So far, this blog has been pretty ad hoc. Which I love. But I'm also aware that my followers (I gained 46 during the challege and another 7 afterwards - thank you so much!) might prefer a regular idea of what to expect. So I'm going to try for a... deep breath... schedule! (I'm already breaking out in a cold sweat - does that word remind you of school too?)
The reason I've avoided a schedule so far is that in an ideal world I would have no structure. I love being able to just write a random blog at four o'clock in the afternoon, or at midnight, about anything that happens to pop into my head. After the Challenge though, and having a firm idea of what my posts were going to be - and knowing what was expected of me - I'm at a bit of a loss to remember how my blog felt before April.
So here's my schedule:
Monday: Recommending books (and films). My theme for the challenge seemed quite popular, so I'm going to continue with that. I will highlight books I love, although they won't necessarily be new releases. These posts may contain books published in the last century, or even the one before that! They will be books that maybe you've overlooked, or have meant to read but never got around to it. I was really struck by how many people bumped up books on their TBR list because of one of my posts!
Wednesday: All about Me, Me, Me! A round-up of my writing, problems, progress on current WIPs, news about Cat and The Dreamer, and - hopefully - sharing new writing successes.
Friday: Interviews and guest posts. Yep, something new for me, and where I need your help. I've dabbled with interviews and really enjoyed it, so... if you'd like to be interviewed or have an idea for a guest post, please contact me: annalisacrawford [dot] writer [at] gmail [dot] com!
Having said that, next Monday - 14th May - I'll be taking part in the First Loves Blogfest, so I'm already breaking my schedule. And also, I currently have no one lined up for any Friday posts - because I literally made this up as I wrote - so I'll be winging that until I find people to fill it up!
Schedule sounds good! I don't have a set one other than which days I post. (Which will also be a little off the next couple months as I work on my next book.) I could do a Friday guest post - in July! (Yes, I am booked all the way into July.)
ReplyDeleteAnd the First Loves Blogfest involves books and movies, so you're still on schedule.
I'd love to have you do a guest post! That would be awesome. I'll email you.
DeleteAs for the blogfest - you're right. I didn't think of it like that.
Hi Annalisa .. I'm very unscheduled - but feel like you - so perhaps will get my act into gear for the summer .. I'm thinking Queen's Jubilee, Eastbourne and Wimbledon tennis, Olympics and Para Olympics .. with a few other bits here and there! I have plenty of material - but need to organise!! Perhaps you've inspired me?! Cheers and see you soon .. Hilary
ReplyDeleteThose topics sound fantastic. As a nation, we really should be getting behind these big events!
DeleteSchedules are a good thing! :D I don't have one because, I prefer to make it up a I go a long, but having a plan works well for a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteYou can interview me if you like lol, I don't know if I'm very interesting, but I'm up for it if you want! :D kyralennon (at) gmail (dot) com
I'm trialling it - I may decide I hate it, in which case I'll revert.
DeleteI'll be emailing you too Kyra - I'd love to interview you :-)
yay! you have passed a hurdle where some give up and others get organized! good for you! looking forward to seeing your style emerge and grow!
ReplyDeleteIn that case, I'm glad I'm doing it this way and not giving up - I'm not ready to do that yet!
DeleteThat sounds like a good schedule. My only set post is every Monday when I do Motivational Mondays. Other than that, I post once or twice a week, usually about a writing or book related topic. Unless, of course, the tortoises decide to shake things up... :)
ReplyDeleteI've seen it on a few people's blogs - and I'm sure I read a post recently about attracting new followers by having a set schedule. We'll see...
DeleteYou ahead of me...I'm still floundering. Thinking of not scheduling anything other than my Sunday post and then one other during the week. I need to get to working on my romance WIP and lately I tend to be obsessing over the blog. Grrrr...
ReplyDeleteOh. Sorry, this is about you...love your plans! ;-)
I wish we could edit comments....YOU'RE ahead of me....LOL!
DeleteYou're more than welcome to talk about yourself - WIP comes first, though, blog after. My blog is distracting me from a slight case of writer's block, but in most OTHER cases the writing comes first!
