From my Mission Statement 2.0:
To be a leader and member of a supportive writing community, through blogs, critiques, and social networking.
Oh, to be young in blogging and full of the heady steam of the online community! After a year of blogging, I have a more clear-eyed view of the benefits and drawbacks of blogs, twitter, and social networking (for me, Facebook).
Some of my best story-saving critiques have come from writers I met through blogging. Some of my favorite author-friends I have met through blogging and social networking at conferences. Some of the most insightful craft advice I’ve heard has come from writers, blogging in the trenches as they learn the craft. The stories and inspiration of my fellow-authors have pulled me through the inevitable lows of writing many times. There are too many powerful benefits to opt out of the online writer community completely.
Lesson #2: THE ONLINE COMMUNITY CAN KILL YOUR WRITING
Not directly, of course! Online writer-bloggers are some of the finest people I’ve met – varied and rich in their backgrounds and wonderfully positive in their support of each other! But social networking can be like drinking from a fire hose. I have to carefully control how much time I spend on it, or my entire day will be spent blogging and tweeting. More than that, though, the interwebs can be a massive distraction. I have steely eyed focus powers, and it still calls to me with a siren song of community and support and LOLcats. And there is no critique, no inspiration, no blog post that will get the writing done. No online help that will rewrite the opening scene of my WiP or distill my novel down to a single line hook.
Writing remains solitary.
It requires that I dive into my own head to fabricate the SpinNet and inter-dimensional faeries. It demands that I craft and re-craft the first chapter and spend half an hour conjuring just the right word. Because that is writing. It is easy to forget. If I am strong-willed enough to only partake of the pleasures of the online community as much as benefits my writing, and not detract from it, then I can continue to blog and tweet and facebook. Social networking is inherently giving – which is why the word “supportive” comes early in my mission statement – but I have to selfishly limit the time that I spend on it. But this limit allows me to continue to blog and not have Ink Spells fade into the sunset.
Which would make me very sad.
How do you keep blogging from interfering with your writing?
it is hard to unplug, but I've found everybody's got to do it if we're going to keep being writers. And everyone seems to understand. At least I do…
The benefits so outweigh the potential drawbacks, though~ :o) <3
All I can say is #2= OUCH. So true. I find the delightful distraction of all my online pals more attractive than my WIP sometimes, and it's a productivity killer for sure. Thanks for the reminder to stop goofing off. 🙂
@LTM Everyone does understand, because we all face it. And I've found you can easily take time off and come back refreshed and no one minds.
@Laurel It's a painful lesson, I know! But it's all in the balance. And too many people (I think) believe they MUST do a ton of social networking/blogging/etc, without realizing how much it impacts their writing. So, hopefully, this will give some people permission to let go of the guilt and rediscover their love of writing – because that's what started us in the first place, right?
You are so right, Susan. Blogging and FB could easily take over my days and evenings (and sometimes do). I have to consciously remind myself sometimes about why I started blogging in the first place – because I'm a writer. Therefore, I must continue to write! LOL. 🙂
@Shannon Success in blogging is almost more difficult than no success – You have so many commenters, I'm sure it's hard to keep up (fun, but time-consuming). But I'm glad that you keep coming back! As long as we keep it in balance, all is good. 🙂
Awesome post and oh-so-true! Writing should always come first – then the social media outlets.
Blogging (and interacting) is time-consuming, but I've gotten so much from it that I have no regrets. I think if I make sure to write early in the day before opening the reader or late before bed, I get writing done and can still blog. I once suggested to other bloggers that posting every day can be too much for others to read. I can't get to everybody, and sometimes that makes me sad. Here's me :D, :(, :D, 🙁
I used to think blogs, blogging and bloggers was all just for dorks. Until I started doing it and I realized I was the dork!
Now I flag my dork flag high.
@Nicole And so hard to do!
@Tricia You know, I've often re-considered whether I should post every day. The M-W-F schedule worked well in the summer, when I had less time. Thing is, I find myself having more that I want to post than slots to post in! But the M-W-F format imposes a restraint as well … I may have to re-consider again. 🙂
@Matthew *flies dork flag as well* 🙂
Yes, Susan! Good observations. Unfortunately I can't answer how I prevent social networking from interfering with my writing because I haven't figured it out yet. I think my personality is somewhat addictive and right now Twitter is my drug of choice. Suddenly hours have gone by and I haven't written anything in my precious time away from my day job. I'll keep working on finding a solution. I think what I might need to do is open up my ms first and work on it a while before opening any internet windows.
