Pondering a few changes . . .
April 26, 2010 at 11:46 am 31 comments
. . . and would be interested in your thoughts.
Over the last few months I have felt especially pressed for finding adequate time to post as much as I would like.
I’ve fallen down completely on my challenges, not writing a single Re-read Challenge post this year, and barely squeaking by with the others. The frustrating part about it for me is that I’ve actually read the books for the challenges—especially in the case of the Re-read Challenge (which, of course, is the most time consuming part), yet not had my act together enough to sit down and write the reviews.
I’ve also missed posting my monthly Read Books post for last month, am (barely) keeping up with my 2010 Read Books page.
Even thinking about trying to “catch up” with these posts is mighty overwhelming. And, here’s the thing: I really like tracking and reviewing my books. (Even if it’s just writing the mini-reviews.) This is one of the reasons I started blogging in the first place. I feel strongly about RBA being about what I enjoy, and wouldn’t bother with these challenges and posts if I didn’t truly want to do them.
So, I’m making an effort to figure out ways that I can post what I want to to make this a fun and interesting place for me to create, and for you to visit.
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
So, I’m planning on “stepping back” from my Challenges for a little while (what was I thinking, taking on 4 of them?) and being more of a “drop in” participant.
I’m also thinking about changing how often I post my Read Books list, and going from monthly—which gets overwhelming writing mini-reviews for such a long list—to twice a month. This should pare the posts down to roughly 7-12 books, rather than the crazy long 18-25 book list.
I guess what I’m curious about is this: do shorter posts work better for readers? I know most people (including me *blush*) tend to skim posts anyway, and I could see where either length would be preferred.
Let me know what you think!
Entry filed under: bellyaching, Meta, Random blog stuff. Tags: .
1.
Barbara | April 26, 2010 at 11:54 am
I find the same thing! I read so much that it’s hard to write about everything, then I feel overwhelmed, so I don’t write anything for months. I’ve hidden all my old posts, I’m reworking the site and I’ll figure it out as I go along. My goal is to post at least on Monday and Wednesdays, even if I have to write them the weekend before and schedule them to post on Monday. That might help. And work ahead some.
As for you – I don’t read all the mini reviews, I’ll confess. I skim it, like you do, but I’ve found some great books thanks to you, so I do read!
2.
Renee | April 26, 2010 at 12:59 pm
I miss you when you don’t post, but I totally understand! I’ve tried to have “regular” days when I post (mostly, just Mondays) and that has been helpful.
Also, being a little less ambitious. I tend to want to write in-depth reviews, get overwhelmed, then don’t write anything. The minis have alleviated that somewhat, and then I feel happier when I DO want to write something more in depth.
(I think skimming is the somewhat guilty secret of most readers.
)
Looking forward to the new look over at your place!
3.
Tracy | April 26, 2010 at 12:45 pm
It’s completely understandable and I don’t think you should worry too much about the challenges or posting from the past couple of months – just go from here. You’re right – it’s too overwhelming to even think about trying to post form the past.
I think you should go with what you feel comfortable with. If you do 2 posts per month about what you’ve read and that’s what you feel comfy with? Go for it baby.
4.
Renee | April 26, 2010 at 1:02 pm
You are my role model, Tracy! I love your weekly posts on what you have been reading the previous week. They give just enough info to help me find new books.
I guess I’ll follow my favorite movie motto, “Keep moving forward!” (from Meet the Robinsons)
5.
bookdaze | April 26, 2010 at 1:03 pm
I’ve felt much the same way lately – heck, for the past few months! So I can identify with your dilemma.
Shorter posts are great, I actually prefer them, to be honest. And I do like your mini-reviews, so I’m glad you’re not planning on giving them up.
Li
6.
Renee | April 26, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Thanks, Li! Yeah, I think the struggle is universal, isn’t it? I’m glad that you enjoy the minis!
7.
