This happens every now and then. This iteration was brought on by the fabulous Peggy DeKay of The Business Of Writing Today. She gave a talk on self-publishing to the Corydon writers’ group, Quills and Quibble, last night. Her advice on blogs for writers:
- Have one. Check
- Set up an RSS feed so people can subscribe to it. Check
- Post regularly. Check
- Not every day. Ch— Excuse me?
She said posting every day causes reader fatigue. I’m like, “I’m writing the freakin’ stuff! If I ain’t tired, where do they get off bein’ tired?”
But that’s what the lady said.
I know what she means: I subscribe to a world of bloggers, some of whom post every day. And you know what? Some of them I read every post, and some of them I read the ones with the headlines that intrigue me.
So I’m asking again. I enjoy posting every day, but I’m thinking of my subscribers. Would it be better for you if I pare this down to, say, four days a week: Writing Monday, Food Wednesday, Friday Recommends and Sample Sunday? Or are you content to do as I do, and read what you want to read and skip what you don’t want to read?
WRITING PROMPT: Someone tells a character he or she spends too much time with a third person, that the third person will get tired of seeing him or her.
MA
Bish Denham
November 17, 2011 at 9:55amBecause I post twice a week (usually but not always) I only get around to reading on the days I post. Being a slow reader I just can’t read everyone’s blog every day or I’d never get anything else done. I realized this some time ago and cut back. That said, it’s your blog and you get to do whatever you want! 🙂
Marian Allen
November 17, 2011 at 11:45amJust looking for feedback from my readers on what they think. 🙂
Carol Preflatish
November 17, 2011 at 7:30pmI don’t see a problem with posting every day. I wish I had enough to write about every day on my blog. The way I see it is that the reader can read whatever they want. If I don’t visit a blog every day, then when I do, I’ll catch up.
Marian Allen
November 17, 2011 at 9:31pm…I’m supposed to have something to write about?
Thanks for the feedback, Carol. Missed you last night!
Holly Jahangiri
November 19, 2011 at 2:44amI post when I feel like it. I post when I have something to say, and often when I don’t, and it’s not every day, but sometimes twice a month and sometimes twice a day.
Nice of you to think of your readers, but here’s the truth: I don’t read your blog every day, any more than I think you read mine EVERY day. But I read it more often than I comment, and when I drop in, I like to read more than one post, if I’ve missed a few. (One thing I have noticed and I think it’s true of most readers – we are fatigued, in general, by life. We’re likely to read what we’re invited – sometimes repeatedly, but without nagging or guilt or a sense of deep moral obligation – to read. Bread crumbs are good, to help us find our way back. I don’t know about you, but my RSS reader is a confusing jumble of crap, most days. I still miss stuff. But my email subscriptions are much easier.)
If I were GOING to read a blog every day, this would be on my short list – I’d read this one every day, for sure, and wish that I had time and energy to try every prompt, because they are all excellent.
#FF @MarianAllen because she doesn’t write insipid writing prompts. 😉
Marian Allen
November 19, 2011 at 10:46amI use my RSS feed reader every couple of days and catch up on the short list–including everything you write! 🙂
Jane
November 19, 2011 at 11:17amHi. I need my daily Marian fix, please,
Marian Allen
November 19, 2011 at 1:06pmOkay, then! 🙂