Comments on: The Most Important Blog You’ll Read Today http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/ Mutual Respect Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:25:14 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Abby http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/comment-page-1/#comment-118748 Abby Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:17:43 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/#comment-118748 I guess this is a prime example of going back and reading someone else's old posts, as I'm clearly two years behind schedule! At any rate, great topic, as I do go back and read some posts of my own, but not enough. My problem is that I might look back, see that no one commented and feel like a dolt for posting it in the first place. Then I delete it and it's gone...poof. So, I try and keep up on at least the last few posts and check my "About" section often. I used to forget it was even there, but it's one of the first places that readers go. Great reminder, as I'll add it to my to-do list and avoid the temptation to self-criticize (and instead go in with an open mind.) I guess this is a prime example of going back and reading someone else’s old posts, as I’m clearly two years behind schedule! At any rate, great topic, as I do go back and read some posts of my own, but not enough. My problem is that I might look back, see that no one commented and feel like a dolt for posting it in the first place. Then I delete it and it’s gone…poof.

So, I try and keep up on at least the last few posts and check my “About” section often. I used to forget it was even there, but it’s one of the first places that readers go.

Great reminder, as I’ll add it to my to-do list and avoid the temptation to self-criticize (and instead go in with an open mind.)

]]> By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/comment-page-1/#comment-11068 Rebecca Laffar-Smith Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:31:09 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/#comment-11068 It's a fantastic idea to re-read old posts. It's very important to go back and make sure all the links are working. Sometimes I'll go back and add back/forward links, change source links, or update content. It's also a great way to catch out errors and to clean up older entries as my writing progresses. As bloggers we must remember that our online content has an eternal life. Even if we've deleted a post it can turn up in archives, caches, and the way back machine. I'd never delete a post simply because someone at some point may have linked to it. If I find something that is too terrible I'd have to completely rework it; same topic, similar information, new way of putting all the pieces together. Nothing is unsalvageable. Re-reading old posts can also be a great way to give us ideas for new posts or information we might like to highlight in a new posts. Selecting a handful of old posts from our archives to link to for current readers can be a great way to encourage readers to dig a little deeper. It’s a fantastic idea to re-read old posts. It’s very important to go back and make sure all the links are working. Sometimes I’ll go back and add back/forward links, change source links, or update content.

It’s also a great way to catch out errors and to clean up older entries as my writing progresses. As bloggers we must remember that our online content has an eternal life. Even if we’ve deleted a post it can turn up in archives, caches, and the way back machine.

I’d never delete a post simply because someone at some point may have linked to it. If I find something that is too terrible I’d have to completely rework it; same topic, similar information, new way of putting all the pieces together. Nothing is unsalvageable.

Re-reading old posts can also be a great way to give us ideas for new posts or information we might like to highlight in a new posts. Selecting a handful of old posts from our archives to link to for current readers can be a great way to encourage readers to dig a little deeper.

]]> By: Erik Hare http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/comment-page-1/#comment-10949 Erik Hare Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:06:11 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/#comment-10949 I do sometimes read my own blog, mostly to make sure I'm not repeating myself. I always catch typos, but I do not correct them. I think the fact that I can't edit my own stuff perfectly (and who can?) lends credibility. Mostly, I hate what I see, although every once in a while I find a post I'm happy I made. But I do literally have to force myself to read the old stuff because I hate reading my own junk so much. I think it's worth confronting how inadequate I am if I'm ever going to get any better. I link to old posts once in a while. While checking to make sure I'm not repeating myself, I often run across a post that is close to what I want to say but not quite the same. I think blogs should have deep links back into their own archives, especially those pushing a general outlook on the world. I do sometimes read my own blog, mostly to make sure I’m not repeating myself. I always catch typos, but I do not correct them. I think the fact that I can’t edit my own stuff perfectly (and who can?) lends credibility.

Mostly, I hate what I see, although every once in a while I find a post I’m happy I made. But I do literally have to force myself to read the old stuff because I hate reading my own junk so much. I think it’s worth confronting how inadequate I am if I’m ever going to get any better.

I link to old posts once in a while. While checking to make sure I’m not repeating myself, I often run across a post that is close to what I want to say but not quite the same. I think blogs should have deep links back into their own archives, especially those pushing a general outlook on the world.

]]> By: Linette http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/comment-page-1/#comment-10916 Linette Sat, 15 Dec 2007 22:01:29 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/#comment-10916 I like to go back and flip through my blog posts, just to see if I'm on a trend. I also look for typos, or phrases that made sense at the time but doesn't make sense now. I like to go back and flip through my blog posts, just to see if I’m on a trend. I also look for typos, or phrases that made sense at the time but doesn’t make sense now.

