Monday, 28 November 2011

In which I decide to cut my life into bite-sized, and hopefully manageable, pieces ...

I had such a good break from blogging last week. I basically did nothing but faff around and waste time (and do freelance work). But let's just call it, "re-energizing." Yes, I did pop into a couple of blogs to leave comments, and spent a bit of time on Facebook, but I really really can't resist sometimes ... it's a problem. I think I might need counseling ...

Actually I did do something worthwhile last week ...

I applied for a grant.

I find out next year in April if I get it. So keep your fingers crossed for me, please!

I also started a very very very very exciting project with a very very very good friend (and brilliant author) of mine. No, it's not a novel. No it's not a poetry or short story collection ... it's ... well ... you're going to have to wait till Wednesday to find out what it is because we're going to announce it together and direct you all to the wonderful URL where it's all taking place. Those of you who know what it is ... shhh! But really, it wouldn't take a baby crocodile long to figure out what it is if they just had a peak around my blog :o)

Anyway ... it'll be officially announced on Wednesday so ... SHHH!!!

Source
Speaking of Wednesday, that's when you'll see me posting again. I've decided to put my foot down with the side of my brain that is addicted to this place and YOU. I'm setting a schedule and I'm sticking to it. I can't focus properly on all the other stuff (writing, music, work, yoga, life), because all I'm thinking about is YOU. So I have to sacrifice a bit of you to get my head in a healthy place where I can focus on one thing at a time. I have to allocate particular times of day for particular things. Life is just getting too busy and I need to find a balance somehow.

So my schedule from now on is: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday.

I will also do my best to only comment on these days too, but that might take a bit of getting used to, so please allow me to wean myself off and don't yell at me if you see me lurking round ... :o)

One last thing ... congrats to Theresa Milstein for winning String Bridge!!!

Um ... until Wednesday, folks ... oh my god it is so hard to say that ...

Any of you had to cut down on blogging? How did you feel about it? Did it take you long to get used to?



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29 comments:

  1. Theresa Milstein28 November 2011 at 12:31

    YaY! Thank you, Jessica!

    I've cut down on blogging too. Working full time and taking a class made it a necessity. My trick is to comment as often as I can, but to post 1-2 times per week.

    Good luck with your new routine.

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  2. S.A. Larsenッ28 November 2011 at 13:01

    Sometimes cutting back is necessary. I found blogging three days has not only freed up some time, but my mind as well. Excited to hear your news!!

    Congrats to Theresa!

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  3. Laura Pauling28 November 2011 at 13:23

    I post 3x a week and that seems to be working. But if it ever wasn't I'd cut down more. At first I felt pressure to blog every day when I started but I had to be realistic!

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  4. Sarah28 November 2011 at 13:43

    Congrats to Theresa! I've definitely cut down on blogging out of sheer necessity. I can manage maybe twice a week, but sometimes even that is challenging. *shrugs* I hope you enjoy your new schedule. Looking forward to your news on Wednesday!

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  5. Anonymous28 November 2011 at 14:59

    Take care. I wish I had your willpower. I tried to take last week off. Ha!

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  6. Talli Roland28 November 2011 at 15:22

    Big congrats to Theresa!

    I cut down to M/W/F, and it's really helped me manage my time better. I'm going to take a three-week break during Christmas, too, and I'm hoping I'll come back re-energised. I admit it, I'm exhausted!

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  7. Glynis Peters 28 November 2011 at 16:14

    I have cut it down to once a week on my author blog. I run two other blogs (one earns me pocket money and the other promotes books free for authors), and found my writing was suffering. I drop into FBK daily and Twitter twice a week. Now I feel free to enjoy reading blogs instead of rushing through them.

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  8. LTM28 November 2011 at 16:57

    ooo, a grant. I've thought about doing that before... I would love to hear your thoughts.

    And I think I know what's coming Weds-! Hope I can participate. As for the blogging, yes, and I'm probably going to have to do it again, which sux. I hate cutting down and losing touch w/everyone. But we have to remember it's the writing. That's why we're here. And I haven't been doing any of it lately. :p <3

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  9. Christine Murray28 November 2011 at 17:05

    I should be able to work out what your new project is, but I'm sleep deprived. Can't wait until Wednesday!

    And you're right to cut down on the blogging. Life is about balance.

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  10. Bish Denham28 November 2011 at 17:42

    I cut back a long time ago. And after your whirlwind blogsplash for your book I can fully understand how you must be in need of YOU time and refreshment.

    Looking forward to Wednesday!

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  11. Michelle D. Argyle28 November 2011 at 20:00

    Oooo, is cutting up my life possible? I'd like to size it all down, if I can. Heaven knows I've been trying! :)

    As long as I get to chat with all the time, still, I'm happy. :)

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  12. Karen Jones Gowen28 November 2011 at 21:00

    Yes I cut down quite a bit, and when Blogger does away with its old interface and I have to figure out the new one I imagine I'll cut down even more. Because my fingers were used to the old way and I could blog hop like crazy. I'll take a break for Christmas as soon as the Celery Tree launch is out there and my blog tour is over.

