgggg blogpost. Breaking into parts is a better idea. Just my thoughts. <3
I am right there with you on the long blog posts, Debby. I simply don’t have the time. And I totally agree about the friends I’ve made within the blogging community, friends from around the globe. How amazing is that? I think twice a week is a blogging schedule I can handle. At least I’m willing to give it a try, but my main focus has to be on finishing the second book in The Bargainers Series. Everything else, except for family, has to fall under that. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment! Hugs~!
Give it a try Jan. We wouldn’t want to lose you. Besides our community is always supportive for helping to share our book news too. <3
Hi Jan,
I find the scheduling tool on WordPress to be valuable. I write my regularly scheduled blog posts in advance, then I am free to work on other projects, like writing and promotions. For NaNoWriMo last year, I scheduled the whole month of November ahead of time, so I could concentrate on writing the book every day. I have ‘blog days’ when I just work on blog posts and updating my site. I still need to promote my posts on social media, which takes an hour or two in the mornings, but the rest of the days are mine.
Also, you are a winner in the WordCrafter “Sarah” Book Blog Tour giveaway. Contact me for your free copy. kayebooth@yahoo.com. 🙂
Thank you for weighing in, Kaye Lynne. I agree that the scheduling tool is super valuable if the posts are some that can be done ahead of time. So many of my posts such as the Monday Motivation are written in real time, so I can’t schedule them ahead. However, I love the suggestion for time management. Also, thank you so much for “Sarah!” I’ve emailed you!
I know what you mean, Jan. Also about always being behind. I haven’t felt caught up in so long that I wouldn’t recognize the feeling. LOL.
That photo of your grandson is priceless. Hugs.
Hi, Teagan. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Seems a lot of us are in the same boat, rowing to beat the devil. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the photo and hope you’re having a good weekend!
I’ve been facing the same questions. I started out as a five times per week guy. I was aggressive with things like Lisa Burton Radio. People burned out on that, and I couldn’t get participants. You’re right about our circles. It seems like they have a maximum size and once we get there, we don’t accomplish much more. It influences sales, too. It’s hard to spread the word beyond our regulars. I don’t have any answers or optional things to try.
There is no way I could find the time to blog five times a week at this point. It’s just not feasible. My hat is off to those who do. I was a fan of Lisa Burton Radio and hated to see it go away, but as they say, ‘all good things must come to an end.’ I really tried to expand beyond our normal circles with a paid blog tour for A Beggar’s Bargain. While it paid off in reviews, I’m not sure how much of that equated to sales. Still, we have to keep trying. Or, at least I feel like I do. I’m trying to come up with a new idea for my Monday posts. I think people are getting tired of them as well. And many of the same cards come up often. But I’m fresh out of ideas. I just need to work on my WIP. It is languishing. Thanks for chiming in, Craig.
Love the opening, Jan! You make it so easy to picture everything going on. As for blogging, it’s time-consuming, but I enjoy it. I’ve made so many online friends, and it’s a way to get draw more attention to books. I also couldn’t give up Bad Moon – I have too much fun. Happy Birthday to your grandson – it’s double digits now!
I’m glad you enjoyed the opening scene, Teri. NO! You can’t give up Bad Moon Rising. That is always an event I look forward to each year. I know it’s hard for you to blog every single day, but at least it’s only for a month. I too have made many online friends, like yourself. I just wish I could find a way to manage all that I attempt to do in a better and more consistent way. Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Friday!
I love the opening to your WIP, Jan! I would have to say put your time into that. As for blogging, it us a good way to keep with with our writing friends and I do get many of my reads from reviews. I always planned to add to my blogging schedule but never found the time. For me, the issue is being able to visit all the blogs I want to, I can’t. Social media, I do what I can. I would have to say some blogging and bloggers do help us get new readers or remind people to read us. Someday it’s nice to just connect and not feel alone in our writing world, too. So I will continue on until I can’t. Hopefully we can reach more people but if we don’t it’s a pretty good place we are in. Xo
I’m glad you like my opening scene, Denise. And I love your attitude about blogging. I am not able to visit all the blogs I want every day and I certainly can’t add to my blogging schedule. I agree about discovering some great reads on blogs that post book reviews. It’s a conundrum trying to figure it all out. And, as you say, we are in a pretty good place within our small circles. I am just feeling the frustration of not having the time to do it justice. Thank you so much for stopping by and adding your thoughts!
You’ve captured my interest with the opening scene, Jan!
Your thoughts and questions about blogs mirror my own. Should I return? Currently, I’ve taken a step back to focus on hubby while he’s healing and prepping for another surgery. Yet I’m wondering if it’s worth going back to blogging? I’ve been a blogger for 12 years–started two years before my first published book. I’ve had loyal readers from the beginning and those who have left, saying they don’t have the time to read the various authors’ blogs. Perhaps the reason I’ll return is it’s my “quiet” place to chat with other readers. For me, social media is a noisy arena, and I find blogging is like setting up a room with tea (or a cocktail) and having a chat. Does this make sense?
Blogging is vastly different for me than those early years, and it does take time away from work-in-progress. This is a great topic, Jan. I’ll most likely return to my blogging, but I’m also considering “shaking it up” once again. Psst…I so enjoy your blogs. 🙂
Enjoy your weekend and the month of May!
I’m thrilled that I captured your attention with my opening scene. About the blogging, it’s a hard question, Mary, and thank you for chiming in. Your reason for stepping back is way more valid than anything else I can think of. I like the way you refer to the blog as your ‘quiet’ place to chat with others. SM is extremely noisy and time-consuming, so setting the atmosphere for your blog is awesome. Yet, it does take away from writing time and for me, that time is limited at best, since I still work outside the home, although part time. I’m happy you took the time to stop by and leaving a comment. I will look forward to how you plan to shake up your blogging. I always enjoy your content.
Your numbers make me think blogging is better than I had thought though I get your warning. I like you tend to stay within my usual community though I try to venture out on guest posts, visiting commenters, that sort.
The real question for me is: If not blogging, what? I have no more effective ideas for marketing than this!
Thanks for chiming in, Jacqui. Your question adds itself to mine. I started my blog way back in 2014 and I do agree it’s a good way to market our work, but if our circle is small, how much marketing can we really do? But, as you say, if not blogging, then what?
Not sure at all about that. Overall, I get enough sales, I don’t want to quit, but not so many I would call myself a success. I love when I get comments from outside our community because I know somehow I reached someone new.
I agree with you, Jacqui, about the feeling when someone outside our circle visits and leaves a comment. It’s encouraging. Glad that you feel you get enough sales to keep you satisfied. Your books definitely reach a niche market. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Nice opening, Jan. I’m already wondering who the young woman is and what her role in the story will be.
As far as time management goes, social media (including blogging) has vampired our time. I’d give it all up save for a few closer internet friends I’ve made, except we have to be engaged to be writers. (I suppose if we only write for ourselves, we don’t have to be engaged, but don’t we all want a reader or two?)
I gave up all TV a few years ago. That has helped tremendously. I don’t have social media everywhere, either. No IG, very minimal FB.
You make some valid points, Priscilla. We may say we write for ourselves, but let’s face it, we want someone to read our stories and that requires engaging and marketing, which is time-consuming. I watch very little TV. I’d prefer to read a good book. 🙂 It’s hard to figure it all out. I want to continue blogging, but we’ll see how it all plays out. Right now the priority is to finish this book! Glad the opening made you want to know more about the young woman. She has a plethora of troubles. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment!