It happens on a fairly regular basis. I change things up with my blogging – add a blog, refine my focus, get back into it if I had stopped.
This current change is more of a refining, a focus on quality over quantity, a realization of limitations and a pathway to other opportunities.
When I started back blogging regularly a few years ago (after having been an on again, off again blogger since December 2, 2004), I aimed to have something new every week day. Five new posts a week was the goal. More often than not, I was able to produce that.
Of those five blog posts, I liked almost all of the ideas, but I didn't always like the execution. Often times, I was in a rush and would finish them at 5 AM after work.
Other times, I would get the blogs written, but I would do so at the expense of spending time with my family, being in God's word and other things that should come before my blog writing.
I am most assuredly not giving up blogging. I enjoy the outlet and the avenue to express my thoughts, that often times develop as I write. I need to write to think, but I need to change the way I publish writing.
Most of my blog writing seems to go in three directions: cultural analysis, devotional material and humor. I have established Friday as the day for my humor posts. Monday's post will feature the analysis of culture, while Wednesday's will be a devotional thought.
This blog will continue to serve as a random collection of thoughts that may not fit in with the more structured set up of The Wardrobe Door.
• Produce better blog posts – What I write speaks of who I am and Who I follow. I do not want to produce something that is OK, when you deserve to read something better. More importantly, I want to give my best as an act of worship. Having only three posts planned per week, will hopefully allow more time to edit and improve each post. Giving you less volume to read, but giving you something each time that is better in quality.
• Reduce the amount of blog-related tweets and Facebook statuses – Social media has been a great tool to spread the word about my writing, but I do not want to kill the golden goose. I especially do not want friends to feel as if I am constantly plugging my latest post every single day.
• Changing methods with changing times – Previously, to be a considered a serious blogger, you had to have a new post at least once every week day. It was expected of you. That idea is changing because the blog reader is changing. There are so many reading and blog options for you that you often feel overwhelmed with trying to read them all or even keep up with the few you value.
• Save some time – Next week will begin my last semester of my Master of Divinity studies. As I am finishing up classes, I will also be searching for a job, planning a move, finding a new place to live and, oh yeah, adding a brand new baby girl to our family. Time is a precious commodity for you and I.
• Write for other ventures – As much as I love blogging, I didn't dream of being a blogger. I did and still do dream of being a professional author. I want to spend time working on some ebooks and, just maybe, some traditionally published books. My boys and I have even started working on some children's books. I can't devote the time needed to those, if I am constantly churning out new material every day.
These are the guidelines moving forward. That doesn't mean it will work according to plan every week. Some weeks I may feel the need to write more at The Wardrobe Door. Maybe, I'll put a few posts here on The Wardrobe Drawer. Perhaps, I'll insert a quote or video at The Wardrobe Door on Tuesdays and Thursdays, just to shake things up.
Things are fluid, but that is the direction I am heading. I hope you will stay along for the ride.
This current change is more of a refining, a focus on quality over quantity, a realization of limitations and a pathway to other opportunities.
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| Photo from RGBstock.com by John Nyberg |
When I started back blogging regularly a few years ago (after having been an on again, off again blogger since December 2, 2004), I aimed to have something new every week day. Five new posts a week was the goal. More often than not, I was able to produce that.
Of those five blog posts, I liked almost all of the ideas, but I didn't always like the execution. Often times, I was in a rush and would finish them at 5 AM after work.
Other times, I would get the blogs written, but I would do so at the expense of spending time with my family, being in God's word and other things that should come before my blog writing.
I am most assuredly not giving up blogging. I enjoy the outlet and the avenue to express my thoughts, that often times develop as I write. I need to write to think, but I need to change the way I publish writing.
The New Plan
So, here is what I am doing. The Wardrobe Door, which previously had a new post every weekday, will have a new post three days a week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with more structure to the posts topics and hopefully better, more thought out content.Most of my blog writing seems to go in three directions: cultural analysis, devotional material and humor. I have established Friday as the day for my humor posts. Monday's post will feature the analysis of culture, while Wednesday's will be a devotional thought.
This blog will continue to serve as a random collection of thoughts that may not fit in with the more structured set up of The Wardrobe Door.
The Reasons
I'm going in this direction for several reasons, both for me the writer and you the reader.• Produce better blog posts – What I write speaks of who I am and Who I follow. I do not want to produce something that is OK, when you deserve to read something better. More importantly, I want to give my best as an act of worship. Having only three posts planned per week, will hopefully allow more time to edit and improve each post. Giving you less volume to read, but giving you something each time that is better in quality.
• Reduce the amount of blog-related tweets and Facebook statuses – Social media has been a great tool to spread the word about my writing, but I do not want to kill the golden goose. I especially do not want friends to feel as if I am constantly plugging my latest post every single day.
• Changing methods with changing times – Previously, to be a considered a serious blogger, you had to have a new post at least once every week day. It was expected of you. That idea is changing because the blog reader is changing. There are so many reading and blog options for you that you often feel overwhelmed with trying to read them all or even keep up with the few you value.
• Save some time – Next week will begin my last semester of my Master of Divinity studies. As I am finishing up classes, I will also be searching for a job, planning a move, finding a new place to live and, oh yeah, adding a brand new baby girl to our family. Time is a precious commodity for you and I.
• Write for other ventures – As much as I love blogging, I didn't dream of being a blogger. I did and still do dream of being a professional author. I want to spend time working on some ebooks and, just maybe, some traditionally published books. My boys and I have even started working on some children's books. I can't devote the time needed to those, if I am constantly churning out new material every day.
These are the guidelines moving forward. That doesn't mean it will work according to plan every week. Some weeks I may feel the need to write more at The Wardrobe Door. Maybe, I'll put a few posts here on The Wardrobe Drawer. Perhaps, I'll insert a quote or video at The Wardrobe Door on Tuesdays and Thursdays, just to shake things up.
Things are fluid, but that is the direction I am heading. I hope you will stay along for the ride.
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