Thursday, January 10, 2013

The Time and Energy Sucker of Blogging

    NaBloPoMo would like to know which blogging task takes the most energy for me.  Without a doubt, I use up more time and energy commenting than doing the actually writing.   Even though I do put a lot of time and effort into producing my blog, I spend more time visiting others and leaving comments.  Generally I participate in blogging challenges where writing prompt is given and a whole slew of people are also participating giving their take on the prompt.  Once I have the topic, I sit down in front of my computer and let my thoughts flow through my fingers.  I pick graphics that best compliment my thoughts.  Most of the time I also include a music video that is on topic which moves me.


     Once I have edited the crap out of what I have written, added graphics and music, I am ready to publish my post.  I used to think my job was done as soon as I hit the publish button, but I soon realized with experience that isn’t the case.   I share my post everywhere I can on social networks.  It is then time to read all my blogging friends blogs and comment away.  I thoroughly enjoy keeping up with other bloggers but I have to admit it is what takes up the most time and energy.  Reading others work and commenting is just as important as posting in my opinion.   It brings me joy and makes me feel apart of an ever growing community.  It is especially satisfying when my fellow writers return the favor and visit me in my little corner of cyberspace.  The comments make it all worthwhile.  Why?  Because you know without a shadow of a doubt that someone actually read your words, connected with you on some level, and was inspired to tell you so or share their thoughts.




 

      Since my husband is on the road more than he is not and my kids are both in school,  blogging and commenting fills up my days.  It keeps me connected with others in the world without ever leaving the house which saves a load on gas!  It keeps me busy and at times sane.  It keeps me from feeling lonely.  It has become a very important facet of my life.  There have been times when I have seriously thought about deleting this blog and hanging it up.  Then I wonder what I would do with myself if I didn‘t write.  I would miss the interaction with others.  I love passing on bloggy love with my comments.  I have always practiced a lesson my mother taught me early in life to find something positive to say always.  If I don’t have something nice to say, say nothing at all she told me repeatedly.  Fortunately there is always something nice that can be said, always.  While I can never see myself as a professional writer penning best sellers, I can see me sharing my personal thoughts here and writing for writing’s sake.  One of my dear friends advised me to always write for me while others insist I must write for my audience.  I have found my friends advice is the best for all.  

      I write for me.   I write for fun.  I love the friends my writing has led me to.  It has become a blessing that has opened a new world for me until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.


41 comments:

  1. That is the best advice!! To Write for you :)

    I love to blog too--but I have to be in that frame of mind where it can happen. I love to read and comment on others' blogs as well, but as you well know, I fight the time issue with all I have going on. Hopefully, things will go from Hectic to Normal sometime soon--and I can resume having fun with the rest of the blogging world.

    Great post Kathy!! Cheers :D

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    1. Jenn, I knew you would love that since I got the advice from you! LOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  2. Well I love your blog and I'm glad I stumbled on it thanks to last year's A-Z!!! It is time consuming to visit and comment on everyone's bloggies though, and I find myself less inclined to do so when I see the dreaded CAPTCHA box.

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    1. JoJo, the CAPTCHA box doesn't bother me that much. I comment anyways. I am so happy you enjoy my blog. I love yours as well. I try to visit as many blogs as I can and comment even though it is time consuming. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  3. Kathy I find myself getting lost in blog posts. I had to start chopping down some blogs I follow. I cut out a lot of the fashionista ones. I am not a fashionista by any means so they don't help me at all.

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    1. Rae, I am no fashionista either. LOL Far from it!! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments! ♥

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  4. I agree, commenting on other blogs definitely takes up more time than actually writing the posts...but it's so worth it! I've met so many amazing bloggers (and possible friends) through it, it's a wonderful experience! :)

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    1. Loki-Lou, I agree!! Commenting and connecting with other bloggers is so worth it. I have met some amazing people through blogging, you being one of them. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your amazing comments! ♥

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  5. You and I are totally on the same page here, with the commenting and reading being the big time consumer! I love doing it, though and I have, like you, found so many great relationships (including you) by doing so.

    I imagine my writing ability has improved, somewhat, by reading other's work and also by writing more than I did before belonging to a group.

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    1. Jo, it is so worth it for the friends you find. I am so glad I found you. I think reading others blogs helps spark my creativity and has helped me improve as well. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  6. It is a big time investment! But I think it's worth it, too!

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    1. Kate, I agree. It has definitely enriched my life and put me in contact with others who love to write too. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  7. Great blog, Kathy. I love reading your blogs and I also know how much time and attention you put into each and everyone of them. You and I became friends by meeting one another through a blog. We have remained friends since that time and I am so blessed to have you as a friend. I always taught you to write from your heart and gut first and the rest will follow. When you touch their hearts....you always leave a part of you with them. Your writing has blossomed to new heights and through it all, we have all been touched in so many ways. Keep on writing....:)

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    1. Mary, Thank you for your kind words my dear friend. My life has been blessed with your friendship. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  8. Kathy, you're always so good about commenting on other blogs. I know that that's a weak point with me. I have so little time even to read other blogs, though are many that I enjoy, and when I comment I like to try to find something particular to say about each individual one. Too often I just visit when I can and don't take the time to comment, although I should try to get better at that. Thanks for your point of view!