Christine | April 26, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Hi Renee,
Hey did you change your layout? I REALLY like this one. It’s very “clean” looking… minimalist, but the sidebar still has all the extra info I love to read at your blog.
As for your pondering of changes, I can totally relate to all of your time and blog woes. If only the day had an extra 10 hours… MAYBE my blog could possibly keep up with my mind and all that I want to share with my readers would actually get posted!
I understand wanting to step back from challenges. I actually signed up for a lot of challenges this year, but only two require reviews–and one is only a three month/five book challenge. I sometimes welcome the challenge because it helps me get through the books I want to read, but sometimes having to review something feels like homework and I procrastinate like you would not believe.
I am a fan of “mini-reviews” as I am WAY more likely to read the whole thing and leave a comment. Sometimes I land on a long review and think to myself, “Oh, I’ll come back to this later tonight when I have time to read through and leave a thoughtful comment.” … and then never do.
So I am all for short posts and mini reviews! You could maybe even post your Read List and Mini Reviews once a week on the 3-6 books you read in a week vs. the 7-12 you’d read in two weeks.
Sorry for the long comment. This is a topic I mull over in my head all the time, so I guess I had a lot to say on it.
8.
Renee | April 26, 2010 at 7:12 pm
lol. Sounds like a hot-button issue for you, too.
I totally do that, too! I’ll have these great reviews sitting open in my browser waiting to be read or commented on, and I only ever get to half of them.
I’ve actually read/reviewsed a couple that would work for orannia’s challenge, but forgot to “claim” them as such. However, I know I’ll get to it before the year is up!
Glad I’m not the only one who thinks about these things!
9.
Sullivan McPig | April 26, 2010 at 3:49 pm
It depends on what the post is about. some topics are so much fun that the more to read the better and other things can be shorter, so yeah I know…. not much help here, huh.
10.
Renee | April 26, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Well, the way I blather on about most things, there will definitely still be plenty of longer posts. lol
11.
Chris | April 26, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Well, you won’t be surprised that I like short reviews.
I went to reviewettes when I realized that I could put off writing full reviews forever and they were ultimately sucking the fun out of reading for me.
Try some different things and see what works for YOU.
12.
Renee | April 26, 2010 at 7:16 pm
I LOVE your reviewettes! I’ve found so many great books in them, and look forward to Thursdays when I know I can find them at the bottom of your linkity posts.
Yeah, I’m really routine oriented, so it’s always sort of a big deal for me to change things up. But, I think I’m going to experiment a bit to see what will work for me in the long run.
13.
Chris | April 26, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Aw, thank you! You can always poke around in my LibraryThing (select Style B, then click on the up/down arrow button after the style options and select Sort By Day Read ). Or you can do tag searches, such as
tags: gay, done
14.
Nicola O. | April 26, 2010 at 4:44 pm
being a little less ambitious. I tend to want to write in-depth reviews, get overwhelmed, then don’t write anything.
Huh. I have clones? (or maybe I am a clone) Who knew?
I don’t do challenges because they feel like work to me. So far I haven’t had a problem finding enough stuff to read!
15.
Renee | April 26, 2010 at 7:18 pm
LOL. Great minds . . .
I usually love the challenges because I’m sort of a structure-gal and they give me some concrete objectives for posting. However, life hasn’t really co-operated lately, so change is in order.
16.
Wendy | April 26, 2010 at 4:56 pm
OK, four challenges?! You are insane. I’m doing one (Keishon’s TBR Challenge) and I was scared there for a while that even that one would be hard to keep up with (But so far, so good! I’ve done all four months. Granted two of those months I read Harlequins. Weeeee!)
I like shorter posts. I’m guilty of droning on and on over at my blog and I’m sure I get skimmed a lot. But in the end it doesn’t matter what I think. You should do what you wanna do. Hey, it’s your blog!
17.
Renee | April 26, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Yeah, I had this idea of combining challenge reads for maximum efficiency. ::rolls eyes::
The crazy part is that the reading has been the easy part for me. It’s the writing that I’ve been such a flake about. And I get crazy when I say I’m going to do something and don’t follow thru.
