Comments on: Twentysomething: Making time for a blog and a full-time job http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:59:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Ben S. http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-108928 Ben S. Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:12:37 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-108928 Maintaining a blog is definitely a hard thing to do and I both applaud the Brazen Careerist and the Employee Evolution for providing quality postings. I agree with the point about knowing when you are at you most creative. I tend to come up with my best ideas late at night or when I am making a cup of coffee (for some strange reason). An interesting blog I came across recently in the same field is http://www.secretarialblog.co.uk . I found it on stumbleupon but funny and good niche. Maintaining a blog is definitely a hard thing to do and I both applaud the Brazen Careerist and the Employee Evolution for providing quality postings.

I agree with the point about knowing when you are at you most creative. I tend to come up with my best ideas late at night or when I am making a cup of coffee (for some strange reason).

An interesting blog I came across recently in the same field is http://www.secretarialblog.co.uk . I found it on stumbleupon but funny and good niche.

]]> By: LaDawn http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106996 LaDawn Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:19:42 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106996 If you don't write every day (or at least every week day) you have to expect your blog traffic to be erratic. People visit out of habit (unless they've got an RSS feed). If you don't have a new post when they go they will stop coming. Agree with the physical notepad idea in the comment above. When I am really creative my brain just flies and I end up with ideas for 10 posts at once. And I'm not always connected to the computer. I've got a notebook I carry round and when something happens (especially with my children I just jot it down). It also made it easy to capture our holiday memories and connect it all up to the photos for the blog! If you don’t write every day (or at least every week day) you have to expect your blog traffic to be erratic. People visit out of habit (unless they’ve got an RSS feed). If you don’t have a new post when they go they will stop coming.

Agree with the physical notepad idea in the comment above. When I am really creative my brain just flies and I end up with ideas for 10 posts at once. And I’m not always connected to the computer. I’ve got a notebook I carry round and when something happens (especially with my children I just jot it down). It also made it easy to capture our holiday memories and connect it all up to the photos for the blog!

]]> By: Joe Blogger http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106952 Joe Blogger Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:46:57 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106952 Here is another idea: use a notepad (electronic or physical). Sometimes you have things to say on more than one issue. If you compose 2,3,4 or more posts in one 'sitting' you may only want to post one of your compositions, but if you compose and edit those extra posts you can post them in the following days (where you may not be feeling as creative) Here is another idea: use a notepad (electronic or physical).

Sometimes you have things to say on more than one issue. If you compose 2,3,4 or more posts in one ’sitting’ you may only want to post one of your compositions, but if you compose and edit those extra posts you can post them in the following days (where you may not be feeling as creative)

]]> By: Wendy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106932 Wendy Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:48:09 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106932 Another way to handle a blog and a full life is to set a time limit and/or a time committment. When I started my blog, I decided that 15-20 minutes a day was all I could afford. Often at the same time everyday I work on a post for 15-20 minutes. Sometimes it takes 2-3 days to finish a post. But this still means 2-4 posts per week. I found that I loved working on my blog, so this time wasn't a sacrifice, but a 20 minute treat / retreat from everything else. Another way to handle a blog and a full life is to set a time limit and/or a time committment.

When I started my blog, I decided that 15-20 minutes a day was all I could afford. Often at the same time everyday I work on a post for 15-20 minutes.

Sometimes it takes 2-3 days to finish a post. But this still means 2-4 posts per week.

I found that I loved working on my blog, so this time wasn’t a sacrifice, but a 20 minute treat / retreat from everything else.

]]> By: Nina Smith http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106912 Nina Smith Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:42:32 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106912 Ryan, You make a great point about the benefits of collaborating with other writers. Darren Rowse at ProBlogger had a good post about the rise of the <a href="http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/02/28/the-rise-of-the-multi-blogger-blog-outsourcing-content-creation" rel="nofollow">multi-blogger</a> blog and why it has its advantages: - Fresh ideas - New styles/voices - Less reliance upon you personally to drive the brand - Introduce new skills, opinions, experiences and expertise into the mix - Potentially increase posting frequency - Having people in different time zones to keep things well maintained - Gives you a break or allows you to focus on new projects Switching over to the group blogging model was the smartest thing I did. It allowed me to build a better brand and improve our rankings while targeting specific readers. I could not have done that without my fellow contributors. Ryan,

You make a great point about the benefits of collaborating with other writers. Darren Rowse at ProBlogger had a good post about the rise of the multi-blogger blog and why it has its advantages:

- Fresh ideas
- New styles/voices
- Less reliance upon you personally to drive the brand
- Introduce new skills, opinions, experiences and expertise into the mix
- Potentially increase posting frequency
- Having people in different time zones to keep things well maintained
- Gives you a break or allows you to focus on new projects

Switching over to the group blogging model was the smartest thing I did. It allowed me to build a better brand and improve our rankings while targeting specific readers. I could not have done that without my fellow contributors.

]]> By: Reflective Counsel http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106909 Reflective Counsel Tue, 28 Aug 2007 19:08:58 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106909 Great advice, Ryan. Though most of us may dream of blogging as a career, unfortunately the necessity of a full-time job creeps in. Before I started my blog, I wrote a personal mission statement and an outline of the first 20 to 30 posts I wanted to write. I also set a realistic goal of how often I wanted to blog. Those steps have helped a ton. The mission statement helps me with "why." The outline helps me with "how." The goal helps me with "when." Great advice, Ryan. Though most of us may dream of blogging as a career, unfortunately the necessity of a full-time job creeps in. Before I started my blog, I wrote a personal mission statement and an outline of the first 20 to 30 posts I wanted to write. I also set a realistic goal of how often I wanted to blog. Those steps have helped a ton.

The mission statement helps me with “why.” The outline helps me with “how.” The goal helps me with “when.”

]]> By: +Dj FuNKyGrRL+ http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106904 +Dj FuNKyGrRL+ Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:21:22 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106904 With the popularity of social networking sites it becomes easier for College kids to blog away. Purpose of these site follow the Walmart philosophy ...to be one's all in one everything With the popularity of social networking sites it becomes easier for College kids to blog away.
Purpose of these site follow the Walmart philosophy …to be one’s all in one everything

]]> By: Tiffany Monhollon http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106903 Tiffany Monhollon Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:33:56 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106903 It's true that you have to remember why you're writing in the first place. Sometimes, it's hard not to get so boxed into your topic or niche, etc. But thinking about WHY you're writing (perhaps a little more than WHAT) can give you some room to move and maybe let you be a little more creative. It’s true that you have to remember why you’re writing in the first place. Sometimes, it’s hard not to get so boxed into your topic or niche, etc. But thinking about WHY you’re writing (perhaps a little more than WHAT) can give you some room to move and maybe let you be a little more creative.

]]> By: Employee Evolution - Making time for a blog and a full time job http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106902 Employee Evolution - Making time for a blog and a full time job Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:25:18 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106902 [...] Cross posted at the Brazen Careerist. [...] […] Cross posted at the Brazen Careerist. […]

]]> By: Rebecca Thorman http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106901 Rebecca Thorman Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:58:11 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/08/28/twentysomething-making-time-for-a-blog-and-a-full-time-job/#comment-106901 It's a big secret that bloggers have - the amount of time it takes to do a blog. The benefits and rewards make it worth it though. The deadline bit is most important to me, and I self-impose deadlines all the time, but could even do more. Good advice. It’s a big secret that bloggers have - the amount of time it takes to do a blog. The benefits and rewards make it worth it though.

The deadline bit is most important to me, and I self-impose deadlines all the time, but could even do more. Good advice.

]]>