So starting next Monday, I'm going to a Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Weekend schedule.
Mondays and Fridays: Writing topics
Wednesdays: How They Do It guest posts
Weekends (Saturday and the occasional Sunday): Real Life Diagnostics
This new schedule should also make it easier for readers to keep up with the posts. Everyone is busy these days, and reading a blog daily can be hard to do (especially one that offers a lot of information like mine). It also gives folks more time to wander through the archives on off days if they'd like, since there's a ton of information there as well. (and I'll be trying a few new things to help make finding those older posts easier)
I've already prescheduled a lot of guest posts for the year, so you'll see the occasional Tuesday or Thursday guest post for folks who can't be shifted to Wednesday.
I haven't opened the blog up to questions in a while, so if there's anything you'd like me to post about, just ask.
15 comments:
I think this is a great idea Janice. I love your blog but now that I'm blogging too I find I can't get here all the time anymore. Same with my other blogs. So I appreciate that you're cutting back so I know I can get here more.
I'd love if you did a post on how to do natural internal thoughts in 3rd person limited POV. I'm trying to avoid she thought too much and don't want to italicize. But I want readers to know that it's internal dialogue.
This will make it a lot easier to keep up and reread posts. Your schedule sounds great.
I don't remember if you've already covered it, but I'd like to see a post on working in setting info naturally, especially in active scenes and ones heavy in dialogue. I can imagine the places my characters are, but I have a hard time figuring out how to include enough location info for readers to see it without sounding clunky, even when I've determined which details the characters would notice about the place.
Will you be removing and replacing dead links? Last time I went through the sidebar, I ran into a good amount of them.
I am so grateful for all of your posts (including the archived ones) over the past year and a half since I started following you. I have gotten a real education...things I could have spent gobs of tuition $$$ on. This has been a practical way to continue learning while I stay home raising my children (and writing on the side.
Thank you for your generosity in sharing your knowledge. Every award and recognition you have received, you have earned. I think you deserve even more. I will definitely continue to follow on the lighter schedule. All I can say is "Thank you", for the mentoring you have offered here. There is nothing quite like it anywhere else on-line.
Janice - You ROCK!
I don't mind that your cutting back. Sometimes a person just has too. I really enjoy what you have to say about writing. You've taught me so much.
As for ideas for future posts, have you covered unreliable narrators? There's such a fine balance between getting those wonderful `aha!' moments at the end, or leaving the reader feeling like you haven't played fair.
Thanks for all your blogging.
Natalie, great idea, I'll add that to my to-write list. Nice to hear cutting back is a good thing :)
Jaleh, I haven't done setting n a while, so I can do that. Thanks!
C0, will do. I didn't realize I had a lot of dead links. Yikes!
Amelia, aw, thanks! Makes me feel good to know the blog is reaching the writers I'd hoped it would. And that it's helping :)
Chicory, ooo I haven't done that before. Great idea. Thanks!
What about scripts and graphic novels? You mentioned that you didn't have a lot of experience in the matter, but maybe some guest posts would be cool.
This blog is the best ongoing class in writing I could hope to attend.
I don't have any bright ideas for questions right now but I'll be back to see what everyone else comes up with.
I understand your need to cut back. Blog ideas are not easy, but I truly learn from every post. Thank you for all you do for all the writers out there. You are amazing!
Najela, I'd love to get more posts on those if I can find some guest authors. I'll have to reach out to some authors and invite them over.
LD, aw, thanks!
Glacier, thanks so much. I can usually think up two good posts a week that are new, and I found myself struggling to fill the rest of the holes. Not good for anyone ;)
Janice, I'm amazed you've kept it up for so long and your blog never tires, and I've gleaned so many great hints etc.
Fabulous, but I understand your new regime. Good for you. :)
Re ideas for posts: what about one on Pitching. I find it so hard to condense a novel into a few sentences - it's so daunting, especially if you have to say it to a publisher and not sound like a complete umming, ahhing nerd, or a robot. :)
Good idea, Janice. I cut back on my blogging as part of a series of decisions to remove stress from my life, and it's been great.
Sheryl, thanks! For a long time I never ran out of ideas, but it's getting harder now to not repeat myself. Pitching works. I don't think I've done anything submission related in a while.
Paul, awesome. Writing the posts one day a week has certainly helped on the stress. I'm hoping fewer posts a week will allow me to keep up with other blog-related tasks that I never have time for.
This is still one of the most useful writing blogs I've come across, and I track a lot of blogs. I especially enjoy your Real Life Diagnostics since you explain showing and telling so well.
Thanks again for your insightful posts.
Ken, thanks! The RLDs are fun to do and I also love how they show real world fixes. Examples are so much easier to understand.
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