How a Writing Schedule Has Affected Lernr.com
17Feb2008 Filed under: Blogging Author: Brad HuntsmanOk, so it’s more of a lack of a writing schedule that has affected Lernr.com. I had read a lot of buzz about a more lenient writing schedule, and, like many people who have experimented with more time between posting, have had a negative impact on this blog.
The idea is that giving yourself more time between posting means that your readers will be hungry for your next post, less stress, and that your posts will be of better quality because you’ve had more time to work on it researching, writing, proofing, etc.
For me, though, it meant more time to sit watching tv and reading, and no attention for posting. It’s been over half a month since I’ve blogged, commented or really anything related to Lernr. The only thing I’ve been doing is checking my declining stats and income. That is not my goal.
I have read a couple websites lately that are talking about treating your blog like you’re a professional writer working on a novel. These tips (specifically for writing papers for school) include
1. Spread out work on an assignment over several days. Coming at it fresh increases its quality.
2. During these days, get up early. Probably earlier than you are used to. Say, around 7 or 8 am. (This means these days will be weekdays, probably early in the week so you can avoid temptations to party the night before).
3. Have a mini-ritual to jump start the day. It should probably involve coffee. Breakfast. Maybe the morning paper. Don’t take too long.
4. Go to the most isolated place possible.
5. To get your mind ready to think, review the last pages you wrote.
6. Work for two or three hours. Then stop.
7. Follow this habit regularly. Don’t write during other times. Don’t write in public places. Don’t start writing the day before.
I’ve noticed my overall desire for the site to have drained because I didn’t have any deadlines. I had at one time wanted to post 3-4 posts per week, but with the new relaxed schedule, I found myself not posting at all because the deadline really wasn’t specific enough. I think deadlines are important. I’ve always been that way. I’m a born procrastinator, but I will always get things done if I have a deadline. So, I’m going back to trying to get a post published every 2 days. Starting now…
2 Responses to “How a Writing Schedule Has Affected Lernr.com”
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About Lernr
Our lives are overflowing with information. Everywhere we look we are being screamed at by all sorts of media: books , movies, magazines, blogs, podcasts, newspapers, TV shows, and much more.
At some point we have to make a decision about what to do with it all. We have to either turn it off and throw it away, ignoring it all because we can't take anymore. Or we have to sort the wheat from the chaff, figure out what it is telling us, consider what we can learn from it, and implement that practices that can make us better.
Lernr is about that process of learning what we can from different sources and applying it to our lives.
The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.
~ Mark Twain
Ben Cook
February 17th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
That’s a lot like the problems I was having. Perhaps it was more an issue of posting more randomly than posting less but either way, I think I’m going to stick with my post every day during the work week. Weekends are still my time to decompress, spend time with my wife, and all the other stuff I put off during the week. Glad to see you’re back at it as well.
Brad Huntsman
February 17th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Wow, Ben. You’re fast. I just hit publish two minutes before you commented.
Yes, I’ve read of a couple follow ups that said the same thing. It is still very important to put out quality, but the loose schedule (in my mind at least) that I don’t have to write today, I’ve still got time. Didn’t work for me.
Thanks for commenting. I’m honored to have your reading my blog.