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    1. ElaineLK, I know there are probably loads of folks that visit and don't comment and probably a handful of those that do. I appreciate every comment I get. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind words! ♥

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  9. Gosh, we spend our days the same way. I do spend a lot of time on my posts. But I also spend a LOT of time reading other posts, as I'm in different communities on FB and now Google +. I too find great comfort in all the comradery in cyberspace that I can't necessarily find in my day to day schedule.

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    1. Sandra, I bet we aren't the only ones!! LOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  10. It's such a time consuming thing, isn't it? It's not as simple as it sounds! haha. But I agree.. it's made worth it by the community.

    Thank you so much for linking up! :)

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    1. Larissa, it is but it is so fulfilling! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  11. I always appreciate your comments when you stop by.

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    1. Audrey, it is my pleasure! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  12. Visiting other blogs does take time. While you're spending the time and have developed a strong audience, have you ever considered putting Adsense on your blog? You can earn money through the ads, and it wouldn't be any different than what you're already doing. You might want to consider it. Nothing's wrong with getting a check every now and then for having fun.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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    1. Joyce, I have thought about adding adsense but I was afraid it would clutter my blog. I may reconsider it and try it. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments and for your suggestion. ♥

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  13. After reading your blog and Joyce's comment, I have to agree with Joyce. You can sign up for Adsense and also place ads directly into your blog. Why not make money doing something you love? It won't make you instantaneously wealthy, but every little bit helps, right? As for my audience, I write for so many reasons, the reason decides the audience, but most of the time I write for me in the hopes that somebody else will be able to relate to at least one of my blogs.

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    1. Theresa, I may have to try it. I can always take it off I suppose if it doesn't work out. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  14. I agree it all takes time, but it is also worth it. I love reading other people's blogs and try to get ot as many as possible. I look forward to reading as many of yours as I can!

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    1. Ghostnapped, you are so kind!! I love reading others blogs. It gives me inspiration for my own and the comments warm my heart. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  15. Commenting and reading other blogs takes up so much time! You're right! My blog is about to turn a month old and I feel like I've been blogging for a year!

    www.mommacandy.com

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    1. ShaunaQ, it is a lot of work and takes a lot of dedication but I have found that it is so worth it in the long run. I thoroughly enjoy the interaction, reading other blogs, and post my own. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  16. It does take a lot of work and time and energy to blog. More time than I ever really imagined when I first started my own. But it is definitely worth it and I also don't know what I would do if I wasn't blogging. Thanks for sharing something most bloggers definitely feel and go through!

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    1. Jennifer, I would have never imagined when I started that blogging would be so time consuming but it has fast become a facet of my life that I can't do without. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  17. Your visits and comments always make my day. I love visitng others blogs as I am reading and experiencing things that I normally would not have. Somce people only read their "type" of blog, but since I started in March, I have read political, mom blogs, crafts, food, and a slew of others. I think it is making me more well rounded as a person (nope, it isn't the chips!). I love the community it forms and my new blogging friends. For me, I take time at lunch, or on my commute on the train to visit. For me, the crafting first then having to blog it is what takes the time for me. I need "stuff" to blog, so I try to create a few pieces and then schedule them when I have them.
    I am so glad I "know" the giggling trucker's wife!

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    1. Winnie, I love all kinds of blogs too and enjoy getting to know the person behind the blog. I thoroughly enjoy visiting your blog to see what you have come up with on that day. You are so creative. I love the community as well and learn so much about blogging from all the different people I visit. I am so blessed to have found you! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  18. I can so identify with all you've written here. I started blogging when I stopped working and it's taken a life of it's own. Now, like you, I need my fix of blogging, reading, commenting.

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    1. Corinne, it surely is addicting. I love the comments and the interaction and all the dear blogging friends I have made, like you. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  19. "I write for me. I write for fun. I love the friends my writing has led me to. It has become a blessing that has opened a new world for me until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife."

    I love reading your blog! This post really struck home. I find I spend three times as much time on planning a blog post as I do actually writing. I wind up writing most of it in my head, then just sit down to type it out.

    Commenting on other blogs has been really useful, but I have to limit it to a couple of days out of the week. Of course, I spent 3-4 hours doing just that, on those two days. :P It's worth it, though. It feels so good to connect with others.

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    1. Jerimi, I agree. Connecting with others is one of the very best things about blogging. It is a wonderful creative outlet and I personally love it. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  20. Jennifer, thank you for the invite!! I will definitely participate! Thank you for the invitation! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  21. I am so late to this party! I can completely relate to this post, reading and commenting on other blogs is time consuming but so enjoyable and vital. I never realized what I was missing out on until I started reading other blogs. There are so many different people, opinions, and viewpoints out there. And each one gives me New perspective and insight. I love it. But sometimes finding the time is so hard to do. Hence my late arrival here! :)
    Great post!

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    1. Tamara, it is so hard to find time to write, comment, and do everything else necessary to make life roll along smoothly. I am so pleased you stopped by! Thank you for reading and for your kind comments! ♥

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