Comments on: Getting Back Your Blog Spark

By: Stephen Cronin

Stephen Cronin — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:36:54 +0000

Hi Mark – no worries!

I am really behind in answering comments on my own blog and I know the comments are there!

I’ve been wondering at what point do blog owners stop answering every comment – I mean people like Darren Rowse at Problogger just can’t answer every comment, but I bet he did in the beginning. So when does someone decide, “I can’t answer them all”.

Not that I’m having trouble because of the number of comments – my problems are not enough time online and hopefully only temporary..

Stephen Cronin’s last blog post..Creating A JavaScript Array Dynamically Via PHP

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:46:10 +0000

@Stephen
Darnit! My blog stopped notifying me when comments are made. Once I noticed that I did a review of my comments log and found your comment. I hope you now don’t think that I was just ignoring you.

Thanks for the compliment! Eating an elephant one bite at a time is hard to do in a the fast-paced mentality we have come to allow ourselves to follow. Even after writing this post, I have still had trouble getting that blog spark ignited. But I do feel that it’s getting a little easier.

By: Stephen Cronin

Stephen Cronin — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:47:21 +0000

Mark,

This article is spot on. I know this feeling all too well right now. Three weeks between posts on my main blog, can’t keep up with comments there, not enough time on my second blog to make it spark, 3 or 4 plugins half written, upgrades needed to existing ones, 1000+ unread in my feed reader …. I could go on! Now I’m looking at a book deal, changing countries and starting a new job!

I don’t want to admit defeat in any of these… And I’m not being realistic. And I’m not going to make a schedule because there is no way I’d stick to it.

For me, I’m just going to do what I can, chip away at the things that are most important to me. I know I’ll never finish everything. I know some of my projects will suffer. But as long as my health is okay and my family is happy, then that’s the most important thing and everything else is secondary…

Stephen Cronin’s last blog post..Creating A JavaScript Array Dynamically Via PHP

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:56:33 +0000

@MorganLighter
Hehe…thanks for that. Good to know the 1-2-3 plan works. I’m working on it a little each day.

Thanks for commenting and welcome to MeAndMyDrum!

By: MorganLighter

MorganLighter — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:29:45 +0000

Mark,
Have you somehow been peeking over my shoulder?
Man, you hit the proverbial nail on the head. While I only have 3 sites up, I have/had visions of adding two more. Yeah, right, well, maybe.
When I came to my senses, I, too, said “Okay, let’s get a handle on this” and I proceeded to:
1. Consolidate, 2. Organize, 3. Schedule Time.
The outcome?
Peace.

MorganLighter’s last blog post..The Welfare System in The United States -Part 3

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:57:19 +0000

@Tay
Thank you! I have to say that it’s a bit therapeutic to read all these comments knowing that we all go through the same thing on occasion.

By: Tay - Super Blogging

Tay - Super Blogging — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:51:22 +0000

This is an excellent article, Mark. I go through the same thing - while I don't spread myself thin, I go through stages from where I'll be writing list posts and pillar posts constantly, and then sometimes I'll stop altogether. While I give out the advice all the time on making a schedule, I don't even always follow through with it myself. Thanks for the great read and for the inspiration! Tay - Super Blogging's last blog post..Super Blogging Sports a New Look!

By: Brennan Kingsland

Brennan Kingsland — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:57:35 +0000

Well, Mark, It takes one to know one! Brennan Brennan Kingsland's last blog post..American Epidemic - Cheating!

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:15:29 +0000

Great discussion everybody! Sorry I’m late to the meeting.

@David
Thanks! Yeah, I like routines and sometimes I over indulge myself causing me to neglect other important things like, oh I don’t know, family. But good idea about walking away at times. I suppose if I did that a little more often rather than coming home, eating dinner and blogging, I might free my mind up and allow it to be creative.

@Christine
I don’t know how you do it, Miss Christine, with all the writing you do. I’ve toyed with the notion of doing HTML page, too. Of course, it means I have to plan on making time for it.

@Forest
Wow, you actually quit your day job to blog full time? That’s quite a jump and kudos to you for doing so. I’ve often thought of doing something like that when the time is right. Sometimes I wonder if I’d be even more stressed over the fact that it would then be my job and try to crank out stuff that right as I’ve mentioned above that it’s difficult at times even with the little time I have now. As for my niche blogs, no, no wads of cash coming in, but once I give them an overhaul and breathe new life into them, I am hopeful that will one day be the ticket.

@Christy
Well, hello Miss Christy. You’re absolutely right — capitalize on those creative bursts and the words will flow.

@Kyle
Thanks, buddy! I know what you mean about regular posting doesn’t have to mean everyday posting. That’s one of the reasons I burned out on my niche blogs because I felt guilty not posting at least a couple of posts a day. I need to get them into “coast mode” and then I will have more time to do other writing.

@Bush
And thank you, too. Yep, admitting we have limits in the first place is hard, but I think important if we are looking for a balance and happiness. We’re all works in progress.

@Michelle
Me? A good guy? Aw shucks. LOL

@K
Oh I have some blogs just sitting out there collecting cyber-dust, too. But that’s going to change in the near future. Thanks for the kind words.

@David, part 2
Makes sense to me. Creativity definitely needs a little room to breathe.

@Brennan
Good to know that even someone as skilled as yourself finds it a struggle to manage schedules. But you bring up something I am lacking in for sure, and that’s setting goals. What few I have (for life and blogging) are far reaching. What I think I need are ones that are more short term goals, something to show progress a little more immediately. Hmm, I wonder who you could be talking about when you say someone taking on too many projects. LOL

By: Brennan Kingsland

Brennan Kingsland — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:17:07 +0000

I actually used to teach time management, so you’d think I’d know better, but I’m always trying to take on more projects than can ever be completed.
I’ve got all the portfolios and the planners and the daytimers but what finally worked for me was a big dry erase white board.
I still do my goal setting and my short and long range planning, but scheduling is a waste of time in my book. Among other things, running an Animal Sanctuary always throws emergency projects in my face that mess up my schedule.
Instead of pulling my hair out, I use the white board.
I have a picture of my long term goals on the wall in front of my computer, next to my white board, which I use to list the top one, two or three things I must do each day or die (or have my business die). This gives me the flexibility to get back on task if an emergency occurs. And it is VERY REWARDING to erase tasks as they are completed. It’s very basic but it works if you’re always trying to take on too many projects, like someone I know very well.

Brennan Kingsland’s last blog post..American Epidemic – Cheating!