Making Some Changes

We writers are constantly juggling our writing time with family, friends, chores, jobs, and social media. We often struggle to keep up with our blogging friends and give up writing time just to make all the visits and leave the expected comments. 

I mean, you have to make 'em to get 'em, right?

True. But now that I'm published, I have a very different perspective, and it has made me take a hard look at how my social media time is spent. I may lose some blogging friends over it, but I'm changing my behavior to fit my new priorities. This decision hasn't been easy. I enjoy visiting my writing buddies and chatting with you guys on social media. It's fun! 


It's also educational. I've learned a LOT from visiting blogs and reading articles. Most of the craft know-how I've gleaned has come from CPs and the blogosphere. I also feel it's important to meet other writers and nurture those relationships, to keep in touch with and encourage my cyber friends. 

But if all the visiting and reading and commenting is so much of a time-suck that it's keeping us from writing, what's the point? 

Now don't get all freaked out and think I'm shutting down my blog or something—and don't you dare get the idea you're not important to me anymore. You are! I'm even planning another Follow Fest this year.

I'll still be around, just not as often. I probably won't visit other blogs on days I'm not blogging, but that's nothing new. Because of the extra workload publishing my debut put on me, I haven't been doing that anyhow.

As part of this change, I've decided to group promo into one monthly post. On the second Friday of each month, I'm going to post Promo Friday. Anyone who follows my blog is welcome to contact me and ask me for a mention. I won't consider it spam. 

If you have a cover reveal, new release, giveaway, sale, etc., contact me with the necessary information (images, links...)  by the second Wednesday of the month, and I'll add your announcement to the post. Since these posts will be promo for others (and I work most Fridays), I won't be replying to comments those days.

The promo thing won't be an abrupt switch. You may see me post announcements on another day of the month. I reserve the right to do that at my discretion. After all, I don't mind tossing some in if I'm already blogging, and I have lots of folks to pay back for all the promo they did for me.

The reason I'm making this change is to be practical and to be a good steward of my time (and yours!). It's important for us to socialize and celebrate our accomplishments with with each other, but we're writers. We need to be writing.

So, are you cheering me or cursing me?