Yep! I struggle with the never ending posts. My writing is sort of an extension of how much I talk irl. lol
18.
Nicola O. | April 28, 2010 at 8:25 am
Again, I think you are me. I read like crazy but it takes a bit of motivation to get started on a review. Once I start it, I’m good, but really, I spend 2-4 hours on each review and for whatever reason I don’t have as much energy for it as I did when I started out.
19.
Chris | April 26, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Oh, I must’ve blocked out the challenges when I was replying earlier.
Other than the M/M Romance Challenge (which I had already met when I signed up for it) and Kris’ M/M Rutt Challenge (because she would’ve hurt me if I didn’t sign up for it), I am challenge free this year…. mostly because signing up for a challenge guarantees (other than M/M, apparently) that I will never read another book that could be used for the challenge…
*sigh*
20.
Renee | April 26, 2010 at 7:39 pm
See, the DIK Challenge has been a good one, because I already had SO many of those books on my tbr shelf. (Cause, lord knows, I need all the help I can get!)
21.
Leslie | April 26, 2010 at 7:25 pm
I like the new look and I’m glad you kept the pinup girl.
I signed up for a bunch of challenges this year with the plan to get my tbr pile down. I do try to finish each challenge but if I don’t get the review done, that’s ok. I”m trying to not stress out about the blog – it should be fun not stressful right?
I do like the mini reviews and short reviews. The longer the review the more likely I am to skim. Like many have said, do what you feel comfortable with. If it’s just a quick drive by review – that works. Sometimes a few sentences is all I need if I’m on the fence about reading a book.
22.
Renee | April 29, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Thanks! I’m quite fond of her, myself.
Yes! Sometimes all it takes is a few choice words to convince me to pick up a book.
23.
orannia | April 27, 2010 at 2:06 am
(((Renee)))
Firstly and most importantly, do what feels right and comfortable for you
Just like reading, blogging is meant to be fun. If it’s not fun, then it’s time to step back and re-evaluate. And I’m with Tracy – I like short reviews, although this is coming from a person who writes very long ones, so I can’t talk 
24.
Renee | April 29, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Oh yeah! FUN! It’s sometimes easy to lose sight of that. But I work hard (oxymoron intended) on remembering that it’s fun.
25.
Hilcia | April 27, 2010 at 7:45 am
Renee, I love your minis. Go with whatever makes you feel comfortable and makes blogging fun for you. If short is it, go for it, and start anew with your fresh look.
I can relate to struggling over those looong end-of-month posts… they can get out of hand if a lot is read for the month. I’m struggling with that myself ATM as my list of books read gets longer.
I read both short and long reviews/posts if they interest me — if I want to know more about that particular book or subject. I have no predilection for either style.
26.
Renee | April 29, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Good point! I love saving up the Breezing Through Books long, conversational reviews for after I’ve read the reviewed book.
I may not get to as many long reviews, but enjoy the few I do read.
Variety is the spice of life, and all that!
27.
Nicola O. | April 28, 2010 at 8:29 am
To be honest, I don’t usually read the posts (yours and others’) that are just lists of what was read. I know they’re popular, but they don’t make very interesting reading, to me.
28.
Renee | April 29, 2010 at 11:11 pm
I’m cool with lists, as long as there’s something more than just a title. (Though, that being said, I do like Anna’s upcoming releases list, which is my notable exception.)
29.
orannia | April 29, 2010 at 4:04 pm
I’ve actually read/reviewsed a couple that would work for orannia’s challenge, but forgot to “claim” them as such. However, I know I’ll get to it before the year is up!
And that reminds me – I should really update the post (in other words write another post) so that people can claim for books they’ve read. I’ll do that next month!
30.
Renee | April 29, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Sometimes it feels like a blog creates another venue for “housekeeping”, doesn’t it?
31.
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