DeleteSounds good! :) Good luck.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel.
DeleteGood luck with the schedule. I find it helpful, I hope you do as well!
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting experiment for me, if nothing else.
DeleteYou go, Annalisa!! I'm with ya! I feel like I need to schedule, but I like the freedom of not scheduling--maybe I will follow your example and jump right in!! :)
ReplyDeleteLike I said in the post, I'm feeling a bit aimless after the challenge - I just can't remember how I used to post, isn't that crazy? lol
DeleteSounds like a plan to me, Annalisa:) The A - Z was good for a lot of things, and creating regular posts was only part of it. Then we got to know our visitors, and wouldn't you know, it gave us a whole lot of ideas about blogging we might never have thought of. Wishing you every success with your plan:)
ReplyDeleteYes, it's interesting seeing so many new blogs and how they're set up. I was also quite chuffed with how my theme was received, so I'm excited to carry on with that - at least until I run out of books!
DeleteBrave step :) I've been thinking about this too, but I'm not sure...good luck!
ReplyDeleteAnd if you need interviews/guest posts shoot me a message. I'd love to participate!
Sarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
You can watch to see how I succeed/fail before you decide :-)
DeleteI'll definitely be in touch with you, though - thank you!
Good luck with the new schedule! I'm comfortable without having a set schedule. I blog when I have the time and a topic.
ReplyDeleteI'm just curious to see how it works for me, usually I'm very fluid but that means I end up thinking about blog topics more than I ought to!
DeleteI've been pondering making a schedule too, as I just post whenever and I do see the benefits of scheduling. But I'm afraid that if I make a schedule, I won't keep to it and will disappoint my readers. Yours sounds fantastic! Looking forward to reading your posts :)
ReplyDeleteAllison (Geek Banter)
I'm not overly convinced I'll be able to keep it up, but I thought I'd give it a go!
DeleteHi Annalisa, I think it's a great idea to schedule so best of luck with it and I like the mix of content you're proposing. I think I'd struggle, even though I can see its definite merits. I really do work best posting when I have something to say, and as you said, that might be mid afternoon or at midnight, and I worry that the posts might read a little forced if I was determined to keep to a timetable. But then, I haven't tried it so maybe I should before I comment too much. Will follow your progress with interest!
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, I tend to have good post ideas which I then schedule later, so shuffled other posts around to accomodate it - so I think I'm half-way there, this should just alieviate the week-long gaps I have when I can't think of anything! Well, that's the idea :-)
DeleteThis is looks like a solid schedule. I know what you mean about being free. I miss those days. Well, in life. Sometimes I dream of throwing my backpack on and heading to Europe again. :) Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI'm having travelling dreams at the moment - but Hubby, kids and animals might object :-(
DeleteSounds like a plan - brilliant idea!
ReplyDeleteI love it when a plan comes together! lol
DeleteI love the way you're breaking next Monday and Friday's scheduling already. That's what our blogs are for... doing as we please. Down with shades of school and enjoy;-)
ReplyDeletelol... yeah, I don't like rules, even self-imposed ones! This whole idea might be very short-lived :-)
DeleteChange is good and bringing order to an ad hoc way of blogging is good. I bounce back and forth but like yourself now I'm structuring my days of the week with specific themes.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to starting!
Deleterules are meant to be broken. Keep having fun with your blog. If you want to interview me - jlf58@tx.rr.com - we can discuss my independently published book My Zoo World, my philosophy on writing, or the fact that I'm a movie critic for a town (San Saba, TX ) with no theater. Yep! That's different. Thanks and I'm a fan
ReplyDeleteI'd love to interview you - I'm curious. I'll email you!
DeleteYou have it all lined up prim and proper :-)
ReplyDeleteNot keen on 'prim and proper', that sounds far too... erm, prim and proper!
DeleteNo- don't do it!
ReplyDeleteWe need at least one free spirit in this overly-structured world.
But I am a free spirit - I'm breaking my own rules twice next week :-)
DeleteI love that you're setting a schedule and think you may just inspire me. maybe.... :)
ReplyDelete