This post is brought to you by the Insecure Writer's Support Group, an online group where writers can express doubts and concerns, and those who have been through the fire can offer
assistance and guidance.
~ ~ ~
I was sitting here thinking about how I don't have time for an IWSG post this month, and then I thought that that's exactly what I should blog about!
So here's the thing ...
Every day my email bombards me with the following:
Blog comments
New Twitter followers
Twitter mentions
Facebook notifications
New Wattpad followers
Wattpad comments
Goodreads invites
Goodreads group updates
Google notifications
Pinterest notifications
Linkedin notifications
and more!
I keep trying to get to the point where my phone doesn't have a little red circle above the Mail icon, but it seems impossible. Like one step forward, two steps back (or more like ten steps forward, twenty steps back!) Right now the number there is 91! How am I supposed to deal with all these notifications and also write tens of thousands of words, design covers, format books, (reset the stupid internet that keeps dropping signal!!!), market my already-published books, read my Bible and talk to God, cook, clean, go to gym, walk the dogs, see friends, spend time with my husband, live life ... (and I don't even have children yet!)
Now DON'T GET ME WRONG. I love being connected. I love that people are reading my books, following my blog, leaving awesome comments on Wattpad, replying to my posts on Facebook, following me on Twitter, and pinning my pictures on Pinterest. (Whoa, hello alliteration!) I LOVE THAT! I just feel really bad when I can't respond to all those people. When I don't return blog visits, when I don't reply to blog comments, when I ignore Facebook group updates ... I feel super guilty!
Soooo ... what's the answer here? Sleep less? Stop blogging? Delete my Facebook account? (*gasp* Never!)
One thing I can say is this ...
If I don't respond to the comment you leave on this blog,
or I take weeks to come by and visit your blog,
I'M SORRY! I appreciate EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
PROMISE!!
or I take weeks to come by and visit your blog,
I'M SORRY! I appreciate EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
PROMISE!!
xx Rachel
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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22 comments:
Rachel,
I can understand how you feel. I've not long been blogging and I find that this is so time-consuming. Now my husband has taken early retirement and he's begging for total attention.
Thankfully I'm not on Facebook or Twitter - yet.
Once I've sorted my husband I'm hoping to have some routine again. My writing is one of my priorities. Blogging should not be a top priority.
God - husband - dogs - home/writing - the rest should not matter too much. All the best.
Hi Fanny
You're right about the order of those priorities. God should come first, and far too often I put Him at the bottom of the list ...
I'm going to come and visit your blog RIGHT NOW before I run out of time!
I can so relate to this. I work full-time and have a family so it's very hard to squeeze it all in. I want to read everyone's blog and want to get on Twitter and Facebook more. But it's all sucking too much of my writing time, which is little as it is. I'm cutting back on the blogging and not reading as many blogs Thursday through Sunday, hoping I can get on Facebook & Twitter more and write a little more. We'll see how it goes.
You can do the best you can do and that's all you can do. There is no way I can respond to all my comments, although I want to. But I know I catch them at least once if not twice a week.
Natalie, I remember you mentioning you'd be cutting back on blogging this year. I hope it works well for you :-)
Stephen, you're right, that's all we can do!
I think part of your answer can be to go in and change what notifications you get, if any, on some social sites. I've removed almost all social media from sending me emails. I check the site (Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads/etc.) instead for notifications and updates, so they don't clog my inbox.
Sometimes cutting back on things or setting time limits can help too.
IT is hard to find a balance. I work on trying to have a time set up for checking emails. If I get it done in that time I smile, if not I get it next time.
LOL.
TIME STOPPER.
The solution to all our woes...except then we might have to deal with premature aging, but that's doable, right?
Welcome to my world! Now you know why I'm not on many social sites. Or why I don't churn out books very fast.
If you can't quit any of it, just pull back a little across the board.
Sometimes, you can find time under large rocks (the small rocks let it leak out) and under rotting trees. You have to find the good mossy ones, though, with lots of mushroom things growing on them. Occasionally, you'll find that spiders are hoarding it.
Cherie - I've thought of doing that, but then I forget to check the relevant site (Twitter, Facebook, whatever) every day and I might miss something important!
Brandon - I don't think I EVER get it done in whatever time I've allocated!
Crystal - Ooh, how about one of those things Hermione used in the Harry Potter books? Was it called a time turner?
Alex - Yeah, pulling back a little from everything would probably help.
Andrew - I need to find some large, mossy rocks ...
Managing time is a challenge. I worry about it so much, I probably could be getting more done if I just let it go and do what I can when I can.
I have turned off all notifications on my phone so I'm not looking at it ever time I hear that little ding. Helps me to stay on task and address them at a designated times.
I'm pulling my hair out right now because I don't know! I'm finding it difficult to manage my time, grrrrrrrr lol
Just take things one day at a time, and don't pressure yourself to do everything, especially social media stuff, all in one sitting, or even two sittings. Hang in there!
You need to turn off some of those notifications. I have and it helps unclog your email space. Do your best to respond when you can. If you go too far or fast you'll burn out. No one wants that.
Maybe there are some things you can turn off the notification for, things like Pinterest and new twitter followers. You don't need to know every time someone pins something. When you have a chance to get back on Pinterest, you can see what actions have taken place. Same with twitter. If you eliminate at least two of the notifications and just be sure to check in once in a while to see what's new...your phone will be a little quieter!
I'm lucky. I teach in a Catholic school where my kids attend, so I spend most of my day with God while sharing him with my students! And I get some mommy time throughout the day too. But, I do write at ten at night when everyone is finally in bed! I think it's the sleep that has to go! ;) Christy (Don't bother visiting our blog. We haven't had a new post in over a week!)
Oooh, this is like the story of my life! I completely understand. It's not easy at all, and I'm miserable at it. Lately, I've changed the options on a few of my networks to daily digests though, so I only get one email that I can handle at a single stop, which has helped me out some--just a thought at least. Good luck!! :)
When I have too many emails, I tackle one kind of email at a time. It seems to keep my brain from overloading and helps get through the emails faster. For instance, you could read all of your Wattpad emails first. Then move on to blog related emails or Twitter or whatever you want.
I had to take a step back from social media in 2014. Life got a little too fast-paced for me. :/
OMG! I swear my inbox is going to implode one day with all the emails I get. And it's so easy to say that you'll only check for a minute then get back to work. The next thing you know it's an hour later, and you've only made a dent in the inbox. :(
I always feel like I'm barely catching up. I've turned off email notifications from social networks and I check them as per my schedule when I can get there. It's not ideal, but I need more time to write. Sometimes I feel like an ingrate though, when I come across a mention on social media days, even weeks later.
I think that one has to find the happy balance between all these activities. How? I have no idea.
I also think that some activities will have to suffer, at the expense of other activities. Which ones? I suppose it will differ from blogger to blogger.
I've noticed that some writers are most active on their blogs, while others prefer Facebook/Twitter.
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