I’m doing both; I’m choosing a blog challenge and mixing it up. Since it’s the start of a new year, and I have some blog issues, I figured I’d challenge myself.
My blog challenge: PR post catch-up.
My biggest blog challenge right now is playing catch-up with holiday PR. I have all these products, tips, and news-like bits that I’ve been meaning to post. People send me a lot of stuff and it tends to build up quickly in my email inbox. Once I get too many saved items, I freak and avoid them. Not to mention that I’d rather post my own tips. That said, I do get some pretty nice tips and ideas from various PR people and companies, and I should post them to offer my readers something different.
The goal: Work my way through the list. I think I’m going to start at the end which starts somewhere last November, and work my way up to date. I’m giving myself until Mid February and then, I’m just going to have to delete what’s left to free my mind. BUT I’d rather not delete any good stuff, so I’m going to try to fit it all in.
My mix-it-up goal: Get out somewhere new to work.
I’ve been in sort of a blog slump. I have lots of ideas, but I start thinking about stuff I shouldn’t (life, budgeting, etc) and my brain wanders. Translation. I’m working too slow lately. I sat down and gave it some thought, and I think my problem is called stir-crazy. I’ve been snowed in, working more than playing, and basically feel stuck. My plan is to get out, take the laptop, and blog somewhere new.
Lots of people advise that a change of scene helps writers who feel stuck. This has not been true for me in the past because one, I hate the whole writer cafe cliche, and I usually end up at some coffee shop. Two, I’m easily distracted. I can listen to music really loudly while working; I can even post at various blogs at once via browser sophistication, but put me in a cafe or sit me on a bench at the park and I start looking around. I people watch and dream about other stuff, completely ignoring my keyboard.
If I’m so distracted will it work? Who knows? Yeah I’m easily distracted, but lately, I’m distracted by being here at home, so I may as well give it a whirl.
The plan: Hit the cafe this week and see what happens. At the very least, someone else will be brewing my coffee, so that’s a perk.
Now, it’s your turn. Since it’s a new blogging year, why not choose a blog challenge, maybe something you’ve been aiming for but not quite reaching. OR try mixing it up. Go blog somewhere new. Take all the ads off your blog and see what happens. Blog about something new…
What are your plans?
Thanks for this post. I love to read about other people’s plans for blogging and writing.
A couple of months ago, I was loving spending the afternoon in a coffee shop drafting blog posts and articles before coming home to type them up. Then, I stopped – and I’m not even sure why!
So, today I’m heading out again with my notebook and pen (I prefer to draft by hand while I’m out and about)to get some ideas on paper and try a change of scene.
I’ve also decided to make some changes to my blog. I wasn’t happy with the theme I was using, so have switched it to a very simple design. I think I’ll continue tweaking it for a while yet, to get it just so – but I want to make sure I concentrate on content, first and foremost!
Thanks for the great tips. I have been trying to blog more frequently as well as trying to add images to posts when I can. I would rather use my own images so I don’t put pictures in every post if I don’t have one.
As for PR, I have a lot of people that have contacted me with various promos and I also need to make a point to go through those (thanks for the push).
Do you make contact with all of them even if you aren’t going to help promote their product(s) on your blog and if they aren’t personal but something they most likely sent to many people? Thoughts would be helpful because these promos overwhelm me and many I won’t use but I’m new to reviews and stuff that I don’t know the best way to proceed.
I know this is a writing blog so if the above question doesn’t fit here, I totally understand.
I am also going to get back to writing in a notebook and then posting to the blog. I would also like to have a variety of posts drafted for future use.
That’s funny that you both use a notebook for blog posts. I can’t do that. I know so many people who do, so I’ve tried it, but I can’t work blog ideas that way. I have to just go in and post. I do use notebooks for articles, but posts just don’t work for me.
@Sarah – glad you’re going to get back out and about. Plus, it gives me hope that maybe it’ll work.
@Angie it’s cool you’re using your own images; much more unique. Also, your PR question totally fits in here. PR is something, that as a blogger, I deal with daily, so it’s very much part of the job package. That said, it’s sort of an involved question. I’ll write a post about how I handle PR and get it up in the next day or so, rather than try to answer it here in the comments.
Jennifer,
I really appreciate you taking the time to write up a post about PR and all that stuff (and glad it fits in here on this blog). I could really use some tips so thanks.
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