]]> By: Amanda http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/comment-page-1/#comment-10896 Amanda Sat, 15 Dec 2007 17:48:47 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/#comment-10896 I like to check in with my blogs every morning, and re-read the last couple of posts for any previously missed errors. I find it's satisfying to see my words up there on the screen, and that keeps me going. I like to check in with my blogs every morning, and re-read the last couple of posts for any previously missed errors. I find it’s satisfying to see my words up there on the screen, and that keeps me going.

]]> By: Virginia Amos http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/comment-page-1/#comment-10893 Virginia Amos Sat, 15 Dec 2007 16:42:16 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/#comment-10893 Judith, Thanks so much for those great tips. I'm really new to this 'blogging business' and appreciate learning from others. Badly written is badly written, no matter the media! Virginia in Virginia Judith,

Thanks so much for those great tips. I’m really new to this ‘blogging business’ and appreciate learning from others. Badly written is badly written, no matter the media!

Virginia in Virginia

]]> By: Virginia Amos http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/comment-page-1/#comment-10892 Virginia Amos Sat, 15 Dec 2007 16:41:16 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/#comment-10892 Judith, Thanks so much for those great tips. I'm really new to this 'blogging buisness' and appreciate learning from others. Badly written is badly written, no matter the media! Virginia in Virginia Judith,

Thanks so much for those great tips. I’m really new to this ‘blogging buisness’ and appreciate learning from others. Badly written is badly written, no matter the media!

Virginia in Virginia

]]> By: Jess http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/comment-page-1/#comment-10888 Jess Sat, 15 Dec 2007 15:41:56 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/#comment-10888 Great post. One of my pet peeves is blogs with typos. I've even heard professionals say, "I'm just blogging; typos don't matter." Hmph! They do to me. I do read my blog periodically, but now I'll read with a different eye. Thanks, I learn so much from you. :) Great post. One of my pet peeves is blogs with typos. I’ve even heard professionals say, “I’m just blogging; typos don’t matter.” Hmph! They do to me.
I do read my blog periodically, but now I’ll read with a different eye. Thanks, I learn so much from you. :)

]]> By: Judith in Umbria http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/comment-page-1/#comment-10875 Judith in Umbria Sat, 15 Dec 2007 09:46:02 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/#comment-10875 I have never deleted a post. It just seems wrong, somehow. I might go back and change something, add a photo, whatever, but I never delete. That makes me careful about pushing that publish button! I do look back quite often. Photo links disappear, others do, too. I may have discovered that something is slightly wrong. As to comments, I get a list everyday of new ones, no matter which post they are on. It's on my dashboard. I do talk back. I am just so over bloggers who don't talk back to their commenters. They, IMO, don't deserve the attention they get. I have never deleted a post. It just seems wrong, somehow. I might go back and change something, add a photo, whatever, but I never delete. That makes me careful about pushing that publish button!

I do look back quite often. Photo links disappear, others do, too. I may have discovered that something is slightly wrong.

As to comments, I get a list everyday of new ones, no matter which post they are on. It’s on my dashboard. I do talk back. I am just so over bloggers who don’t talk back to their commenters. They, IMO, don’t deserve the attention they get.

]]> By: Beth http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/12/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/comment-page-1/#comment-10867 Beth Sat, 15 Dec 2007 04:02:17 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-most-important-blog-you%e2%80%99ll-read-today/#comment-10867 I read my own blogs all the time, especially for typos. I can preview, spell check, and read over what I have written countless times, but sometimes I don't catch problems until after I have clicked the publish button. I wanted to crawl under my living room rug when I found my blog linked to an author's page, and there was a typo. It was like waking up and finding a huge pimple on my nose. Most importantly, I like to read back what I have posted to see if it's any good or just plain crap. If I think it stinks too much, I will delete the post. Thanks for the tip about dead links. I read my own blogs all the time, especially for typos. I can preview, spell check, and read over what I have written countless times, but sometimes I don’t catch problems until after I have clicked the publish button.

I wanted to crawl under my living room rug when I found my blog linked to an author’s page, and there was a typo. It was like waking up and finding a huge pimple on my nose.

Most importantly, I like to read back what I have posted to see if it’s any good or just plain crap. If I think it stinks too much, I will delete the post.

Thanks for the tip about dead links.

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