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  13. Alex J. Cavanaugh28 November 2011 at 21:16

    Now I'm intrigued!
    And that's why I only blog three days a week. I tend to visit other blogs every day of the week though.

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  14. Hart Johnson28 November 2011 at 22:02

    I'm pretty sure I know what this is... I'm VERY excited about it!

    I so can't do bite sized pieces. I am working full throttle or totally playing. I am incapable of moderation *nods*

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  15. Hilary Melton-Butcher28 November 2011 at 22:41

    Hi Jessica .. and lucky Theresa - that's fantastic news .. enjoy taking some time out to read Jess' String Bridge.

    Looking forward to hearing more about the new project ..

    Blogging takes time - but success if worth it .. cheers Hilary

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  16. Nate Wilson28 November 2011 at 23:34

    Cut down on blogging? Never! Of course, I only post about five times a month, so that's like comparing apples and... um... much smaller apples, I guess.

    I have, however, drastically cut back on my blog visiting ever since a certain baby started demanding my attention at all hours. And though I do feel bad about neglecting my fellow bloggers more often, I have no regrets.

    Go bite-sized. Take back some of your free time. We'll still be here to keep you company three days a week (or in my case, maybe two).

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  17. DL Hammons28 November 2011 at 23:43

    I've never posted on a schedule. Between work and home, life is just too predictable to allow that. Good luck adapting to your new schedule, though. :)

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  18. RHYTHM AND RHYME29 November 2011 at 00:46

    With health issues and blog not working properly have got behind commenting so hope people will understand.

    Take care.
    Yvonne.

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  19. Stina29 November 2011 at 02:42

    Wednesday??? Talk about building suspense.

    I think it's an awesome idea to cut down your blogging days. There's only so much we can do, and cutting down is better than cutting out. :D

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  20. Trisha29 November 2011 at 02:45

    Good luck with your new schedule - I know how difficult it can be cutting back from things you love.

    In other news, I just got my copy of STRING BRIDGE in the mail - so now it's on the TBR shelf! Along with MANY other books, of course...but I'm just excited to see it there!

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  21. Lydia Kang29 November 2011 at 03:17

    I had a great week off too. But I don't have an exciting secret like yours! Looking forward to the announcement. ;)

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  22. Vicki Rocho29 November 2011 at 03:28

    Wednesday? The suspense might kill me...might have to take on that baby crocodile.

    Good luck with the blogging schedule. We all know how hard it is to get that life-work-blogging balance thing to work. If you find the answer -- let me know!

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  23. Vicki Rocho29 November 2011 at 03:29

    Oh -- and BEST OF LUCK with the grant!

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  24. Nancy Thompson29 November 2011 at 03:33

    I've cut down to one day a week unless a special even comes up like a blogfest or something. It works much better for me. I devote one day to blogging and commenting. The rest of my time, I'm writing, and that's how I like it.

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  25. Steve MC29 November 2011 at 05:22

    You do what you gotta do, and you do it well. See you on Wednesday!

    Yvonne - hope you feel better.

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  26. Arlee Bird29 November 2011 at 08:25

    I've cut back on commenting as much as I hate to and I still don't have enough time to do things I need to do. If I get a regular job I'll really have to cut back. I think I need a grant too. I'm trying to keep my blog posting to a manageable level as well and am getting better at that.

    And now for that Wednesday announcement. I have no idea.


    Lee
    Tossing It Out

    Enjoy my delightful interview with Susan Kane on
    Wrote By Rote Saturday 11/26

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  27. Jamie Gibbs29 November 2011 at 08:34

    Good luck with the grant!!

    I've shifted my blogging patterns around a lot, and I've still not settled into it. There's always room for fluctuation, so even if you can't stick to it you're okay :)

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  28. Jim Murdoch29 November 2011 at 10:13

    I used to blog twice a week, a book review on Mondays and a literary article on Thursdays, and you know the length of my articles. I was doing it but I had no time for anything else so I cut back. I now post every five days which means I’ve clawed back three days and that has taken some of the pressure off. Of course those three days got eaten up—stuff always rushes in to fill a void—and I’m thinking I need to look at the returns on investments. I was advised to become more active on Facebook which I have and I have reaped some benefits but as always the question is about ratios: are the benefits worth the efforts involved. I’m glad to see you cutting back. (Did I not suggest that a few months back? I forget.) Seriously, no one will notice. Every one of us has too much to do anyway. All you need to do is enough to make sure we don’t forget you and, honestly, a couple of my friends only post one day a week and I actually look forward to, and make time for, their posts whereas I don’t always read the daily posters’ stuff.

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  29. Southpaw30 November 2011 at 03:27

    I've had to cut down. It's either that or never finish anything else.

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