@Jennifer I've been blogging over a year and tweeting half that long, and I'm still searching for the balance! Good luck and keep at it. 🙂
In asnwer to your question: I have absolutely no idea.
🙂
@Bryan LOL! An honest man. 🙂
I don't usually have trouble unplugging from the blogging world when I have a writing idea, but other times the urge to go online is strong.
I try to remind myself that the community isn't going to go anywhere if I wait. The people will still be there, and I'll still be able to read and comment on blogs.
I try to keep my blog hopping to just a few times a week, and I only blog once a week on my own. Your tee shirt cracked me up!.
@EAgle You are so right! People will still be there when you return. 🙂
@Darby Ha! That shirt makes me chuckle too.
Great post, Susan. I don't think I've been lured by the great blog and twitter time suck (in fact I think I should do better at both). I guess I have so little time to spare that only a little goes towards the blogging world and even less towards twitter. But I think you're right about the call of the community over writing solitude. It is deafening sometimes. Good thing we writers love our solitude!:)
Nelsa
@wordwork The great thing is that the community is THERE, waiting for when you are in need of it. Only 10 years ago, this wasn't so (as my brother-the-writer can attest). 🙂
I've read posts by others wondering the same thing, Susan. I don't know that anyone has it perfectly figured out, but I think having a set schedule for the on-line communities and sticking to it is key.
Also, with limited time I think it's a good idea to choose one of the big three – facebook, twitter, blog – to focus most of your attention on. Have a presence on the other two so people can find you when they come looking, but only w/ quick & easy posts. I've decided Blogger is where my time is best spent (w/ limits). I post a couple times a week at Facebook…less & less at Twitter, but I'm not socially active over there. Can't do it all.
"How do you keep blogging from interfering with your writing?"
1. Limit myself to a schedule I can keep.
2. Schedule posts ahead of time on weeks life lets me.
3. Carefully filter what I put in Google Reader.
4. Check Reader 2x a day at most.
That's the plan, anyway. Doesn't always work that way though.
@Nicki Focusing on one is a good strategy, I think. I tend to focus on blogging as well, because there's more "conversation" that way; then I circumscribe my time on Twitter and FB. And I don't feel bad about any of it.
@Adam You are very disciplined, and I can see why – you've got some great rules. I use Reader more as a "repository of all cool blogs I've ever visited" rather than carefully limiting it. But I have a smaller list on Reader of blogs I've tagged as "Daily" that are the ones I try to visit whenever they post (yours is one!). That way, when I have time, I can hop around to blogs that I may not visit all the time, but occasionally can pop in to see what they've been up to. 🙂
I do that too, Susan (but I still limit it, cuz it's hard for me NOT to look at everything in there). And I feel so flattered to be in your Daily list! It makes me feel all happy inside!
@Adam *smiles*
I generally don't write that often. I've written more since October but I try to post the pictures from home and the do the blog writing at work when I know I am not going to do any real Writing. Then when I go home I try to Write (unless I am completely pooped, like tonight). My bigger problem is maintaining the energy to work full time and have the energy to come home and write. If I had that energy I don't know that I would be as tempted to cruise the social networks as much because once I start writing, that's what I am doing.
@Danette I'm not a night person either and would have a terrible time if that was my only time to write. But I do get sucked into it too, so I know what you mean about that! 🙂
Blogging makes me feel connected to the writing community. When someone in it has a success it gives me hope. When someone shares their struggles it makes me feel more comfortable with my struggles. I tend to write during the day and blog/fb at night…. But I'm probably going to post less this year. It will allow me to read more blogs.
@Sharon I learn the coolest things from my fellow bloggers – not just the usual (books, writing tips, support), but even recipes and fun ideas! Yup, I'm thoroughly addicted. 🙂
ROFL! Matthew Rush is funny!
I really enjoyed your post, Susan. I appreciate you telling me that you posted about it over at Scribblers Cove.
It is a delicate balance. Did you read Emily Maw had said about networking more than writing? Eeep!
*hugs*
~Elizabeth 🙂
@Elizabeth – I think I accidentally-on-purpose posted over at Scribbler's Cove! I was trying to link and…yeah…techfail. Anyway! I'm glad you hopped over! And what Emily said is true for a lot of people, I think – it's a danger for anyone that networks, and one I totally understand! 🙂
I have not been entirely successful at finding a balance, however not having internet at home does help. Having a day job, not so helpful to creating good writing habits.
I have learned so much from this community online, and hope to continue learning and figuring things out. Thanks for your words and inspiration.