Wednesday, March 17, 2010

New Resolution

Between Granddaddy's passing, the whirlwind trip to Florida, and the never-ending stress of moving, my body and mind are SCREAMING for some normality and routine to return to my life. Since the Blogger community is a big part of my daily entertainment, I'm making some changes in my interaction with said community, mainly this: since I'm so far away from the agent/querying/professional stage of the game, I'm discontinuing following any sort of purely industry blogs and will instead refocus my attention on blogs maintained by people like me, people who are getting started, newly agented, somewhere in the middle, or nowhere at all--but people whom I find charming, amusing, inspiring, or just downright entertaining (or all of the above)[how long can I make this sentence? Suck it, Hawthorne!].

I'm going to try and start writing my posts the night before so that I can devote my morning Blogger time to reading and commenting on all the far more talented and worthwhile blogs out there. I'm a lurker to the nth degree, so I'm going to make a concerted effort to actually make a comment, instead of just snickering to myself.

That being said, please feel free to direct me towards any blog (including your own) that you think could use some love, or that I simply can't continue on without following. I like those who are starting out and haven't accrued a big following yet, but I won't snub someone with 8234078 followers, either, if you think I shouldn't.

I may or may not get around to scheduling a post for first-thing tomorrow, but I am planning on my next post containing all that nerdy info from The Writer magazine.

18 comments:

Christine Danek said...

Hey there! I will look for some for you or feel free to go through my list of the blogs I follow:) So sorry for your loss and all your craziness.
This community is wonderful to turn to when you need a smile.
Take Care.

DL Hammons said...

Sounds like a good plan. I've been debating the same myself. I've been reading and following most of them for a year now and although I know there is still a lot to learn, now is the time to devote to my WIP and not the PROCESS.

Unknown said...

I hope I'm a worth while blog!!!!! Read Me... Read Me... If for nothing else than to look for my Criminal Mind posts!!!

I think you have an excellent strategy and it will certainly be well executed! There are so many fun and entertaining blogs!!! Which is why I visit your so frequently! Nothing but love over here :)

Shelley Sly said...

I completely understand where you're coming from. I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed with non-Blog things in my life, that when I finally get to my computer and sit down and see that I have 75 blog entries to read, I'm like "what?!" So, good for you for cutting it back. I hope you feel better and relieve some stress.

Crystal Cook said...

Well said Summer, I think that's a great idea. I don't follow many of those professional ones either, that is just so far, far away :)

And I'm so sorry for your loss.

Kimberly Franklin said...

I'm so glad you're back!! And I think what you're doing is great. When you're so far away from the point of querying, etc, it gets depressing to read about it ALL THE TIME! I don't read industry blogs, very much anymore. DEPRESSING! ; )

So happy you're back! Missed you!!!!

sarahjayne smythe said...

Welcome back. And I think that sounds like a great plan, just what you need right now. The industry blogs can wait. :)

Summer Frey said...

Thanks, all! I guess it's pretty easy to get overwhelmed when you're first getting the hang of the Blogger 'verse! But hopefully this means I can devote more time to being witty in all of YOUR comment sections! Heehee...

And Jen, you are definitely a worthwhile blog! :-)

Kimberly--thanks for the sweet words! And yeah, it totally does get depressing. Anne Lamott talks about jealousy a good bit in Bird by Bird, and I figure if SHE can be jealous and petty, who am I to feel any different? :-)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Not sure if I'm worthy, but I'll take the lurking. And there's some cool authors listed in my sidebar worth following.

I always plan my post the night before. Think you'll find that frees your time more.

Unknown said...

Good for you, Summer! Prioritizing your time is the best thing you can do for yourself, especially when time is short and life feels dis-organized. I'm a writer like you, and my query days are far, far into the future. Feel free and welcome to commisserate with me anytime!

My condolences on the passing of your granddaddy. You're in my prayers.

Sarah Ahiers said...

we're on the same page. I had just made a conscious decision myself that i need to stop lurking and get back to commenting on blogs more often

Anonymous said...

I am a firm believer in doing what you need to do for you, so it sounds like a doable plan.

Patti said...

I think your right. I got carried away reading agent blogs when I first started, now I stick mainly to bloggers like me for inspiration. I go look at agent blogs when I'm ready to query.

Anne Gallagher said...

Good for you. Agent blogs say pretty much all the same stuff anyway. People blogs are much more fun.

Unknown said...

all the far more talented and worthwhile blogs out there Well, I think you're talented and a worthwhile read, I just have been having the same trouble reading and commenting on blogs and such. I went through and un-followed a bunch of people. (I felt like a loser too, but it was too much.)

Madeleine said...

This post is evidence that you're smarter than me. (: I have so much trouble keeping up with things (especially if the blogs don't have email subscription options)!

Anyway, my blog is the type that could use a little love :D (the link's in my name), but otherwise...

Regan Leigh's blog (http://reganleigh.com) is amazing. She's a writer, heart and soul, and an all around wonderful person. You can't help but like her.

I'm also a fan of many other blogs, and all of their links can be found in my blog sidebar.

Anyway, I completely endorse your decision to take it easy. The amount of stress that blogging and blog reading can put on a person is astounding (I understand. I'm the one who's hardly blogged this month).

JournoMich said...

those sound like great goals. But don't put too much pressure on yourself! Enjoy the blogging world.

I am sorry to hear about your grandfather. I hope it was a good time for him to go--I mean, I hope it was a release instead of a surprise.

You are always welcome at Southern City Mysteries!
Michele

Hannah said...

You're so right about not following all the agent and publishing blogs before being at that step. I was just thinking about doing the same thing! Great minds and alll that. For me, it's taking away my focus from writing and the inspiration I get from all my fellow writers in the sphere.