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On Schedules And Having Ideas

A photo of a pen on an opened page of a diary

I know I’ve already discussed having a blogging schedule, but now, several months down the line, I am starting to really appreciate it.

I don’t know why exactly, but setting a schedule has been incredibly beneficial to me as a writer. True, sometimes I’ll be sitting in front of a blank page for a while, frantically going through books to try and come up with something to write about, but the writing always gets done. Somehow when you’ve a deadline the ideas do arrive, even if they’re not particularly compelling and even if once you’ve written the piece you feel you’ve not written anything of substance at all.

Certainly having a niche helps. Book blogging is much better than the “anything goes” approach I took a few years ago. A restriction on topics actually creates freedom.

This said, I’m not always working at the last minute. I like to brainstorm every now and then, to research, to consider expanding on another post (as I’m doing right now). Sometimes it’s hard to believe but there are always ideas for writing. They won’t all be new but your individuality brings a fresh outlook to the topic.

I doubt I’ll be posting daily any time soon; I have a lot of respect for those who manage to do it, but my Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday feels right to me.

I’m glad that the inspiration remains after almost three years.

Are you surprised by how long you’ve been blogging, in regards to finding ideas?

 
 

Tanya Patrice

February 25, 2013, 2:22 am

‘m with you – I find having a blogging schedule freeing! And I don’t thin kit necessary to post everyday at all. I’m happy I found a schedule that works for me, and for some reason, with book blogging, the ideas keep coming!

Rebecca @ Love at First Book

February 25, 2013, 3:22 am

A blogging schedule is really helpful to me, but I think the most important thing is to be flexible, to change when it’s needed, and to make sure that if you need a break, you take it.

Jenny

February 25, 2013, 4:38 am

I don’t have a very fixed blogging schedule, but it’s helped me a lot to make a habit of scheduling posts in advance. Two or three a week is enough, and if I’ve written them in advance, I don’t feel any pressure to rush rush rush and make sure I’m getting “enough” posts written and scheduled.

jessicabookworm

February 25, 2013, 10:38 am

I’m glad to hear that your blog schedule is really working for you. For about the last 6 months I have managed to stick to the schedule of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and like you I have found it very beneficial for my blog and my writing.

Laurie C

February 25, 2013, 12:16 pm

Daily posts are way too much for me to do myself, or to keep up with on other blogs. I try for Monday and Thursday posts, with an occasional Saturday post for Weekend Cooking, but don’t have a real schedule. I have enough deadline pressure at work and the monthly reviews I do for Library Journal!

Meghan

February 25, 2013, 12:19 pm

I’m also a big fan of the blogging schedule. It helps me motivate myself to actually write about these books that I’m reading – otherwise, sometimes I leave them by the wayside. It’s never good. I do think that I need a little more creativity sometimes though!

Jennifer

February 25, 2013, 12:40 pm

So great that you’ve created a schedule that works for you! Life always seems to get in the way of any schedule here so tend to go on inspiration, but can definitely see the upside of a little structure.

Jennifer

February 25, 2013, 1:44 pm

I don’t have a blogging schedule. The only thing that I do consistently is post a weekly wrap-up on Mondays. I keep thinking that I *should* have a more structured schedule. As of now the willy-nilly approach works for me, lol

Isi

February 25, 2013, 7:03 pm

Well, I don’t have a schedule for neither of my blogs, but it will be a good idea in the English one in the future. Now I don’t feel like doing it because I’m still clumsy and I only write when I feel inspired (that doesn’t happen very often ;) ), but it would keep me “thinking in English” more time every week.

As I see, the other commenters say it works for them, as it works for you, so perhaps I will try.

Vishy

February 25, 2013, 7:13 pm

Nice post, Charlie! I liked what you said about restriction creating freedom. Like you, I think that sometimes too many options or an open kind of situation are not good. Restriction definitely frees our heart and makes it more creative. It is a contradiction, but it also makes life interesting. Glad to know that focussing on books has helped you blog better.

Alice

February 27, 2013, 11:00 pm

Sometimes I swear you post what I am thinking.

I have never really wanted one, but I think I will be setting one up soon.

I think it will encourage me to write more regularly and give it a sort of discipline. Plus if anyone likes to follow certain types of posts I do – like the poetry – they’ll know which day to visit.

Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness)

February 28, 2013, 1:15 am

I like having a blogging schedule too. I think it helps me not get too far behind. I have been doing Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday but I’m thinking of switching to Sunday/MWF in March to see how that goes.

Alex in Leeds

February 28, 2013, 12:17 pm

I try and schedule writing time and my posts tend to go up daily when I can, it helps me figure out which books I want to include on the blog and which I can just add to the reading log/monthly round up. When I drift away from using a schedule I tend to find I am writing more in reaction to other people’s ideas than writing my own thoughts. I’d rather keep my blog a happy mix of both.

Charlie

March 3, 2013, 1:50 pm

Tanya: I think it really helps that with media (be it books, music, films) there is a constant stream of resources to use – that’s my take on you saying about “for some reason”, anyway. You do seem to have a good schedule, and your features are always separated by other posts so there’s quite a bit of variety.

Rebecca: That’s true, flexibility is important. It feels weird if you change a day but being too rigid can be bad.

Jenny: Scheduling posts is as good as a fixed schedule, it lets you breathe, so to speak.

Jessica: I thought we had a similar schedule (my feed reader doesn’t always update quickly so it was hard to know for sure). It keeps you going, and personally although Friday seems to be a slow day, it’s quite nice to have that mixture of busy days and restful ones.

Laurie: Daily posts are great, but when you want to be commenting and you miss a couple… I really like blogs that match daily posting with shorter posts and a couple of longer ones. Fortunately I think most are, there’ve got the balance right. If you’re reviewing elsewhere no wonder you don’t have a real schedule. Work besides, writing for another publication would be a lot if you posted more often.

Meghan: Motivation is key. Creativity is one thing that a schedule doesn’t really affect, I’ve found. Not a bad thing, but it would be good if it was easier.

Jennifer (Books, Personally): You do need to have the time, but then if you find lots of time suddenly there’s the potential to create a schedule from already written posts. It might not last but it takes the pressure away. If your posting is by inspiration then I’m rather envious because your posts are pretty frequent!

Jennifer (Relentless Reader): That’s interesting because I had you in mind as a generally daily poster. Maybe your wrap ups and ways of posting give the effect of one. Your current approach definitely works!

Isi: It takes time to get used to a schedule, for sure. The first weeks, even months, can be quite daunting. That said if you say you don’t feel inspired very often, a schedule might help. I know I just said to Jennifer that inspirational posting is good, if you find you don’t have much, a “deadline” might be an idea. It would possibly help with your language learning, too, if frequent use is needed. Yes, I’d say if it interests you give it a try. You can always change it if it does work. Start easy though, say twice a week if you usually only post once.

Vishy: The freedom aspect came to me while I was typing this out, it sounds contrary to everything you think you’ve learned but it’s true. Yes, too many possibilities just make you feel lost and you don’t get anywhere by doing that. Before writing this post I would’ve said Dooce was one of those anything goes blogs, but really she restricts herself to her life, it just seems more general.

Alice: A good point there about knowing days and postings, if you’ve a regular feature then knowing in advance what to expect could lead to more readers, for one. I think going from a place of writing less the change helps a lot.

Kim: Your schedule’s a good one, but changing can be interesting, seeing the differences and all that. All the best for making it four days instead of three!

Alex: Having a schedule helps reviewing so much! Interesting the way your writing changes without that schedule.

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